:: We are still in the process of trying to get Denise a visa to travel with us for furlough. We were hoping that we would be on the plane by now, so it has been a bit difficult to wait. Currently, the US Embassy is investigating her case in order to confirm that she is indeed an orphan. Please continue to pray with us that the Lord will grant us the visa so that we can travel soon! Timothy is still enjoying his time in America, but he has a family here that misses him lots! We can't wait to go see him, so we need grace to stay as long as the Lord desires!
::I took these pictures when we were eating in the village yesterday. The girls were happily sharing a plate of food. They seem to have mastered the art of eating with their hands...
and the art of looking cute...
::Tis the season for circumcision. Our local tribe circumcises their boys as an entrance to man-hood, but only on even numbered years...and predominantly the second half of the year. This time of year, there are many large groups going down the road with a young man, all decorated, who is to be circumcised that night...with no pain killers (except for local drugs and alcohol). It's called okusala nbalu. While many boys are now circumcised at clinics (including most Christians), the traditional ceremony is full of spirit worship, sacrifices, sexual immorality and drunkenness.
So circumcision season calls for this kind of Sunday school discussion. The text is Galatians 5:6 and the general gist is that God doesn't really care if you are circumcised or not (when we started Sunday school this morning, as general sentiment was expressed that at the very least, circumcised men are more holy than uncircumcised...maybe that God likes them better) but what matters is faith expressing itself in love.
Our church enjoyed lunch together again. I showed up early to help sort the rice. Local rice is dried on the ground so it often has small stones mixed in along with quite a bit of chaff still. When the ladies sort it, they pull out the stones and throw the rice in the air to blow the chaff away. If you put a picture of me attempting this, next to mama Rachel doing this (pictured below) you could easily label my side a fail. We had a good laugh together though. I'll have to practice some more.
Dear Eric and Dianna - thanks so much for the regular updates on your blog! We will pray that Denise's visa application will be processed quickly. We look forward to seeing you in the PNW soon, Lord willing! Scott Johnson (not sure why the comment says it is from Sander. That is our son)
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