A Bittersweet Dichotomy...

Denise left a comment on my last entry that I had to agree with. She said that she had just read
a statement that said,"Parents cry when their kids are doing great things," and that our
children are doing great things for God.
So true for us POMS and this situation gives an illustration of this statement.
In the same e-mail that Michele told me about Joel she also told me that the people were responding positively to the Acts movie in their own language.
Praise God....
I found myself thanking God with joy, and praying for the people who are watching
while in the same sitting crying and praying over my adorable, precious , loving grandson who has worms.
What a bittersweet dichotomy.
In order to accept it I have to leave my feelings with a powerful loving God
These are his people both my missionary family and the Ni Vanuatu that they serve.

Not Feeling To Good....

Please pray for this little guy....Joel.
He has an intestinal problem.
I can just hear him now,
"Me sick Gama, me have bugs."
Joel is so cute I could just eat him.
Pray he feels better soon.

We Are At War....And Not Against Flesh And Blood...

I have already shared that my week on Tanna was most difficult. Joel had been sick, relentless rain had washed out the road, and Erik's closest neighbor had asked a Cleva (like a clarivoyant) to come and divine the causes of both a recent death in the village and a death that had happened many years ago. He was also asked to explain why so many people had been getting sick lately in the village. In spite of the weather he spent two days meeting with villagers giving them instructions and guidance.

On Thursday the day of our clothes sale we learned that he had been asked to come. So Erik decided to speak from the translated book of Acts to confront him while he was there.
I had just settled down on my mat to eat my much anticipated laplap when Sierra came running across the field.
"Someone must come quick, Joel has made such a mess," she said in high volume.
"I will go. It is important for you to stay here," I told Erik.

Entering the house the smell was enough to gag a hungry maggot, as the saying goes. Now my young grandson is having trouble getting potty trained, but only partially he can pee without a problem, it is the other he tends to do wherever he feels like it and he felt like it on the kitchen floor. Then he tried to clean it up leaving hand prints pretty much around the room and down the hall wall. I put a screaming Joel in the shower, and began to clean up the mess with cold water and the one rag that I could find.

Sierra poked her head in the door just long enough to say, "Are you okay grandma?"
"Sierra, you go tell daddy that our battle is not against flesh and blood," I said with a chuckle sweat rolling into my eyes as Joel continued to scream.

"What does that mean?" she asked.
"Just tell dad he will understand."
She shrugged and ran off.
Within a few minutes Erik came running back to the house. By then, I had dried and dressed Joel though he was still clearly upset, and I was still scrubbing away.

"Mom, I'll do it," he said.
"Don't worry about it, he is my grandson, I don't mind."
"Are you sure? Sierra said you told her to tell me that it's not my flesh and blood."

At that point we had a much needed laugh, as I told him what I had really said.
I share this story to make my point.

I saw a new that week, over and over, that WE ARE AT WAR, and our battle is not against flesh and blood.
And I saw very clearly the absolute need for me to be praying fervently for my children, their work, and the people they serve.
I've always prayed, but my experiences this week showed me so clearly the need to be more diligent.

Ephesians 6:10-12
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
"for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses, we are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."

Sometimes having them so far away I have been lax, not any more.

Not Just A Book....But A Treasure

"This same Good News that came to you is going
out all over the world. It is bearing fruit
everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed
your lives from the day you first heard and
understood the truth..." Colossians 1:6 (NLT)


Fast Facts about Bible Translation

How big is the Bible translation movement?
There are hundreds of organizations involved in the Bible
translation movement around the world, engaging in
partnerships that include many national and
international organizations, as well as local churches in over
100 countries.

Are a lot of people involved?
Thousands. over 3,000 are sent by Wycliffe USA alone.

How is the work sustained?
Wycliffe members require financial support from many
different people in order to do the work.

What do all those people do?
Just about everything you could imagine, from translation
to videography. People with every type of skill are involved
in the Bible translation movement.

Where do these people live?
There is a need for translation in most places around the world.

Is there really that much of a need for Bible translation?
More than 2,300 languages are still without scripture.

How long does it take to translate Scripture?
It depends. Translation can take 5-25 years.

We have easy access to God's Word in our own language, but there are about 200 million people around the world who have never had any Scripture in their own language. Some are Christians struggling to unlock the truths of God's Word in a language that's not their own, others live without knowledge of Christ at all.
I found this article in a small pamphlet put out by Wycliffe Bible Translators.
I was so moved by the reality of these simple facts, and by the calling that my children have to translate the scripture into the Nafe language.
I believe with all my heart that it is the Bible that will change the lives of the Ni Vanuatu people just as it is God's Word that guides us and changes us.
Oh that we would not take for granted the wonderful treasure that we have in the Bible.

"Open our eyes Lord that we might see wonderful things from your Law." Psalm 119:18

The Doll Has Arrived.....

Heard from Erik today, and the doll has arrived.
WaHOO...
Happy Birthday Sierra.
Thank You Lord....

A Fish Fry...

 

It's Just a Doll

Okay, Okay, I'm trying not to rant be upset, but here I am on my way to aerobics in tears. The reason is that Sierra still has not received her birthday doll, and her birthday was a week ago.
In all the years that the kids have been in Vanuatu there has only been one package that has not arrived just one so this will be number two.

I keep reminding myself that it is just a doll, and an insured doll at that, but its not the doll it is what the doll represents. It has to do with relationship the relationship between me and my only granddaughter. This was something fun between us.
She wanted it and I have always wanted to give it to her. It's a girl thing.
As I write this it sounds so silly, but the doll helped to fill a void.

As a long distance missionary grandma I have learned to cope with the distance by prayer, using e-mail and making extra efforts to keep in touch with my grand children,but no matter what it still is not like being together. My only granddaughter lives 6000 miles away and I miss her. I miss that we can't do girl things together. Most of the time God meets that pain but sometimes something like a missing birthday doll reminds me of the loss and it hurts.

So there, now I'm done ranting being upset. I can't change this situation,and if it doesn't change next week I will start looking for the package from this end, but for now,
I pray, God could you get the doll there. I give the loss to You. Thank You that You understand, and I ask that You will fill the void for my sweet grand daughter and me. Give us relationship no matter the distance. Thank You Lord....Amen

Meet Baby Grace...

This is baby Grace, she is about 6 months old and a little beauty... She has the biggest brown eyes, and the softest skin.
It took the whole time I was on Tanna for Grace to finally come to me.
She would look at me and immediately cry. When she finally let me hold her I had the kids take this special picture.

I mentioned in my last post that I had a chicken for Sierra to pluck. On Tanna meat is scarce, and since the people are poor a chicken is a precious commodity, so that a chicken is a very special gift.
There is nothing like a village chicken, no matter how long they have been allowed to graze and grow, they are still skinny, and I don't care how they are prepared they are still tough and chewy.

Michele is holding my "special " chicken... Mama Ellen, baby Grace's Mother gave it to me.
When baby Grace was born I sent her an outfit and some yarn. When Mama Ellen learned that I was coming she saved to buy, and then fed for weeks this guy to thank me.
I was blessed and moved by her generosity.
Mamma Ellen and Grace with her little brother.
Sierra loves to watch Grace.