Our team liaison for this month, Sawnpek, says this in response to many of the questions that we ask. “Can we go to the market for peanut butter?” – “Actually…yes and no.” “Is there a real bathroom here?” – “Actually…yes and no.” “Do you think we are crazy?” – “Actually…yes and no.” We love this response, as we associate it with this sweet man who leads and protects us. However, at first this answer was less than satisfactory. We looked at each other with doubting glances and wondered if communication was going to be this tricky for the remainder of the year. As we have continued to adjust to life here this answer is making more and sense. To the question about the market – yes and no means that yes, we can go to the market, but no, they probably don’t have peanut butter (mainly because our sQuad has eaten in all the peanut butter in the state of Manipur.) To the question about the bathroom – yes, there is a place to go, but no, it’s not “real”, it’s a squatty potty and you should probably take toilet paper. To the question about being crazy – well, yes and no, because yes he does think we’re crazy, and no because he is trying to be sweet.
God has shown me lots of things through Sawnpek, and this saying was just one of those times. I ask God questions all the time. Most of the time I am wondering about the future and the decisions I need to make. Sometimes I am asking for healing or peace. Being away has me praying for favor and protection for loved ones at home. Often God’s response – which He is merciful enough to give – sounds a lot like Sawnpek. Actually…yes and no.
One example of this was about 2 years ago when I began to pray about applying for World Race. God said yes, but His timing was far better than my own plan. So yes, and no. My college experience was also a “yes and no” answer. Yes – my music education degree and time at Anderson is what God had for me, but no – I was not going to use it for a typical teaching job immediately. I prayed about the ministry that we would be doing here in India and had another similar response. Yes, I would be using the gifts God has given me and loving on people, but no, it would look different (and be even more amazing) than the picture I had in my mind.
You know what is awesome about this response? It is a reminder of God’s provision and the freedom that we can find when we submit to His “actually…yes and no.” Our Father has way bigger, better, and Kingdom-driven plans than I could ever come up with on my own. I am learning to listen specifically for the “yes and no” so that I am walking with the Spirit with my hands open and feet in line with His path.
As I begin even now praying for our upcoming month in Nepal, I am anticipating lots of “yes and no” moments with God. We are so excited that Nepal will be an all-squad month! That means that Q sQuad will be spending another month as a family of 56. WOOT WOOT! The ministry that we will be working with has a variety of opportunities for specific ministry. Please be praying with me that God would line my heart up with His and that I would have an openness and availability to however I am to be used in Kathmandu. I love the “yes” but am even more excited about the redirection that comes with the “no.”
