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| No one has found a way to communicate the Gospel to Banana yet. |
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By Mary Hurst - 2008.12.30
Eager faces greeted us as we stepped off the plane.
Missionaries Mike and Cher Riepma and Todd Comstock stood out in a rippling sea of Ese Ejja children, jostling for the opportunity to help unload the plane and receive a piece of candy or gum for their efforts.
My husband, Cam, had come to help missionaries Mike and Cher check their Bible translation. They worked 8-to-5 daily for seven days with two Ese Ejja co-workers, Big Head and Worm, to make sure that God's Word is clearly understand.
Yes, their co-workers are named Big Head and Worm. Ese Ejjas often have unusual names, such as Spit, Food, Neckbone, Wristwatch, Crybaby, Stinky Bottom, Hard Lips and Banana.
Since Mike and Cher were busy with translation checking, I took over preparing the meals -- and entertaining. You see, for most tribal people, peering through windows of the missionaries' house is a lot like watching a TV show about strange people from far-off lands. The Ese Ejjas are no exception. They gathered outside and watched as I baked bread and cooked in 92-degree heat.
I didn't mind that, but I also hoped to find some peace and quiet to work on dioramas illustrating Bible stories. I moved into a back room and set to work, but soon there were so many faces pressed against the window that little light was getting in.
Each day I tried to sneak back there, and each day they found me.
If that wasn't enough, the most faithful window-watcher was a little girl named Banana. Banana is deaf. That means she cannot hear the loud, constant noises she makes. She was always there, always loud, and by the third day I was getting annoyed.
Then I realized: Banana will never be able to hear the Gospel.
From then on I made time to interact with Banana. She's quite intelligent, and always has a big smile. She enjoys being at the believers' meetings, but no one has found a way to communicate the Gospel to her -- yet.
Lord, please open a way for Banana to understand the Gospel message. |
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