Expecting the Storm

If you keep an eye out for the signs, you usually know when a storm is coming on the islands. The wind starts to whip around in a certain way and the quality and smell of the air changes. Usually it is only a matter of moments (maybe minutes) before the rain comes, sometimes slowly but often in a sudden and dramatic downpour. On an outing on the big island a couple weeks ago, we could actually see the storm front coming towards us and made it safely to our cars just as it started to rain.

Storm approaches (at beach on the big island)

The tricky thing is drying clothes. This time of year, we know that rain is inevitable. So it is always a gamble to put them up to dry outside. They dry so much faster than inside but there is always the risk that they will get caught in the rain. If we are being careful we will notice the winds picking up and we’ll look up and see the clouds forming on the hill above us and we can calmly go and take the clothes down. But more often than we can count, we’ve found ourselves running up the narrow stairs to our roof and frantically tearing clothes off the line as the sky opens upon us. A storm surprised us again.

Waiting out a storm

But there are more than just natural storms that we have our eye out for on the islands. After being taken somewhat by surprise in October 2018 by the violent unrest that broke out on our island, we have tried to be better about reading the signs and anticipate if a storm of unrest could be brewing. As a team we share the rumors and “talk of the town” to get a sense if anything is rumbling. Eventual unrest seems inevitable, though most tell us it won’t be until 2021!

But there is another storm that we expect as well. Another one that seems inevitable. People on the islands are being changed, embracing hope and life, and leaving their old lives of darkness for life in the light. While the number of people changing remains small it doesn’t get that much attention. But as more people are changed it will become inescapable and then the strong island force that wants conformity and status quo will fight back. We’ve seen some rumblings. Last year our colleagues on the small island had a hard time getting visas. Recently a friend who had meetings at his house had his neighbors go to the police to threaten him to stop having meetings. (In his wild days when he had loud parties at his house, no one complained, but now that people are calmly studying and singing songs at his house, his neighbors have a problem!) Another rumble…last month another friend was approached and questioned by extended family members (seemingly at the instigation of her mother) to pressure her to return to the accepted patterns of belief and living. Another gust of wind…this month a friend had a dream of police bursting in and breaking up a meeting. She saw it as a warning— not a warning to be fearful but to be ready.

When we were on the beach on the big island watching the storm coming, it was beautiful. We still worked hard to pack up our stuff and to prepare ourselves for the inevitable wind and rain, but we could still appreciate the beauty of it.

We don’t necessarily look forward to seeing persecution on the islands, but what will precipitate it is beautiful. This change is beautiful and needed. If it means a storm is coming, so be it, we will prepare and pray for the islands all the more!

Tom and kids at sunset

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our neighbor friend gave birth to healthy baby girl and everything went fine. Thanks for praying. Bwe, Mnyawe have continued to have contact with the brother that came to pray, they’ve also been reaching out and spending time with Tom since we’ll be leaving soon. Continue to pray for them.  We’ve had some good, encouraging times of packing this week and are feeling less overwhelmed about getting the rest of our house packed up in time (we have a week left).

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray that islanders would be prepared for the storms coming and that even the storms would be used to spread light, life and change. Our former teammate who works as a doctor on the French Island was diagnosed with dengue and had to be admitted to the hospital today. Pray for a quick recovery and for his wife and two young girls during this unsettling time. Our youngest son is sick and had to miss the first day of exams for the second trimester of local school. Pray for a quick recovery and for his exams (they are hard for him). Our Womens’ Day gathering had to be postponed because of illness, pray that the women could find to gather and encourage each other soon. The group from mainland Africa has arrived. They have been having many all-day meetings that can be tiring for the locals. Pray for stamina and that the times of training and meeting would be beneficial and uplifting. Pray for our last week on the island before leaving for six months that we’d have time to get everything done and good interactions as we say goodbyes.