One of the most liberating things that I ever read was in the book 'Bruchko'

written by an American living among the members of Motilone Indian tribe in Columbia. One of the young men who had decided to 'walk on Jesus' path'

asked Bruce Olson what he should do in response to the tribal celebration 'when the spirits walked'. The American was culturally and spiritually out of his depths even though he had lived as one of the tribe for some time. He had no counsel, no advice to give. All he could tell the young man was that he would have to ask Jesus to give him an answer to his dilemma. And Jesus was pretty good at giving him a relevant solution!

In that one paragraph, I realised that missionaries, particularly, and Christians, in general, do not have to have an answer to all the questions - be they genuine enquiries or mischievous challenges - that are put to them.

They are free to say, 'I don't know; you'll have to ask God to tell you.'

How wonderfully liberating.

It seems that I have been relearning that truth of late as it turned up in another guise.

There are, of course, many ISP students who are short of money for both school fees and for meeting the cost of living. There are several from Zandeland, the region to the north, who are particularly short of money because their family members can't easily send cash or kind as the present infrastructure doesn't allow for easy communication between Bunia and Dungu, Banda, Napopo and Assa. And since I once lived and worked in Zandeland, the students come to me to explain their problems. Six students needing to pay school fees, buy school equipment, pay rent, buy food at the current Bunia prices is no cheap matter. Why should all this fall on me! I didn't ask them to come to study in Bunia. The other students are responsible for meeting their costs. I can help out a little, but I can't shoulder the whole burden.

I guess I have to learn that although the students come to me with their needs and (mis-) expectations, I donít have to meet those needs. Itís for God to provide. The words of Psalm 115:1 came to mind ìNot unto us (me), but to your name be the glory because of your love and faithfulness.î And I've been amazed to see that God has provided for them. Other people have volunteered to contribute to their needs. A church member and father of another ISP student invited the Zande students for the New Year meal. The students looked for work - hard to find here in Bunia - and a church member gave them some.

I feel very relieved of the burden.

While we are commanded to "carry each other's burdens, and in this way ...

fulfil the law of Christ", we are also reminded that "each one should carry his own load." Galatians 6.

It's not always an easy tension to maintain.

Blessings,

Bridget Howard