Whispering His Name

Today we headed out to Ngongolo Village to work with Margaret in her school. When we arrived, we were able to meet Margaret’s three children: Enos is 6, Frank is 10, and Grace is 13. Enos and Frank stayed with us at her school today, which was such a blessing to me to see Margaret interact with her own children.

Rebecca and I planned to use our time at the school today to read the story of Noah from The Jesus Storybook Bible [if you are not familiar with this resource, I highly recommend it for children of all ages], sing a song about Noah, and “shade” some pictures to use in retelling the story. Rebecca drew the pictures (very talented) and narrated them so that we could leave them with Margaret to hang in the schoolhouse.

One of the biggest challenges that we face at Margaret’s school is that her students know very little English, so we sometimes have a hard time communicating. Thankfully Margaret was willing to translate as Rebecca read aloud to make sure that they students understood the entire story.

The students were mesmerized. In all of my times in this classroom, I’ve never seen the students so attentive. They love reading books. They love shading pictures. They love singing silly songs. Sometimes it is the little things that get to you. As Frank finished shading his picture, he immediately grabbed The Jesus Storybook Bible and started studying the pictures. Then he started reading it aloud. It took my breath away.

How many times have I seen students sit in a library full of thousands of books and say that they do not like any of them? How many times have I asked students to color a picture and they rush through to get the job done, complaining the whole time? How many times have I seen children who do not want to go to church on Sunday and hear the “same old Bible stories”? How many times have I taken for granted that I can pick up a Bible and read the stories of how Jesus saves and redeems His people time and time again?

Margaret, her children, her students, the Sozo kids… They long to learn about God, the Creator of the Universe. The God that they know is faithful, loving, and sovereign… despite their circumstances. They are grateful for their mud hut of a schoolhouse, with dirty benches and a piece of a broken chalkboard. They strive to do their absolute best at whatever the task is before them. They stay at school for thirty extra minutes because the muzungu teachers are there, and they just want to spend time loving on us! J

Thank you, Jesus, for the reminder today of what it is like to look at You with wonder and amazement at what You have done for us. Thank you for letting me see Frank joyfully read Bible stories of the great and mighty things you have done for Your people, with every story whispering Your great name!

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told." Habakkuk 1:5