To be honest, to always be the odd-man standing out gets a little old; to always be asking clarifying questions, to not knowing many of the words being spoken, to ask them to explain comments/stories/jokes because of feeling like you are missing something and it appears everything is esoteric, to always looking different, dress different, and always a shade of feeling uncomfortable… that is what everyday feels like for the past 12-13 months. That’s how it feels… but recently we began to see a shift in them, how they address us, and how they refer to us.
Recently some people have said:
“We can’t hide anything from them”.
“They know us better than any outsider”.
“The longer they stay, the better they will know us, and it will be like they live in our houses with us”.
“They always question our actions and beliefs, they challenge me in things I have never thought about myself”.
“We can’t talk in our language secretly anymore, they’ll understand what we are saying”.
(Kids) “We want to go see Auntie (Nicole) and Uncle (Seth)”.
(Kids) “Can we go to mom (Nicole) and dad’s (Seth) house?”
Silly faces = international!
These are just a few things they have said recently, and it encourages us. Do we always feel like the odd man out? Well yes, Seth is a foot taller than almost everyone in our people group (except for like two people). Do we still struggle to understand what they are saying? Absolutely… it will take more time to learn this Tiale language. Do we understand their worldview fully and how they perceive events? Not wholly, but piece-by-piece, we are getting closer. Also, it is t
he time of extreme heat and endless rain, sometimes we don’t know if we are covered in perspiration or precipitation (mostly both)… in all things we “feel displaced”.
Discipleship Analogy at Church
Everyday is a struggle to balance learning culture, language, ministry, and being engaged in the community life here, have we mastered this process? By no means… but like the saying goes, “how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”. Continue to pray for us as we juggle every day life; along with loving on the people, language learning, and discipling those whom God has given us thus far.
Your feet to the Tiale people,
Seth & Nicole Stokes
Stoking The Fires 
Up and praying with you guys ….keep eyes on Jesus, knees on ground and heart in His hands.
John
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This is beautiful! Hallelujah! There is a lot of difficulty, pain, and discomfort in giving birth. So I am told! 🤣
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, Galatians 4:19
You’re doing it! And your difficult feelings are indicators that you are right on right now. Keep on one hour, day, at a time. A powerful mind-blowing harvest is in store later. In His timing.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
We love you and are incredibly proud of you! Uncle Mike and aunt Barb
On Mon, Jan 28, 2019 at 5:40 AM Stoking The Fires wrote:
> stokingthefires posted: “To be honest, to always be the odd-man standing > out gets a little old; to always be asking clarifying questions, to not > knowing many of the words being spoken, to ask them to explain > comments/stories/jokes because of feeling like you are missing something” >
Glad to hear your are feeling more “at home”. It certainly is a big thing you are doing…it takes special people with great love like you to give of yourselves like you are doing in a far away place. Praying God will grant you GRACE to meet all your needs and hopes and desires as you work with the people in Vanuatu.
So very proud of you two, taking it one day at a time. Every day is a new challenge, and every day God’s grace is sufficient, and you’re really eating away at that elephant! 🙂 Ya’ll are still in my prayers, and I ask Him for encouragement for you, strength, health, and utter dependence upon Him to see you through with joy in your hearts! Love you guys! -Shari