Wildest Dreams
23 June 2015 | 8 54.173'S:161 04.421'E, Malaita Island
Gina
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be halfway around the world, on a sailboat, working for God, as a missionary.
But here I am - where every day is different than the one before it.
Three days ago, a visit to a neighboring village resulted in the longest and most active game of Simon-Says I have ever played...with over 40 kids. �'Simon says, clap your hands, simons says stop, simon says hop on one foot, simon says pat your head, simon says rub your tummy.�' It was so much fun, I could not stop. No kidding, I was actually sore the next day and had lost my voice.
Two days ago, I visited a neighboring village where a women�'s retreat was being held at the local church. Solomon women can sing and worship like no others I have yet seen. There isn�'t usually much music accompanying the singing but it isn�'t missed because they (including the young kids) simply throw their heads back and belt it out while clapping rings in the air. When it is time to pray, each person prays out lout at the same time and the voices and words flow together in a steady stream of praises and needs and then just as it begun, it lowers to a lull and then finishes. Later the same day, we swam with �'stucka pikininis�' (a LOT of kids). A constant stream of laughing children climbed the ladder onto the boat and jumped off and repeated a zillion times. Swimming, floating, singing silly songs, some of which I knew the words to was something I had never imagined I would be doing. And, I will never forget.
Yesterday, we sailed 10 nm south to a neighboring bay where David (our local translator friend) had arranged several meetings with the pastors and leaders in the area. The goal is to share information about the continuing translation project for the Old Testament and garner interest, financial support, and helpers. So today, we transported people from one village to another for the meeting.
Not sure what God has in store for tomorrow, but that is ok!
Please join me in prayers of thanksgiving for what God is doing here in the Solomon Islands, and that we get to participate in a small part of it!