It is Sunday afternoon as I write this update. We’re missed our radio date on Friday so there is no Amdu podcast this week, so sorry about that! But we wanted to share a few snippets from life here to keep your hearts fired for Gospel Day in Amdu. One testimony from last Sunday was particularly encouraging. He is one of the faithful Papas of our little group of disciples. He is an unashamed, front-rower. We were having our weekly village meeting. A rumor was being repeated that some people were planning to move away from the village because of the recent deaths that have happened here. From the spot where he was sitting he slapped the ground with both hands and said, “I’m staying right here! I’m not leaving until I know how to get to heaven!” Then he looked at me and said, “I’m going to keep listening to your talk.” then he corrected himself saying, “I’m going to keep listening to GOD’S talk, that you have been teaching us, until I’ve heard all of it. I’m not leaving to go anywhere!” He isn’t the only one talking this way and were just so thankful that God’s word is gripping hearts! Later that week this man ‘put his money where his mouth is,’ and showed up for each lesson on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday despite a very sore leg and back after doing some really heavy lifting on Monday!
There are other testimonies that show that people are thinking continually about all they are hearing. We’ve heard so many people telling us about the dreams they are having. Almost every week someone has reported a new scene of either Bart or Benjamin showing people a trail, or calling people to follow us. On Tuesday morning a lady called, Opa called me over and said, “I dreamed that you gave me a giant battery and said it was for my torch to show me the trail to follow.” We’re not always sure what to say about these dreams. Just keep praying that God’s word will invade Amdu hearts like it is invading their dreams.
We told the stories of God’s judgement of Egypt, the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the provision of manna and water in the wilderness. Through the plague lesson, our students demonstrated a real confidence in the character of God, especially his power. After the Passover lesson one man was overheard telling others, “God helps everyone who has blood, but those who don’t have the blood God doesn’t help them.” In the Red Sea lesson and the manna lesson it is becoming very clear that God isn’t caring for the Israelites because they are so different from the rest of humanity. They certainly weren’t picked because they had it all together. They were picked because of God’s ancient plan to send a Deliverer through their ancestors, and this coming Deliverer is factoring in all our lessons and it is becoming more and more clear to our listeners that this is the most important aspect of the story.
This week we are jumping into the story of God’s great covenant with Israel at Mt. Sinai. I’m moved by the passage Deuteronomy 4:32-35. God’s intent in all that he does through Israel is to show the world, and that includes the Amdu people, “that there is no other besides him.” I’m also frightened at the task before us to communicate such truths in the Amdu language. Continue to pray that we would draw all our strength from the LORD and rest in the power of his word to transform lives when all our best talking has been done. Thank you so much for bearing this great task and privilege with us.
Benjamin and Missy