Within our small community of about sixty people, we have had the opportunity to make many friends, most of whom we are beginning to know by name. And being part of the team that serves breakfast to the homeless has been a huge blessing. That is how we met Nikko, who came to us after one of the breakfasts and asked for an English Bible.

After a couple of weeks, Nikko stayed behind to help as we cleaned the breakfast hall at the end of the activities. “I have quit smoking and drinking,” he mentioned to our language helper, Najaswak. As she translated Nikko’s message to us, we beamed with joy. We all knelt and prayed, asking the Lord to strengthen Nikko’s decision to live for Jesus.

A couple of weeks later, Nikko returned and said, “I want to have something else to do that can help me avoid the drinking environments. I also need new friends who don’t drink or smoke.” Najaswak invited Nikko, Joe and me to her home, where we discussed some prospective healthy engagements for Nikko in the community.

“I also want to learn English,” Nikko stated. We have since had our first English class with Nikko, helping him to learn the English alphabet. It was fun, and somewhat ironic, to use our Greenlandic language class notes to teach Nikko English. During the lesson, however, Nikko’s mother called. Afterward, he explained to us that she drinks alcohol heavily, so we bowed down and prayed for her.

This is missions: where we learn from one another, strengthen each other and realize that we are all children of God in need of wisdom from our Master Teacher.

Please pray for Nikko’s resolution to live for Jesus. We know that the power of Jesus is available to strengthen him in the midst of his struggles. Please also pray for his mother, that the chains of addiction will be loosed and she, too, will be set free.

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