Chapter Twelve: Betrayed and Forgiven
Wayne and Mark brought their instruments out that night. Through Gamini, they invited those interested to come and play music with them. “You will have many come to play,” warned Gamini. “We love Bodu Beru on the islands.” The brothers didn’t know what that meant, but they would soon find out.
Soon, men carrying three large drums gathered. Another group of men with bells and others with these small sticks of bamboo with horizontal grooves followed. “Wow!” Mark and Wayne said simultaneously. “Where did all these people come from?”
Gamini laughed. “I warned you my friends. Bodu Beru is dance music. These men come to play and dance. They hear you many nights with your music. Now, since you invite them, they come to share with you.”
“Why do they have those bamboo sticks?” asked Mark.
“They are called onugandu,” answered Gamini. “It make sound of islands for dance. Let them play and if you want, join them.”
About fifteen men had lined up around the brothers. They started first with a real slow beat and tingling bells. The beat got faster and faster. Soon everyone who heard the music had feet that were tapping to the beat. Wayne joined in with his bongos. As the music got louder and faster, Mark joined in with the harmonica. The men danced tirelessly. It was like a big party as the crowds gathered to watch. It seemed as though the whole village was outside watching the performance. It was crazy, lively and nothing like the Americans had ever witnessed before. They were all having so much fun. After two hours, they were all so exhausted that it was time to say goodnight.
Gamini spoke with the musicians and the dancers as the others went to bed. They all felt a sense of accomplishment. The building was done. The people of the island knew they were loved and served by the Americans. Bill was right. They hadn’t gotten as far on translating the Bible as they had hoped, but that part was in God’s hands. He would have to make a way through what seemed like impossible odds and they all knew He would.
Rain, rain and more rain, the whole day was awash with a tropical storm. The Americans used this day to rest, pray, and pack. Bill sat in the common room looking through the papers that Gamini and he had worked so hard on. He paused when he realized how God was leaving a sweet message with all of them through His word. It was a confirmation of sorts to their whole mission there. He called for the others to join him. He had just began to share his inspiration with them when Gamini came knocking. He was checking to see if the Americans had enough to eat while the storm raged outside.
“Gamini, join us. I need to share what the Lord showed me today. The six of them gathered in the common room and sat on the ground, curious to hear what Bill had discovered. “Gamini, do you remember what scriptures we were working on last time we were together?”
“No, Bill I am sorry. I do not. It seems hard to translate so I think more on words to translate, not what words are meaning.” Gamini seemed hesitant to admit this to them.
“God has sent us a reminder. I know we didn’t get as far as we wanted in translating, but it is where we left off that has spoken to me.” Bill adjusted the pages. “I know we came here with the hopes of getting through half of St. Luke’s gospel, but I must tell you, we have not failed. We have translated through Luke chapter nine and verse seventeen which is the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand plus with only five loaves and two fishes.” Bill waited to hear or see a response from those listening.
“We all know that story, Bill. It is a great miracle of Jesus, however we brought thirteen chapters. We barely made it into chapter nine.” Mark was discouraged. He wanted it all done.
“Exactly, you see,” Bill said with conviction looking them each in the eye, “It’s not what we didn’t accomplish, but what we did accomplish that will feed the people of Maldives spiritually. Whatever we have will be enough for God to use until He opens another door.” Bill was thrilled with what the Lord had revealed to him. He too had been feeling like a failure until God revealed that he uses what we have to perform miracles. They had to trust and believe. Bill had just put the papers away in the men’s bedroom when another knock came to the door. It was Arzan.
Gamini and Arzan spoke for a minute. “Arzan has something for me to tell you.” Arzan had been a fierce competitor against Ryan. He challenged him at everything from climbing the palms, swinging machetes to balancing on the edge of a fishing boat in the Indian Ocean. Ryan never questioned Arzan’s challenges. He didn’t accept the challenges to beat him. He accepted the challenges to form a relationship with him and earn his respect.
Arzan started talking and Gamini translated. “I bring sorry words to your group. I bring sorry words to you, Ryan.”
When Ryan heard his name, he looked at them puzzled. “I don’t know why you would owe me any apologies,” Ryan said.
Gamini repeated Ryan’s words to Arzan. The incredibly strong and proud young man hung his head and told Gamini why he was ashamed of himself. Gamini listened and seemed angry at first. When he had heard the whole story in Dhivehi and then in English, he simply told Arzan he was… “Forgiven.” Gamini told Arzan that he could leave and he would tell his story to the Americans, but he wanted to stay. Whatever he had done, he wanted them to see he was sorry.
“Arzan was the one who went to his grandfather and complained about you Americans.” Gamini explained. “He didn’t trust your reasons for being here.” They all turned and looked toward Arzan. He expected retaliation, but instead, received “Oks” from the brothers and Bill. Arzan was relieved that they didn’t seem to hate him. However, there was more. He wanted Ryan to know everything.
He went on explaining things to Gamini. He confessed deeper his mistrust of the Americans, especially Ryan. “Arzan wants to know why you, Ryan, want to be here,” translated Gamini. “He says you are smart and much talent to be here with us village when you don’t know us. He doesn’t understand your acceptance.”
Then Gamini explained Arzan’s jealousy and mistrust of Ryan. All eyes turned to Ryan. Arzan wanted a response.
Ryan did not hesitate. He knew the reason he was here. From the first time Gamini had told them to love the villagers, he took that as his personal mission. “I don’t have to know you to care about you.”
Arzan looked at Ryan. He knew there was more to what was going on. The spirit of God filled the little hut as Arzan stood there speechless. Finally, not knowing what to do or how to feel, he left the hut.
Little did they know that several weeks later, Arzan would be Gamini’s first convert outside of his own family. Within two years, Arzan would also be the first martyr. He would be taken out into the Indian Ocean and told to deny this ‘false’ God, which he refused. He would be accused of luring Muslims from Islam to Christianity. A large stone would be tied to his feet and then he would be thrown over the side of the boat. Only Gamini would know the truth of what happened to Arzan. The National Security Service would not admit that even one Christian abided in Maldives, so there would be no report of his death, only his disappearance. Taking the life of Arzan would also be an informal warning to Gamini.
The rain poured all night and into the next day. Finally, the sun appeared. It was their last day on Fuvahmulah Island. The villagers knew it too. All day little gifts were brought to them. Each brother was brought the onugandu instrument from the musicians they played with two nights ago. Razan brought Amy a mat that she had weaved for her. The colors were perfect and every stitch tightly woven. The mat was so well made that it would last a lifetime. Bill was brought five feet of coir rope, like he had used to tie the corners of the building together.
Ryan, standing in the background and always watching, was flooded with love and appreciation for this village and its people. He hated the thought of leaving. He was spotted by Meena who called his name aloud and pointed her little finger in his direction. All six men he climbed and fished with, came walking t
oward him. In three lines, there were three men, then two men and in the back, Arzan. As they got to Ryan, they stepped aside to let Arzan stand directly in front of Ryan. Proudly, he held out a machete as a gift to Ryan. It was not just any machete either. Arzan handed him his own machete. Ryan was receiving a very high honor. He accepted, nodded his head, and said but one word…”Brother.”
Gamini would later translate that word for Arzan.
The last night was spent in music and celebration.
Bill awoke in a sweat. He had a dream about the Bible pages being found in the bongos. They had to come up with another hiding place quickly. The others started stirring as Bill paced the room praying about where to hide the priceless pages. Amy’s voice rang out from the other room.
“Are you sleepy heads awake?” She asked knowing their time was short to get to the dock.
“UGH!” Wayne started complaining once again about Amy’s early morning ritual. “Doesn’t she believe in sleep?”
“If you sleep much longer, the boat will leave without you. You may be a good swimmer, but I don’t think you will make it to Malé before the plane leaves tomorrow afternoon. So, get up!” With that, Mark threw his pillow at Wayne, smacking him square in the head.
Now that they were all awake, they noticed Bill’s worried face. After questioning with “why the worried face”, Bill explained his dream. “Where is a safe place?” They all thought long and hard as they packed.