a harvest

The latest trip into the forest was really amazing, and there are still more parts of it I’m eager to share!

I was awed on this trip by the story-crafting group’s progress. The Holy Spirit is truly a Great Teacher! We arrived on a Saturday evening, and so on Sunday worshipped at the church there. The pastor, who doesn’t read, told the story of the prodigal son with excitement and emotion in his dialect . . . though we have never worked on crafting this story. And later that afternoon, we tagged along as the believers visited multiple families in the village, sharing stories during each visit. Many of the stories were ones we’ve worked on together, and I was amazed to see those who had struggled with the stories when we learned them now able to tell them with ease. Some stories were new, too; so they’ve clearly crafted their own stories for use in evangelism!

My goal with my job, basically, is to see believers be able to take Biblical stories, put them in their dialects, and share them naturally. And this is exactly what they are doing! I’m watching God work in them what I hoped I could help with—He certainly doesn’t need my help :) I haven’t even seen this group in six months!

I know that from the beginning, even before the start of Pastor Jonoro’s relationship with this village, way before I ever had the chance to visit, God has been working, slowly but surely winning the hearts of these people and filling them with His stories! What a joy to look up and find God doing more strongly and deeply and truly what I hoped might happen—His plan is truly so much bigger and greater! I came with a goal; but God was way ahead of me, and now I’m just following along, learning as I go, and being amazed with both His power and activity, and the obedience and example of His people in the forest.

This first time I went to the deep forest, it was a hot, dry time, and a sort of off-season in terms of crops . . . the physical hunger and need were crushing. Now it is harvest time! Plump, yellow corn husks surround people’s homes, and church members gifted us with pumpkins, peanuts, and rice. People look healthier, the plenty of the harvest lifting some measure of care from their faces.

And the harvest of His Word is equally apparent! I’m reminded of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” I know that God is always working, and has been accomplishing His plan for this village even before anyone lived there! I am so blessed to hear Pastor Jonoro’s stories, and those of the others who have poured their lives into this village, to see how God has continued to work, accomplishing His plan. I was touched by each believer’s testimony of how God saved them, and people in their family, from sin and Satan and emptiness and fear. I’m so thankful that I’ve been given the privilege to teach stories from His Word in this village—but I’m not the first, nor will I be the last. Really, none of us is anything, but “only God, who makes things grow.” What a blessing to be a witness of His beautiful harvest!