Remember when I told you about Frances? Well, she needs some prayer again.
She's back in town, and divorced. She returned a few weeks ago and came by to visit. She started helping watch Chandler while I worked with my language tutor. It was nice when Chandler would take a nap and she'd come listen to my language lessons... especially when I was reading Bible stories over and over again. I read them so much that she basically memorized them. One day I had her stay so I could study some with her and working on my grammar in conversation. I had her tell me a Bible story. She repeated the story of the demoniac that I had been practicing in Mark 5. I asked what she thought about the story and she said it was good. It's good that he was healed and normal. I then asked if she knew the story of the woman at the well in John 4. She didn't so I let her read it while I wrote sentences for practice. Again, I asked what she thought about the story. Again, she said it was good. I asked her what she thought about Jesus saying He is the Christ and she agreed that it was true. I was taken back. She claimed the Koran says that... and that He is a prophet. I then explained to her that there is a difference in Jesus being a prophet and being the Savior of the world. She didn't really agree with me about that, so instead of arguing... and well, because I can't really argue in French... I moved on. I continued with my homework and let her read the story of the Fall in Genesis. A few minutes later she said she wanted to ask me a question. I thought, ok, Lord, give me the words in French to understand and answer. And then she asked me for money for a new cell phone. I was a little disappointed, but that's a very cultural thing here. I told her she would get paid on Friday.
Fast forward to Thursday night... I'm frantically searching for my iPad. The last time I used it was early that morning and then Chandler played with it for a few. Now, I couldn't find it, anywhere. Trey and I tore apart the entire house, searching for 2 hours... I even made him look in the washing machine. You never know, right?! We called 3 of the 4 people who were at our house that day (and every day) asking if they saw it, and getting no helpful answers. With much hesitation and heart ache we came to the conclusion that someone had taken it from the home. I was devastated. I was heartbroken. My feelings were genuinely hurt. It wasn't the fact that the iPad was missing. It really had nothing to do with the item. It was the fact that someone I trusted would take something.
The next morning we waited until all of the same people came to the house and Trey talked with them. He gave an opportunity for someone to admit what happened anonymously. No one did. He then let them search the living room and talk amongst themselves about what happened at the house yesterday. We stayed out of the room. Again, no answers. Talking with our house helper, Rigobert, and Trey's language helper it was becoming clear that Frances' story wasn't making sense. She had acted strange the day before, but some people have off days. But... lies were starting to appear in her story. Trey decided to call them one-by-one into his office. After an hour sitting with her, and a translator to make sure everything was clearly communicated, the truth came out. She said she was playing on the iPad and thought she broke it. She was taking it home to get it repaired and would then return it. We got the iPad back.
Like I said in the beginning... this long story is all about your prayer. We feel this situation has given us the opportunity to show Christ's love and forgiveness. Also, to show how God is just. Pray for us as we continue our relationship. Pray that we can forgive. Pray as we decide what changes need to be made in our household so that we don't run into this again. Pray for me as I use this to clearly present the Gospel to her. We long for her and her family to know Jesus. We long to see a radical change in their lives. Pray that this difficult situation for us, is only the beginning of their walk with Christ.
