As this month in Côte d’Ivoire wraps up I am being hit with a bunch of different realizations. There are so many different things I want to share with all of you and deciding on just one story to share is extremely difficult. So instead of choosing one of the many things I have experienced this month, I thought I’d share the story of the Pastor I have been working with this month. His story really taught me a lot.
One night when my team and I were leading a bible study on Esther. We were talking about how God has a plan for all of us, and we need to be brave and bold in order to accept that plan. When we were done sharing our own stories and reading different passages, Pastor Matthew stood up.
Pastor Matthew is quiet man. He speaks clear english but with a soft voice, yet it has wisdom and reassurance that simply cannot be ignored. When he preaches, though his entire demeanor changes, he becomes so loud you couldn’t speak over him if you tried. That night when he stood up he spoke with a different voice. He didn’t speak with his loud preaching voice or his normal quieter conversational voice, but instead with the voice of a story teller.
Im am going to try and recap the story as told by Pastor Matthew, but unfortunately I know I won’t do it justice. Pastor Matthew told the story talked about how he used to be a teacher in Ghana. He taught math and he thought that was what he was always supposed to do. He heard God calling him to ministry but for a while he was unsure. But then one day he decided to stop living the life he thought he should live and start living the life God had planned for him. Pastor Matthew immediately turned in his resignation and said that when he turned in that piece of paper he felt such a strong sense of joy, he had no doubts about his decision.
So he packed up his life and moved to Côte d’Ivoire. He told us about a night when he had no where to go, no where to sleep or eat. He spent that night, as well as a few others, sleeping in a bus station. He pushed some chairs together and hung a mosquito net up and tried to sleep. He talked about these days of him wondering, trying to find where he was supposed to end up, where God wanted him.
He went north in Côte d’Ivoire to do some missionary work with another pastor. When they got there they met some guys who told them they would show them a guest house, or hotel. They followed one of these men and as they were walking they starting talking. Pastor Matthew was sharing about the Lord and how incredible He is, when the man stopped him. The man looked at Pastor Matthew and said, “You truly are a man of God aren’t you?” When Pastor Matthew responded “Yes”, the man told him that he was so sorry. Apparently the man and his friends were leading him to a house that had two keys to every door. They lead people to this house so that while they were sleeping they could break in to rob and kill them.
Pastor Matthew spoke about God’s salvation from him that day and many others. He spoke about when God has a plan for you and you follow it, He will protect you. After hearing Pastor Matthew share his story I was just in awe about how much he had been through. I was also a little ashamed that there have been times this month that I have been craving burgers and missed the internet. I left that bible study feeling encouraged to continue on this path. That this is path God has for me and I know that He will protect me. That we all have to make sacrifices and that me missing my friends and family is my sacrifice to make.
This has been an incredible month in Côte d’Ivoire. It makes me so sad to know that I will soon be leaving this place. Im excited to see what next month holds, and to see how the Lord is going to continue to change my life! Thank you so much for reading and for all your support! I really appreciate every prayer that is being sent my way, and I am praying for each of you in return. Finally, I am not fully funded yet and if you are feeling it in your heart to donate I would be so grateful!
God Bless,
Katie J.
