I learned an interesting cultural perspective recently. While I was buying food in town, a man approached me to tell me it was good that I covered my head with a scarf. To emphasize his point, he took two pieces of wrapped candy. He unwrapped only one, then put them both on the ground. He […]
Region: Africa
Shatter the darkness
The sun rises over desolate beaches, devoid of the usual morning activity of this Fishing Boat community. Only a few walk quietly on the beach, rolling their prayer beads and reciting the attributes of God. Ramadan has started. The hustle and bustle is replaced with quiet mornings of prayer and reflection before each work day […]
That girl has a Satan
Swahili Coast: “Stephanie’s” family invited me to a wedding last night. It started at 8 pm, but the bride and groom didn’t arrive until after 10 pm. In the meantime, all of the guests (all women) sat on the ground and listened to the group of young men from the local mosque sing and play […]
No one has told me that before
“Mark” admitted to class that when he was very young his dad left his mom. His dad accused her of being pregnant by someone else. Mark can’t forgive his father. He has a lot of pain in his life. His father tried to reconcile but Mark refused. He knows unforgiveness is a sin but he […]
You or someone like you…
The past 3 weeks we’ve been blessed with a visit by my wife’s parents. It’s always exciting to see someone process what is a new context to them but so familiar to us. It was a joy to share our lives and our work here in the Swahili Coast with our family. Before they returned […]
Hope in the wrong places
“Gabe” told us, “My father is a religious man. When people are sick he says a dua (prayer) or reads the Quran over charms and gives them the charms. He also hears from Satan. One night Satan told him a curse was put on my family. Afterwards I got very sick and could not eat. […]
For a child! I want a child!
Swahili Coast: “Destiny,” my closest local friend, and her husband “Harry” are devout Muslims who seek to please Allah and follow all the laws of their faith. They are in their mid/late 30’s and have no children. Harry has a mental illness that keeps Destiny busy taking care of him and running their business. I […]
Steph, then Gary, then…
Swahili Coast: “Stephanie” and I read the Easter story then watched the Passion of the Christ. She had tears in her eyes as she watched what He went through for us. When it only briefly showed His resurrection, she said, “That’s it? What about when He appeared to His followers?” She is hungry for more! […]
Stephanie, the narrow road
Swahili Coast : As Stephanie continues to study the Good News with us, one of the obstacles is her friends turning on her, leaving her feeling lonely. She identifies with the parable of the narrow road. She prayed during an exam and received ideas that she attributes to coming from God. That day, walking home […]
Frightening dreams
An elderly neighbor came to me wanting to know the meaning of her frightening dream. In her dream the earth filled with water, then the stars fell from heaven down to earth. I had recently learned the story of Noah in the local language. I felt prompted to share about God’s judgment on the earth in the days of […]
