(Pictures: The landscape on this part of the island is very different. The menacing volcano is replaced with hills, there is a lot less rain and they have baobab trees; Grace enjoying the soccer game; Our team is in the white shirts, note Chris)
We woke up Sunday morning and moved quicker than usual through our morning routines. Before too long, the horn was beeping outside of our house and we were rushing out the door. We joined the nine people already in the back of the truck plus bags and hit the road. We spent close to two hours in the car, with the ocean always on our left and the island’s changing landscape passing us on the right. Half an hour into the drive we were traveling through parts of the island we had never seen. We were passed by three other vans full of people headed for the same destination- a small village on the other side of the island.
We stopped at a small beach area and unloaded. A small sound system was already set up and people were getting settled. In less than an hour the service had started. There were at least 6 mother tongues represented in the crowd and almost all of them were used at some point during the service. We came from various hometowns, islands, and countries but we sang, read and listened together.
After the service there was a big potluck. (Tom ate hedgehog!) Then the best part, fellowship. Enjoying each other’s company. Chatting. Wading in the water, perhaps swimming with the kids. Playing the local ball game (like bocce). Then the climax, the local villagers were going to play a soccer match against a team pieced together from our hodge-podge group.
We sat with Grace and our friends on the sideline and watched the men play their best. Someone had gathered some jelly-shoes (think of the shoes that little girls wear in the US but in adult sizes) for the men on our team as these are considered good sport shoes here. We saw at least one of our players in just socks though. It was an evenly matched game. Our own team leader Chris played well and received lots of cheers whenever he touched the ball as most of the spectators were thoroughly amused by this lone white man playing soccer. In the end we lost 2-4 but it was a good bonding experience and hopefully made a good impression among the people of that village.
It was Pentecost Sunday—a day where we celebrate the diversity of the Body and look forward to that day when all the languages and peoples will praise God together. This past Sunday, we were blessed to experience that in a very real way.
PRAYERS ANSWERED
We had a fun day last weekend celebrating our teammate Amy’s birthday. Grace is weaned! We dropped the last feed this week and now she doesn’t even seem to notice. Our little girl is growing up.
PRAYERS REQUESTED
Our next-door neighbor’s baby boy has lost his appetite and is losing weight. We’ve told them we are praying- pray that we see a marked improvement soon. We’ve had some discouraging days this week, pray that we would feel encouraged by God’s plan for us here and our language learning.
