Cause and effect

This is the solar power invertor. The source all the electricity at the farm.

Last year on the farm we had solar power installed.  This allowed for lights to be put up everywhere. It made such a difference when we slept out there overnight with the other missionaries during the Christmas outreach. Before we had to use flashlights once the sun went down but now there are lights in the bathrooms, up in the trees over the seated area, in the clinic, and in the dorms. The farm is located in a village that is surrounded by other villages, which are all in the middle of nowhere. So when the lights first went up the community talked about how the farm looked more like a town at night. Another result of solar power is power strips placed along the wall in the workshop. Power tools could now be plugged in and used. Previously battery operated tools were used or every tool had to be plugged into the generator which is extremely loud and consumes fuel. The farm workers could also plug in their phones to charge throughout the day. This seems like a wonderful concept except it back fired when one of their phones got stolen. After several days of investigation no one wanted to confess and no one wanted to rat out anyone. Jason decided to get CCTV set up in the workshop and other locations around the farm. This did indeed bring a stop to anything else getting stolen. It also exposed that the farm becomes a playground for the village children on Sundays. Jason and Amos had to have a chat with the guards to ask where they were on Sundays- showing them the footage of children sitting on the Tractor and walking all over the place. They have been given warning to do their jobs and I don't think there will be any more Sunday problems in the future. 

We can see this cause and effect in our own lives. In the above paragraph you can see solar power provided the workers access to a way their phones to be charged while they were harvesting, weeding, and planting. This then presented the opportunity for someone to steal without being noticed. So then the cameras were added. This gave evidence to jobs that weren't being done well and a new chance to get it done right. This made think of the cause and effect to being a follower of Christ. We are not to "look" the same as we did before we met Jesus because we are "born again" (John 3:3) We are "dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11) we are a "new creation" "the old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Although I, Rebekah, don't have such an obvious outward distinctions of my former life before Jesus, I definitely have a testimony of continuing to grow by realizing my sin and putting it to death. When I was newly saved, my thought patterns held so much to self righteousness (how ironic that one of our daughters is named Righteous). It was too easy for me to see others sins and not see my own. I praise God for gently and consistently reminding me of my own need for Jesus death on the cross. My salvation is not by my own good works but by His Grace. I never want to go back to the way I use to think,  but it's a daily renewal of my mind. 

As Jason and Amos continue to study the Bible with some workers on Fridays there is such a cause and effect for those individuals. Growing up as a Muslim in the village there is a general understanding of how each day, week, month, and year will go. Men should be going to the Mosque to pray 5 times a day- but if they are working somewhere and cannot get to a Mosque they can face towards Mecca and still get the prayers done. Every Friday Men should dedicate themselves to the Mosque more so than other days of the week. There is usually a special celebration on their prophet Mohammed's birthday. The whole month of Ramadan is revered. Women have to make up the fasting days that they missed during Ramadan throughout the year (they cannot fast during their menstruation because they are considered "unclean") The two different EID's are joyous occasions and ultimately generosity is a requirement for any able Muslim. Now that former Muslims profess faith in Jesus their lives are radically going to look different and as they are babies in their faith they are still figuring out what that actually looks like.

This past Bible study was on Mark 13. There are many hard truths in this chapter because it's all about the challenges in the world during the end times. At the end of listening to the passage in Swahili,  and then reading it out loud for themselves, everyone will pick something from the passage to obey.

Jesus said to them: 9 "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of Me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking,  but the Holy Spirit. 

12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."

Each man (except for G*r*n* who is illiterate and usually doesn't pick out a verse) chose verse 13 to obey. They chose to stand firm to the end- even if their families and friends will hate them. We can not fully fathom reality of what they might have to face in the days to come. 

It always amazes Jason what they choose to obey. How open their minds are and how new the concept of reading and understanding scripture is so fresh to them. Some weeks you can see them really struggle to understand something they can obey. But this week they were fighting about who was going to say it first.  Of course Jason had picked verse 10 about proclaiming the Gospel to all nations and then the end will come. It shows how different our minds work and how much our worldviews influence our thinking and perception.  We can see in all the aspects of life how the real cause/effect relationship plays out.  Jason has been constantly reminded that they are counting a very real cost everyday as they follow Christ in their communities. Pray that all of us as followers of Jesus would truly count that cost with them with Joy because Jesus is Worthy!

The CCTV up in the workshop at the farm.