Coconut Converts

 Good Morning Friends, 


If you're reading this, that's good, because we 'moved house' today and we’re not sure we'll have internet where we're going. We find that living in guest houses sometimes has calendar problems, such as previously booked guests. So with the two weeks gap we’re looking at, we’re going to move out to where a friend has graciously made his apartment available. He spends most of his time as a missionary overseas, so it’s a real God send for us.  If there’s a downside, it’s just that the apartment is WAAY out on the wild and wooly west coast of Oahu; but we’re looking forward to a little respite from Big City Waikiki.  


Thank you all so much for your encouraging letters after my last rather whiny blog!  I didn’t mean to come across as so needy, but you seemed to know what I needed. 


I mentioned on Facebook how blessed we were last week to meet a young man who’s gone from a newish Christian last year when we were here, to, thanks to the leadership of one of Tony’s students, a strong Christian leader and Sunday School teacher. 


Speaking of students, Tony came home from class with a cute story I thought you'd enjoy this morning.


One of his students is a Filipino, very dedicated to God and shall we say, maybe a little eclectic?  For example, last year he decided to go into the Philippine jungle with little more than a backpack full of Bibles.  I'm not clear if he had a decided length of time in mind or if he just let it play out, but as weeks turned into months, his commitment turned into an ongoing ministry, led by people he met along the way. One day he was set upon by a pack of wild dogs, but somehow this particular pack (guardian angels?) took a sudden turn to become  on mission: to serve as friends and body guards for this man while he tramped through the jungle. 


This is one part of his story: He was praying for evangelistic opportunities, (I'm not sure how many people you meet in a jungle, but......) He found an abandoned shack, with a solid metal roof, which was encouraging, so he started praying for a chance to find a congregation.


Well, God sometimes works in mysterious ways, and this time it was a fierce rainstorm. The wind was of biblical proportions, and as a result, coconuts started pelting down from the trees all around.  If you've seen the height of these trees or the size of the coconut unhusked, you realise this is not unlike an avalanche of boulders. 


As he was watching from the shelter of the shack, he saw people running toward him for all they were worth. Thankful for the shelter, they were more than willing to hang around for an impromptu church service!


Things went well for a while, and then the rain and wind began to let up.  People started to look around, gather up their stuff and think about heading out. He sent one more prayer up between sentences, maybe along the lines of "Lord, You brought them here, You need to keep them here!"

 

And WHAM! There was a huge explosion.........oh, no, it was just the last coconut, smack in the middle of the tin roof.  Everyone decided to stay tucked in tight till he finished, and the sky cleared off.


When I get to Heaven, I’m going to look around and ask, “Are you one of those coconut converts?” 


Do you think sometimes God just 'enjoys' being God? I sure enjoy being His. And I especially enjoy being yours (friends, that is).


Until next time, look to the skies!


Marsha


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