'Jesus is my wacu tuariro'
Faith isn’t a simple concept in any language. It’s even more complex in many tribal languages, which are often short on abstract nouns, such as love and fear and hope.
And that’s one reason it’s clear that Gustavo, a leader of the Guanano church in Colombia, has the gift of teaching. The Guanano term for faith is wacu tua, which literally means "to remember strongly." Here’s how Gustavo explained it:
When I traveled on the river from my home to [the city] last month, I came to the bad rapids. I don’t come this way very often, so I don’t know how to get through the rapids by myself. I could easily get killed.
But there is a man who lives nearby named Raul. He grew up there and he knows the rapids like the back of his hand. He fishes in the rapids and doesn’t have fear, like I do.
When I ask Raul to drive the boat and get me through the rapids, I have no fear. I can sit in the prow and relax. He plows through the waves, down into the dips and turns and back up on the crests, between the rocks. I don’t try to tell him what to do.
I’m not afraid because Raul -- my wacu tuariro, the one I have confidence in to get me through the rapids -- knows what he is doing.
That’s the way I feel about Jesus. He’s my wacu tuariro, the one I have confidence in to take me to Heaven. I don’t know the way by myself. Before I knew Jesus, because of my sin I was going to die and go to Hell instead.
But Jesus is from Heaven. That’s His home and He knows the way. In fact, He is the Way. When I am with Him, I am not afraid. I don’t try to tell Him what to do. I know He knows what He is doing, and that He will get me safely there.
And that’s one reason it’s clear that Gustavo, a leader of the Guanano church in Colombia, has the gift of teaching. The Guanano term for faith is wacu tua, which literally means "to remember strongly." Here’s how Gustavo explained it:
When I traveled on the river from my home to [the city] last month, I came to the bad rapids. I don’t come this way very often, so I don’t know how to get through the rapids by myself. I could easily get killed.
But there is a man who lives nearby named Raul. He grew up there and he knows the rapids like the back of his hand. He fishes in the rapids and doesn’t have fear, like I do.
When I ask Raul to drive the boat and get me through the rapids, I have no fear. I can sit in the prow and relax. He plows through the waves, down into the dips and turns and back up on the crests, between the rocks. I don’t try to tell him what to do.
I’m not afraid because Raul -- my wacu tuariro, the one I have confidence in to get me through the rapids -- knows what he is doing.
That’s the way I feel about Jesus. He’s my wacu tuariro, the one I have confidence in to take me to Heaven. I don’t know the way by myself. Before I knew Jesus, because of my sin I was going to die and go to Hell instead.
But Jesus is from Heaven. That’s His home and He knows the way. In fact, He is the Way. When I am with Him, I am not afraid. I don’t try to tell Him what to do. I know He knows what He is doing, and that He will get me safely there.