(Pictures:The line of billboards; Grace and Peter on Grace’s new big-girl bed )
Seeing our house you might not think it, but inside dwells dolphins, tigers, bears, elephants and more. At a moment’s notice our little two year old can turn into a ferocious lion or a rambunctious monkey. Sometimes she has to inform the oblivious adults in the room of the poor baby animal crying in the corner for its mommy.
Imagination is a wonderful thing—it frees us to recreate the world around us with the possibilities of “what if...?”
For well over a year there have been a long row of billboards not far from our home. They picture the coastline (which they block from sight) transformed into a luxurious tourist area—full with movie theater, restaurant and fancy hotel. In the intervening year since their appearance, no apparent progress has been made toward this vision. An islander told us this week, “It is a dream.” He doesn’t think it will really happen.
Tourism is supposed to be the way of the future if the island is to gain any economic independence. But some people have trouble imagining that such a future is really possible—“so much would have to change”, they say.
When we think about the future of the islands we imagine dramatic changes in the lives of individuals, in the lives of families, and in the culture as a whole. Some may think it will never happen—the islanders are “too hardened and stuck in their ways”, they say. But we are seeing changes that aren’t just imaginary.
So we keep on imagining and we trust that what we imagine for the islands is possible and will one day be reality.
“What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Luke 18:27
PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our family made it safely home to the US. Peter was pretty sick this week, but we are thankful that now he seems to be on the mend. Plus, he turned 4 months old this week! We are settling back into our normal routines after visitors and Peter’s illness mixing things up.
PRAYERS REQUESTED
Please continue to pray for our health- being healthy is a blessing we don’t ever want to take for granted. Our teammates' little girl Lena is sick. She was getting tested for malaria today. Pray for her quick recovery. A week from today begins the month of fasting—when schedules, routines and attitudes on the island get turned on their heads. Pray for us as we prepare how we would answer the unique questions we get asked this time of year.
