Less than 2 weeks away...
The Billboards for the OIC went up last week!
Can I be real?
Despite what some might imagine, not everything in my journey is easy. While infrequent, there are times when I get discouraged because I fail to see the fruit of my labor. This past week has been one of those difficult times.
You’re likely reading because you care about me and are interested in how my travel shifts nations. I created this blog to take readers on an epic ride around the world as I share my uncensored thoughts with a wider audience.
Allow me, if you will, to work through an honest examination of my emotions. I’ve now been in Africa more than five months! My third day in the country I caught wind of a gathering of Muslim world leaders (OIC) that would take place in The Gambia, and I knew—immediately—that this is one of the three reasons why I was sent here.
At the time, there was uncertainty as to when the second largest intergovernmental organization in the world would actually be gathering in the smallest nation in Africa. Rumors varied between January or May. Some even pushed the date of the OIC out to 2025 citing the missing infrastructure necessary before an event of this magnitude could take place.
A small group of believers began to pray. In fact, we spent 40 days of prayer and fasting in the church closest to the OIC Conference Center focused on this exact topic. God, your word says that ALL things work together for good, for those who are called according to Your purpose, so how do You want to use this event for Your glory?
The answer came in parts, yet by the end of 40 days, we had a clear picture of what to do. The only thing lacking was provision. Before I share why the last week has been difficult, let me say that I’m Gr8ful for each and every reader who has contributed to the cause. Literally, this would not be possible without you!
Now, for the difficult part.
We’re less than two weeks away and have a mere 1% of the provision needed to accomplish (at scale) this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for The Gambia.
I know. I know. Do not despise small beginnings. But, candidly, if we don’t see some movement, we’ll see a small end as well. This thought crept in, froze my action, and allowed room for doubt. I’ve been ruminating over this thought for the last week.
What if I came all this way only to fail?!
And then, I laugh. God didn’t call me here to succeed. He just said “Go”. And I’ve been faithful in that call. I am here. And—on the first of forty days when only a few people showed up for prayer—we prayed about Gideon and how the Lord trimmed down his army so that all the glory went to God and not to man. So… there’s that!
Moreover, we’re approaching Passover! This is the time in history when things looked most impossible for the Israelites. In a sense, my current situation feels like the Israelites as they fled Egypt: there’s a promise on the other side, yet to reach it we must cross the Red Sea of provision. This week before Passover, I can relate to how the Israelites began to doubt God’s promise.
Have questions about Passover next week?
Download this simple Passover Guide for Christians created with love by Simka Foundation.
When doubt creeps in, one of the most powerful things to cripple its power is to share testimonies. When I look at the incredible, unexpected connections that manifested in the last month leading toward this cause, I am amazed.
So, I am going to share testimony after testimony and catch you up to God’s goodness and faithfulness in my life. For the next week, you’ll receive one testimony a day by email, recapping my last month in Africa.
You will learn about:
My journey through Casamance, Senegal and the creation of a resource for an entire year’s week-by-week exploration of the Bible
A quick exploration of Guinea-Bissau and the power of sharing the Good News with the Embassy Director (after unsuccessfully applying for a Diplomatic Visa as an “Ambassador” to Guinea-Conakry)
The 21 hour bus-ride from hell in a 12-passenger bus filled with 24 passengers, featuring five vomiting children, a broken bench seat, and a hand-powered ferry crossing the Corubal River into Guinea-Conakry
Treks through the beautiful highlands of West Africa in a remote area called Fouta Djallon, known for cascading waterfalls and epic off-roading
A three-day solo hike on my birthday through waterfall-filled canyons where I got lost after my water filter failed, my head lamp died, and my food supply ended on my first night camping alone
The “Flute Pursuit” and a divine connection with an agricultural family that built the largest mosque near Labé
The corruption of Conakry and how to avoid paying bribes
My return to The Gambia and how being faithful to God’s specific instructions caused me to get stuck in an airport with the Ambassador who is directly involved with the OIC (and how I was invited to stay in his home for the last two weeks!)
To help fund the printing of books for the OIC, you can give here:
We start printing next week! Here’s what your generous gift does:
$10 — Prints and distributes 10 books.
$100 — Prints and distributes 120 books.
$1000 — Prints and distributes 1400 books.
$10,000 — Prints and distributes 15,000 books.
$100,000 — Prints and distributes 180,000 books.
This 120-page spiral-bound pocket-size reference book asks 200 simple questions that are important to every human being and then allows two texts (the Bible and the Quran) to speak for themselves. Give today and put the Gospel in the hands of a Muslim at a time when s/he will actually read it.
If you have questions about why this specific book is being printed in The Gambia for such a time as NOW, read this post with all the details.