My department (computer services) has a daily 30 minute devotional. Today was a special morning as we spent the time listening to the testimony of two co-workers who went on a crusade.
In our department there is as many Papua New Guinea nationals as there are whiteskins. Two such nationals are in the worship band in the Tok Pisin Lotu (the pidgin church service).
They were sent to a crusade at a not so nearby area last week and spent from dawn monday to sunset saturday on this crusade. With only a few hours sleep each day, the crusade was really a 'round-the-clock' event. Staying up past 4am is not unusual at a get together of this type.
The equivalent of "heart" in this country is "stomach". Or more accurately "bel". Here you feel things in your 'bel'. When things aren't right, they sit uneasily in your stomach, when you are at peace you are "bel isi" (easy stomach). The stomach is the place where you feel here, and I really enjoy the term because it makes sense and feels right.
We do the same back home, we say "my gut feeling is....". It points to the center of their wellbeing and their emotions... this "bel".
The testimony we heard was awesome, because they spoke of miracles. Healings. A man blind in one eye, was prayed over and able to see again. A man with a crooked back was made straight. The testimony was in tok pisin so I didn't make it all out, but these men who went came back proclaiming the strength of Christ's blood. That's why they went.
God is powerful, and He proved it at this crusade to many people in this country. The worship leader told a few stories of physical healing, some of emotional healing, but the continued thread was at his awe of Christ's strength and how it was impressed on the people.
Then the other man shared. Him I'm closer to as there are about 30 people in my department, (we cover more than computers, we do all types of electronic repairs) and I've spent the most time with this man.
A brief history on him, he married a woman from a clan that his clan at one time was at war with. In fact where we work and live is their old fighting ground. So he is a man with many pulls at his attention. They live in peace now, but he is a serious man and has much responsibility on his shoulders.
His testimony (from what I could put together, I'm still learning the language) was that during one sermon, it was pressed on his heart to forgive someone from a different clan that had weighed heavily on him. So he went to them, and they cried together, and soon, pastors joined and cried, and many people cried so many that if they were on a grandstand it would have broken and fallen over. And God did a great healing of peace and unity between the clans that day. He walked away feeling as if God has lightened his burden and done a great work. And mostly he proclaimed how God is strong.
Strong bilong em i helpim mi. (God's strength helps me)
This is a country and a people who are so very loving and giving towards their friends. Without a thought a man would give you the shirt off his back if you were a wantok (close friends, family is more accurate) and yet ironically they are no stranger to fighting and having real enemies. They have multiple names because you never share your one true name, for fear that it would be used against you in sorcery. They are a people who are aware of spirituality and spiritual influence. They are a people who are aware that they can be called to fight with knives, spears and arrows against their enemies.
And in the middle of it, many of them men are struggling out what it means to follow Christ in this culture. It has been somewhat peaceful here for some time (at least locally) and during election time (now) things can get stirred up because of all the conflict between tribes.
We're praying for peace, but mostly that God's strength be known to the people here. God's love is a powerful force in America, people experiencing His love experience Him. Here, that is also true, but God's strength and forgiveness are major themes here. Christ's blood can wash away sins, and we can lean on God's strength to help us.
My heart, is filled with God's praise for showing His strength to these people and seeing their lives changed is remarkable.
Thank you for your prayers!
