Emily and Menke

As I described in a previous entry, when teams go into the villages the goal is to build relationships, serve families, and share the love of Christ through what we call a Life Exchange. The mission team met so many wonderful people this past week, and my team (we divided into 3 groups) was privileged to spend a few days with Emily, her daughter-in-law Menke, and her 2 grandsons Joseph and Johannes. We helped with gardening and housework, played with the kids, and sat in the shade of the peach tree to get to know each other better. Such strong and beautiful women – we were thankful for their hospitality and the opportunity to get to know them better.

Emily shared with us that although she is a Christian she had also previously worshiped ancestors as part of her religious upbringing. She definitely believed the Bible to be the authoritative word of God, but had a lot of questions about what it said regarding ancestral spirits and what happens after we pass away. She had lost her parents and missed them very much – their love, their guidance, their support - and she longed to continue communicating with them. She also felt distant from her home church because it was difficult for her to attend regularly. I shared about losing my grandmother and how my mother and I both were with her when she passed away. My teammate Phong shared about losing his parents. While we may miss loved ones who pass away and still cherish fond memories and wise advice, they go on to be with the Lord. They do not remain as spirits among us to mediate between ourselves and God, to influence the powers of good and evil, or to answer our prayers. We shared some Bible verses, prayed, and had a great time together, and at the end of our visit Emily thanked us for sharing God's love and His truth. And we were so excited when Menke and the boys came to the afternoon children’s program, and then the whole family came to church with us Sunday. I pray that they felt welcomed and decide to attend on a regular basis. Real Vision church is a strong, Bible teaching church that is very close to their home. It will be a great place for them to learn, grow, and connect with others in their community.