Our next trip took us down to a family who just began what we call staging. Staging is the process of moving close to the village you want to serve in and beginning the process of asking permission to move in. After which they then must find or build housing to move in. Since this process often takes a while often people will begin their language sessions from a near by town so that they have some ability to communicate by the time they move to the village. This also give them time to build a network of relationships in the nearest town, which almost always has a network of people from the village they will be reaching
That means that our purpose on this trip was two fold. I was going to help them with their sessions that they had just begun. We were amazed to see how God had provided them a helper and how quickly they were able to begin learning the language of the people they wanted to reach. My purpose was to sit in a help them do this well. I was able to be with them for 2 sessions and give them and their helper some tips to making that time more effective.
The second goal was to make an initial trip out to the village as leadership to begin the conversations with the village leadership about them moving in to the village. This was Joel’s task. We are always amazed at how God works. There are always complications and unknowns but he is so faithful to direct each step. So we laid it all before the Lord and began the initial steps for their transition out to the village.
So that is how it begins. It begins with a move, building a network, traveling out to the village, talking with leadership of the village, making mistakes, fumbling forward and a lot of prayer!
We were greeted at their house with homemade donuts
We ate with them
Walked around the neighborhood with them 
Met the contacts they have been making
There was a wedding taking place in the neighborhood the following weekend
Everyone from the neighborhood was wearing outfits out of the same material
So we stopped by the tailors multiple times to see the progress being made
And got to see the final results. All the kids are in one fabric and the Adults in another
We were encouraged by the progress this family had made after only moving one month before.
And the good attitude they have kept through it all
May God continue to give them grace and strength
As they press on in the long journey ahead!
Joel and Andi says
May 21, 2019 at 5:45 pmThank you for asking. We got confirmation that our kids got into the school we wanted for next year. I will need to make sure to include that in an upcoming post. Thanks for keeping up with us and praying.
Cathy Harvey says
May 20, 2019 at 4:31 pmI so appreciate the simplicity in which you give us these reports. The pictures you attach speak a thousand words and I love it. Real people God loves and your hearts for reaching them is so evident.
Any more news about schooling for next year? I know that was one specific request.
I’ll be praying.