Perfectly Unpredictable
The day had arrived. It was finally time! I was excited and filled with anticipation.
The first person showed up, but behind him hung dark, ominous clouds and we felt the initial raindrops. Oh no, what will happen if it pours? I thought.
We scrambled to move the chairs and reed mat under the car port before it started to rain.
A few minutes later my language helper's daughter, Maninha, showed up. I attempted to play a clapping/rhyme game with her while we waited for others to arrive.
More people trickled in, along with the rain, but none of the three Mwani believers nor our team leader were there. I felt nervous. Should we start without them? But they were the ones who were going to lead...
We sang the one Kimwani song that we, as a team, had learned: John 14:6 set to music (and of course dancing). Everyone loved it and started to join in as they picked up the rhythm. But how often can you repeat a short chorus while waiting for people to show up?
Evelyn, our leaders wife, asked if I had any Bible story material in the house. Yes, I brought out the Jesus, My Saviour and Friend flashcard book and she told the story of Jesus calming the storm. Ironic, because the rain continued and we worried that some people wouldn't come because of it.
Still no Mwani believers, nor team leader, had arrived...
Evelyn asked her language helper, Mama J, who went to church with us for Christmas, to share the Woman at the Well story that she knew by heart in Kimwani. But Mama J was nervous sharing in front of everyone. When she hesitated, she would turn to her two oldest children for help. Another lady from a different neighborhood jumped in a few times to help as well and the four of them succeeded in telling the entire story from John 4 almost word for word in Kimwani.
Still no Mwani believers or team leader had arrived... so Evelyn had everyone go around and introduce themselves. In the middle of the introductions the first Mwani believer finally showed up, the rain let up, and by the end, the team leader arrived with one of the other Mwani believers!
We sang John 14:6 a few more times while the last family arrived, with at least 8 kids and we squished to make room on the mat for everyone and a few gave up their chairs for the older couple.
Finally Salmos, one of the three Mwani believers, stood up to share the story of how God changed his life. I closed my eyes and let the Kimwani words flow over me and prayed that God would open ears to hear His Word. I felt Maninha lean up against me and I smiled down at her. I looked over at her two older brothers, then each of the mamas with their babies, and finally the men, all listening closely to how God had changed the life of this one Mwani man.
What joy filled my heart to see this Mwani group gathered together to learn more about the one, true God and His power to change lives! His sovereignty was so evident even in the midst of unpredictability.
After a final round of John 14:6 in Kimwani we told everyone we would have another meeting next month with more stories and music. The moms with young children went home while the boys started a game of soccer and the older gentleman started a discussion with Salmos.
After everyone had left our yard, I smiled at how almost nothing had gone according to plan and yet the first Mwani gathering had gone perfectly as God had desired and planned it. May the Holy Spirit bring forth the fruit in His timing.
The first person showed up, but behind him hung dark, ominous clouds and we felt the initial raindrops. Oh no, what will happen if it pours? I thought.
We scrambled to move the chairs and reed mat under the car port before it started to rain.
A few minutes later my language helper's daughter, Maninha, showed up. I attempted to play a clapping/rhyme game with her while we waited for others to arrive.
More people trickled in, along with the rain, but none of the three Mwani believers nor our team leader were there. I felt nervous. Should we start without them? But they were the ones who were going to lead...
We sang the one Kimwani song that we, as a team, had learned: John 14:6 set to music (and of course dancing). Everyone loved it and started to join in as they picked up the rhythm. But how often can you repeat a short chorus while waiting for people to show up?
Evelyn, our leaders wife, asked if I had any Bible story material in the house. Yes, I brought out the Jesus, My Saviour and Friend flashcard book and she told the story of Jesus calming the storm. Ironic, because the rain continued and we worried that some people wouldn't come because of it.
Still no Mwani believers, nor team leader, had arrived...
Evelyn asked her language helper, Mama J, who went to church with us for Christmas, to share the Woman at the Well story that she knew by heart in Kimwani. But Mama J was nervous sharing in front of everyone. When she hesitated, she would turn to her two oldest children for help. Another lady from a different neighborhood jumped in a few times to help as well and the four of them succeeded in telling the entire story from John 4 almost word for word in Kimwani.
Still no Mwani believers or team leader had arrived... so Evelyn had everyone go around and introduce themselves. In the middle of the introductions the first Mwani believer finally showed up, the rain let up, and by the end, the team leader arrived with one of the other Mwani believers!
We sang John 14:6 a few more times while the last family arrived, with at least 8 kids and we squished to make room on the mat for everyone and a few gave up their chairs for the older couple.
Finally Salmos, one of the three Mwani believers, stood up to share the story of how God changed his life. I closed my eyes and let the Kimwani words flow over me and prayed that God would open ears to hear His Word. I felt Maninha lean up against me and I smiled down at her. I looked over at her two older brothers, then each of the mamas with their babies, and finally the men, all listening closely to how God had changed the life of this one Mwani man.
What joy filled my heart to see this Mwani group gathered together to learn more about the one, true God and His power to change lives! His sovereignty was so evident even in the midst of unpredictability.
After a final round of John 14:6 in Kimwani we told everyone we would have another meeting next month with more stories and music. The moms with young children went home while the boys started a game of soccer and the older gentleman started a discussion with Salmos.
After everyone had left our yard, I smiled at how almost nothing had gone according to plan and yet the first Mwani gathering had gone perfectly as God had desired and planned it. May the Holy Spirit bring forth the fruit in His timing.
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