Living the Life in Africa

From an African missionary (names changed for protection). What a statement of truth. Read at the risk of being convicted!

"What joy there was today.  We were having a hot conversation with two seminary grads about the future of the church.  Their take was that our local priest was old and there weren’t enough graduates around to teach correctly.  And besides that, they won’t pay us to go and teach despite the fact that they have enough money.  We will see the changes we long for, but it will be 50 years hence when we can get the clergy to change their ideas. 

I responded with, ‘Of course these are very grave circumstances.  And of course since it is unlikely that I will live another 50 years it saddens me greatly.  But fortunately, the disciples did not agree with you.  They did not wait for there to be enough graduates from seminaries.  In fact the only person who was part of the ‘clergy/ disciples’ that had been to such a school was the Apostle Paul and he had to be blinded before it was possible for the Father to use him. 

‘And as far as money, if the disciples waited for money before doing what they were told to do we would still be waiting for the Message to reach us.  We were given very clear instructions: Go and tell all I have commanded you.  That was to all of us.  If all we have is a cup of cold water and we give that away in his name, that is enough.  Our empty hand is a signal from him that we need something more to give.  Teach whomever He puts in front of you, don’t wait for the clergy to show up for a meeting where you will teach them what they need to know. ‘

At this I called Rachel in and asked her to tell them what the gospel message was.  She did this so beautifully and from such depth that our eyes were misty afterwards.  And then she said, ‘I tell this to every taxi driver when I go home.  I tell it to all my neighbors.  I tell it to the children who come to my house.  And my son is 6.  He knows all about the gospel.  He tells his friends and fellow students.  Sometimes people persecute us and insult us.  But they all know the gospel. Who knows if L‘rd will come and they might not have heard.  I want them all to know.  Everyone should hear the story.’

I didn’t need to say any more.  The issue was settled.  We said we would pray for them every day so that the Father would show them how and with whom they should share.  But the real person in the room who was doing what they were supposed do was Rachel. 

The seminary grads went home to think about what Rachel had said.  We will lift them up.  Perhaps they will learn to do as well as our house worker, offering what they have instead of worrying about what they don’t have."