into the village.

At the sound of our vehicle in Nyaronyit yesterday, kids thronged immediately to the tree outside several villages where I have told two stories with HIV/AIDS information in the past two weeks.  No adults made an appearance, and John suggested we go inside the village.  In we went!  About fifteen women and two men, as well as the forty or so kids, gathered under two trees in the village and seemed excited to hear from God's Word.  Most of them stopped working to listen, while others carried over their goat skin skirts and beads to continue finishing decorating their special, traditional celebration skirts.  Still others brought beads and string and made bracelets and headbands as they listened.

This was the largest amount of people that had ever gathered in this area to hear God's Word (at least since I've been here), and I think it was because we went inside the village.  They told John that they did not come out before because they were working; this did not make sense to me as most of them still stopped working to listen when we came into their village.  But, I think they were more willing to stop because we came into their place and we were not making them go outside to a place we chose.

God gave me words as I explained that we came to their village the past two weeks to share about HIV/AIDS, because we care about their bodies and we want what is good for them, like God does.  I told how sin and sickness and suffering came into the world when Adam and Eve listened to Satan and ate the forbidden fruit.  I shared how Satan lies to them about HIV, saying it does not exist or that being careful will not prevent the disease, and also how he lies to them about sin, the sickness of the spirit, telling all that singing songs and listening to God's Word and giving an offering at Christmas will bring them back to God.  

I told them how God loves the people He created and how He desires a relationship with each one.  He gave His people laws to follow, but they did not listen.  He gave them a chance to make sacrifices for sin, but still they walked in their own ways.   Finally, I shared how He sent Jesus to be The Way for all people to come back to God Himself.  Because it was only through His perfect blood that God would pardon all sin forever.

As I began, the Lord reminded me of an illustration that Shannon uses in explaining this separation from God and how Jesus, and Jesus only, can close the gap between sinners and Most Holy God.  Toposa men carry tall sticks with them wherever they go, so it is an easy visual aid to find in any setting.  I borrowed one from a man that was intently listening, and put it horizontally between myself (a sinner) and Mindy (as God).  We try to reach for God (picture my hands reaching for hers!), but we continue to reach out away from Him to sin as well.  And nothing we do can ever get us all the way to God.  But then, Jesus (or John in the illustration) came and, if we believe, takes our hands (mine) and joins it with God's (Mindy's).

At the end of the story, we invited all of them to come hear more stories from God's Word in Nataragat, where we meet on Sundays.  Three women and the man (from whom I borrowed the stick!) told us that they would be there.  They may or may not come, but that's all in His hands.

Though the storying did not end in fabulous theological questions or raised hands to accept Jesus, His Story was shared and heard.  The goal is His glory, in the Gospel told and told again and in hearts that turn from sin to Him.  I pray, and ask that you join me in prayer, for those who did hear.

I also want to thank God for reminding me that His plan is the one that stands firm in the heavens.  It is God who is Sovereign.  He is the One who draws hearts to HImself, and He is the One who saves.

He simply calls us to go into the village.  And speak.