Over the mountain and other encouragments

I feel like it's gets old to say, " a lot of exciting things happened this week" or "this week was another full and fulfilling week", but it's true there isnot much of a week that has it's own challenges, blessings, and varied events. I am sure it is the same for you, but the whole missions aspect may makeit seem like here it's just more thrilling, but really we all deal with the same things just surrounded by different cultures and contexts. Had a really neatexperience with friend of mine this week. I was going to take some sickly blades up to a missionary retreat centre just out of town (a missionary froma town north of us, asked Suzy or I to take them there to get handles put on them). I was starting out on my bike when my neighbor, Roland noticed and askedif he could come along with his bike. I was kinda hesitant, just what I need someone to slow me down (it turned out, I slowed him down on the flat parts, andI took the lead on hills). But I thought the company might be nice. We enjoyed the ride, despite two very large hills and lots of gravel to ride down. We arrivedand I set to look for the head guy at the mission centre, he was in a meeting. But a feller my age said he'd give them to him. He asked me where I was from, Canada,I said, and his response, "Me too" Neatness super sweatness, another Canadian. I told him my region and he said he was from Saskatchewan, being that I workedat Camp Whitesand, I told him and he was familiar with Theodore, (being a student in Alberta, summer worker in Saskatchewan and living in Ontario I can usuallyfind common ground with many Canadians!). We gave the mutual invitation to visit each other. And then Roland and I were off again, up and down the hills.When we arrived back at the house, he came in to relax and chat. He then told me about his big brother (actually cousin, but everyone is either an uncle, aunt,mother, father, brother or sister, and not always by blood, just good friends). Well he was pretty close to him, but he had moved to France and had married there.And within the last week he had died of gas poisoning, probably carbon monoxide. My friend said he was very shocked, so shocked he was forced to eat something.Just lost his appetite for the day. He wondered why. Instant witnessing situation! But I was at a lack for words. These moments I wait for with dread and joy.If I knew about the cousin, I could give Roland the great assurance of a better place, of Heaven some day, but what did I have now. I have comforted fellowChristians, but this is a Catholic (only by name), and his cousin who knows what he believed. I am saying his cousin won't be in Heaven, no, but it might alsobe presumptious to pass out that hope flippantly. But in another perspective, this is a moment to ask about Roland's own life. A time for him to wonderwhat will happen to me when I die? Again I thought about words, but I was attempting to share with a person who doesn't even know Jesus. These were allreal interesting excuses. So I tried to ask, what he thought about it, the death issue? Roland's not really a conversationalist, so I didn't get much. Well he said he had to go (after some silence), so I tried something else, I offered him a free new testament. I had promised him one before, but had forgotten.He accepted and I suggested he start by reading John 11. He said he would. I prayed that this would be a bridge to talk to him, and not an excuse for meto say, hey I gave him the Bible that's all he needs. He is leaving tomorrow for the funeral in the south, so I ask you to pray for him and his mother whoare going. Visited the High school again this week, very interesting experience. The last two classes I observed were physics and French. The teachers being very kindquietly sharing their insights and problems with me. The History/Geography teacher I visited this time was a different story. Very accomdating to me, butwell a bit overwhelming. He decided to use my presence as a means of getting the class to behave, we have a stranger visiting and you behave like this, he said.I wanted to be more a fly on the wall, but it didn't quite work out. A few times he loudly refered problems to me, commenting on what he had to deal withlarge class sizes, students not writing the same name all the time, and asking me if it was better in Canada, and also assuming it was by other comments he made.So it was a bit uncomfortable, I wanted to respect the teacher, but also not get on the bad side of the students for siding with punishment in a sense. Despite the odd time together, afterwards one student approached and asked about Bible studies, wondering how he could get involved! I was glad to tell himwhere I live and that in the New year we should definitely start. Was feeling a little down this week. Dealing with culture shock, feeling a bit out of place in this society, as a white person. I personally thinkI am black sometimes, don't laugh, I said before if I don't look at my arms, I forget (not that I think I am completely the same, but I see all thesepeople as like me, as in fellow humans). But it is not so easy for the people here to look at me as that way. We are different, but I have ears, eyes, nose.But it is what the colonization and media has built up, and it is a large wall indeed. Also struggling spiritually, I have the tendancy to want faith that last forever, a character that is all good now. But the fact is, I have a forever faith, but it is only for one day at a time, and the formationof character takes years, I can't be perfect overnight. So I asked God to not help me worry or fret. Nonetheless in a sullen mood I went to the Wednesdayprayer meeting, as we approached the church I could see Boni sitting in the front. He is an evangelist in a nearby town who visit once a week. This timehe was staying overnight. He was the only one singing, as the other lady there early only speaks Dittimari. I went and sat at the front with him, and sang along with his strong mellow voice. When the song finished he turned to me, with a big smile said he was doing wonderful. This is what inspired me,right now, He is working in a village with no Adventist presence, the church meets in his home (him, his family, and one other guy). His wife, a wonderfullady in the last month has been going blind, can't see during the day. And he has several children to take care of. But from his handshake, voice, eyes I was almostoverwhelmed by strength. You cannot borrow strength from anyone, but he surely inspired me to ask God for more! I felt uplifted and encouraged. During testimonytime, his were so long and many that no one else shared. What a testimony. I pray my life shines as such, that my atmosphere is so compeling! I wrote outa quote on our living wall, which encourages Manny and I. Originally it is "Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man. We shall this day lightsuch a candle, by God's grace, in England, that I trust shall never be put out." This was said by a dieing Hugh Latimer, who was burned at the stakein 1555AD. I replaced Master Ridley with Manny and Eric, England with Benin, and day with year. Maybe you can do the same, (you can change man to woman if needed!) Everywhere candles can, are and will be lit, around this world. I'll pray for the light in your life and all around you. God bless.