After working on a story with Andrew, instead of dropping him off at his village up on the mountain and then going back down, we planned on staying the night so we can have more time with his family and friends. We'd planned this with him a few days in advance, but when we got there I did not expect him to have told his entire village plus surrounding villages that we would be there. I just figured we'd show up and whoever is there is who we'll hang out with.
As we sat in his compound people came up to us saying how happy they were that we would visit and stay with them. People brought gifts of tea, and fruit. One of Andrew's brothers we call Junior came from another village on his bike (it takes us about 30 min to an hr in a car to get there). We had radio cassettes playing songs about J. or reading from God's word, or other followers of J sharing their testimonies. And during the evening different questions and conversations would come up from something they heard on the cassettes.
After dinner Andrew, his son, Kacy, and I went into the hut to have a time of worship and prayer. During that time everyone sitting just outside the hut stopped their conversations and just listened as we sang praises to God, and shared requests and lifted each other up in prayer.
Wed (Dec 23)
The next morning many of the people that were around the night before had gone off to the field, but a few hung around or came by and greeted. One of the guys that was there for pretty much the whole morning with us was Junior. The radio continued to play the music and testimonies about J, and it was while listening to one of the songs that Junior said to us "I'm very close to believing but there is just one thing I cannot give up." In this culture they believe in a form of chanting or spells like magic words that they can speak over things for healing or guidance or whatever they need. Junior said he couldn't give that up just yet, he's afraid of what will happen to him if he doesn't have that power to rely on.
I asked him "Do you trust that God has more power than those "magic words"'. Then Junior told me "I see Andrew, and every time he has a need he doesn't turn to those magic words but he prays to God, I know what Andrew does is true, but my heart is not there yet. I have heard about followers of J, but I didn't know how the true followers of J are really like till I met Pastor Samuel. But he lives far and I don't see him everyday. Then Andrew became a follower of J and now we have him here and I can see everyday what a true follower of J is like. And I am very close to following but I'm afraid not to have the power in those "magic words"
I was then able to share with him the story of J. healing the demon possessed man (Mark 5:1-20). Through the story we were able to show the power Jesus had, and how the man was healed because he believed him. Junior was very impressed by that. He still had other questions so Kacy was then able to give him a fast track stories from the birth of J to His return. Junior didn't say he wanted to follow J right then, but he kept telling us he is close. I pray God will move in his heart to help him believe that there is power in J's name and it's bigger than the power he may find in those magic words.
As we asked for the road later that afternoon, before we left we had one more prayer time with Andrew. During that time he expressed to us his gratitude for visiting him. He was so overjoyed that we were willing to spend that time up there with him and his people, I don't think I've seen him smile so big. He explained to us what a huge witness we were just by being there, staying in their huts, eating their food. His people got to see that being a follower of J is not a white thing or a black thing, but that we are one in J. During our prayer time Andrew shared that he'd started taking some classes to become a teacher of God's word after he became a believer, but because of his and Rebecca's illness he hasn't been able to continue. He is very discouraged by that because he wants to know God's word more to be able to share with his people.
We were able to tell him that he can share now. He can share the stories we've worked on. He can share the things he's read for himself because we know that God is with him and will give him wisdom to understand the things he's reading. We also explained that even if he doesn't notice it, he is being a light, and his people are watching him closely and notice that he has something special with God.
Thurs (Dec 24)
We spent the morning with Pastor and his family making decorations for the Christmas party, and helping with the food preparations.
In the evening Pastor set up the J film to show the 1st half of the film so the people can see how J was born, then afterward Pastor invited the people to come into the compound and hang out and talk.
Before the movie was started we sang a few songs in Bambara and then Kacy and I were asked to sing an English Christmas song, and I believe it was put on the local radio. Haha
Then at midnight those of us who were still at Pastor's gathered for a song and a prayer for the new year. I'm not exactly sure why but they're counting Christmas as a beginning of a new year.
Fri (Dec 25)
Early in the morning we went up to Andrew's village to pick him up and bring him down to church with us. During the service as we were giving testimonies and prayer request Andrew was nearly in tears as he explained some of the trials he's been going through. He shared how happy he is to be there with the believers that day after not being able to worship with the church for so long because of those trials.
Later that afternoon when we brought him back up to his village he expressed his gratitude again for encouraging him, and coming to get him and bringing him down to have church with the rest of the believers.
There aren't words to truly express to Andrew how he's encouraged me by his faith and perseverance in spite of his trials. I don't know why God is allowing all these trials to come to Andrew. I don't understand any of it and what His plan is, but I do know He has a plan, and it's good, and perfect. I know He is moving through these trials and people will know HIM because of it.
In the evening we spent Christmas with our other workers in the Capital, had a fun time singing songs in English, and praying together, and eating good American food. We even got to go caroling in some of our Malian friend's neighborhoods.
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