Why does it sometimes feel so uncomfortable if we are dependent on somebody?
Sara who serves in Southeast Asia mainland shares, “Sometimes I feel uncomfortable if I am dependent on people. But why? Time and time again, I realise how dependent I am on God… when I reach my linguistic limits and feel ‘too stupid to learn Karen’. Or when I realise that I cannot ‘make’ good relationships in the village myself … moments when I have no control. And that is unpleasant. But does it have to be so unpleasant? Couldn’t I just relax in my dependence on God and find peace in the certainty that it is not up to me, but up to God?”
Learning languages has never been easy for Sara and is always an area where God teaches her a lot, and she learns a lot about Him. After eighteen months of learning the language, she would like to be further along. She is very grateful that along with her colleague at the end of November, they completed the second of four levels.
They are so grateful for their language helpers! Two wonderful, patient women with whom they have a lot of fun and have already had good conversations about God.
It is easy to get to know people in the village because everyone is very friendly and they often chat on the street. They can converse well with people who speak the national language. With people who only speak Pwo Karen, their conversations are still very short. It will take time to form deep relationships and talk about deeper things. Pray that they will have wisdom and perseverance.
The children who come to play at their house, get to hear a Bible story once a week. It is difficult to convey the ‘big picture’ to them because the same children do not always attend. To dive deeper into the Bible, they started to meet in a small group with three girls (aged 10-12). They listen well and understand the Bible lessons and ask good questions. Pray that they can continue with the girls’ group this year and that the girls will attend faithfully.
PRAISE:
- Great language helpers and good relationships
- Completed level 2 in language learning
- Good listening and learning in the girls’ group
PRAY FOR:
- Relationships in the village
- That God works in the hearts of the children
- Conversations about God with their language helpers and people in the village
- That Sara may feel increasingly comfortable in her dependence on God