Later that first day of Alessandra’s arrival, the family ventured out to the market to look for supplies and hand out reading material with Scripture verses and lessons. Between the shopping and the distributing, the group was kept busy. Jenny suggested that her mom had paid too much for some fresh fruit and vegetables.
“You’re probably right, Jenny, but don’t forget that Jimmy went shopping in the afternoon when the vendors are looking to get rid of their merchandise at any price. What’s next on the list, Jackie?”
“Coffee. Dad wants something a little stronger than we got last time. We also need loose tea for making iced tea. And lemons if we can find some.”
The ladies finished shopping, careful to pass out the literature containing Bible verses on salvation. Alessandra was happy to see how eager everyone was to receive the information. It wasn’t long before word got out, and people were asking them for the tracts. Within ten minutes, all two-hundred and fifty of them had been handed out. Cathy explained that in a poor country like Congo, where reading material was scarce, everyone will take a gospel tract. The information may then be passed along and shared with ten other people, an effective way to plant the seed of God’s Word in the hearts of Congo’s people.
When Paul was in prison, he made a special request of one of his friends, “The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring with you, and the books, but especially the parchments.” (2 Timothy 4:13) The ability to read and the opportunity to have reading materials has always been appreciated since the dawn of history. Just like Paul, who craved the chance to peruse Scripture in prison, the people of the Congo and other poor nations loved any written word that they could get their hands on. Starving intellectually and spiritually created the craving for reading the pamphlets that the missionaries offered. In our age of easy access to information, may we always appreciate our chances to read, study, learn, and grow.
