Insights

 A few days ago when we reading the story of Isaac and Rebekah, Mtsa sighed, pausing in the middle of the story and said, ““Aha, it’s happening again.  This is the same thing his father did.”  Muki shakes his head and laughs at this surprising turn of events. They’re fully engaged with the story. 

A few days later we read the story of Isaac being tricked by Jacob.  Again they were enthralled by every trick, every lie. “The voice is Jacob’s but the hands are Esau’s.”  Laughter and delight, dismay and surprise. 

I love it when the stories hit them with all the surprise and power of a new story.  These stories that I practically know by heart, can often carry little emotional power for me.  But when I read them with Muki and Mtsa I remember just how good these stories are, how compelling, how real.  That’s something that Muki often says, “They are just like people today.  People haven’t changed.”

I also love reading with them for the cultural insights they give. In ways, their culture is closer to Isaac’s life than mine and so I find myself benefiting from the insights and the similarities of this place and culture.  When Jacob is told to go to another place until his brother’s anger is forgotten—Muki and Mtsa say, “Yeah, that happens here too.  If things get too hot, a guy will move to one of the other islands for awhile until things calm down.”

When thinking about the pressure to take a second wife if the first wife isn’t haven’t children they told me, “Oh yeah, people here call it a ‘bad return on your investment.’ You aren’t ‘making any profit.’  So you need to find another one.”  This is a reality that they understand and connect with. 

Then there are the insights that seem to come from no other place but from divine inspiration.  When you read a passage and Mtsa says, “He was doing the best he could, but he doesn’t have the Holy Spirit like we do.”  Or, “This blessing is talking about someone else isn’t it?”  

Getting back into homeschool

It isn’t always this way.  Sometimes we read a story and struggle to find things to say.  Sometimes, our studies get off on rabbit trails that take us far away from whatever it was we were meant to be talking about and it’s hard to get them back on track. (It’s especially hard to get Muki back on track.)  But more often than not, even with stories I don’t expect to make a splash, our studies together result in insights, connections and truth that I could not have anticipated.  What a wonder.  What a joy.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We are thankful for islanders reading and engaging with the Word in their own language. The women’s gathering went well— with a good study and discussion. Our prospective new teammates arrived safely on the big island. Despite flight cancelations and tight connections, our colleague on the medical team made it safely back to Clove Island after months away. The group on the plateau has officially registered and been approved by the island government— this is something that most islanders didn’t think was possible, making others think and pray about whether more groups should do likewise. 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray for the couple doing a site visit with our team this week. Already their interisland flight was canceled so instead of arriving today, they will arrive tomorrow to Clove Island. Pray for flexible attitudes and that they would see and experience what God wants them to experience so that future plans can become clearer and confirmed. There were some missing faces at the women’s gathering— including the new sister. Pray that these sisters would be connecting and studying with others on a regular basis. Pray especially that Dunga and this new sister could make a strong connection, as they live in the same town. Pray for Ma Imani— she is not feeling well and it is not clear if it is just manifestations of the stress of parenting 6 kids (4 of which are not hers) or if there is something else going on. Pray that she and her husband would work together to make sure she gets times of rest and that she would find healing. The men are supposed to have their gathering this week— pray for a good turnout and for deeper, honest communication among them.