glory

Two Mondays ago I was beginning my village stay after a trip to the hospital for some antibiotics which Diane advised me getting. Since I was still not feeling well, the village stay was a hard time. Rachel and I stayed in the same village and the other 3 were in a different village so we didn’t see them until it was over. Even though it’s only a 15 minute drive out of town, village life is like stepping into another world. They live in grass huts on stilts, and sit around most of the day not doing much, and are all together as a community family. Their “parenting” is rough and harsh and it was hard to be around. We learned to weave fans, make a “broom” scrape coconut, peel taro and yams and kau-kau (all of which taste similar and are dry, tasteless starchy vegetables), saw a man making a Taro-leaf roof, and another man’s canoe half-carved, hiked up to their gardens which they plant on the side of the mountain, hiked a long ways out to a WWII memorial, had baths in the river (with an audience of a few women and a dozen kids), played with the kids and visited with the adults as best as possible. It might have been enjoyable had I felt well, but I was very relieved to get back to the Williams on Wednesday afternoon. I was overwhelmed by just the sheer differentness of everything and the strain of effort to function and communicate and not show our hosts how tired and sick I was feeling. All this made me even more homesick than I’d already been feeling, and I had a good cry when it was over… girls have to do that sometimes.

The group was scheduled to leave Friday morning for our trip to the Trobriand islands. Diane suggestested the option of Rachel and I staying until the next flight on Monday, and after much prayer and inner debate I decided that would be wise. Those few days of rest were such an energizing, encouraging gift of a time! The Lord is faithful to provide strength for the weak, and joy for the sorrowful. He is so good and it has been such a delight to seek and know him, and just be with him. I’m learning that that is and must be my primary goal above all else. And when it is there is no fear of failure! I am also learning the hope of heaven, when all strivings will cease and we will be Home.

The weekend was by no means empty or boring. On Saturday, Rachel and I had a tea party with the 3 Reese girls, and the William’s 4 year old, Bailey. Diane needed the afternoon off, and we were thrilled to do it. I also taught Sunday school for the youth since no one else was scheduled to do it. That was a blessing because it was open to whatever I wanted to do, and through teaching it, God taught me in a clearer stronger way what he was already teaching me, that being to seek him and delight in him, and then other things follow. I used psalm 27.

I had been overwhelmed with tiredness and homesickness and culture shock and physical sickness, but in that God showed me Himself in such a glorious way that would not have been possible without the difficulty driving me to collapse at his feet. I am knowing and loving my Lord, and enjoying His love, as never before. I am so thankful that I have real pain in my past so that I already knew what turning to God for healing meant before this trip. Thank you for your prayers! I think this is long enough that I’ll have to wait and write a separate update for this past week.