Ever heard the expression, “you snooze, you lose”? Missionary Phil Henderson shares how the Mwinika people of Mozambique say it:
It happened like this. The genet [a type of wild cat] got up and said: “I am going to the house of the king of the humans to marry his daughter.” So he went to the king’s house. When he arrived he greeted the king. He then greeted the other people and sat down. The people brought lunch and they all sat down together to eat.
Shortly after the genet arrived the rabbit showed up. He greeted the people and they responded. The rabbit said: “Yes, it is me, I have arrived.”
The king said: “Yes, you have found us. We are eating. Come and sit down and eat.”
The rabbit said: “No. It is better that I first say what I came to say and then I can sit down and eat.”
The king said, “Go ahead.”
The rabbit said: “Sir, I have come here for a purpose. I have come courting. I want to marry your daughter.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“OK,” the king said, “You have said what you wanted to say. Now come and eat.” So the rabbit sat down to eat.
At that point the genet spoke up. He said: “What about me? I also came to court your daughter!”
The king said: “No you didn’t. You came to eat.” That is the story of the rabbit and the genet.
Understanding traditional stories and proverbs helps Phil get to know the Mwinika culture, and knowing the Mwinika culture is vital in order to present God’s Word clearly. Thank you for standing with us in ministry, as we help Phil and others plant churches among the world’s least-reached people groups.
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