Every day we make choices for Christ or Satan. Every decision our children make will lead them down one path or the other. When broken down this way, it becomes quite plain to a child which choice they should make. However, actually making the choice can be quite difficult.
For months, Kaak has worried about her daughter Gam’s future. Gam is 17 years old and in tenth grade. When we were doing our culture study, I shadowed her for several days to learn about her daily routine. Most of the time, she is very quiet and respectful. She has a beautiful smile that greets me every time I see her.
Most Pnong are considering spouses for their children at this age. Kaak has been very worried that Gam will fall in love and marry a boy from school who is not a Christian. In this communal culture, that would make Kaak and Chumpri’s lives very difficult if they were to continue to worship Chief God. Kaak has worried about this so much that she decided to delay her decision to be baptized until Gam is married. She wants Gam to finish her education and get a good job before marrying. There are no Adventist young men of Gam’s age here, so Kaak’s fears of her marrying a non-Christian are warranted.
A few months ago, I told Kaak about an Adventist school in another province that Gam might be able to attend. There she would be able to keep the Sabbath, learn about God and make friends with others who love God, too. Kaak immediately seized upon the idea and begin coaxing Gam to go there next school year.
Gam had other plans, though. She was tired of going to school and looked forward to being done. After receiving her ninth-grade certificate, she wanted to stop going to school. She wants to become a teacher for our school that will be opening in September. I encouraged her to continue on through twelfth grade, which she agreed to do. But leaving her friends here, going far from home and possibly dropping back a few grades because of her poor education in the government system did not appeal to her. So, every time the subject came up, she told her mother she did not want to go the Adventist school.
Gam has some interest in learning about Chief God. She occasionally comes to church when she doesn’t have school, and sometimes she listens in on her parents’ Bible studies. But if it was up to her, she would spend her time with her friends or doing other things.
This has been a concern to me. I know Gam could be a good teacher, but if she doesn’t know God, how can she tell others about Him?
As I was sitting one Sabbath with Kaak under their home for a Bible study, she asked me to talk to Gam about going to the Adventist school. I told her I didn’t know if it would do much good. Then I asked her if Chumpri had talked with her. “No,” she said, “he never talks to her about things like that.” I suggested that she encourage Chumpri to talk to Gam. If he made a special effort to counsel her about this, it might make an impression on her. We talked to Chumpri about it, but he seemed uncertain about talking to Gam. Then he suggested we all talk to her together. So Kaak called Gam over to talk.
I smiled to myself. This was a true Pnong communal meeting. It felt like we were ganging up on Gam, but I reminded myself that this was the Pnong way of doing things. And for the first time, I was on the inside instead of just watching from the outside while the elders counseled.
When Kaak began talking about the school, Gam’s lips tightened into a straight line, and she looked uncomfortable. This was going to be tough. I sent up a silent prayer knowing that this was really a showdown in Gam’s life between choosing God or Satan. Chumpri, Kaak and I took turns encouraging her to go to the Adventist school. I explained to her that she was no longer a child and that she had to make a big decision about who she wanted to follow in her life. Gam sat silently. After some time, I could see tears welling up in her eyes. She knew it was the right thing to do, but she didn’t want to do it.
It was getting late, and Gam hadn’t given us an answer yet. I began gathering my things and making small talk with Kaak.
“I’ll go,” Gam blurted, catching me off guard.
“Don’t say you’ll go and then get there and want to come home,” Kaak pressed. “Do you really want to go?”
“Yes, I’ll go,” Gam said as a broad smile spread across her face. The battle was won!
Please pray for Gam as she learns about God. This is only the beginning of her spiritual journey.
