The manger isn’t a big deal to Aamil. He milks his sheep next to one every morning.
He used to work alone or maybe with his father or brother until Jacob Taylor showed up.
“I sometimes visit in the mornings to ‘help’ with the milking,” said Taylor, a Southern Baptist worker who serves in Central Asia.
It’s more watching than helping, he explained.
Aamil’s sheep — about 300 of them — live in a stable at the base of a mountain.
Shepherding has been in his family for generations.
Going to help him is almost like a setup, Taylor said.
“I don’t go every day, but I thought Christmas morning would be a perfect day to go visit him at his stable, both to share the Christmas story and to see what kind of a place Jesus was born in.”
He went early and settled in next to a manger until Aamil finished his chores.
“After I watched him finish milking the sheep, we started talking about why believers celebrate this holiday,” Taylor said. “I told him that I was especially happy to be there with him that morning because Jesus, my Savior, was born in a stable.”
Taylor, still studying Aamil’s language, pointed to a manger and asked Aamil what it was called.
“After he told me, I went ahead and told him as much about [Jesus’] birth as I could,” Taylor said.
Then he handed Aamil a Bible in his language, opened to Luke 2.
“Right there beside his stable, he read about Jesus in a manger and how shepherds were told of good news of great joy for all people — on that day, a Savior, Christ the Lord, was born,” Taylor said.
“He asked me if he could keep my book and read it.”
Taylor had to leave soon after, but as he drove away, he watched as Aamil stood in front of his stable, Bible in hand.
“His parents can’t read and the mother of the family has 12 kids. Ten are still living. I am praying that he and his sisters will read it to their family,” Taylor said. “Please pray that he and his family would read God’s Word and receive the Savior.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — Names have been changed for security reasons. (IMB)
Share with others: