Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Write something in the YOUNG ADULT or TEEN genre (06/07/07)
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TITLE: A Bruised Reed | Previous Challenge Entry
By Carolyn Burgoine
06/13/07 -
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So many wonderful things had happened on her island – her village - in the past several years. Now this new life was threatened and those who had wrought such good for her people were being persecuted. This ancient people were growing their own crops, building, using traditional methods to produce new wares for barter or sale. Food was plentiful, homes waterproof, people generally healthier and certainly cleaner. The men especially had changed because they weren’t drinking as much karva – instead they were busy planning for the future, discussing ideas fir developing a reliable system to sustain their families with basic needs. Kyeema was very pleased her father and brothers had helped build the school. As a result of their helping in the project, they had learned how to improve their own home and build shelves and cupboards to store their meagre supply of foods, clothes and Kyeema’s precious books.
There had been much to learn about in her younger years, such as which berries, fruits and roots were edible, which healed and which caused dreadful rashes; safe swimming holes and how to read the sky for storms so that she could run for shelter. Her brothers had taught her how to fish, which she loved because it meant being near the sea, whose allure lay in its changing tides, colours and sounds. The immensity of the sea remained constant as did its power and was a source of pleasure and provision. Kyeema and her brothers loved to run through the waves … she delighted in lifting her face to the sun’s warmth at the same time squealing as the coldness of the ocean tingled her legs as the waves surged around her.
Kyeema was an avid reader and loved to learn about other countries, cultures, historic figures, adventurous explorers, a whole world, which held billions of people. She had seen pictures of beautiful statues, and buildings and paintings – wondrous things … even a whole universe of other planets.
The most awe inspiring and wondrous thing was that her beloved teacher Evie had even taught her about God, the God who had made absolutely everything. He had made everything from nothing. Imagine knowing HIM! It is relatively easy to weave baskets and make pottery, clothing and tools from their natural sources, but God, her God had made the natural resources! Even people, he had created human beings from nothing. It was hard to grasp such a concept. This God loved her, he thought her important, important enough to listen to when she spoke to him. She could tell him the things that worried her, things that her family and some of her friends wouldn’t listen to.
Some of the ladies had learned to “spin” , dye and “knit” wool from sheep fleeces – dirty, smelly and matted on the animal and now something so clean, soft and beautiful, like blankets and jumpers. Kyeema thought that the wool was like us before we know Christ and his saving power and righteousness that makes us whiter than snow when our God looks on us.
Some “do-gooders” Evie called them wanted to stop her people from strengthening their economy by producing stock, and materials and wares and learning new skills and selling their wares to tourists in Darwin in order to buy seeds, animals, tools and wood and other things like books and pencils that had changed their lives so completely. These “do-gooders” said that the missionaries were exploiting the indigenous people. The government in Australia listened to such things and now wanted her people to stop making all these things and becoming independent and said they would supply them with a regular income of money for their necessities without them having to work for it. The missionaries would need to leave …
Almighty God please stop these misguided “do-gooders” and our government from going ahead with such a plan. It will destroy the significance and hope many have found, … a lot want to know you better through the Lord Jesus. These politicians need to see the church has done nothing to exploit my people and everything they have done has been for our welfare and benefit as they have done it with your godly love. Amen.
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