Not On Our Radar

 A young man called a greeting at our gate. It was late morning on Eid— the biggest holiday of the year. Big groups of kids walk around in their brand new outfits claiming candy from every house with an open door. It was starting to thin and our candy stores were very low, so while our front door was still open, we had closed the metal gate knowing that kids and adults who knew us would still come, but it would discourage the hoards of kids coming from farther and farther away who had no idea who we were. 

Dressed up for Eid

So I knew this young man must know us, but I didn’t recognize him. For a second, I wasn’t sure if I should treat him like a kid or a man. For a kid, I would wish them a happy Eid, say one of the holiday blessings over them and give them some candy, after which they would immediately leave for the next house. For a man, I would invite them into the seating area inside and offer them some cake and a drink. 

As soon as I opened the gate for him, I knew to treat him like a man. He greeted me properly and asked after Tom (not the candy-crazed kid behavior). Tom and our son had already arrived back home from their morning of visiting, so the young man came in. 

‘Ari, Wow, you’ve grown up! How is Bwe? What about Mnyawe?” 

Out greeting friends

From Tom’s greeting and questions, I knew where this man came from, even I didn’t remember him coming to our house before. He must have been part of a group that centered around Bwe— Tom would go to Bwe’s house and some men would join them. He studied the Word with them for close to 2 yrs. In that time, Bwe fluctuated from seeming to be a true brother and seeming to fall away, while Mnyawe eventually expressed a sincere faith. Bwe and Mnyawe were the main ones on which we focused our prayers. They were the ones who sometimes came to our house and with whom Tom built a deeper relationship. But I had never seen Ari. He had just been a kid that sometimes joined Tom and the group. But that was years ago…

Every year during the month of fasting, we write about different islanders, usually one for each day and a small group of dedicated people pray for them. We try to pray and reflect as we pick the people— sometimes opting for groups of people if a single individual doesn’t stand out to us. But this year, we didn’t have Bwe and Mnyawe on the list, though they have been on the list in the past. They have fallen off our radar. They stopped making time to study with Tom and changed their priorities a long time ago. I don’t think Ari was ever on our list of key people to pray for— but something about what he heard and read those years ago has stayed in his heart, so that he made his way on Eid (a time to visit friends and family) all the way to our house. 

He stayed longer than any other Eid visitor. He asked Tom about studying again. He misses it. He wants to start again. 

Ari may not have been our radar. But we know that God sees everyone. It isn’t uncommon when we are studying or discussing serious things with someone that there are others on the edges, perhaps participating, perhaps just listening. We’ve often taken comfort in the idea that even if the person we are talking to isn’t really open to what we are saying, perhaps someone on the outskirts is. Perhaps our focus was mostly on Bwe and Mnyawe and we should still pray for them, but God has everyone on His radar and He continues to be working in Ari’s heart. 

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our two older kids made it safely back home. Thank you for praying for their travels, there were some obvious answers to prayers as a few usually tiresome processes went really smoothly and easily.  Our older son is 16 years old today! We are so thankful for him— for the wonderful young man that he has become and how God is working in his life. A plan for Easter is starting to come together! 



PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray for the Easter gathering— as plans have come together we have noticed some dynamics between some people that don’t seem entirely healthy. Islanders often talk positively even if it doesn’t represent what is going on in their hearts. Pray that there can be healthy conversations and that the gathering can be well attended and encourage unity. Pray for the women’s gathering this week that it would be an encouraging time of study and fellowship, and also as we discuss what to study next (this is the last in a series). Pray for our two older kids as they recover from their busy school term and travels— pray especially that our daughter won’t have a flare-up of her rheumatoid arthritis. Future decisions are still looming/undecided but we are hoping to make some progress this week— pray that we’d know when to move forward with them.