While writing to a friend who is a missionary in Italy, these things came abundantly clear to me. God answers the prayers of missionaries very quickly, and the lessons that we teach on are put to the test very quickly too. Something along the lines of praying for new tires, getting them, and then putting that “rubber to the road”, all in the same day.
The topic I went over with the older boys on Monday night was “Why We Remain Faithful to God’s Word”.
…let me tell you….it was a good lesson, so good in fact I have pulled muscles in my back from trying to give myself pats…..and yes, you may….should…..should begin to see part of the problem here…
The very next day I was challenged….blessed…..challenged….blessed; let’s go with that one, with the opportunity to live it out. In addition, it was also a reminder that once a discovery about life is made, it doesn’t mean I am threw learning; such as those discussed in the posting about being peed on.
A boy had to be taken to the hospital and the clinic ran very long that day. So we went in to grab a quick bite to eat. During that time, his abula (grandmother) walked up the road to do some shopping. In the confusion about is she his grandmother or mother, what was translated is that she went into town, which is where his mother really was, but not his grandmother who brought him to the clinic.
So…the week before I blogged about me and Sudanese not really understanding each other. The night before, I taught on His Yoke being easier, Zachariah & Elizabeth being patient in their faithfulness, and topped it off with Galatians 5:22-24, “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law”.
So…when I throw my notebook on the ground and scream out “what is wrong with these people” (thinking the grandmother left to go into town when we were about to leave for the hospital with her grandson), I think it is safe to say…lots of things…starting with, I was not patient. I learned, again, my yoke is a whole lot more difficult…..because how to do you apologize to an entire culture, and it was not easy to admit what I said. There was a great deal of internal debate about whether or not to admit to the internet, or both of you who read this, what I had said….and at this point, I took Galatians 5:22-24 and threw it out the proverbial window. I wasn’t loving, joyful, peaceful, kind, good, gentle, and display no self-control, but as I stopped and prayed on the way to the hospital, it became clear that she did exactly what I do when someone takes 15 minutes to get ready to leave, get something done that needed to be done. It’s not like she is looking at a new outfit. Out by the compound, there isn’t much to buy but food for your home.
Once again, a need to apologize, but how when she doesn’t speak English and my Juba/Arabic is still not there. Perhaps this week, instead of learning new ways to ask about diarrhea, I learn how to say I am sorry for what I said.
I love that God is so gracious, forgiving, and gentle with His lessons; but I often grow tired of putting it to the test. I can assure you that every day is an incredible experience, and I love being here; but I also cannot ignore these experiences; and often, for me, it is these times of absolute failure and complete lack of humility that I find the opposite…but I would still like to not push this particular envelope again…..ever.
Thank you for reading, and praying for me, for the Sudanese, and especially the orphans.
No comments:
Post a Comment