Knowing Christ and making Him known (written February 2016)

The first month I was here 3 people died (not of Ebola).  I had never met two of them.  The third one however was an elderly man I had met the second week I was here.  He had introduced himself to me and asked me where I was from and what I was doing in Kambia.  I had even bought him a plate of food as he came along while I was eating just a few days before.  His death came as a real shock to me.  I had not once mentioned my faith to him, apart from telling him I was a children's missionary.  I guess God was trying to tell me something.

Mr Yansaneh's death came as a clarion call to me that you may not have too many chances with people when it comes to spreading the gospel.  The first few days afterwards, I was frantically telling people I had come into contact with that Jesus wanted to save them from their sins.  Not many accepted.  The region is predominantly Muslim, and leaving the faith comes with many implications.  Are you ready to give that Muslim child a home, should they be thrown out after accepting Jesus Christ?

My theory is that a child by the age of 3 should have been given the chance to hear the simplified gospel and by age 5 should be allowed to decide whether they want Jesus to be their personal Saviour.  It is a lie of the devil that children do not know or understand much.  It is so easy to help a child understand the wonderful truths of the Gospel with only four short sentences.  

GOD LIVES IN HEAVEN AND HE WANTS YOU TO LIVE WITH HIM FOREVER.   Memory Verse to quote:  I have loved you with an everlasting love Jer 31:3

YOU ARE A SINNER AND YOUR SIN HAS SEPARATED YOU FROM GOD. Memory Verse to quote:  The wages of sin is death Rom 6:23

JESUS LOVES YOU AND HE SHED HIS BLOOD AND DIED ON THE CROSS FOR YOU.  Memory Verse to quote:  Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness Heb 9:22

IF YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS TODAY, JESUS WILL TAKE YOUR SIN AWAY AND TAKE YOU TO BE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN WHEN YOU DIE.  Memory Verse to quote:  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved Acts 16:33

Children can and do come to under conviction by the Holy Spirit, and can give their lives to Christ with understanding.  The only condition is that they cannot be left alone after that.  They should be nurtured to grow in the Lord.  Just like a seed must be watered, children should be actively helped to grow in the Lord.

It was one awesome day when Cynthia, age 5 and small for her age, stood before the congregation.  "As for God, His way is perfect!  The word of the Lord is flawless.  He is a Shield...", and she went on, phrase after phrase, for ten verses (Ps 18:23-33).  Everyone was astounded!  The applause was thunderous when she finally said the amen.  But that is the power children have, to shock people with the gospel.  Won't you evangelize to the child next door today?  Those of you with drawing skills can easily can even draw some colourful pictures to go along with your gospel points.  That will make your story even more interesting!

Jesus is coming again.  He will come with His angels to take His people home.  Think of all the children you know.  Will they be in heaven with Jesus when He comes?

A whole new world

There has been heavy rain in January - a mysterious phenomenon in Kambia,  my home for the next year.  I remember someone exclaiming that the world must be coming to an end.  I didn't know it was that strange...

Being a 'strranger' as they call it in Sierra Leone has come with a potpourri of emotion.  The first month has had its highs, and many more lows than I ever imagined.  On one happy occasion at church, I tried unsuccessfully to hide my free flowing tears; missing home, feeling sorry for myself and generally just miserable.

I do understand the local lingo though, having been here previously for a six-week stretch. Krio is a mix of broken English, Cockney slang and a bit of French. Surprisingly, I find quite a few words from my native dialect, Twi, used here also. Sapor is sponge in both languages, and to butu is to lie on your stomach. Drrooss is underwear and kokonsa means to gossip. I wrote a long list last year, which I will search out and add little by little. Ghanaians will understand this: when a baby is born, after a week they have a 'pull-na-dor' for him or her, the equivalent of a Ghanaian 'Outdooring' of a child.

The children are delightful! I make it a point to wave to every child I pass on the street, or if they are old enough, ask "How are you?" Some mumble a word or two, but generally there is a bright and happy response. Babies especially have an amazing response to a simple wave. The little one year old who lives in my compound flashes a lovely smile every time I pass and wave. There is a mentally handicapped child who lived a few houses away from mine. Most days they would put him on the verandah, and every time I walked past I would wave. I noticed that he would look intently at me every time he saw me, but that was all. After about 3 weeks of waving, I saw in response a beautiful smile, and then he tried to raise his hand to wave back to me. Now, every time he sees me, he gets very happy and tries to rush to the roadside where I am. So far, we have not met close up, but I hope such a meeting will be possible in due time.

I have started teaching daily at Givers' World School, and on Sundays the children come to Sunday School, where they hear a story from the bible.  The first Wednesday at the school assembly, almost all the children raised their hands to accept Christ at the invitation. It was humbling. Their assemblies are times of powerful praise. Praise leaders are picked from the various classes, and this is a sweet smelling offering to the Lord of Hosts. I was almost brought to tears by their gutsy singing.

This year in Kambia promises to be the experience of a lifetime! I will write here whenever I am able, to let you know of the new things that I see and hear.

God bless us all.