Rarely in life, you meet a person that leaves a permanent impression on part of your soul. In the first week of ministry, our team had the pleasure of meeting Isaac. He RADIATES light and walks in so much peace. He reminds me of Moses – meek, a gentle leader, but he carries so much influence. He is overflowing with wisdom and cares so deeply for people. Isaac truly has the heart of a servant.
Isaac spent almost every day with us while we were in Fagnampleu, and will accompany us to several other villages this month as well. In the evenings after ministry in Fagnampleu, he would come and sit with our team as we debriefed the day and processed our emotions. He has this calming effect on people around him even though he sits there silently observing and listening. Isaac doesn’t speak any English, only French, so the fact that he paid so much attention to us and spent hours with us without understanding what we were saying speaks volumes about his character. He prayed over us many times, and prophesied over us as well. Sephora, our hosts’ daughter, is taking a few weeks off of school while we are here and has been SO amazing. She has blessed us with her ability to translate for us. She sits for hours on end translating so that we can all talk to Isaac.
When Isaac was speaking to me, he said I was like Peter because I am strong and passionate about justice. He said the Lord has called me for a purpose and that He is making me grow into the woman of God He created me to be. Isaac told me that in the future, I would marry a great man of God who is humble and has the heart of a servant and that together our ministry would go far. He prayed over my hands and told me to be careful because my hands hold much power. He said to be cautious about how I use my hands and that rather than fighting with people, my hands are for praying for healing and imparting things to those around me. I am humbled to have the opportunity to know Isaac and to learn from him.
He shared his story with us, and with his permission, I can share it with you. Isaac grew up in a devout Muslim household. His entire family was devoted to serving Allah and prayed and went to the mosque many times a day. Isaac said he was walking home alone from the mosque one night 27 years ago and that Jesus revealed Himself to him. He was looking at the moon, but he said that the light was different, it was brighter. He said that he saw Jesus and that He told Isaac that he would be like Paul. Jesus said that he had to make his own decision but that if he followed Jesus, he would have eternal life and abundant joy and peace. He said that Jesus revealed Himself 3 separate times and also in dreams.
When Isaac gave his life to Christ, his family disowned and ostracized him. He moved away and came here to Man, Cote d’Ivoire. During the war around 2009, his entire family was killed. I asked if he felt lonely. He told me that he was sad because his family did not accept Christ but that he still had peace because the Lord brought him comfort in his mourning. He said after 27 years of knowing Jesus, he knows that his true family is not always flesh and blood, but his brothers and sisters in Christ.
To hear about his life and the pain he has walked through but to still see him so resilient is amazing. Isaac has the gift of seeing people, and by that I mean seeing through the facade they may put up. The real beauty of it all is that he cares so much and takes the time to listen and understand. I want to one day be able to listen as well as Isaac does. I’ve adopted him as the father of our group and he told us that we will all have a friend in the Ivory Coast as long as we are on the earth.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:3-10
