What is in a name?

Today is family day at the Sinclair house. The kids got up and did their school. Ben came home from teaching Moral Instruction classes all morning and we then headed to our new favorite restaurant (I'll make that a future Monday post). The burgers were the best ever today. The buns almost looked like wheat buns, and they were so soft. The restaurant is completely empty every time we are there and we get to sit and watch CNN while we eat our meal. It's great! We came home and I spent the afternoon on my computer. As I sat here my Yahoo instant messenger popped up and my mom got on as she does every day. We are SO blessed to have the internet connection we have. I talk to my Mom via our computer with my little microphone and it really helps me stay connected. Usually on Mondays or Saturdays Mom has a little more free time so that the kids can talk to her too. Both Emma and Kate got to have a lengthy conversation with their Mimi today.

Shortly after I got off the phone with my Mom our neighbor came to our front door with our bicycle. I was confused as we only allow the kids to come and play with the bike on Saturday. So, he informed me that a boy was riding it at a compound up the hill from us. This boy confessed to our neighbor that we had allowed him to take the bike and ride it at his house. Well, our neighbor knew that wasn't true and took the bike from him to return it to us. I began questioning him about this boy, so that I could confront him the next time he came to our house. I asked him what he looked like. His response made me laugh out loud..."well, he's black..." Haha! Well that really helps as we are the only white people in the entire village of Bambili! I'm certain I can narrow him down from that description. He laughed with me, but I'm not sure he understood the reason for my amusement. I just told him that the next time he saw the boy up here playing to please inform me so I could talk with him.

Theft and vandalism is something we deal with on a regular basis and often it can be VERY frustrating. But, I try and use these situations to teach our children. A few weeks ago there was a little boy named Christian who came to our house to ride the bike. I allowed him to take it and ride it, clearly explaining that he was to ride it in our yard alone. 10 minutes later I noticed that he was nowhere to be found. He had stolen the bike. Drew, our oldest, was so confused as I explained that someone had taken his bike. His response was, "If his name is Christian, why did he take the bike?" Definitely a good question. It gave me a great opportunity to explain that it isn't in a name, or how a person acts, or what he looks like that makes him a Christian. It is whether he has put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ. And that is why we are here in Cameroon, to share the gospel with those that have never heard so that they can truly become "Christians."