Door to door evangelizing…I dreaded this day. Not because I didn’t want to do it, but because it was The day I would have to step out of my comfort zone.. exit my little bubble and not only pray out loud, but tell the gospel and a bit of my story!! It was our 3rd day here in Africa and it was out of fear that I stepped up to go first in my group. As we approached the first home, you could see everyone scrambling for chairs and strategically placing them in the shade out of the sun for us to sit! As our translator Elvis likes to tell us, “you’ll catch malaria if you sit in the sun” (so not true, but really funny to think of every time someone tells us to get out of the sun) We shook hands with a group of women and sat down as we were being introduced and they talked about “the news” which consists of the weather and what is new in our life, in this instance they were explaining who we were and why we were here in their village.
I started with asking the group of women how their day was. And in that moment, I realized we have to have two translators ask the question before she actually understands what I am saying..the translator we were with Hypolithe speaks French, but most of the village speaks in the local language of Baoule. This felt like the largest game of telephone and I was just praying it was being translated correctly. I took a deep breathe and asked if they knew who Jesus was?! At this moment I was holding my breathe, anticipating their response. Secretly hoping they all say yes and we could move on to the next one. But one of the women said she wanted to learn more, so for the first time ever I told the Gospel!
After telling her about how much Jesus loves each and everyone of us, I told her how my relationship with The Lord changed my life for the better. How He helped me to feel free from my past, started to heal from my pain and struggles and how I strive to be a better person everyday in order to live LIKE and FOR Jesus! She then started to speak in Baoule. It went back and forth from Baoule, French and English multiple times. Tearfully she expressed her desire to return to the church but felt as though she did not have the strength to do so until now. She had been a Christian previously but had lost faith. On this day, she wanted to return to the church and accepted Jesus as her savior that afternoon through prayer!!!
How is it that I walked up to a complete stranger and asked if she would mind if I talk to her about Jesus?! I can’t help but think of doing this back in America. If a group of people came knocking on the door to talk about God, I can’t say with confidence that I would be welcomed in. But I would expect the family to hit the floor as quick as possible to hide behind the couch or wall and make sure they are as silent as possible to unsuccessfully make it seem like no one is home.. I’m guilty of it!! But that’s not the case here, and at the end of our conversation, she felt called to return to church and find salvation. How amazing!
As we walked over to the next home, again we saw the chairs, stools and benches being pulled out of the woodwork and strategically placed for us to join them. One women sat there breastfeeding her baby, and another women sat at a distance up on the porch. Hannah spoke the gospel and we talked about God’s dedication, grace, and everlasting love. The lady sitting at a distance was asked to move closer when she objected to our perspective. Hesitantly she moved a smidge closer. Through another round of telephone, we were told how she used to be a follower but when her son died a few years back she lost hope, faith and trust in God. We spoke with her for a long time, each one of us expressing our beliefs and how her doubts are the enemy trying to tear her away from His salvation. As her eyes filled with tears, she asked for prayer. We approached her on the porch, held her hands and prayed for healing. Her pain after losing her son changed her life and made her bitter towards God. We hoped as we walked away we planted a seed in her. Invited her to come to our pastors church and our women’s group we were planning.
Two weeks past, and no sight of her. Until this past Sunday we walked in the door of the church to see a women in the far left corner with her head resting on the wall. As I proceeded to sit in front of the timid women I looked at Hannah with a curious face. At that moment she confirmed my thought and said it was her! My heart skipped a beat and I couldn’t hold back my emotion. I turned around, shot her a smile that stretched ear to ear and extended my hand for hers, she reciprocated the smile and I told her how happy I was she made it this morning.
She was asked to stand up as a new guest to the church and introduce herself and how she ended up there. She explained how she was met by the group of missionaries. She spoke soft, somewhat timid but she was there!! Worship here is amazing, individuals stand up at random and lead a song. She was asked to lead a song. The congregation was patient as she took her time to start, but it was beautiful. She even joined in the dancing! It was a warming feeling to not only see her there, but to see the change in her affect. She was smiling, she was vulnerable and she opening her heart once again for the Lord!!!
If I had ever questioned what I was doing here, and how my little skills and knowledge could be used… this was my answer. Just planting a little seed, a little hope and love onto another made a huge difference. People ask what I will be doing over the 11 month mission, and the simple answer is I am reminding people that Jesus loves them! He loves them so much, that he sent us all the way from America to be with them! Some may have never heard of Jesus, and others just need that little reminder that he hasn’t forgotten them, he is waiting for you, and he loves you!
Here in Diabo, I wouldn’t consider it door to door ministry… we are evangelizing chair to chair and heart to heart!!
