day 5

"For everyone who asks receives; 

he who seeks finds; 

and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

(promise of Jesus, Luke 11:10)

 

Today will end with a bible study at our host's home.  Any bible - regardless of denomination or language - will be useful, as they will take a brief walk through a few scripture passages and discuss it together.  It is a simple, non-threatening introduction to faith, and the hosts will welcome whomever joins them with grace and hospitality.   

While our efforts cover an entire village, our host ministry has a very specific goal: five households at the final bible study meeting.  Ours is not a mission of great revival or conversion; this is not a crusade to make hundreds of people believe like we do.  It is simply the building of a church - a body of people, believing and following Christ - and we are glad helpers to those who have a long-term investment in this place.  A commitment of five households will give our host ministry a "green light," so to speak, to invest time and resources in this community with weekly bible study meetings. With five or more committed and growing in discipleship, they will move forward in planting a church here.

This number seems so easy, but we also recognize the commitment it will take for somebody to come to their neighbors' house for a bible study.  This is not a culture that readily meets together.  The idea of studying the bible, not just displaying it in a corner, surprises and challenges many people we've met.  In order for women or teenagers to attend a meeting, their husbands or fathers will have to approve or join them.  Anyone who comes to a bible study will likely face judgement or skepticism from friends who resist change.  So, we know the goal is set with a solemn heart and faithful prayers.

We spent the day visiting with people in the neighborhood, playing another heated futball match, and presenting a simple but moving drama in the plaza.  Kids, adults, friends, and new faces have been greeting us all day, asking us our story, listening to our hearts, and sharing their lives with us.  Many people have made decisions to welcome Christ's offer of grace and forgiveness and accept His call to discipleship.  It is like seeing fishermen leave their nets - simple, yet profound.  I've never been around this sort of movement, so it is incredible to witness.

While walking over to Angel & Ed's home today, we met a man and his young son outside a store.  The boy is Obi-2's age, which creates an easy conversation for us.  We've met them before, but today we had a chance to visit a bit more.  Mr. Conche has been watching our group, and particularly our family.  He eyes Mr. Kenobi and earnestly asks questions. 

Why would you spend money to come and work here?

You could have gone to a resort.  Why would you plan a vacation like this?

I hear it's about God, but how could religion bring a family with little kids to this place?

Religion.  Yes, it's unlikely that religion would cause us to do this.  If religion is people's effort to get close to the divine, achieve goodness, and find eternal happiness, then this culture (and ours) is rich with religion.  In spite of its simplicity and poverty, these neighborhoods are filled with beautiful art, tributes, and traditions of the religious.  Religion fills the community calendar and creates reason for celebrations.  I'm reminded of the story of Paul's visit to Athens.  Like him, we have not come to introduce our religion.

Religion is fully fueled by the believer.  It is always an expenditure - an effort of people, from their own strength, to give something to another.  No matter who or what the god, religion will only present a new set of rules and behaviors, hoping to bring about change by our own sheer will and discipline.   Religion cannot feed or sustain us.  We might feel better about ourselves, but even that is fleeting.  We might think we can understand, but religion will always leave us striving for more information.   Most of all, religion is only as good as the religious person, and so it often fails and disappoints.  Mr. Conche knows this, so our presence is puzzling.

No, religion would not bring us to this place, especially with our children beside us.  We have no religion to offer - we simply have a relationship that has filled us and overflows.  What we have to offer is not ourselves or our habits.  God has already offered the only way to Himself.  How unbelievable, yet beautiful, for Him to turn religion on its head!  It is not religion, but relationship that has moved us, and this is the story we tell.

Mr. Kenobi continued this conversation with Mr. Conche after the boys and I left for lunch.  When my husband joined us later, he truly glowed from joy.  It seems that throughout their conversation, customers would come in for lunchtime purchases.  Mr. Kenobi and his translator would step back to give Mr. Conche time to do business.  Every time this happened, however, Mr. Conche would waive the customer over to another tienda or a family member, insisting that he wanted to hear more of this gospel story from Mr. Kenobi.  By the end of their time together, Mr. Conche was stepping into a new faith - a relationship built on God's efforts, not his own - and he was eager to join us in study this evening.

And so, this evening a new member of God' family - a man, husband, and father of four boys - joined us.  Mr. Kenobi sat with this new friend and brother, sharing a joy that needed no translator.   

There is much work to do tomorrow.  While we have grateful hearts for the four households who gathered together tonight, several people who indicated they wanted to join us were not there.  Our hosts & ministry leaders seem encouraged, however, and gracious to the Americans who were counting and analyzing.  They explained that many people would rather say they'll come, yet not show up, than refuse an invitation.  This is yet another cultural nuance for us to digest.  Our hosts also remind us of a more solemn problem: there is opposition to change.  Whenever God is at work, there will be challenges to those who are with Him.  This is true, whether in our lighthearted games or genuine conversations.

Tomorrow we will spend our time building the relationships we've begun.  It will be our last day in this place, and we will have another bible study meeting in the evening.   We will continue investing in the new disciples we've found this week, and we pray to see the vision of a small group, growing in relationship with Himself and each other.