Gardening Stories

We’re still visiting different churches in the area. Today in the service, Amos was getting a little wiggly during the sermon so I tried to quietly take him out to the Preschool class in the basement. It’s kind of difficult to do in a church when he’s joyfully running through the people and the elders are patting the top of his head as he passes by. When we got to the classroom, there were almost 40 little kids under the age of 6 running around, sitting on the mat, hopping around the teacher with so much excitement. Each kid had a guardian and the majority of them were sitting on chairs not really engaging much with the lesson. One specific girl stared at Amos with disdain. I chuckled a bit as she absolutely refused to share crayons with him. Instead of getting mad or removing ourselves from her presence, Amos and I continued to pursue her with kindness. Eventually the hard look in her eye softened and before the end of the coloring activity, she was helping Amos color and also looking to me for a smile of approval at her work as well.
Just like in this Sunday School class, there’s a range of responses from people here in this town to our family. I’ve been given looks of disapproval with my broken language but then that quickly changes when I intentionally ask for forgiveness and patience as I’m still learning. Although most people have been so kind, some leaders in town have even side-eyed our presence as though we’re here to compete for some reason? Coming from a humble approach rather than clanging gongs of “welcome the new missionaries” in town gives us the opportunity to build genuine relationships. Just as our Savior started in a simple stable and grew amongst others as a human, we take the same humbled approach and are taking things slow in our new home town.

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. Psalm 25:4-10