(Photos: The kids with short-termer on her birthday)
One of our brothers came to visit us this week. After some small talk he asked if we could give him some money for food. He’s an educated man and he has family, but he has no job and because of his views and opinions he receives no help. This is a real form of what it talks about in Matt. 5:11. The community shows its disapproval by a subtle sort of ostracizing.
Islanders like to boast that there are no homeless and that no one goes hungry here. Even though unemployment is very high and many people have no means to support themselves, you can always get a meal. The family is obligated to care for you, and if you don’t have family, then the community will give you your meals. And we’ve seen this in action in various island homes-- old men coming by to receive a free meal; young men who are shiftless and lazy but are supported by their family to continue in their idle ways. It’s a very common sight here. But if you stray from the status quo, if you become a nonconformist in any way, that safety net can disappear. It is replaced by whispers and gossip and complaints. “Why don’t you help?” “You’re useless.” “Why should I feed you?” “That one’s trouble. Stay away from him.” For many here, this subtle punishment is enough to drive them back to conformity, but so far our brother has remained strong.
What he really longs for is a job. He’s willing to work hard. In many ways he is an ideal employee: well-educated, fluent in multiple languages, a good worker, honest, kind. But the community can control this too. Most jobs here are received not based on qualifications but on connections. (One need only listen to the phone service to know this is true. The phone service has an option for English speakers, and though there are many excellent English speakers here, we hear a horrible English translation on our phones. We suspect this is the result of nepotism.) So here our friend is willing to work, but because of his differing opinions and beliefs he has no contacts, no network that will fight for him. How is he to find a job in this climate?
Nothing is impossible with God. Please join us in praying for this brother to find work.
PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our son has finished his medicine and his tummy is doing fine. One of the short-term gals turned 22 this week! We thank God for bringing her here for these months of service. We just had a nice visit from a worker from the smallest island! Our short-termers saw an answer to prayer in a handful of good conversations with islanders this week.
PRAYERS REQUESTED
A politically-charged court case is supposed to come to a close this week. There was some rioting related to it last week and fears of more violence this week. Pray that there would be peace. We leave tomorrow (Thursday) for Tanzania for a leadership conference. Pray for our travels and that we could learn a lot. Pray for the local 
brothers and sisters that the community pressures and economic hardships would not discourage them.
brothers and sisters that the community pressures and economic hardships would not discourage them. 
