As missionaries we have the opportunity to witness differing cultures around the world. In America we have the culture of individualism. "I did it my way"-- and it's all about me! When a person achieves success it may reflect a bit on his parents but it is his success just as it is his failure. Africans live in the collective. We saw an example of this when President Obama rose to office. It was an African victory. They count him from the clan of Africa and gloried in his victory as if it was their own.
We witnessed an example of this collective identification on Wednesday as we went out to the small preaching point we visited on Sunday to meet with the church and discuss matters.
We witnessed an example of this collective identification on Wednesday as we went out to the small preaching point we visited on Sunday to meet with the church and discuss matters.
There were no drums this time, but it wasn't long before young men began arriving. We noticed several coming with injuries; one with a gash on his foot which was swollen, another limping, leaning on a stick for a crutch; there was someone with his arm in a makeshift sling, and still another with a large bandage on his head. We were soon to find out the reason for all these injuries.
It seems that on the previous Saturday just after dusk another clan invaded. They came wielding clubs and spears, without warning, out of the darkness to attack. The root of the attack stems from the age old challenge of the marriage of a daughter. Evidently a young woman from the attacking clan fell pregnant and the father was a young man from this clan. They ran away to get married, but her clan had other ideas. The problem was not contained to just one or two individuals or families, but the whole clan took up arms and attacked, putting the wife of the sub-chief in the hospital, now blind and deaf due to the battering she received, and causing many more less severe injuries.
Now these young men come carrying clubs and spears. They will not be caught unaware again.
The point is -- they are coming. They said they want to learn more about Jesus. We talked about Sunday and they said they want us to come during the week as well. Together we made a plan, Debbie will meet with the women Friday mornings and Jerry will meet with the men on Saturday afternoons. God is at work -- we want to be part of His plan.
Pray for these young men and women who want to know more about the Bible. Satan is trying to distract these seekers; he will try and do the same to us. Pray that we will all be dedicated and dilligent to proclaim and study God's Word. Pray for peace to reign in this war torn country.