Believing Fear

The streets are quieter at night than they used to be. Neighbors are more insistent that our single teammates not go walking around too late. We see a heightened fear in our island capital.

Early morning on the island

 Fear is a powerful emotion. It is also a powerful motivator. Lots of things have been done and are done because of fear. We wish we could claim to be different, but realistically we know that we also do things and don’t do things out of fear. Sometimes we don’t recognize the fear, because we see the flip-side instead. We see the desire for acceptance instead of fear of rejection, the desire for unity instead of the fear of conflict. 

We would say and think in our minds that we shouldn’t be doing things because of fear of other people. Our eyes should be on God, trusting in Him and following His lead, not the lead of fear. But that still doesn’t mean that fear can’t creep into our hearts quietly, and perhaps unconsciously we find ourselves acting in ways that have their root in fear. 

One problem with fear as a motivator is that going where fear guides, usually doesn’t get rid of the fear. The fear just builds and grows. It’s a darkness that can grip our hearts, torment us and not let us go.

People come to our club at night

 Fear can be most powerful when it has some opening founded in facts. Something that makes it real. The streets are quieter earlier now because people are worried about increased crime. Now we’ve talked about house break-ins, but that doesn’t seem to be what people are worried about when they tell others to get home earlier. The impression is that they are worried about violent crimes or muggings?    

 Now we’ve never had to worry about these kinds of crimes on Clove Island, and we haven’t heard reports of these types of crimes happening here….at least not yet. It’s that sense of ‘yet’ that has given rise to fear here. Because everyone knows those kinds of crimes happen on the French Island and people know the French plans to deport the troublemakers from the French Island here. They see the increase in house break-ins and wonder if an escalation in other crimes will happen too. So even though there is no indication that a rise in this type of crime has started, islanders see the potential and fear has found its opening.

So even though things haven’t changed yet, fear means that they have changed. People are frightened, so life here has started to change. Every once in a while in the past, something has stoked fear in islanders like this and after a few months it passes and things go back to normal. We’re not sure if that is what will happen this time, but in the meantime, we don’t want to feed fear, nor do we want to be foolhardy. So we try to be more careful, a little more cautious when we are out and about, but at the same time, we don’t have the fear that some islanders seem to have and we pray that it will never grip us. 

May we look to the One who tells us we don’t have to be slaves of fear, so we can walk forward with Him and in the peace that He offers.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our colleague made it back from the UK safely and told us she has recovered from long COVID! We are so encouraged to see her with energy and breath back!  Some boats between the French Island and Clove Island have restarted. There is still a lot of tension and the bigger boats haven’t restarted, but we are thankful that some travel/transport has opened for those that rely on it. Our teammate preparing to get married finally got the needed appointment to get the needed license (after delays)! Pray that would be the last hiccup in their plans and preparations.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray that this fear would be unfounded and that the islands would not see an increase of crime. Pray that those who pursued lives of crime on the French Island would find new positive directions for their lives. Pray that our island brothers and sisters could be a contrasting voice in this time of uncertainty. Tom has started a teacher training in a far village a couple hours away, which means he occasionally may not find a taxibus back home and will have to spend the night. Pray that he wouldn’t have to spend the night many times and that if he does it would lead to openings to deepen relationship with islanders and have good conversations. Pray for his energy for the next few weeks while he does that training.