Thatch Roofs and Lizard Poop

Blog- Oct. 19, 2009

Hmmmm…. I was thinking about what to say in this blog about the island. My first thought was thatch roofs and lizard poop. Each night as the sun is setting there are creatures just waking up in this tropical land. The lizards happen to be among them. They live in the thatch roof ceiling of our home. They sound like small birds that are singing. They are beneficial creatures that come out at night and eat mosquitoes and other small insects; however, they also like to poop. So, part of the daily routine of life on the island consists of cleaning up lizard dung.

Thatch roofs and lizards are common on the island to most families that live here; though, they can be a bit of a nuisance. The families on the island are made up of many types of people similar to those at home. There are ordinary people here, just like you and I. But, that is the reason we are here. People! You will find people of with various skills on the island. Some are fishermen, boat owners, carpenters, builders, farmers, mothers, fathers, etc.

Jesus said in Philippians 2:5-8, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross.” Jesus humbled himself and took on human form. He did this for one purpose, the restoration of man with God.

As Josh and I have the opportunity to serve the people on this island, our purpose is the restoration of man with God. (By the way, if you pray for us or give to help us be here, you are part of this.) We desire that people seek to know Jesus. We can plant seeds, but the Holy Spirit is the one that draws people to him. This is our main endeavor while we are on this island.

Though after being here for a few weeks, my first thought about the island might be about thatch roofs and lizard poop. But, this minor inconvenience pales in comparison to the people whose live are being changed by the Word of God. (Even though I am still not a big fan of the lizard poop!)

In Christ,

Cathy Vaughn