It is finally happening! Bible lessons are being taught

In February 2024, we invited to whole village to our first bible lesson. We long anticipated this moment for which we had worked for years by learning the language and develop Bible lessons. Of course we had big expectations. Therefore we were more than excited when about half the village came together to meet under a big tree in the town center for the first bible lesson.

Well. the interest in the bible lessons soon dwindled and we ended up with an average of 20 adults and 20 children, who came more or less frequent to listen to the bible lesson. We had hoped to teach at least 2 lessons each weekend. So that by the end of the year, we would would finish the overview of the bible with our 60th lesson on the new heaven and new earth.

However, teaching twice a week was not always possible. Sometimes we got rained out. Another time there was a wave of sickness going through the town that resembles something like COVID and almost nobody showed up for the teaching. Still another time, the unthinkable happened an prevented us from teaching. A big misunderstanding caused a neighboring Glaro village to take up arms. Equipped with cutlasses, bats and irons rods, they made their way to our village. Our village was surprised, and unprepared for the violent outbreak that ensued upon their arrival. Several men were severely wounded before the attackers retreated. It took three weeks before people calmed down enough to sit down and listen to God’s word again. However, this conflict has still not been resolved until now.

In spite of all these interruptions, we managed to reach to the end of Revelation in December. After this final lesson, we presented a short summary of God’s plan for humankind from the creation to the new heaven and earth. Then we followed up with asking them what they thought about it. We were wondering if one or the other had started to believe in Christ’s death for their sins, and wanted to give them an opportunity to express that. Yet, people responded very reserved, while others seemed to need more time to make such a life changing decision.

Still, God had been at work. Although not too obvious, there have been some outward changes, that indicate that there is more happening than what meets the eye. One example for this would be Isaac.

Issac helped a lot by letting us read bible lessons drafts to him, and giving us valuable input. Because of this he had heard many of the lessons twice. When he got really sick that year in October we were already wondering if he started to believe in Christ. So we asked him directly what he thought about what the Bible says. After or short break of gathering his thoughts, he said something like this: “I am like that thief on the cross. My whole life I have done nothing good. The only thing that is left for me is to trust in Christ.
What a simple and clear understanding of the Gospel message! We rejoiced and prayed with him that day. Unfortunately he got sick and sicker and passed away to meet his Savior that following month.