Washing hands, washing feet

I stood in my living room, pouring the water out of the plastic “tea pot” to allow him to wash his hands before we shared a meal together.  I had met him a while ago, but it was only recently that I actually started to get to know him, his family, and his people.  As the water washed over his huge hands, I found myself thinking of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet, and I hoped that this small action could start to show him the love and servant-hood of Jesus.  I prayed that one day these hands would be used to serve the Lord – a day that is, at best, far off, since the man that they belong to, and over 99% of the rest of the people in his people group, have never had a chance to hear how much God loves them and what He did for them.  We pray that one day that will change as they have the opportunity to hear the best news in the world.

That day is still a long ways off, but with our eyes on the goal we push forward.  In the month since I have been back in My Country, Jen and I have been able to visit two different villages in our people group, someone of each of those villages has actually come to visit us here in the city, and I’ve also been to visit our neighbors from our people group here in the city.  I’ve learned a few greetings and we’ve learned a little about their culture and way of life.  These are all steps, but I know that the road will be long and hard as we learn what it really means to be one of that people group, including being able to talk, interact, and live like them.  It’s only at that point that we’ll be able to share with them the message God has charged us with.  And actually, that’s only the beginning.  🙂  Pray that we will persevere to be able to see that day and that our People would come to see God for Who He really is and love Him for what He has done for them.