KONOMALA

the fight

It’s hard to admit it, but a lot of us in religious circles live a life of hard work, confusion, and frustration. Hard work to “do the right thing”. Confusion as to why we just keep failing over and over even though we “know” a lot of true stuff from the Bible. And frustration when we just can’t seem to win the fight with our natural, selfish desires. If we’re honest, that’s where a lot of us live. 

It’s no different here. Among the many voices speaking into life, all of our friends here in Konomala have lived their entire lives being influenced by religious institutions. It’s all about “being a good person”. If you’re lucky and a little better than the next person, then maybe God will let you into heaven when you die. Sound familiar? A lot of us have felt the exact same weight and frustration under that way of thinking. Then little by little as we grow in the truth, some of the pieces start to fit together and the light-giving truth begins to set us free … but it rarely seems to happen quickly or all at once. 

Of our many friends in Konomala, only a small group of them initially had the desire to go back to the basics and see what God has communicated about Himself and His desire for all of us. Of that small group, even fewer had an open mind and heart when God began revealing things that weren’t necessarily in line with what they had always been told. Those who stuck it out have grown so much. Now we all get to walk alongside each other as we keep growing. 

As is normal, we met together during the week last week and had a multiple hour conversation around the truths we’re experiencing in the book of Ephesians. Then afterwards (as is normal) one of our good friends, Joe, came down to the house, and we had a multiple hour continuation of that conversation. So good, so exhausting, so encouraging, so hot. 

There have been a few water-shed moments in Joe’s life recently. One of them happened when he and his family had experienced a big time injustice a few days prior. To describe his reaction as ‘angry’ would be a bit understated. But in the minutes that followed something different happened. Of course in his re-telling of the story, he gave every little detail: he had already started the ‘culturally appropriate’ process of seeking justice, but while still in the middle of his fuming … with bush knife in hand … something of a “still, small voice” started to speak. 

Up until that moment, there was no questioning or battle happening in his mind. He was fully committed to acting on every one of his emotions and desires. But as the Spirit began to make things a little uncomfortable, Joe started to recognize what was happening in himself. His natural, self-centered heart was in total control. He saw clearly that there could only be one set of outcomes from that source: more problems, no peace or joy, and eventual death to all of the relationships with the people involved in the situation. 

Instead of ignoring the fight going on inside, he stopped to listen. He began to think about what he knew to be true. And in the moment of decision, he literally and figuratively laid aside all the that he had set out to do. He turned around and started the walk back to his house. As he describes it, an overwhelming peace filled him, and true joy replaced the anger that had been there just minutes before. Instead of leading his family into revenge, he led his family into forgiveness with renewed thinking and perspective. The very life of Jesus was flowing out of him. 

After recounting the whole story to me, he paused and said ‘thank you’. He said, “I know how to fight now. I have lived my whole life in confusion and defeat, but now I understand what is happening in me. Because of God’s word I can see clearly like never before. And because of His Spirit working in me, I can truly know Jesus and experience His life every day. And now because of my brothers and sisters in my true family, I have people who can walk alongside me and strengthen me as we follow Jesus together.” 

From the outside, these moments can easily be overlooked as small and insignificant … but in truth, they’re profound; they’re miraculous. 

Please stop for a second and thank the only One who can do these things in us. We are so needy, and it’s only because of His grace and strength at work in us that we can truly know and experience Jesus. 

the family

We’re doing well as a family. Everyone is looking forward to going to America in a couple months. The conversations are often filled with fun ideas of what we might get to do when we’re back.

In the meantime, we’re doing our best to finish well with the church as we all anticipate a stretch of time where neither of our families will be living here in Konomala. It’s been a full few years in which God has done great things and sustained us through all kinds of challenges and joys.

For the most part the days have just blended together and we keep plodding along through the normal rhythm of each week.

Keep Praying

Pray for continued humility and growth for all of us in the church. Pray that the evidence of Jesus’ life and love among us would draw in others who are still struggling in confusion and darkness. 

Pray for our family as it gets closer to the day when we come to America. Pray that the church will continue on a healthy trajectory as they anticipate their longest stretch of time without us. 

Pray that the Lord would continue to provide for our travels home. We are super thankful for some friends who generously offered up their car for us to use while we’re back. Huge THANK YOU to them!