For the last few months we have been going to the Chumakori area every week to story with a group of old men who lay under a big tree all day. We originally went to share the AIDS stories with them but after we finished and told the gospel story they invited us back to tell more stories from God's Word. Some weeks there have been six or seven men and other weeks there have been almost 30. We've told about the creation of the world, Adam and Eve's disobedience, God's promise to Abraham, King David, Isaiah's prophecies about the Promised Savior, and recently we have been working our way through the life of Jesus.
Rain and travel had kept us away from this group since the beginning of July, but we went today in hopes of finding some men under this tree. Usually there are just older men who are there but today a group of seven young men walked up right as we arrived. We fondly refer to the 15-25 year olds as "punks" because of the general attitude of entitlement and disrespect that many of them have.
Well, these punks just sat right down with the old men and listened to the stories with great attention and interest! Alyssa told the story of Jesus healing the blind man on the road to Jerusalem and I told the story of Jesus riding on the donkey into the city. Almost everyone in the group participated in the re-telling of both stories and really grasped some of the deeper meanings. While we were discussing how the crowds put their coats on the road out of respect for Jesus one "punk" said that if he were there he would even put his goat skin on the road for Jesus. They all agreed to be under the tree again in three days so that we can continue the stories from the life of Jesus.
As slow-going and discouraging as rainy season can be for ministry opportunities, I am sitting here tonight thankful that God is still changing hearts, no matter what expectations I have.
