Missions
Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. [Mark 16:15]
"Rubiks Cube"
Paul did not want to go on the mission trip to Ghana. He was
absolutely terrified of going. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Olson had gone on many
such trips and knew the joys that came from the hardships and especially the
joys of sharing Jesus with people who wanted to know him so very much. So they
made him go even though he pouted and looked very afraid all the way over on
the plane no matter what mommy and daddy said to comfort him.
When
they arrived and got settled, everything Paul was afraid of turned out to be
true. He hated it all. They didnt have a nice hotel room to stay in. They
had a hut. The food was weird and hard to eat and made of things American kids
dont eat. The people looked funny, didnt speak English and they
even smelled strange to Paul. None of the events or work assignments they got
were fun to Paul and he felt sick a lot because he didnt like the food
and didnt sleep well. Noises in the night there were so different from
home.
So Paul just stayed in his hut every day as his parents went out
and ministered to the people of the village. No matter how many wonderful
stories he heard of Gods miracles and the fun they were having getting to
know the people, Paul was stubborn and he would not leave his hut. He just sat
there day in and day out and played with his Rubiks cube. He loved that
toy. It was very good for keeping his mind off of his surroundings and trying
to solve it which he never did.
One Thursday morning, Paul got up and
ate with his parents. He noticed that either they were starting to serve
American food or he was getting used to the stuff they cooked here because he
kind of liked it and ate lots more than usual. Right on schedule then,
Pauls parents left to start the days work of building homes and
buildings for the new church, teaching the people and working on Bible
translations. Paul went to his bed and looked for his Rubiks cube to
start his day too.
But he could not find it. Where could it be? It was
his best friend in this lonely place. He looked under his bedding, in his
suitcase, everywhere. He was just frantic. He started looking all around the
hut, even outside the windows on the off chance it got thrown out there. Then
he remembered. The night before his mom asked him to leave for a while so she
could clean up so he went out and found a tree stump down the hill from the hut
area and he had it with him. But it was too dark to play with it so he laid it
on the stump. The sounds of monkeys and animals in the trees started to make
him afraid so he suddenly bolted back to the hut. He must have left it there.
He was going to have to go find it. Paul peeked out the door and the
village area seemed quiet. So cautiously, he left the hut and walked down the
hill toward the log. But he stopped when he got close. There was a small boy,
about his size and age, sitting on the log looking at something. As Paul
approached carefully, the boy looked up. In his hands was the Rubiks
cube. The Ghana youth looked at it in his hands where he was playing with it
and then at Paul. Then the biggest smile you ever saw came over his face and he
held it out to Paul to return it to him. That smile was so warm, so happy and
fun loving, it seemed to almost say to Paul, come play with me.
Paul walked up slowly gazing at that friendly smile. The boy lifted
the other hand and began to twist the Rubiks cube skillfully but looking
at Paul for approval. Paul watched the patterns the boy was making. No
not that way, this way he felt himself saying in his mind and before he
knew it, he had sat down. Before long, the two boys were engrossed in the toy.
Paul could not resist helping the boy because it was clear this strange
colored, funny smelling boy loved the Rubiks cube just as much as Paul
did and that made him just like Paul, not a foreign person at all.
The
boys played for hours and what Paul thought was a time for him to teach this
simple villager the hard logic of the Rubiks cube suddenly changed when
boy suddenly laughed with joy and solved it. He chattered excited phrases to
Paul in his own language and Paul took it from him and held it up and then
burst into happy laughter. YOU SOLVED IT! he shouted with amazement
and a thrilled joy. I never saw anyone solve it! Thats
amazing! Paul said with excitement. He patted the boy on the back showing
his sincere respect for what he had done. Hey lets see if you can
do it again. Paul said and then he mixed it all up again.
Right
away, the boy set to work, his tongue sticking out from his teeth just like
Pauls did when he was close to solving it. Paul watched tense as an
athlete cheering in his heart for his new friend to finish the puzzle. He
didnt see the lead missionary come up.
You boys
having fun? He said in his always friendly voice.
Yes.
Reverend Keith. Its amazing. He solved it! He solved the Rubiks
cube. This is so cool. I never had a friend who could
Pauls
excited bragging was broken but a shriek of laughter from his Ghanan friend.
HE SOLVED IT AGAIN! Paul declared with excitement and he literally
jumped up and started patting the boy and telling him how amazing he was.
Reverend Keith was deeply pleased to see the boys from two very different
cultures find fun together. He talked to the boy whose name was Ramda and told
Paul his name and helped the boys talk to each other for about an hour before
he had to get back to work.
Ramda explained that he too had to go help
his dad work on their hut but both boys promised to meet tomorrow and play some
more. As Paul and Reverend Keith walked back to the missionary huts, Paul
asked. What did Ramda say to you as he was leaving?
Well Paul. The missionary said. He told me to thank you for
playing with him and he made an observation about the Rubiks cube.
Oh what did he say? Paul asked with excitement. He
is so good at it. I want to know his secrets.
He said it
isnt as hard as it looks. Reverend Keith responded. And you
know Paul, the same is true of sharing your faith. By just being a friend, as
you are being with Ramda, even if you are enjoying it and it seems natural, you
are sharing your faith. All you have to do is not hide what you know about
Jesus and let God guide you in acts of kindness, compassion and your natural
desire to see Ramda be in heaven like you will.
Well I
want that for sure. Thanks Reverend. I will let God show me how to share Jesus
with Ramda. I want him in heaven partly because I want him to be happy and not
go to, well, the bad place. Paul answered.
What is the
other part? The missionary asked.
Well, so I will have him
there to play with me. Paul laughed.
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. [Matthew 5:14-16]
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