Chapter 5

Chapter Five

-Abigail-

-Saturday, November 19-

As we walked back to the little house on the cliff, I tried to imprint the image in my mind. A beautiful sunset shimmering on the seas of Greenland. For so long, I have hoped, prayed, for an opportunity to walk these shores. I breathed in the wonderful smell.

God is so good. What an imagination He has to create something so unexplainable! Incomprehensive, if you truly think about it, about the complicatedness of everything He has created.

Rosy and I  walked in silence the rest of the way back to Ersta’s home. The door creaked when we opened it and warmth surrounded us. My skin tingled as it thawed and I could feel my nose again. Ersta was sound asleep on the mattress, looking sweet.

“Shall we go to bed?” I quietly suggested. It had been a long day.

Rosy nodded. “We shall.”  And so we did.

-Sunday, November 20-

Sunlight shone through lacy curtains, turning my eyelids red underneath them, waking me from wild dreams.

I felt something wet on my hand. I grimaced and wiped my drool off of it. Rosy was snugly lying next to me, or at least her head was, the rest of her was sprawled whimsically  over a large portion of the bed. I shook with suppressed giggles, for in my mind, she looked quite funny indeed!

Rosy stirred and rolled over into a more natural position.

“Mm…. mrbl..mf…” she mumbled, then yawned and sat up.

“Good morning. What’s the time?” She murmured as she brushed her hair out of her face. My hair didn’t look any tamer.

“Good morning. It’s six.” I replied. Her eyes got big, and she abruptly plopped back down on the bed and threw the blanket over herself. I laughed, nearly falling off of what little bed I was sitting on, knowing that  Rosy does not know what a morning is, since it seems she has never woken up to one.

Feeling mischievous, I noted that Rosy was on the edge of the bed, so I nonchalantly walked over to the other side of the bed and pushed her legs over the side of the bed, then I hurried out, a loud thump and Rosy’s scream  resounded.  

I ran out before she could see me, laughing all the way.

Ersta was already up and had breakfast cooking, laughing at our antics. “You are mischief maker, I see.”

I grinned, my cheeks warming. I hugged her. “Good morning to you. Can I help with breakfast?”

She smiled gratefully. “  Kumoorn. Thank you. Bacon need to fry. Table to set.”

Rosy walked into the kitchen glaring at me, trying not to grin.

“Good morning. Or night, more like. Can I help?”

It was wonderful with all of us in the kitchen together, the sizzle of bacon frying, the delicious smells rising, the sunlit room.

It was a homey atmosphere, and I wished it wouldn’t end.

Soon breakfast was ready and we all sat down and joined hands.

Ersta prayed,

“Jesus, I thank you that You have brought these wonderful girls to my home. They lighten my heart very much and bring much laughter. Thank you for their trust in You and their wanting to do Your will. Keep them safe in their journey. Thank You for this food before us. Amen”

We echoed ‘amen’s and began eating our waffles, bacon, milk, and sausage. Actually, we drank the milk, not ate it.

Was that voices I was hearing? I stopped chewing and listened. Yes, it sounded like people outside, many of them. A mob? I thought of what Ersta said yesterday about Greenlanders wanting our tupilak.

Could Antonio and his fellow goon have told them? Why would they?

Ersta and Rosy took notice of me sitting stock still, my mouth full of eggs, then seemed to notice the commotion outside.

Ersta immediately got up and peeked through the curtains, then drew them closed quickly.

“Many people. They want tupilak, I know. I do not know what they do to get it, but want bad enough, it get ver’ ugly.” she said, her face scared. “Be careful.”

My heart thumped behind my ribs, the sound echoed in my head.

I grabbed Rosy’s hand in silent prayer as my head dotted with perspiration. I knew what God wanted me to do, but I was afraid to do it. I closed my eyes for a second, then heard Ersta’s quiet voice.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7”

I let out a shaky breath, then stood up to meet the people gathered at the door.

As soon as we stepped onto the porch, a torrent of excited, angry and anxious voices roared in our ears.

The group was considerably large, and they were all shouting and waving money, wallets, and other valuables in the air.

Ersta shouted some words I didn’t understand, and waved her arms, trying to quiet the people down.

They finally quieted, and lowered their arms, then one shouted out something in Kalaallisut.

“They want to buy tupilak.” Ersta translated to us. “They give anything. Anything.”

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.  

“We won’t sell it. They won’t give up. What should we do?” I asked.

Rosy and Ersta were silent for awhile, and the group of Greenlanders were growing restless.

“We tell them truth. We tell them that tupilak have no power; we tell them of One with true power,” Ersta said determinedly.

We gave a firm nod.

“We will not sell the tupilak. It is powerless. It is a myth.” I told the people, then Ersta translated. At hearing this, they all began shouting.

“They displeased that you say it powerless, not real. They ask why.”

Ersta told me.

Rosy and I conversed back and forth with the Greenlanders, sharing the Gospel with them. They asked questions about Jesus, or began yelling angrily in protest.  

During those times, I raised both of my hands in the air in hopes of settling them down.

“Please, listen!” I shouted, Ersta immediately translating with the same urgency in her voice. Then they would calm down and listen, as we continued reaching out to this group of people.

We talked to them for hours, now they were all sitting quietly, listening without interruptions, except for an occasional question. Dusk fell, and the people left in peace, without the tupilak.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw four shadows creep from behind the rocks.