There is a natural phenomenon in one of our
ministry areas. It is a crater - a volcano that collapsed on itself --
that is a stop-over point for tourists on their way to Oldonyo Lengai (Ole Dohn
Yo Len Gai) which is the "mountain of God" in Maasai land.
Many Maasai offer animal sacrifices on this mountain to God (Engai or
Enkai). Maasai ladies who make jewelry wait for the tourists to stop and
look at the crater and then offer their wares for sale.
We had shared Bible stories with these ladies from the Maasai Bible story cloth that we use a few months ago. As I passed their again, I stopped to see how they were doing because several families had moved from their bomas (bow mahs - homesteads) due to the drought. The ladies told me that these families had returned. I asked them if I could visit those bomas the following week and share some of the Bible stories with them. They said that they would have ALL those people from those bomas at the crater where they sell their goods the following week to hear the Bible stories because "the stories are important and everyone needs to hear them".
So, we returned the next week with some volunteers
from Old Fort Baptist Church in Summerville SC. True to their word, they
had ALL the Maasai from those distant bomas there and the volunteers were able
to share the Bible stories with this eager, and larger group, of listeners.
Several reaffirmed us of their faith in Christ and we also welcomed
several more into the "family" as new brothers and sisters in Christ.
This was an encouragement to all of us as these
Maasai ladies were willing to invite AND bring new people to hear the Bible
stories and share in the opportunity to enter into a new relationship with
Jesus Christ!
So how is your inviting and bringing these days?
