By Cindy
A small group of us made a third and final trip to Yatekun Village this past weekend. We left on Wednesday morning and stayed until Monday morning. Those on the trip included: Aaron, Kaela, Melia and I, Miswel, Martha and Stephanie (age 2), and Abu Iata.
In case you don’t remember, the Christians in Yatekun are: Tom and Margaret, and Tom’s sister-in-law, Meriam. All were baptized in August of this year.
Shortly after arriving I was thrilled and delighted to find that they had built a new outdoor toilet! Yea! The horrid stench of the previous one is a thing of the past and I was most grateful for it! And – as a bonus – the dried coconut leaves were placed in such a way that they made three very good walls (no more gaps!) and I at last felt that I had some bit of privacy when visiting the outhouse. There was not a forth wall, as the three-foot wide fourth side was open to the bush. Thankfully, it opened to a part of the bush that was not penetrable by human traffic…just a few chickens and the occasional dog or two!
Aaron ran studies on the book of Revelation in the morning and after lunch each day. Then, in the evening, after a short video for the “kids” (young and old) he showed a video on the book of Matthew, taking the time to answer several Bible questions that had been asked previously. On Saturday afternoon a group of about 10 Seventh Day Adventists came to ask questions. It would not seem that much was accomplished. They brought forth their typical verses in an effort to show that Christians today should still hold to the Sabbath Day. Aaron explained each verse clearly and calmly refuted their arguments. No one got upset, but after about an hour, seeing that they were not able to uphold their beliefs against New Testament scripture, they thanked Aaron for the opportunity to come and left. More often than not, these “debates” seem to be fruitless, as the people are so burdened by false teaching that they cannot see the truth no matter how clearly it is presented. However, as always, we are hopeful that at least a seed has been planted in one or two hearts that might one day lead someone to the Lord’s church.
It rained off and on all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but thankfully the rain was not so heavy that it hindered our activities. It was light rain for the most part and would just come and go all day. I was thankful for the rain for the simple fact that it was helping to fill up Tom and Margaret’s rainwater tank, as I knew we had to be using quite a bit of water with so many more mouths to feed, dishes and clothes to wash.
The local children managed to catch a small bird on Friday, and Melia and Kaela both were delighted by it and eager to hold it. However, as most often happens in the village, these birds are passed off to the smaller children who want so much to hold them, but have no idea how to be gentle. Eventually, the poor thing was just loved to death. Literally. Which brings me to my story about Melia. I had been resting in our little room when I heard Melia and Stephanie outside at the water tank. The water tank sat directly against the side wall of our room, so I could easily hear them. I wasn’t paying them much attention until I heard Melia chattering to Stephanie about how they were giving the birdie a bath! With dread, I ran out to check on them and sure enough they had filled a large dish about halfway and were “bathing” the bird, dunking it under the water over and over. Of course I was horrified! However, being as how I detest birds so very much (to the point that I refuse to touch them) and when you add that to the fact that it was dead, all I could to was stand there declaring that Melia stop bathing the bird at once, but could not bring myself to go over and take it from her. I just could not do it! Thankfully, Tom’s daughter, Estelle, was playing a short distance away and I called her over to come take the bird. Then, I made Melia wash and sanitize her hands and we had a talk about how we don’t give birds a bath no matter how dirty they are or how much fun it might be. Ugh. I still am unsure as to whether the bird was dead before the bath or after. If it wasn’t dead before the bath…the repeated dunking was sure to have finished it off!
Well, if that wasn’t bad enough. The next morning I got up, dressed, and start off for the toilet. However, I felt myself step on something kind of firm, but soft. Thinking it was a piece of mud on the ground, I looked back to find that even more decrepit-looking bird lying on the ground…featherless. Ugh. Thinking that I would psyche myself up, find a shovel, and take the initiative to go dump the thing in the bush, I went ahead and went to the toilet, then stopped off at the kitchen on my way back to say good morning to my friends. When I was approaching our house again, I noticed that the bird was gone. Upon entering the house I found Aaron kneeling down in front of Kaela giving her a good talking-to about why we don’t touch dead animals. Ugh. What is it with kids and dead animals?! First Melia and then Kaela. Well, thankfully, Aaron took care of the problem and we didn’t see that bird again the rest of the weekend.
Each day, either in the morning or afternoon, I got some water and washed a few of our clothes in a bucket. It wasn’t the easiest method of washing clothes, but it got the job done. Kaela and Melia’s clothes (and mine too, for that matter!) get so much dirtier in the village, so it is nice to be able to just fill a bucket, add some soap and set to scrubbing whenever we have need.
We had several visitors during our studies. And we are happy to say that two were baptized on Sunday after lunch. Antwan, who is Tom’s brother and Meriam’s husband (both whom are already Christians) had been thinking of being baptized for some time so we were pleased that he was ready to become a Christian. Also, Margaret’s sister, Ruth, was baptized, as well. There are a few others who came to the studies who expressed an interest in knowing more about the Lord’s church and we are praying that in the coming months the church in Yatekun will continue to grow.
You never know what it is going happen when you are living in the bush. On Sunday afternoon I went to the outhouse only to find a crab sitting by the hole. He was a rather good size and since I couldn’t pick him up for fear of getting pinched I used a stick and rolled him out of the toilet, up the hill to some waiting children. I thought they might throw him in a pan of boiling water and I’d get some fresh crab meat, but once again, the local children played with him until he was in pieces. Fabulous. Not to worry though, Martha found one of the legs sitting on a table, cracked it open and ate the meat…raw.
It was again a wonderful five days in Yatekun. We enjoyed our time with Tom and Margaret, Anwan and Meriam, for one last time. Margaret, Meriam, Martha and I had an especially nice time and we bonded well together, laughing and talking as we cooked meals (which we spent about 60% of our time doing) and got ready for Bible studies. Aaron thoroughly enjoyed his time with Tom and Miswel who are two men whom he counts as friends.
All in all it was an emotional visit because the whole time we were counting the days until Monday. We all knew that Monday would mean good-bye for Aaron and I. We are not certain when we will see these young Christians in Yatekun again. We hope and pray that we can make it back to check on them again next year. But, that is in the Lord’s timing.
At the sound of the transport truck coming to pick us up, the tears began to flow. I could not hold them back and neither could Meriam or Margaret. In reality we have spent little time together, but the bond we share in Christ, is solid and strong, joining our hearts even when our cultures separate us. I am now beginning to understand Paul’s anguish in leaving the people with whom he worked and studied with. I ache to think that these people who we have grown to love might lose hope and fall away because there is no one here to help them in their spiritual growth. And yet we cannot stay.
I am not exaggerating when I say that several times Meriam and Margaret thanked us for coming and teaching them the truth and about how to live the Christian life. I have passed on Bible studies and materials to them in hopes that it will aid them in their growth. But, each time as they are thanking me, I know in my heart and I tell them, it is not me. It is not Aaron. We aren’t special. We are not great. We just brought a message. And that message is what is special. And that message is what is great. We might have had a small part in their receiving it. But, we aren’t the ones who have changed their lives. On Saturday, as Meriam was telling me how much their lives have changed since they learned the truth and obeyed the gospel, I couldn’t help but feel awe. How perfect is the plan of God. To save souls and change lives. Its power works the same way in America as it does in Italy, as it does in Africa, as it does in Vanuatu. I am humbled that I have been able to be a small part of that.
As our tears were falling Monday morning and each of us was sobbing on the shoulder of the other, I prayed for them, my sisters in Christ. I prayed for them to be strong in the faith, for God to be with them until I can be with them again. How do you say good-bye when it feels like you have barely said hello? Riding home in the back of the truck sandwiched in between people and bags, I realized that this is all part of marching on. My heart was breaking, but the time has come to march on. God be with my brothers and sisters in Yatekun. I love them so.
