Living on the Water
Have you ever imagined yourself and your family living on a boat in a bay off a tropical coastline? Sounds relaxing and even romantic! In 2002, we visited a family who lived like that, but it was anything but luxurious or romantic. Let me tell you a bit more.
We came in contact with this family through an underground pastor who attended a Leadership Training Class that my husband taught in North Vietnam. The pastor explained that the husband had tuberculosis and was unable to work physically. The family lived on a dilapidated boat with no motor which at the time was in such bad condition it would not last through another typhoon season (which was coming upon them). The family was forced to live in an isolated little inlet away from other boats because the police knew they were Christians and they refused to pay bribes. Their only income was to dry fish (caught by other boat people) on their deck. The two teenage children kept busy either gathering shellfish on the rocks along the shoreline for the family’s food or bailing the boat out to keep it afloat.
But what this family lacked in physical strength and material possessions they made up for in spirit and faith! The pastor testified that they were one of the most faithful families in his church. Taking a little six-foot round basket boat to land and walking about two miles to attend every service. We asked the pastor how we could help them, and he suggested that if they could get a different boat with an engine, they could at least fish for themselves and stay afloat. That was a big request for us back then. We could make no promise to help except to pray and ask God to provide through the gifts of Christian brothers and sisters. To our joy, the Lord blessed us with the funds that came through Vessels of Mercy Ministries. Enough was provided so that the family was able to not only purchase a different boat with an engine to live on but also a small rowboat. The resourcefulness of the family was amazing when given an opportunity. The wife used the small boat as a floating “711 store” and went among the boats anchored in the nearby bay selling rice, salt, vegetables, and other basic necessities. The small basket boat was used as a taxi by the son and daughter. They could go to land daily in the boat to find work as day laborers or provide a taxi service for other boat people.
The change in this family’s countenance was dramatic when we visited them again later that year. They were all physically healthier. Their faith in Jesus and their enthusiasm was contagious. The husband told us boldly, “we will serve God until Jesus comes. Our trust is in Him.” Praise God! Our Father God’s ear is open to the cry of the needy and He allows us the privilege to be His hand extended to help His children in need.
So, when I think of living on a houseboat, I think of this family. I think of their faith and their joy in believing in Jesus even with almost nothing of this world’s goods. But one thing was so evident to me, Jesus was their “Pearl of Great Price.” Their faith in Him was so precious and valuable to them. Nothing else really mattered and they complained about nothing, not even having had to live on tiny little shellfish and green weeds that grew along the shore!
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporal, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
This really challenges me in my own contentment and source of joy.
How about you?
