A Life Lived With Purpose

Life here is so completely full. Every part of my day, every interaction, whether in my home or outside, feels like it has purpose.

Inside my home, I purpose to be present and available. Sometimes this means just listening when my kids need to talk – or cry…even if I’m so exhausted that I can hardly keep my eyes open. The challenge is listening without them noticing that I’m tired or they’d stop talking. I know this is important for any parent, but I feel even more so for them as missionary kids. They have the sweetest spirits, but moving can be hard on kids – especially to an entirely different country and culture.

One night I failed at this. Anna was chatting with me and I began to fall asleep and started talking about still being able to cook. She started laughing and asking what I meant. I apologized and said I was falling asleep because I was so tired. She said, “It’s okay! I’ll just talk until you are sleeping!” And she did! This has now become the family joke – that Anna’s voice is so soothing she puts me to sleep.

Some days I have a slight desire to slow down, but it is only a quick thought because I know that I wouldn’t be happy with anything else! I would probably feel the loneliness and foreignness of everything more for sure. But the downside of this busy schedule is that my “free time”, or any quiet moments that I may find, are spent sleeping instead of writing. Which is why I’ve missed writing.

Last week we went to the area of the village where the lady who was saved from witchcraft lives. I’ll call her Miss S. Miss S. looked so happy to see us that she ran towards us and gave us each a hug! A large group of kids met us as soon as we pulled into the village. I didn’t have any children’s materials with me, but we decided to do a children’s lesson where we parked because of the group that had gathered.

Off to the side, some ladies stood watching and listening. You could tell we were amusing to them. Because they heard us greeting in Chichewa, they wanted to test how much we knew. One approached Lydia and asked her name. When Lydia replied, she quickly ran back to the group and they all started laughing. Another asked Anna her age and grade. They cannot get over that a white person is learning and speaking their language.

This week, our church group went back to that area. Miss S. went with some of our ladies. They were rudely turned away from a few houses because of Miss S. and some accused our ladies of being part of the witchcraft group because they were with Miss S. I think this discouraged them a little, but their husbands encouraged them with the testimony of Paul…not everyone believed he was changed either! In another part of the village though, a lady told Brother Shadrick that she could see a big change in Miss S and was going to come to the Bible study.

Meanwhile, Eric and Pastor Nelson’s group was invited over to their little homemade bar area. Some set up bars from their home, often with homemade beer. They play loud music and put bottles around to show that they are selling drinks. Eric looked at Pastor Nelson and asked, “What do you think?” His reply, “Let’s preach to them!” The men listened intently as Eric preached. He was not mean, but shared with them the verse that no drunkard would inherit the kingdom of God. As he did, one young man in particular hung his head. When they finished, he prayed to receive Christ as His Savior. He then left his drink to follow the men as they continued witnessing at different homes. Sunday, he showed up at the Bible study!

Many make professions. Almost everyone will pray, partly because of cultural politeness. How exciting it is to see that people are still forsaking all to follow Christ!

Many of you have been praying for a young man named Jeremiah. He was hospitalized and given antibiotics to help with the infection in his foot. After about a week, he requested to be released so he could come to us daily to have his bandages changed, as they were not regularly changing them. Because of how severe his wound is, I have not been helping treat him. I did get to speak to him for a moment, and I am praying that the Lord gives me the opportunity to witness to him. Thank you for praying for him!

It is 1 AM as I am writing this. Laying here in the quiet, different things that are happening are coming to my mind. But I should close for now, and if the Lord allows, write sooner next time.

If you have read this far, I do not take it for granted. Thank you so much for your interest and prayers for us and the ministry that the Lord has given us!

And know, that while you may not be in Africa where it’s as easy to see, but every interaction you have inside or outside of your home has a purpose. The Lord has you where you are for a purpose. Redeem the time, for the days are short, and you do not know what tomorrow will hold!