Encourage or Discourage

When we read the descriptions and watched the videos about the hike, they used words like “very strenuous”, “grueling”, “most difficult day hike”.

Can you see Megan?

The park service described all the rescues they have to do each year for people that attempt the hike without enough water, the correct gear or the right fitness level. The descriptions scared us. We were discouraged. Suddenly our shoes, our water bottles, our level of fitness all seemed lacking. We were on the brink of not going at all, when words like “amazing," “bucket-list experience," “once in a lifetime," “one of the best” started to enter the conversation. Suddenly we were encouraged again. So we went for it. We kept our expectations humble and were prepared to not push for the top if we were too tired or struggling. But we decided to go.

In the end, it was a very strenuous but truly amazing hike.

After we had reached the summit and started coming down again, we saw lots of people struggling as they made their way up. At the sight of them, my first inclination was to say something encouraging, but words of encouragement got caught in my throat. I couldn’t say, “The rest is easy!” or “You’re almost there!” because the final stretches to the top were brutal and could take a long time (especially if someone was already struggling). I didn’t feel comfortable saying, “You can do it!” or “Keep going!” because I honestly didn’t know if they could or should make it to the top.  Because getting to the top is dangerous and the top isn’t even the end of the hike, there is still the long downhill, and some people should actually stop and save their energy for the return trip. Some people if they push themselves won’t make it and could get hurt. So I just gave some smiles and generally passed the struggling strangers, saying little prayers that they would make wise decisions.

Megan & siblings at the summit

We feel this tension when we meet people interested in serving with us on the islands. Like the hike it is rewarding but difficult work.  Do we stick to just encouraging comments at the beginning or say truthful things that may be discouraging? Part of us wants to say how amazing it is, talk up the fact that it is a tropical island and all the cool things we’ve seen happen there.  We absolutely want people to come and join us! If we’re not encouraging enough, then people may be drawn to other places where the workers are more encouraging or just decide they don’t want to go overseas at all. But then again, if we are too encouraging, we may get people so excited and engaged with the islands that they make a decision to come before we get to the difficult side of things.  If we don’t prepare them properly, they may feel cheated or lied to or just unprepared when the hard times come, when the poverty, injustice, corruption or difficulties of life and work on the islands hit them. Being unprepared for hard times can make them so much worse.   Preparation can be the difference of making it and not making it through.

All the scary videos and descriptions of the hike changed how I packed and prepared myself. We left earlier. We took more care to have enough water and snacks. We made a last minute purchase of trekking poles that were game-changers. I decided to wear my back brace for the downhill and finally I decided to ask some different people to be praying for us as we hiked!

So ultimately I was encouraged to be more prepared, to not take success for granted and to consider how I could help my odds.

For the islands, we try to maintain a policy of helping people come to the islands with their eyes wide open to the challenges and risks. Not that we can anticipate or always remember every possible challenge area, but we try. Because we want people to know how and to what degree life on the islands will be hard. At the same time we encourage them to pray— (prayer is a lesson we’ve learned again and again). God likes to give good gifts. We may not be well-prepared or well-equipped for every challenge, but He is, and He is faithful to equip us with the discernment to proceed wisely. He leaves us encouraged, whether we reach the summits or not!

On a shorter hike


PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our colleagues’ baby is out of the NICU and the MRI came back normal!  We praise God for his provision for this wonderful family and their baby boy.  It sounds like family visits for our teammates are going very well.  Travel had been made more difficult last week by all the local airlines being grounded!  But we rejoice that one of the companies are up and running again just in time for most of our teammates (and their families) to travel!  We have traveled back to the East Coast over the holiday weekend, and are thankful for safe and easy flights despite some changes to our itinerary, considering all the problems with flights and cancellations here in America over the weekend.  A huge praise is that three new women from the same family on the big island made life-changing decisions this past week!

PRAYERS REQUESTED
After a few more days with family, we will head out to visit Ohio this week!  Pray for safety on the road and good times of reconnecting with this community we haven’t been able to visit (because of COVID) for over 5 years.  The procedure for the other colleagues’ child had to be postponed because of a positive COVID result.  Pray there will be a quick recovery for this little one and that the procedure will be able to take place soon with excellent results.  Pray for this family to have peace, and to trust in the Lord’s provision.  Continue to pray for the island brothers and sisters, new ones on the big island and Dunga on Clove Island, and all the others in between.  May they walk in the truth, showing love and light to all around them as they grow in heart, mind, soul and strength.