Stuck

It has been a strange week. 

View of French Island capital

Last time we wrote we were telling you about our visit to the French island and the differences of life there.  We also mentioned that we ended up staying an extra week because of residual COVID in our bodies resulting in positive PCR tests.  The thought was that surely by the next week we would be negative—and so we were—most of us.  Everyone except me, Tom.  So in a funny and strange turn of events, Megan and the children left the French island on Friday and returned to Clove Island, while I linger here, waiting for a negative PCR test.  

The irony of this situation is not lost on us. First, so many Clove Islanders are sneaking onto the French Island illegally only to be caught and deported back, while here I am trying to get back to Clove Island and being stopped. Then there is the fact that I am not symptomatic or contagious.  The tests show that the levels of COVID in my system are quite low.  When I take a rapid test, it is negative.  In fact, if I wanted  to travel to Paris, I could do so, with just the results of a rapid test.  But Clove Island demands a negative PCR test.  Nothing else will do.  This is made slightly more ridiculous because life on Clove Island continues as if there is no COVID (most people don’t wear masks anymore and social distancing has been forgotten) yet, to get back into the country, I have to be negative.  I have taken the test 4 times now and it stubbornly remains positive…I find myself asking, “Why God???”

One island friend wrote to me saying “It is God’s will.”  Islanders say this for everything.  It’s important that you understand what he means by it.  Behind his, “It is God’s will” you might really hear him saying, “And nobody can do anything about it because God does what He wants without any thought to you.”

Kids last day on French Island

I wrote back to my friend.  I told him “Yes!  It is God’s will.  And God is always good and His plan is the best.”  Where my friend believes God does what He wants with no regard to us, I believe God does what He wants with every regard to us!

So, I too believe it is God’s will, and so, though it is disappointing to be away from family, frustrating to be retested again and again, sad that I am not there to welcome our newest teammate who arrived and started orientation today, I do trust that there is a good reason for all of this.  I can’t say I know why.  I can’t say I will ever know why.  It does mean I get to spend more time with my brothers and sisters here.  It does mean I get to think and pray about the situation here more than I might have.  It may result in me learning new things about myself, my team, my friends, my Lord.  Whatever the reason I trust that it is a good one.  And that’s the big difference between my island friend’s understanding of God’s will and my understanding.

Sleeping thru waves on boat

There is another part to this too.  This morning I had the privilege to join a study group with 4 other island brothers who live on the French island.  We were talking about prayer.   You see, my island friend who wrote, “Is it God’s will” probably thinks, “You can pray and ask God for things, but He does what He wants, and you probably won’t get anything unless you are really good and holy.”  But we were discussing this morning how God is like a parent.  You can go to your Mom or Dad and ask for stuff and they love to give it to you.  We can ask Him for things and expect Him to give us what’s best.  So if a son asks his dad for an apple, he’ll probably give it to him, but maybe not if it’s right before dinner.  Here I am asking Dad for a negative COVID test.  I believe it’s worth asking for.  I believe He would love to give me a negative COVID test, but it hasn’t been the right time.  It’s God’s will.  I can trust Him.  Another big difference between my island friend’s understanding and my own. I know He loves me and wants the best for me.  He’s shown me that many times before.

PRAYERS ANSWERED


4 out of 5 of us were able to travel back to Clove Island this past Friday!  The boat trip was a bit rough with big waves, but everybody made it okay and all our bags too.  This also meant that Megan was there to receive our newest teammate to our house today.  She’ll stay with us for a week of orientation, then do a week living with an island family and then settle into her own home.  We are thankful that she arrived safely, bags too, that orientation has gone ahead and Tom was even able to participate via video chat.  Tom is also thankful for the conversations and other things he has been able to do during his unintended stay on the French island. Our future teammates just gave birth to a son in France— we are thankful for this new child and for the ultrasound today that showed that cysts that had been on his kidneys in-utero are no longer there!


PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray for Tom to get a negative result so that he can travel and be back with Megan and the kids.  Pray for Megan and the kids, as they have one less set of hands to help out around the house with guests, dishes, homeschool, etc. Pray for all the things our new team member will be doing that we mentioned above—orientation, home stay, language learning, new home, adjusting to a new climate, etc.  It’s a lot to take in.  May she have courage, stamina and humility as she enters into this new culture.  Please continue to pray for the French Island and its complicated connection to Clove Island and all the people who go back and forth between these islands.  Our medical team still waits to be granted permission to begin medical work in their village!  May they find favor and permission soon! The smallest island’s translation project is having meetings with an outside consultant on the big island this week, pray that those meetings would go well with clear communication and consensus on translation decisions.