As long as I am able to speak...

After the week with the dentist we spent the majority of the last couple months helping Andrew and Rebecca with their clinic visits. There had been a few emergency visits to the clinic when either Andrew or Rebecca weren't doing well at all and at times even looked like they were near death. We were constantly going in and out of the Capital to make clinic visits for either one of them that it has taken us out of our own town and away from our people more than we'd like. But at the same time to be there for Andrew and Rebecca and trying to help them as they go through this illness, and encourage them to keep their spirits up and to be able to minister to them and love them in this way has been such a blessing. Especially as it seems we're the only ones who know exactly what they're going through, the only ones they can truly be open and talk with about their illness.

I see how grateful they are and pretty much how grateful their entire village is for the way we've been able to help to them. I also see how God has used this as a testimony of how followers of Jesus help one another. And because we've been taking Andrew and Rebecca to the clinic more often, we've also been able to spend more time in the Goonies (Andrew's village) as we would sit and visit with them for a few hours after we drop them off. God has used that time for others in the village to come and chat with us, and they see us pray for or with Andrew. Some have even come with their own prayer request, and others have come with questions and seem like they are seeking, and through that we've been able to share a story from God's word with them.

One day as Andrew's health seemed to have improved a little we asked him if we could start working on stories with him again. And his answer was "Don't ever think that because I'm sick we have to stop working on the stories. For as long as I am able to speak we can always tell the stories." He said this at the time when he can barely walk or lift himself, at the time when he was constantly having coughing fits, but still he was willing. God helps him sit up long enough, and stop coughing long enough to be able to work through and tell and record a story. He never complains as we work with him, even if something is bothering him, or if he needs to lie down again he waits till we're finish and he keeps striving to make sure that the stories get told.

My heart cries for Andrew so much as I see all the trials he's gone through and still going through. Yet even through it all, as weak us his body is his faith remains strong. And that seems enough to carry him through each day, striving and believing that God will give him the strength and ability he needs to tell the stories and to live for HIM.

As we continue on with the ministry here we ask for strength to be able to persevere and work on the stories with Andrew. We ask that we would be able press on and bring these stories to our friends and neighbors in our town and village so that they too will hear. But most of all we just ask that we'll be available for whichever way God chooses to use us and show Himself through us, whether it's in telling a story to our neighbor or helping a sick friend, - To be able to show Jesus and His love to the Maninka people, however that looks, is what matters most.