ZAIRE

Different

Being in a different culture brings with it many new experiences--like eating caterpillars, being told after the meal that you have eaten monkey, trying to speak the local language and saying the opposite of what you had intended, and climbing into a cargo truck with 125 other people to go and do evangelism.

One principle that I learned this summer is that the Holy Spirit is preparing the hearts of people to come into a relationship with Jesus. God revealed this powerfully to me one afternoon in Kinshasa.

After playing a soccer match in the local quarter, our team set up to do a few open air dramas portraying the gospel. While we were performing, I noticed a man in the crowd staring at me very intently. It was frightening and distracting.

After the drama, my Zairian counterpart, Kapay, gave a short testimony, then proceeded to pray with the crowd. I was reminded of the man that had been staring at me, and, with my head still bowed, I slowly opened my eyes. He was still staring straight at me. I became fearful again. This caused me to begin to actually pray while my head was bowed. I came to the conclusion that this man was either wanting to do me harm or was interested in what our team was saying. The Lord let it be known to me that he was ready to hear the gospel and that I would be the person to make the initial contact.

I began to argue with God. "How can I bring the gospel to this man? I can't speak French, Lingala or any other language he knows. Let someone who is better qualified talk with him." That argument ended quickly when the Lord brought to my memory Zechariah 4:6: " 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty."

I walked up to the man and used what little French I knew to introduce myself. His stare changed to a look of relief as he told me his name. At that moment, Emmanual, one of our team members, came by and asked if I needed help. He and another gentleman from the church started listening to the man's concerns and needs. Marcel received the gift of eternal life and is now meeting weekly with an elder in the church for discipleship. Marcel is 35 and had never heard the gospel before. He was involved in drugs and alcohol and had tried just about everything to find meaning. That afternoon he started a new journey of meaning and purpose.

Kevin Snyder, Bethany Bible Institute staff, Hepburn, Sask.

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