It was a really stressful journey and such that I never thought possible. The roads were so bad I could not but ask over and again if there was an alternative route. Each time I asked that question however, the response I got was a resounding “NO”. We arrived at the missions field at about 6 pm and some of the children who were outside their hostels looked at us with beautiful smiles on their faces. All I could think about on my mind was, “How in the world do you people survive in a place so far and deserted?” We were later shown the way to the room allocated to us and as we stepped into the room I stood at the door and gazed at a corner of the room where 2 tiny mattresses were placed and I stole a glance at my hubby and said: “is that supposed to be our bed?” His response brought me back to my senses as I reminded myself of the reason I was there – “Welcome to missions field dear”, he replied, as he put our bags down and began to crack some really funny but annoying jokes about the room. I probably did not understand fully how the journey was going to play out but at that point, it began to make a whole lot of sense to me and I realized it was not a joke… It was a Missions field, not a comfort zone.
So we sat down for a while and prayed for the grace to survive in the midst of all we were going to be confronted with, in this totally unfamiliar terrain with a weird culture, right after which we freshened up and went for the orientation as we had been earlier informed. The Orientation would later reveal to us several things we were not aware of before the embarking upon this trip.
By the time we met with the coordinator, the children had gathered to pray and as they sang in languages known and unknown to us, all I could feel was joy unspeakable and immediately at that moment I knew it was not just going to be about being a blessing to the children but also about the children blessing us.
PSALM 8:2
” Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants, You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.”
The coordinator welcomed us again and gave us a brief on several things which included the fact that the school had student representation from more than 12 tribes. Also, the school is located in an Islamic zone, some of the children have an Islamic background in spite of the fact that they are attending a Christian Missionary School. He further explained that most of them who came to the school as Muslims have dedicated their lives to Christ and that some parents are aware of this development while some are not.
All these made me excited about this place that I have found myself, knowing fully well that it was a good way to reach the Nations just as Christ had instructed us before ascending to heaven. He then went on to inform us about the fact that the community had no access to a power supply and little or no access to the internet or mobile network service. “Did I just hear you well?” I responded. He smiled and said “Yes”. My natural self felt like running back into the room and picking up my bags to leave but that did not feel good either because he had told us about his personal experience and how he had to live in the same community and worse ones right after he left college about 20 years ago. Was I better than this young, diligent, sound and zealous man whose passion for God was not limited by distance, electricity, access to the internet and several other things that makes life really good, all in a bid to reach the unreached for Christ, I asked myself. The answer was, of course, a big “NO” and this resounded in my head and I concluded it was indeed a blessing to meet people whose love for God is not all about the comfort available unto them but about the pian, self-denial and suffering that comes with doing His bidding and remaining in His will.
PHILIPPIANS 1:29
“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake.”
As the days went by, we learnt to bear with only 3 hours of power supply from the school’s generating plant every evening, of which we spend about 2 hours out of the 3 hours in the meeting room having our general prayers as missionaries and volunteers. I later began to truly understand what it means to give up all if I will ever be willing to follow Him.
Never in my life have I been in a place where there is no access to electricity and this made me thankful for several blessings that we take for granted, knowing fully well that some people were born into such communities and for such, this is what they see as “normal” not knowing a better life exists outside this that they are used to.
I heard a teenager tell her dad recently that it is indeed a privilege for him to be her father, just as it is a privilege to be his daughter, considering that she could have been someone else’s daughter just as he could have been someone else’s father, but God chose to birth her through him and not someone else. I totally agree with the young girl’s stance and will also love to say that it is indeed a privilege to have those things that make life interesting, easier and worth living, knowing fully well that some people do not have access to all these things yet it does not mean we are better than them, it is just that He chose to place some of us “here” and others “there”.
It is indeed a blessing to have access to those things that others do not have access to (electricity, good roads, access to the internet, mobile network, water supply and most especially the Gospel of Christ). Do not take His blessings for granted.
Shalom.
Author Profile
- Temitope is the founder of thesoulmeal.com, an online platform that she shares with her God-given spiritual family and friends. She is a speaker, teacher and youth counselor. She is passionate about inspiring people to find their identity in Christ. Catch her interviewing inspiring leaders on Tongue of the Learned Podcast
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