Heart Check

 “Karibu” I said, “Welcome,” as my friend Muki and his son came to my house and sat down for a chat on my porch.  Muki, is my good friend.  I’ve known him for years.  But his son, Mtsa, I had only met a few times and I wasn’t sure about him.  He had a glint in his eye that I didn’t like.  The sort of guy you look at and think, “He’s up to no good.”  I served them some cold water as is my habit with guests.  Mtsa quickly let me know that he preferred hot water not cold.  I think it was a not so subtle hint that he wanted coffee.  When Muki comes to visit me in the morning I serve him coffee, but not in the afternoon.  No, this was confirming something I already suspected—Mtsa was here for what he could get.  It wasn’t long before he was asking for something.  Could I bring him some boots from America—and not just any boots—heavy duty, steel-toed, military grade boots.  It was a pretty big thing to ask for and for the sake of my friendship with Muki I made it happen, but I didn’t like it—and I didn’t like Mtsa for asking me while having no relationship with me.

Seeing people after travels often means giving gifts

When we got back from America Muki and Mtsa were soon at my door, that same glint in his eye, eager for his boots.  I gave them to him with as much positivity as I could muster.  He seemed happy with them.  Then he asked me if I had a phone for him too.  I told him I didn’t, and my dislike of Mtsa went a little deeper.

Last week Muki and Mtsa came over in the morning.  It was morning so I gave them both some coffee—Mtsa seemed very pleased.  Then, as is our habit, Muki and I began to study together.  Mtsa sat with us a sort of half-willing participant.  I thought to myself, “I bet he sees this as paying his dues for the boots.”  But he sat and listened and made at least one small comment.  When we were finished he showed me his phone which had a broken screen and asked if I could get it fixed for him next time I travel.  I said “We’ll see.” And felt my dislike for Mtsa grow a little deeper—I don’t trust this guy farther than I can throw him.  He just sees me and sees an ATM.  The less I see of Mtsa the better.

I was telling my team about Mtsa—looking for sympathy I suppose.  When I was suddenly aware of what I was doing.  My heart had become hard towards him.  

Suddenly it struck me—had I forgotten whose son he was?  While we were in the States, I told a lot of people about his father Muki.  I start the story by telling them about how I had this neighbor who I didn’t trust at all. I knew he just wanted to be my friend for the things he could get out of me.  But, he kept coming by and eventually we became friends and eventually we started to study together.  Should I expect Muki’s son to be any different???
Then a second thing struck me—hadn’t I been hoping, pleading that my meetings with Muki would grow beyond the two of us?  Wasn’t I hoping that others would come and join us?  Wasn’t I hoping that Muki could be a light to his family?  And here’s Mtsa sitting and studying with us—what am I grumbling about?

As if to show me just how stupid I was being, that same morning Mtsa and Muki came by and Mtsa asked me if I could put the app on his phone that would allow him to listen to and read the things we were studying!

Now I’m not suggesting that Mtsa has had a change of heart.  I don’t know if he wanted the app because he is actually interested, or because Muki wants him to be interested, or because he feels he has to appease me in order to get free coffee.  I don’t know.  But that really doesn’t matter so much now.  As much as I want his heart to change, mine was the one that needed to change first.  Am I still suspicious of him?  Yes.  But am I willing to love him anyway?  Now, yes.  Mtsa may only be in it for what he can get, but now my heart is softer toward him.  How thankful I am for the One who opens my eyes, shows me the hardness of my heart, and softens it in ways that only He can.  Mtsa, I don’t trust you farther than I can throw you, but you are welcome to my home, my love, my friendship.  Karibu!

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We’re thankful that Muki keeps coming by to study and for Mtsa to join the group.  We’re thankful that our teammate was able to get her visa for another year.  We’re thankful for the visits and time spent reconnecting with friends here, especially as one friend recently lost her husband.  So glad that Megan and our teammate were able to sit and visit with her and encourage her.

 

PRAYERS REQUESTED

Keep praying for the situations of rice (still too expensive for most), politics (still volatile though the president is recovering from the attack on his life), the medical team leader’s house electrical woes (it was working and then it wasn’t again), for our teammate’s hospital work authorization (these things go slowly) and our new people still adjusting to island life and learning language (it’s a marathon, not a sprint).  Keep praying for our sister from the little island who was taken to court by her step father who is trying to kick her out of the house.  The judge has given her 6 months to either change her ways or move out.  We are thankful for the six month reprieve, but pray that she would be able to find a new and affordable place to live. There is a workshop happening for the translation project across all three islands— pray that it would go well and all the participants would gain a lot from it.