RETURN TO AFRICA
Linda Dickerson, Congregational Care Nurse, has recently returned from her third mission trip to Africa. She is part of a team of three women sponsored by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. In addition she has a good friend who is a missionary in Dakar, Senegal. Several years ago her friend invited her to join this group of ladies.
Linda and her friends each year have returned to a small town about 5 hours by land north of Dakar. Their mission is to make friends and build relationships with those that welcome them into their homes and lives. Through this relationship then they can witness for Christ and share the one true God with them. In this land the people have been Muslim for generations. They are a very hospitable people and Linda and her friends, often spend hours with them in their homes or huts enjoying conversation and having tea. During times like this they can tell bible stories, read scriptures and talk about their faith. They often traveled into the “bush” visiting small villages. Here the people are shepherds and their livestock is very important to them. They are hard working and very family oriented. Often many family members live together and share the workload. It is a quite different lifestyle from what we know. Three languages are spoken including English, French and the local language Pulaar. In spite of this difficulty, God was able to speak through all of them and knock down the language barrier. Linda reports on her recent trip:
“We were there from February 11 through the 22. This year we were able to visit more new villages. Since it was our third year we have developed trust and a better relationship with some of the people who have known us these past three years. We were a little more free to talk about Jesus and it seemed that this year they were wanting to know more about Christianity. One lady that we have known for three years now and was a “secret” believer is now speaking openly about being a believer. She has even been able to talk with her husband and this is a big step. Her son has been very ill , and it has been her faith that has helped her through this very difficult time. She has stated that she knows that God is with her and her son, and she knows he will take care of them whatever the outcome may be for her son. The Believers that we know there have such a strong faith. The people are raised to follow Islamic religion, they follow it as that is all they know and it has been passed down from family to family. So, for someone to become a Christian there, it takes courage and a strong faith and belief in the Bible. I am so lucky to see first hand, what God does in the lives of these people that are willing to risk it all for Christ. I always come home with the same question? Would we be willing to risk it all for Christ? Really risk it all, family, friends, your life?
Linda Dickerson