The rain was heavy when we arrived to the pier at the end of our 4 hour mini-bus ride-slash-sardine adventure. If we weren't tight as a team before that, we definitely were by now. The 12 passenger vehicle had enough seat belts for our 11 bodies, but not so much space for our bags of food, clothes, rubbermaids of dental equipment, our on-the-fly makeshift dental furniture, and Ben's guitar...
We were told the longboat could not be used in the rain, so we prayed...
Thirty seconds after we all finished saying Amen the rain subsided, and we started packing the longboat...God is good.
Now the Morgen islanders have quite the story, and I hope that none of them read this posting. I am by no means learned in the history of their culture, so please do not deem me as an exhaustive storyteller, but what I'm sharing now are a few of the stories that they have shared with me that have blessed my life.
Number one: the Morgen islanders are a band of Sea Gypsies; meaning they are master-fishermen, and live where the fish take them.
Number two: the whole village accepted Christ after the tsunami...much prayer was needed for this to happen, but miracles happen when talking to God is taken seriously. Talk to Pastor Brian if you want more info...(Matt 17:19-20)
Number three: historically the village had always been in debt...God has financially blessed them out of debt even when times have been hard (fishing has not been what it used to be, since the tsunami), and now they are in the position to be a blessing to other Sea Gypsy communities...God is faithful to His people...(1 Thess 5:23&24)
Dave, Alyssa & Steph working till 1am on teeth.
Number four: three months before we set foot on their island, the people prayed. They had asked God for A. a veterinarian (they have many animals), and two weeks later they had received one, and B. a dentist (dental hygiene has not been taken seriously), and we showed up with Dr. Dave...we were never told about this need before we showed up...strategically God had assembled this crew. Ask and prepare to receive...(Matt 7:7)
Written by: Ash Peters
