Some people can see being a missionary as going and sharing the gospel everyday, trying to “convert” people. Today has shown me something new, by a student that I ran into on campus…
In Africa pretty much everyone knows the Bible story. They know scripture. They know the stories. Almost everyone goes to church. Stores around the area are named, Anointed Hand Salon, Peace Market, Grace Abundance, etc. So you would think that talking about my faith would be easy since I am in a place where it is all over literally. It has still been hard for me. This student, Patrick, showed me something different.
Caiti, Jamie, and I were walking on campus. Some guys call us out, and asked if we are Christians. We said, “yes.” They then told us that they were African Traditionalist. Saying it over and over, then telling us about it. Prompting us to respond with something. I didn’t want to argue and I didn’t think they would listen to what I had to say. Then Patrick comes in from behind us in the walkway and asks,“why aren’t you saying anything?”
I don’t want to argue, it’s okay to have different beliefs. He responds, “It’s okay for you to share your view if you don’t agree with theirs. You are not trying to hurt them. You are just sharing what you think. Then maybe they will think about it later.” I said, “Okay you are right.” And he smiled. Then we started talking, and Caiti and Jamie talked to the others two students.
Patrick is a Catholic. He knows the stories. I wanted to know about his faith. Since what I have heard is that the Christianity in Africa is a mile wide and an inch deep. So in our conversation we just talked about life. I told him about my story, how I came to Christ. He had a lot of questions to ask. So I just answered them, normal conversation. I talked about the Holy Spirit. At one point he said “You talk a lot about the spirit, I know that it is here because you answer the next two questions that I have.” It was a simple conversation to me talking about life, but what was different is we both left filled up.
He was encouraged to chase his dreams, to learn 
more, and some things to think about. I was encouraged to step out and speak, I learned more, and had some things to think about. When it was done we both knew God was in the center. It was all about him, talking about scripture, talking about life. It wasn’t me preaching the gospel to him, it was us talking about LIFE.
It is talking about life questions. That we find more of what we are searching for. Finding more truth. Talking about life, God is right there in the middle. It is just natural anymore. To talk about the real deep questions people really ponder on, not just think about them to myself. I was encouraged and I hope that you are too. To say your beliefs, to question your thoughts, to ask other people there’s. It’s about relationship, it’s about learning from one another. Maybe you will learn something new. I did.
