Have you ever thought you were part of a bigger plan? There were times in the tribe like that for us. When we finished teaching 9 months of teaching through the bible, it all culminated with the finished work of Christ. I asked the people if they understood who Christ was and what he has done for us, then I asked the people if they believe. Out of all the voices I heard most clearly was a young girls voice say yes i believe. Her name was Zenaida.
First Encounter We first met Zenaida and her family when Christine got wind of that one of the ladies in the tribe was severely ill. Christine helped to nurse this lady back to health. In the corner of the 10x10 house were 2 sets of eyes. a nine year old girl and her brother. The nine year old girl was Zenaida. I imagine they were very scared because their father was gone away to earn money and their mother was sick and totally bed ridden. Then to see a white lady in their home with their sick mother must have been overwhelming.
This began our relationship with her. She would come and play at our home. She was clearly one of the brightest girls in the tribe. When we brought out a geography book, she all the sudden piped up and said “hey the blue stuff is water !!!” Excitedly, she tested the others who came to see and asked them ”do you know what the blue stuff is ? I do !!! It’s water!!!” (in her own language of course !!) There were also times when she needed to go away for a while to work but she would always send us messages to tell us she missed us and she would be back soon.
Rewards on earth... To our joy last month she was one of the young people who decided she wanted to go to a believers conference among another people group. I know God must be working in her heart and mind as was praying and singing her new faith with fellow tribal believers. It has been a privilege and a joy to be a part of this young girls life. She is now giving God glory through the life that now lives in her , Jesus. There are many levels in reaching the minority groups of the Philippines. But the most rewarding and hardest is reaching out to people at ground level. Reaching out with our own bare hands. When we first met Zenaida she was only 9 years old and now she is 14. Little did we know the impact that we would have on her little life at the time.
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