Posts from — July 2008

This past week the ladies of our congregation resumed their Wednesday visitation program. Though we were few in number, we enjoyed a brief time of singing and studying God’s Word, and hopefully encouraging a weak sister. Julia Mwakabanje gave a good lesson on the character of Miriam. She pointed out both the strengths and weaknesses of Miriam. We were reminded of the event in Numbers 12, when Miriam and Aaron launched complaints against Moses. They were not happy with Moses’ choice of a Cushite woman to be his wife, and they used this complaint as a springboard for further criticism of him. They were jealous because of the high position of authority that God bestowed to Moses, and they wished to have this position. Did they consider the fact that it was God who set Moses in this position? In criticizing Moses, they were criticizing God.

It is no coincidence that Miriam was the one struck with leprosy. Just why did God deal more severely with Miriam? The first, most obvious reason is that Miriam initiated the rebellion against Moses. Another additional reason could be that Miriam’s leadership was limited to the women of Israel, but she was not content to stay there. There are numerous lessons to be learned from this event.

1) We need to think very carefully before launching criticism against a servant of God.Yes, there is a time and a place when it is appropriate, and even our duty to note those who are teaching error, but we better have our facts straight first.

2)Women need to be content in the role that God has given them. Women have a great role to play in the plan of God, but must remain within the perimeters God has defined. It is not a new problem, but it is a growing one – that is, women not being content in the role that God has especially designed for them, and taking on positions which God intended men to have. Sadly, this problem is not confined to the states, but is a problem that we must deal with in places such as Tanzania.

My 15 y.o. daughter, Lindsey, wrote this note shortly after our campaign work in June. I thought it would be an interesting piece to read:

This year when the campaign was going on in Arusha there was also one going on in Mto wa Mbu (Mosquito River). I helped with that campaign for a few days.

One afternoon after lunch I was standing around outside, when these two Maasai girls come up and start talking to me in Swahili. As I’m talking to them one of them starts stroking and feeling my hair. I turn around, smile and tell her that I have very long hair, and then show them where it would come to on my waist. They giggle and tell me that “It couldn’t be possible!” I laughed and asked if they’d like to see it. When they eagerly nod yes, I take the clip out of my hair and let it fall down around my waist. Their eyes got as big as saucers and they gasp. That attracted a whole group of Maasai children, and they all started to feel my hair. I didn’t want it getting out of hand, so I stuffed my hair back into my clip. “I only have a little hair” said one of the girls. “You have long light hair!!” I laughed and nodded, then the kids and I started to have a big conversation. We told each other our names, etc., talked about my Swahili, where we lived, etc. etc. etc….Mary, the girl that was just a little younger than myself, even invited me to her house! “Come walk with me to visit my house…I live just over there!” It would have been very interesting, but I wasn’t able to at the moment.

One of the girls then pulled out her Bible, turned to Daniel, and asked me to read some from it. So I read. Then it hit me. I’m standing in the hot sun and dust in the middle of Africa, surrounded by a bunch of Maasai children (in their full traditional outfits) speaking in a completely different language, and completely understanding what they’re saying. I don’t even know how to explain the feeling that I got. I am definitely blessed.