Water to thirsty ground
Last week we spent with our friend John Henry, talking with our DTS students about storytelling. We talked about the church and our cultures, and how the two don't have to be enemies.
It was a week of learning, and the students shared their stories with us. Some stories were funny, other encouraging. One student shared about how her dad was a community leader and fought for the lands of their people. What an inspiration! Another shared about her mother's years-long search to find her grandfather, and the bitterness that ensued. Some tears fell, and we all stopped to pray for her family.
Lina, who is always the sunshine of our group, shared this at the end of the week:
"I love hearing these stories. Every story I hear encourages me more. My in-laws were here this week, and I shared every story that we heard. They are so moved, and encouraged. Then when they go back to the village, they share these stories with their neighbors. And their neighbors are encouraged as well."
There was a moment of quiet after she shared, and we processed what she had said.
A simple story of God working in a life is shared here in Chepo. That story is taken to Lina's home, a small wooden shack in a squatter neighborhood, and shared in her language with her elderly in-laws. The story then travels down river, out over the ocean, and into the small coastal village where they live. The story is now a part of them. They share with with their neighbors, and the truth and hope they share is like water to thirsty ground.
Without taking a single step, we have been a part of this journey. That is the power of a story, the power of God's story.
It was a week of learning, and the students shared their stories with us. Some stories were funny, other encouraging. One student shared about how her dad was a community leader and fought for the lands of their people. What an inspiration! Another shared about her mother's years-long search to find her grandfather, and the bitterness that ensued. Some tears fell, and we all stopped to pray for her family.
Lina, who is always the sunshine of our group, shared this at the end of the week:
"I love hearing these stories. Every story I hear encourages me more. My in-laws were here this week, and I shared every story that we heard. They are so moved, and encouraged. Then when they go back to the village, they share these stories with their neighbors. And their neighbors are encouraged as well."
There was a moment of quiet after she shared, and we processed what she had said.
A simple story of God working in a life is shared here in Chepo. That story is taken to Lina's home, a small wooden shack in a squatter neighborhood, and shared in her language with her elderly in-laws. The story then travels down river, out over the ocean, and into the small coastal village where they live. The story is now a part of them. They share with with their neighbors, and the truth and hope they share is like water to thirsty ground.
Without taking a single step, we have been a part of this journey. That is the power of a story, the power of God's story.
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