Our Older Readers

One evening after the large reading party on the porch, I noticed Osman to the side. “Hey, Osman! Don’t you want to read, too? What kind of book do you like?” I knew that our librarian Jennifer Burley had worked hard to ensure all types of books were available for younger and older readers alike. 


Just the evening before, our missionary kid, Maicah, had spent two hours engaged with the new collection:  browsing through all the new titles, spot-reading the summaries, gently picking the texts up, leafing through the pages, getting caught up on National Geographic Kids magazines, just eating up the whole library. Maicah, it seems, is an avid reader.  He, in fact, reads books in English and in Spanish – often even the same titles. Although he was currently in the midst of The Chronicles of Narnia, he  still was missing books 4 and 6. When Jennifer showed him the new Spanish version and how it included all the books in the entire series, his whole face broke into a grin. His decision was settled – he took that enormous version with him when he left the house that night. Who dreamed how much pleasure the books would give the missionaries themselves? 



Osman, however, shook his head when I asked him what books he liked. Syllables of Spanish gibberish flowed into my confused ears. His words sounded somewhat like “… Russian…” 


I shook my head, questioningly. “Osman, I can’t understand…” 


He thought deeply and then rephrased for me, “You know… you know the kinds where you read each day? You read what it says in the Bible each day? THAT is what I want to read!”  

Our Osman - who desires  most to read a devotion book!

“Oh, Osman – a devotion? You want a devotional book to read each night!?!” My heart broke – this teenager was so in love with Jesu Cristo that he only wanted to spend his time in the Word. I told him that I would check into it. 


Later, when I had the chance, I approached missionary Ron and volunteer Lawrence to ask if there were perhaps some devotion books somewhere already on campus – letting them know that was Osman’s request. How thrilled I was to hear Lawrence say that his wife, who was coming down the following week, had already acquired one and would be bringing it with her! 


Even later that evening, when the nightly reading club was occurring, our friend Osman wandered up to me with an inquisitive look on his face, “Well? Jen-ne-fur?” 


I smiled, gratefully, and was able to tell him that Lawrence’s wife was bringing one with her – just for him. Osman’s whole face lit up! “Thank you, Jen-ne-fur.” 


“No, Osman, thank Lawrence – and his wife – and Jesus.” What perfect timing! I imagine even now, a week after that encounter, Osman is probably awakening each day at 5:00 a.m. eager to jump into God’s Word in that new devotion book from Lawrence’s wife. 


And Maicah?  I imagine he is quickly working his way through The Chronicles of Narnia and has probably already borrowed another one or two from the new library.