I never realized how much I love rain until I came to Africa. I love thunderstorms. I love the cool refreshing that comes after a hard rain. I love that after a good rain, I can look across the valley and clearly see the mountains in all their majestic splendor. I love that after the rain comes, the dust settles and my feet don’t turn orange after a few minutes walking.
Well, we’ve been in dry season since November (at least, I can’t really remember when exactly rainy season ended). We had a “Christmas” rain at the very beginning of February, but that was really it. And then last week, we had rain 7 out of 9 days!! Night after night, we had big rain storms—so big that a few nights I thought the wind was going to blow our roof off. And then the last of those rains came last Friday. I have missed the rain this week. We were all hoping that rainy season was starting early. Usually, rainy season doesn’t start until the middle of March or later. And then today, it rained again. Maybe there’s still hope for a rainy season. And to think that I used to dread rainy days when I was at school!
I love the passage in Isaiah 55 that compares the rain and the snow to God’s Word: “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, … so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (v. 10-11). Here in the middle of dry season, I can see this passage come to life. I can see the reality of a thirsty land yearning for water and the quenching that comes from a good rain. Water brings vital healing and strengthening. Rain always nourishes the earth. In the same way, God’s Word always effects the healing and strengthening for which God sends it out. How encouraging! I may not see immediate results every time I share God’s Word, but He has promised that His Word will accomplish its purpose.
Yesterday, C and I visited a home in Foumbot. We had visited the ladies there previously, and it seemed like the ladies were merely agreeing with what we were sharing with them, rather than really taking it to heart. C decided to try a new approach in our Bible study—to study from the beginning of the Bible, from Creation, all the way to Christ. She came prepared with visuals to help teach the Creation story. When we got to the house, the three ladies/older girls that were there last week came into the room. And then children started pouring in. When it was all said and done, there were over 15 children and 3 adults in the room. A few other adults also sat in the hallway. God really gave us a great opportunity to share from His Word. The group listened very well—paying close attention and responding to questions. We were able to cover Creation and the Fall. Please pray with us that God would allow us the same opportunity next Wednesday. I’m exciting to see how God’s Word will nourish this family.
School continues to be busy. Today, I started working on a country research report with the 4th graders. The girls picked their countries—one is writing about Russia, and the other is writing about Greenland. This should be pretty interesting! I also started a new writing unit with the 6th graders. Hopefully by the end of the unit, they’ll turn in very interesting and creative historical fiction stories. In 10th grade, we are working our way through Romeo and Juliet. The girls are really loving the story (although I must confess that certain characters are really annoying us!). And in 12th grade, Carolyn and I are trudging through our British Lit book. I must confess, Brit Lit is not my favorite, but I have discovered some authors, particularly poets, that I’ve enjoyed better the second (or third) time around. We are just finishing up a unit on Neoclassicism.
Even in the midst of life's busyness, God provides refreshing rain--both physically and spiritually. I'm so thankful for His loving care over all of the earth!
