Brad and I were walking to the bank today, and a man was walking by and began pleading with us in French. If course, we didn’t have a clue what he was saying (a common theme on the race), so we said we’re sorry and tried to keep walking.
However, he knew English too, and so once he realized we were English speaking, he asked us if we could help buy some insulin for him.
At first it was a really odd request, and it was really funny because he kept saying, “I’m not begging for money, I just need help buying insulin. I’m a diabetic and I need insulin really soon!” I had no idea what it would cost, but I knew I needed to help this man. It seemed like he had the same type of diabetes as a good friend of mine, so I knew this could be a very serious situation. (Yes, my dear Cassie… I thought of you!)
So, we hopped on motorbike taxi’s to the bank, and after several conversations, we slowly we began to understand more of his situation.
Komle (pronounced ‘Kom’ like a comb and ‘le’ like a flower lei) is from Benin, but he was in Ghana for his company and was traveling back to Benin.
Last night at the Ghana/Togo border crossing, Komle was robbed and his luggage was stolen with all of his diabetic needles, electrical insulin reading device, and all his insulin.
He had just been to the bank to cancel his credit cards, since all of them were stolen as well. All he had on him was what he had in his pockets; his phone, some spare change, and a small box he kept on him with a few of his diabetic things. He looked like he was going to go into a diabetic shock; you could see it in his face and in the panic of his voice when we met him.
We got to the bank, but we had no clue what it would cost, so we went on to the pharmacy hoping they would take credit cards. When we got to the pharmacy across town (yes, Brad and I got quite the tour of Lome via motorbike taxi today), it was going to cost $175,000 CFAs which is around $360 USD.
I definitely didn’t have that kind of money on me, and they didn’t take credit cards, so we were going to have to go back to the bank.
Komle was desperate to get the insulin shot.
He talked the pharmacist into taking his phone as a promise we would come back with the money and they gave him the insulin shot on the spot. He immediately lifted up his shirt and gave himself the dose, and you could just see peace swarm over him within minutes. He was so thankful! We grabbed some more taxi’s to go back to the bank to get the money, and we gave him a little extra for food for the few days of travel he had left.
I know this was completely divine appointment.
We got to tell him a little bit about our trip with the world race, but mostly just talked about God and Christianity and how God provides for people.
Komle told us he wishes he could wake up one day and have the diabetes completely gone. He said he has some Christian friends who took him to church and prayed over him for the disease to be gone, and he himself had prayed and prayed and prayed God would take this away from him, but it never went away.
You could tell he wasn’t sure what to think about God or the power of the Holy Spirit, and it broke my heart. We shared God knows what is best for everyone and no matter how He does it, He will provide for His children, just like He provided for him today.
I didn’t have a word from the Lord if it was God’s Will to heal him today; or ever.
All I heard from the Lord as we went about conversation with this man was “Give; this is My provision for His life today.”
We left him with the simple encouragement God’s ways are not always are ways, and He knows what is best. We told him the money wasn’t from us; this was a gift from the Lord as a testament of His love and provision for him.
He told us right before we parted ways he was always the one to help other people out, and this was the first time anyone else has ever helped him, and he was almost shocked we did, but really thankful.
Right before he bumped into us, he felt so bad he was about to just walk down to the beach and let his body have its way with him. He thought he was about to die. He was completely hopeless, and when he came past us, we were kind of a last attempt at a possibility of help. Praise God for this miracle! 
I’ve been reading a book called “Rees Howells: Intercessor” by Norman Grubb, and God really convicted me last night about how my finances are not my own. Every penny I have is the Kingdoms, and while I theoretically knew that for a long time, I don’t necessarily live that way 100% of the time.
It always seems when God opens your eyes to something, He gives you opportunities to exercise your new faith!
I had literally just talked to my mom on skype the hour before we met Komle. She gave me the updated total of my bank account, and because of some family members who just gave a little extra money for my trip, there was enough money to cover Komle’s needs! God is SO good!!!
I ask for anyone who reads this blog to pray for Komle. Pray he would truly know this rescue was from God Himself, and it would truly be a testament of God’s love for him!!
Also, thank you to everyone back home who has kept the ministry fundraisers going while I’m overseas. Today, your simple snack buying and fundraiser participations and your heart to give was how God chose to save a life.
