Africa Story #4: Third Day - Part II

Let's see...where was I....

4th house: Maasai lived in this house. We talked to two brothers and their two wives. The elder brother did not want to hear any of what we had come to say. I had only started sharing when he began talking in Swahili to Jonathon and Pastor Pius. The elder brother was explaining to them how they, as a family, worship spirits, and they don't want Jesus. Then, when the elder brother left for a second, because he didn't want to hear more, the younger brother said (and the two wives agreed from their places in the background of the house) that he was interested and wanted to hear. But, the younger brother explained, their father had just died, and especially now, the elder brother had more control over the home and the grounds and the family. The younger brother did ask Pastor Pius if he would try to come another time, when the elder brother would be away, and then they could listen and maybe accept.

Please join me in praying for these brothers and their wives. That Pastor Pius would find a time to return to talk to the younger brother and the wives in the absence of the elder brother. And then, that through the faith of the rest of his family, the elder brother would also come to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

5th house: When we cried, "Hodi! Hodi!", as is the custom when entering someone's yard, (which translated basically means, we are here!, we are here!, can we come in?), a grandmother answered, "Karibuni" ("You are all welcome."). We began to explain what we were doing there, she listened. Several of her grandchildren were home, and they peeked out just their heads from behind curtains to other rooms. If I looked them in the eyes, they would retreat, only to peek their heads out again seconds later. I shared the gospel with the grandmother. She continued to listen intently. I noticed she was wearing a lot of bracelets; this sometimes indicates the person wearing the bracelets believes in the presence of evil spirits and maintains that he or she must wear bracelets to ward them off and to protect themselves.

After I finished telling her the story of Jesus using the cube, she began to talk very strongly to Jonathon and Pastor Pius. They didn't explain to me what was going on until afterward. Apparently, I was right about her beliefs and her bracelets. She believed strongly in the power of evil spirits. She could not understand how spirits could go to live with God forever, when I explained eternal life with God. She believes that when people die, their spirits remain with the family after briefly going to either the good or the bad spirit place (based on their deeds in life). Jonathon explained the grace of God, the futility of works, and the impossibility of gaining access to God simply by being good. She excused herself to go get water, very obviously gesturing that she was tired of listening to us.

Just as she was getting up to leave, a man entered the house and sat in a chair near me. She explained to Jonathon and Pastor Pius that he was a homeless man who wanders around. She left, and we were alone with this man (and of course the peeking grandchildren). Jonathon began to talk to the man asking if we could share with him about Jesus. I assumed from his gestures that he did not want to listen, and shortly afterward, Jonathon and the pastor said, "Let's go." As it turns out, it was not apparent to me, the man was angry, truly furious, that we were there talking about Jesus. And, even though this was not his house, he wanted us to leave and not come back.

Please pray that God's Truth finds this man wherever he may be. And that Pastor Pius can return to the house and talk again with the grandmother about God's almighty power over evil spirits.

So many interesting people in this world...so many who need Jesus.
One more house...but that will have to wait for another story. :)

Love in King of Kings!