Children�s Relief International

  Many people in Project Life do not own a Bible. Many cannot read, but even those that can have not had the opportunity to own their own Bible. Any of their Biblical training and teaching comes from outside sources. For one who grew up on a daily diet of the Bible, it is hard to comprehend the impoverishment of this spiritual dependency. I really can't imagine not being able to grab my Bible and scarf down the precious truths like an ice cream sundae. We were blessed recently by a missionary friend who received a huge shipment of Bibles. He graciously gave us a Bible for each person able to read in Project Life.   Knowing it was the week to receive their Bibles, the people came anxiously expectant. After receiving his Bible, one man gingerly wrapped it in a piece of paper to protect it. I thought about all the times I had dropped my Bible, scribbled all over it or used it as a fan when the church got too hot. They, on the other hand, kept thanking me like I had given them a ticket to the lottery. Wanting to encourage their new-found freedom, I judiciously began to voice my opinion about what books, chapters and verses would be best to read first. (Do you devour the whipping cream, bananas, chocolate, ice cream or cherry on top first?) After all, reading the Psalms is so uplifting yet the meat of Romans produces growth, while the book of James is challenging and then there is the love chapter of I Corinthians 13... Impossible. All I could say was, “dig in!”   Pam Johnson, CRI Missionary to Mozambique