Awkward and Difficult or an Opportunity?

 When we first came to the islands, we tended to see the month of fasting as difficult and uncomfortable time. Our routines and rhythms are disrupted. You never know when shops will be open or when the bakeries will have bread. Life is a little more difficult. Islanders are more tired and  often irritable because they are fasting and staying up late. They also become more aggressive and pushy in their religious conversations, usually taking a superior view of themselves in comparison to someone of any other belief. We started to see the constant badgering about whether we were fasting as trial to be endured, a test of our patience and of our ability to not answer with antagonism.

Smaller English club during fasting month

But then years ago, I was challenged to not pray for the month of fasting as something to endure, but to actually find joy in it. Praying that we would answer people with joy in our hearts—and be excited to have the opportunity to share with those who were fasting and putting all their hopes in their own good works.

It ended up being a shift. Instead of thinking of defensive responses where we’d be caught trying to explain how we loved God just as much as they do and how we just fasted in different ways, we started answering with joy in our hearts about how we rejoice that we don’t have to fast like them— our way to God is already cleared for us!

Family movie in back hallway during month of fasting

It reminds me of another situation where a new brother was asked to become an elder of his town (an elder would be expected to lead the community in religious observances). Everyone was immediately very tense about this— wondering what the motives of this request were. Did the town see that he wasn’t completely orthodox and were hoping to make him conform? Was it a trap? Or were they just trying to honor him as a respected man of a certain age? It was easy to see the request as an awkward, difficult situation. But then there was a shift in thinking, maybe this is a great opportunity for him to have influence and be an agent for change in his greater community.

To be honest, as foreigners on the islands, we have been in lots of awkward and uncomfortable situations. Like good and sincere friends asking to set up a betrothal between our daughter and their son. Or our single teammates constantly being bombarded with marriage proposals, or the countless requests for us to privately tutor people or to help them get a visa to the US. Seeing these conversations as opportunities doesn’t mean we are granting people’s requests, but answering them with joy, and with gratitude at the opportunity to share.

Recently, a wealthy island friend, who has been very generous to us (inviting us to his home for a feast for example), has asked us to help him visit the US. He can get his own visa, but he wondered if he could stay with our family there for a month. Some part of us wondered if there wasn’t a way to wriggle out of this awkward and difficult situation, but it didn’t take long for us to see the opportunity to not only deepen our friendship with this islander but for him to meet and interact with people that could have a positive influence on him.

Lost first canine!

We’re not sure what will come during this month of fasting, but we know it will include a number of moments that could be awkward or difficult— we pray that in those moments we can have the perspective to receive them with joy and take advantage of the opportunities they represent.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We are thankful that Muki reached out to one of our friends on the big island and they plan to study together while Muki is on that island. We are encouraged to hear that his desire to learn and grow has not been lessened with his temporary change of location. Our son had a significant speaking role in his jr high play this past weekend. We are very proud of him and thankful he got that experience. We have already seen answers to prayer as we have asked people to pray for specific people during the month of fasting and then we have had opportunities to share the good news with those people. Our colleague’s first week of internship at the hospital went well— not tons of patients come during the month of fasting, but her interactions with the few patients and staff have gone well.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray that the answers to prayer and opportunities to share truth with islanders would continue. There has been no progress on plans for a larger gathering as some of the key players have been sick/busy. Pray for good health and a clear plan moving forward. Pray for our kids— all three of them have end of term exams this week. Pray that they would feel prepared without being stressed. Pray for our oldest two kids as they travel back to the islands at the end of the week— there are a couple awkward things with their travel that have the possibility of making it more stressful— pray that it all goes smoothly and that they can even get some rest as they travel overnight. Pray for the islands as times continue to be hard— with produce shortages and high prices and heat making the month of fasting harder on everyone (especially the poor). If you want to receive our weekly prayer emails during the month of fasting or a link to a website with prayer prompts, please let us know!