Its already been two weeks since we landed in Côte d’Ivoire. It feels like I’ve been here forever, yet it’s gone by so quickly.
The first week and a half consisted of a lot of change: change of culture, time, people, comfort, weather (I’m constantly sweating. It’s a great time.), food, language, the list goes on. Everything seems so different, yet I’ve found comfort in knowing that the same God that was with me at home is here in Côte d’Ivoire too.
Ok, so you want to know what I’m doing now that I’m here?
I’m not gonna lie (s/o to Allyson), I was a little hesitant when I found out what I would be doing in the first month of the race, but gosh the Lord has been changing my heart to love this ministry so much.
This month we will be working alongside a ministry that disciples men, women and children who pass through the ports in Abidjan. These truck drivers who are waiting for their next load come from all over West Africa (Mali, Burkina, Ghana, Senegal) in addition to those who are from Côte d’Ivoire. They will spend anywhere from a day to a month waiting for their load to arrive. The men and women of the church we are working with have been so welcoming and are teaching us more than I could have hoped for. Their boldness and love for each other and the way they have built relationships with the men and women who basically live at these ports, has opened my eyes to the impact a little faith and a lot of love can make on a community.
Brief overview of our week:
Monday: Off day. The past two Mondays we have been able to explore the area and experience the culture. Last week we went to the African market, tried local African food (peanut sauce and fried plantains are sent from heaven), and played games the rest of the day.
Tuesday: Our team, hosts and translators all go down to the ports to get to know the people of the port. We share Bible stories with them, pray for them, and just spend time with them.
Wednesday: We hold a class for new believers who are seeking to know more about Jesus.
Thursday: Sabbath (day of rest)
Friday: We spend a lot of time praying with the people in the port and sharing stories about Jesus.
Saturday: We go down to the port and show the Jesus Film (a film about Jesus’ life on earth). We get to walk around and invite people to watch the film with us and spend more time in the community with the people.
Sunday: We go down to the ports and have church/bible study with new believers we met in the previous weeks.
Since we’ve been here, I’ve had the opportunity to work with both of our ministry hosts, Jean Claude and Marius. These two men have been consistently befriending and leading the men and boys who pass through the ports to Christ. Every day that we’ve gone with them to the ports, multiple people run up to greet them as we walk down the row of trucks. Kids look to them as if they were like a father and the older men as if they were a brother. Jean Claude and Marius have effortlessly brought us right alongside them and made us feel as if we are a part of their family too.
One of my favorite days in the ports was when Jean Claude’s wife came with us. It was my first Friday in the ports, which meant we were sharing bible stories and praying for people they hadn’t met yet. I was slightly nervous that day because I was asked to share the first story to the next person we met. I kept thinking to myself as we were walking in the port that I didn’t know the story well enough to recite it and I was definitely going to mess it up. But her calming presence put me at ease and I gained so much more confidence through that situation. More confidence in myself and more importantly that the Holy Spirit would speak through me.
This month has been hard, but it’s also brought so much joy and freedom in sharing the gospel without reservation. I may not know every Bible story or pray with eloquent speech, but I do know that Jesus has changed my heart and that is the reason I am here loving people the best way I know how.
Ps. Our wifi isn’t strong enough to upload pictures, but I’ll be sure to post some as soon as we get to Ghana next month!!
