No sleeping in here

Note: This is the second blog via air mail to be posted. Make sure you read to the end ... it is very powerful and what an AWESOME testimony of past missionaries and their work and sacrifices. -- Ginger

July 30, 2006 ...
I thought I'd be able to sleep in a little this morning, but come 6:30, bombs started erupting all around my tent. And by bombs, I mean mangos. I guess the night guard thought the crack of dawn was the perfect time to start harvesting mangos from the tree over out tent.

All I could do was laugh, especially as his daughter, probably 8- or 9-years-old, stood just outside our mosquito net doors and stared at us in our beds. Staring is a completely acceptable part of the African culture, especially when the object of your stare is a white person.

A great beginning to a great day, haha.

We had our first Sunday service here in Lopit and it was really superb. We had to intoduce ourselves like always, but this time was different because we were finally here in our own church -- our new church home. Stephan (team leader) introduced us all, starting with Craig from Australia, then Martin and Daniel. then Cath from South Africa, The Musuvus from Kenya, then us girls from the States. To sit there and see six countries represented (Stephan is himself from Switzerland and South Africa) and to hear how so many churches and people all over the globe were praying for our team and for the advancement of the gospil in Lopit ... Wow! Just Wow!

There weren't a ton of people at the church -- there are only a handful of Christians in the entire mountains -- but there were some there who were just joyful in the Lord and really walking with Jesus. What an encouragement!

The legacy of previous AIM missionaries here is incredible. They still all know -- evey way up in the hills -- about Barbara and Martha, two women who were here in the 50s. They really pioneered the work in Lopit. And then there is Thelma from Australia. I think she was here in the 80s during a window when people could get in. They know them so well because these women set out to learn their language. What a testament to our approach, an affirmation that learning language really does matter.

Then we mention Lanny Arensen. I've told you about him before. He's now the international director at AIM, but back in 1978 -- I think it was -- he came to Lopit with his wife, Janice. they stayed here for eight years -- until 1986 -- (again, approximate), when Janice was shot in an ambush on the road to Kenya. After that, I think all missionaries were forced out anyway but the thing is, people still know Lanny's name. Even people who were likely very young when he was here, they know him. Apparently missionaries are such big deals, their stories are passed down in village tales/history. The legacy is huge.

It used to be that the Lopit didn't allow AIM to build houses in the hills and live in those villages. They were made to stay at the bottom of the hills in the AIC compound. Lanny told us this a few weeks ago. But now we are building houses in the village -- five of them, even! -- and the people are not only accepting, but they have worked hard and sacrificed much to get us settled in the houses and gave us the plots without any problems or payment. How crazy is that?

Lanny really believes that Janice's blood helped open up these doors we have before us now. He thinks the guy who is chief of the main village now was in the car that day, and he's sure it's played a part. Surely, the people see our commitment, Lanny and Janice's commitment, in what we were willing to sacrifice. And just like this mango tree above my head was planted by Janice and I daily enjoy its fruit, so too is my team enjoying the fruit in ministry of Janice's death.