Good Day

Just like anywhere else there are good days and bad days in the mission field.  This particular day was a good one.  It was Monday, the beginning of another school week.  I guess our kids missed us over the weekend because instead of meeting us up at the school at 8:00 they all decided to come down and hangout before school.  Upon invitation they all crammed inside the clinic portion of our house.  Some of the boys had tawans (cuts), but for the most part we were all just visiting.  After a while we finally told them that we still needed to get ready for school.  They got the hint and all filed up towards the school again.  Kiley and I took the opportunity to finish getting dressed and inhaled some food before following.

                We brought our cameras that day and had a great time taking pictures and videos.  Later that afternoon we put on some rice and beans over our fire to cook and low and behold there were our kids again.  I guess they just hadn’t gotten enough of us yet that day.  In talking with them we learned that the little siblings of Bibi were sick gain.  We decided we would go to them since the kids were so small and it was quite a hike.  Kiley started getting all the meds together we thought we might need while I kept the fire going.  Meanwhile our students eagerly observed Kiley preparing all the meds and asked question upon question like, “Is that medicine sweet?” “What is it for?
  Kiley let them smell the different medicines and soon conversations were rolling.  Thinking back over all the visits we’ve had this one still ranks the highest.

                By the time we were ready for our home visit it was 5:30 pm and raining, but we decided to go anyways even though we had a lot to do since we had to go to Kementiyan the next day.  We were both happy and excited to go.  As we started down from Emrang we decided it was best to go the barefoot route because of all the loose gravel on the trail.  We loved it!  We reached the house on their farm only to find that there were no people there. Just across the valley we could hear voices and we figured they were probably there. As we reached the creek we were met by two young children about 4 years old sent to be our guides.  Upon arrival we realized we were among friends, and not strangers.  Mirey, her son’s family, along with his mother-in-law, and Junilin one of the older siblings of the two that were sick were there.  They all were very talkative and we enjoyed a great little visit.

                Continuing on we followed Junilin (about 7 years old) to where her family was.  Darkness had just settled into the valley when we reached their benwa (house).  It was good to see them again and we were so glad we came.  These people, this place, and this culture are quickly finding a spot in my heart.  We so desperately wanted to pray for the family and the sick ones who were our friends, but do not know about their Almighty, Compassionate Creator.  We asked if they wanted us to and to our delight they said yes!

                As we stepped out under the canopy of stars to begin our journey home our hearts were full, and feeling the dirt between our toes only added to all the magic.  Just a few steps up the trail I stepped in something that felt a lot like mud, which was a bit concerning considering we were in the middle of dry season.  My worst fears were confirmed.  It was in fact poop, and human poop at that!  In moments like that there’s nothing to do but scrap off what you can, say “sigi lang” ad just keep walking.

                With both of us still in the recovery phases of malaria we stopped more frequently on our way home as it was all up hill.  One place we stopped was the abandoned home of the family we had just been with.  We took advantage of the unique opportunity to pray that God would claim their hearts in their own home.  We continued on filled with awe in being tin the service of the King of Kings.

                A little further up, we stopped gain in the middle of a newly burned uma (farm).  We spent quite a bit of time there contemplating and talking about the works of God, How He has been growing and changing us, and how we’re seeing more and more the great controversy being played out.

                I believe we weren’t walking the trail back home alone.  The One who has always been found walking among his servants, the One who walks before and behind us, He was our companion.  He was the one inspiring our thoughts and words.  Amid the pressures of daily life, with pressing fears all around, and trials abounding in our future we were able to have the peace of God, find solace in  His promises, and find courage of heart.  Never doubt that Jesus is well at work still today.  Open your heart to Him and you will find He is walking with you too.