October 22, 2012

     Usually when you walk up to someone’s door you’ll knock or ring the doorbell.  But in the case that the door is already open, you might call out, “Knock! Knock!”  In Guinea people’s doors and windows are always open, but instead of saying, “knock, knock” people call out, “Kong! Kong!”  The first time I heard this, I was totally confused.  “What is that noise?” I thought.  Finally I realized it was people “knocking” at the door.  If that’s not strange enough, however, the answer to the question, “who’s there?” is simply, “It’s me,” as if we should automatically recognize everyone’s voice. 

     We weren’t sure why people always say this until Jennifer was sitting in the kids’ French class last week.  Sure enough, the teacher told them, “First you say, ‘Kong, Kong!’  Then you say, ‘Who’s there?’  And then you say, ‘It’s me!’  That way if your parents are busy you’ll know it’s safe to answer the door.”  We were pretty floored by this answer and the kids were too, because they just stared at him in disbelief.  We aren’t sure what a robber or a thief would say if he were coming to visit us, but apparently anyone who is willing to acknowledge they are themselves is safe to let in the door.  So much for stranger danger…

     On a more serious note, last week Jennifer was doing a parachute lesson as part of her science class.  After she had the kids launch their own little parachute men, Jen brought out the big parachute (the kind they use in elementary P.E. classes).  One of the neighbor girls happened to be walking by at that moment and was totally enthralled.  So after class we invited the neighbors to join us in some parachute games.  Of course the adult women had to come watch too. 

     Following this I took the opportunity to have one of our little Bible lessons with the girls, using one of the children’s picture Bibles.  The women also stayed to listen.  As I told the story of Moses and the 10 plagues, I was amazed to watch as one of the women began translating into Landouma, explaining the stories to the other women around.  Our nearest neighbor seemed very opposed, shaking her head in disbelief, but the other women kept arguing with her trying to convince her that they were indeed true.  We were further amazed as we overheard the ladies later on retelling the story to the rest of our neighbors.  We couldn’t understand the words, but it was clear by the gestures and expressions on their faces what they were talking about, and that they were definitely impacted by the stories.  So we’re excited to see what God will do with this.  It’s clear there is spiritual hunger there, and I hope to further build on this opportunity.  Perhaps this is what the Jahango have been missing all along…parachute evangelism.  Actually, as we shared this with Diana, she became very excited, longing for an opportunity to do similar Bible stories with the women and kids of her village.  “Watch out Correrah!  Here comes the chute!”

     “Dear Lord, please continue to move in the hearts of these neighbors.  Please remove the hardness and stubbornness of some.  Please grant us more opportunities like these to share your word with them, and also with the Jahango. Please lead us to a time when we can clearly share with them the good news of Jesus Christ. Pour out your grace on them that they might put their faith in you. Amen!”