After spending this past week entering people's homes, with the intention inviting them to an outdoor worship service in town, and to “share the love of Christ with them.” I'm still not sure how I feel about door to door evangelism. I can't help but wonder, is the only reason they are inviting us in their homes is because we are Mzungu's from America?
Everyday was different some of the encounters were something that seemed to have an impact, if anything else it seemed to simply be an encouragement to those we had a chance to simply pray with. In other instances we had the opportunity to listen to people's stories, and be encouraged by the spirit of hospitality and love that many people showed us. Thinking about home, who of us would open the door to a stranger, much less make them tea and have a conversation of life and faith together?
Here are a few of the stories of people I met during the past week.
Emanuel: This man probably in his mid twenties welcomed us into his home, and after we began to ask him questions about himself, such as if he went to any of the local churches or what the thought of the teachings of Christ, he claimed that he had been Baptized earlier in life, but that he was not sure that it was real and that he has “back slidden” recently.
In response I asked him a simply question, “do you know what your name means?” He laughed. Then I shared then I'm assuming you realize it means, “God with us.” Which led to a conversation of how that faith in Christ is something that never leaves, and that no matter what he has done or will do, Christ will never love him more or less than he did from the very beginning of his life.
Brenda and Jane: Brenda is a 17 year old girl who is hoping to one day study at an American university, and her sister Jane is a 19 year old mother of one child. The first time we met the main thing they asked about is various random things about what it is like to live in America. You know the basics such as, “so do you really eat snakes in America?”
These sisters and their younger brothers all ended up at a the church we are serving with this month on Sunday, and afterward Kayla, Andrea, and myself had the opportunity to visit them at their home. We ended up cooking lunch for them, which they found very entertaining to watch Mzungus cook a meal and wash dishes. It was a great time of hearing more of their stories, and it was very eye opening to hear their struggles of having a father who was married to two other women besides their mother. They wanted me to have bible study with them, so I shared with them some verses of of 1 Corinthians 2, about how the spirit of God speaks to us directly and works in our lives personally, we don't need a priest or special ceremony to make it happen. Jane explained that as someone who is a Catholic, she has not heard very much about how the Holy Spirit works in our lives today.
This is just a few of the people I have had he privilege to meet so far, and more and more it is becoming clear to see how God is working in my life, my teammates lives, and those we come across on a daily basis.
Be sure to check back a new video is coming soon…
