Day 1 (Wedneday)
Grant, Dez, and Matt meet Lynette while going door-to-door. They pray for her children who have malaria. She tells them she’d like to accept Christ, but not yet-come back tomorrow. They agree.
Day 2 (Thursday)
Matt and I head to Lynette’s, despite not having a translator, in order to keep our word. We’re not 100% sure where we’re going but we trust the Lord will direct our steps and guide us there. Lord, please let her speak English or let us speak Swahili. It’s not beyond you. Or maybe send a translator our way as we walk there. We find her house without any problems but for whatever reason, I feel resistance. She still says she’s not ready to accept Christ, but she asks for a Bible. Matt gives her his Bible and I suggest coming back for a Bible study. She agrees and we make plans to come back in a few days to study Scripture and answer any questions she may have.
Day 3 (Saturday)
Dez, Matt, and I head to Lynette’s for Bible study. Lord, open her heart and her ears to whatever it is you’ll speak through us. We pray against any obstacles or resistance trying to come between us and doing your will. We arrive; Lynette is not there. We decide to leave her a note: Lynette, we came by for Bible study but you were not here. We will come back again later. love, Matt, Dez, and Daina (your Mzungu friends). We slip it in the door and prepare to leave when we see the neighbor. Well, let’s go greet her. We sit with Gladys for some time, talking and praying, before finally parting ways. As we leave, we see Lynette at home. We decide to go back. “Lynette! We came for Bible study but you were not here. We left you a note,” we explain. She simply looks at us and tells us she does not have time. Come back Wednesday at 4 she says. And we agree. We hand her the Swahili Bible we bought to read alongside the English one and head out. Lord, please have your hand in this. Do not let this be a fruitless effort. May she feel your presence and come to know you, Lord. Not for us and what we want, but for you and what you want.
Day 4 (Wednesday)
It’s about 3:30. We don’t want to be late, so Dez, Matt, and I grab our Bibles and head out. Lord, have your hand in this. May she feel your pursuit. We pray against any obstacles or resistance trying to come between us and doing your will. Give us words, Lord. May she be home and receptive to what you’re offering through us. We walk down the ever familiar path, through the gate to find-Lynette is not home. Her husband, however, is. It’s the first time he’s meeting these mzungu friends of Lynette’s. He seems like a good guy. The children are there, feeling much better than before, still unsure whether to be excited or scared of us. We ask him when Lynette will be home and he says, “At least 2 hours. Come back tomorrow.” “What time?” I ask. “Morning,” he replies. “We will,” we assure him. “Just let her know we stopped by.”
We leave Lynette’s and are detoured by another man, Ezra. He invites all the children to his house. “Sunday school,” he says. So Dez preaches and 12 kids accept Christ. After drinking some chai we decide to part ways. We’re walking through the field, about a dozen kids at our side, when all of a sudden they say, “Preach the Word of God to us.” We stop where we are, start singing songs, and preaching to this group of schoolchildren. It was surreal.
Day 5 (Thursday)
We decide 10:00 is the best time to go. She can’t possibly be making lunch yet (this is Africa after all). 9:30 comes and we’re ready to roll out. Lord, your will is for all your children to know you. We know you are stronger than anything coming against us. May we continue to pursue in order to do your will. We’re just rounding the corner, Lynette’s house is in site, when we notice the door is open. Lord, please let her be home. We knock on the door and no answer. Out of the corner of our eye, we see him sitting there. Little David, home alone. We decide to wait at least 15 minutes. Surely she couldn’t have left her son alone and door open if she would be gone for a long time, right? We wait and we wait, eventually being joined by David outside. No sign of Lynette. We right yet another note: Lynette, we came to see you again today. Sorry we missed you. We hope things are well and God is blessing you with peace and joy. We’ll come back again soon. Love, your mzungu friends. We leave the note, shake David’s hand, and walk away yet again, despite not wanting to leave the child alone. I stop by the railroad tracks on our way back with the guitar and just pray. Lord, reveal yourself to us in this situation. Tell us where to go from here. If it’s constant pursuit that you’re wanting, we’ll do it. But Lord, just let it touch her. Let it resonate with her soul and lead her to you. Let none of this be fruitless effort, Lord, regardless of when that fruit comes. We love you, oh Lord, and we’re simply here to do your work, to love your people.
Perhaps she’s avoiding us; perhaps our timing just really sucks. Whatever it is, I have faith the Lord with catch this sheep. He is pursuing her just as he is pursuing each and every one of us. And well, let’s just praise Him that we’re in Africa and there’s no restraining orders or laws against chilling on someone’s property for half an hour taking pictures of their kid because frankly, I think even that time with David was needed. We spoke truth into his life-whether he understood us or not doesn’t matter. We’re just making the most of the moments we get and trying to give our all. Even if it takes all month of pursuing her, I have faith our love will shine through to Lynette and will make a difference.
(sorry there’s no pictures. the internet doesn’t seem to like me. just picture cute kids getting saved, schoolchildren singing praise, and a little cutie named David in your imagination)
