Faith Comes by Hearing (but earbuds sure help!)

Every time we visit a language area, there are certain people and experiences that stand out in my mind.  In particular, I tend to gravitate toward the elderly, as you might guess from looking at my photos.  It touches my heart to consider how these folks have lived such long difficult lives without the benefit of hearing God speak to them in the language of their heart.  Whenever God allows me to share His love with these precious souls, I go for it.  Sometimes I am even blessed to be present as they surrender their very lives to Christ.

Showing her a photo of herself

Last week I was passionately explaining to Rosa, an 89-year-old Zapotec woman, about Christ’s love, with a native pastor translating my words into Zapotec from Spanish.  Several times she said something in Zapotec causing her daughter and two other ladies to burst out laughing.  Curious, I requested a translation.  She had looked straight at me and said, “I have no idea what you are saying, but I just love how you are expressing it.”

Later we introduced her to the audio Bible we had brought her, playing the first chapter of John.  Again, she smiled and seemed pleased, but made another remark in Zapotec, causing the ladies and the visiting pastor to laugh aloud again.  She had said that she liked it very much – even though she couldn’t hear it.  Oh, my.  We were having so much fun, and yet not one word was getting through to her aside from the sense that she was loved.

Digging in my bag, I found a pair of earbuds I had gotten on the plane.  As we plugged it into the audio Bible and put them on her ears, her smile changed to an expression of sheer wonder.  She loved the scriptures from the minute she could actually hear them.  We continued visiting with the other ladies, making sure they knew how to change the volume, the books, and the chapters of the Bible.  Occasionally Rosa would say something aloud.  Translated back to Spanish for us, we realized she was quoting passages she had just heard.

“Faith comes by hearing…”  Please pray that this dear woman and many others like her will grow to trust Jesus for their salvation as they listen to their brand new audio Bibles.

Hissing For the Bees

During our same visit to Oaxaca last month, we traveled to a near-by village, one hour by truck, or four hours by foot.  Thankfully a mudslide was cleared up in time for us to make the trip by truck, but the handful of believers were so eager to see us, they would have walked over if necessary. Instead, we piled into the back of two trucks and drove down to the valley, across a river, and then up to the other mountainside.

The name of the village is Abejones, which means "The place of the bees."

My prayer for this village was a continuation of the one I prayed for the other Zapotec village, based on the words from Zechariah.  However, this time, I used the AMPC version on Biblegateway.com, which says:

"I will hiss for them [as the keeper does for his bees] and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall increase [again] as they have increased [before, in Egypt]."

Zechariah 10:8

 
What a fitting passage for the people of Abejones who desperately need to hear the Word of the Lord hissing for them, gathering them in like bees.  Please pray that the little house church there would grow spiritually and multiply, and that they would remain strong in spite of persecution and difficulties they may face.

Photo by Debbie Loker

Our brave team from Ohio trusted God for their safety as we journeyed to Abejones to encourage the small house church with audio Bibles in their language.

Whistling their Names

When our seven children were still at home, I formulated a system of whistling for them (yes, perhaps inspired somewhat by "The Sound of Music").  I would whistle the cadence of my own exaggerated calling of "Chris-to-pher," "Tim-my," "Aar-on Mich-ael," "Han-nah Marie-e."  It saved me from yelling their names all day long.

What is interesting is that in southern Mexico, there are language groups that can communicate with whistles that reflect the tones and inflections of their native tongue.  Last month we witnessed this phenomenon in a Oaxacan village.  With no internet or cell phone service, it was a handy way for people to holler out to see if someone was home, or to get their attention on a pathway.


As I was praying for these people, I found a verse in Zechariah 10:6-8 which speaks of God "whistling" for his people, gathering them together, and redeeming them.  This is my prayer for the Zapotecos, that they would hear God's voice in the audio Bibles we distributed, and that God would strengthen them, save them, bring them back to Himself, and hear and answer their prayers.  I pray that they would be like mighty warriors, and that they and their children would rejoice and shout triumphantly in the Lord.  Lastly I pray that their church would multiply and spread to the other side of the mountain where there are still no believers.

Won't you join me in praying for the Zapotec people of Oaxaca?