Transitions and Internal Changes

The first morning I awakened on American soil I fell into an old habit. I woke up wondering what I had to accomplish that day - even trying to invent things that I just must do. It seems we find so much meaning in this. But I prayerfully decided against it - decided against feeling a slave to a checklist that will never give me the meaning I seek. Frankly, this is a fight here - a fight against an anxiety that seems to drive this culture, because we haven't well learned to stop and just be with each other - and that words are not always necessary.

God worked many things into my life in Africa that I wish always to retain: a new sense of humility that reminds me I can receive from each person, a settledness of heart and mind in the present moment and a deepened sense of trust and joy in Him as a result of time spent with His family. The list goes on . . . greater appreciation for work and a willingness to work and serve, a high priority on laughter, honest and frank communication with love, seeking God to meet my needs first and foremost and then looking outward, listening well to others and truly treasuring relationships.
So, in the midst of my transition back into this culture, pray God seals what He has done in my heart and life. Transition is a roller-coaster but I know He is with me as He has been and as He will be.

This blog might continue as the journey of life continues . . . thank you to all of you who have been traveling alongside me in prayer for the most recent, incredible chapter in Cote d'Ivoire.

Je suis dans la joie - une joie immense . . . car Yahweh m'a libere.

Relationships

I am not really sure how to write a blog about the many goodbyes I've said in the past few weeks. As hard as they can be, they are also rich. The relationships that developed in the past few months indeed changed my life.

Halfway through my time, I took some time to personally reflect on various questions - a way to assess where I'd come from and where I was going. One of the questions on the list was "what is your exit strategy?" At first I found this question almost repulsive. In the past year, God has been removing my checklist mentality that so often steals from joy and being present in the moments with people. In bringing this question before Him, I delighted to hear His heart was for me to invest more intentionally in relationships - continuing to pursue time with people and pursuing their hearts as well. What a blessing that was.

So, I learned to look for changes in relationships - as small as they may be. Day by day they can change and grow and people change as a result. We change how we think and act because of time spent together. And it is indeed rich.

A matter of life and death

Knowing Jesus is a matter of life and death in every sense.

Djiakis' father was a prosperous man with 35 hectares of land. The villagers became jealous, feeling that he would become rich and leave them behind. So, they hired a sorcerer from another village to kill him. The sorcerer came to their town, spent one night there and then left. Shortly thereafter, Djiakis' father became ill and died. He had no protection against the power wielded by the sorcerer.

One Thursday afternoon, Mamy and I went with Djiakis for a balafon lesson. Arriving in the church courtyard, we discovered no one was there to open the main building, so we sat down to wait and chat outside. After a while, a tall man joined us. Though showing signs of aging, he was obviously still strong. We greeted him and made sure he had a place to sit. At first, the introduction was brief and he sat quietly as we continued our conversation listening to Mamy share a miraculous story of how God protected her father (a pastor in Congo) from an attempt on his life by another pastor. Djiakis translated the story into Jula for our guest.

Then, he told us his story. He lives in a village near Korhogo (about an hour from Ferke). His uncle is the chief of the village, but because of age is unable to perform his duties. So, this man is the acting chief. The village depends on him in this role. He is Muslim and has 4 wives and 12 children. His younger sister is a member of a sorcery group. She ate a man on "credit." (In other words, someone else killed him.) But, she had an obligation to pay them back a life for a life. So, she chose to kill her brother. All the village knew of this. Another member of her sorcery group came to speak with this man. The sorcerer told him to go to a church in Ferke and believe in Jesus - the only way he would save his life. So, the man hopped on his motorcycle and arrived at the church to do just that - to make the most important decision of his life. Before we parted ways, we prayed for him. Pray for him to have a sincere faith in Jesus - not just to save his life for the moment on earth. And for the entire village upon which he will have an impact.