The Guinean people are very gregarious. They are communicative and like to get together. You hardly ever see a person here eating alone. It is easy to find a good reason for a meeting, for a round of conversation.

There is, however, a situation where they get together under great displeasure—wakes. In Guinea-Bissau, funerals are usually big events and are almost always full. We have attended several funerals here, which they call “tchoru” (crying) in Creole. As is the case in most parts of the world (if not all), there are always many tears, sadness and pain. No matter the culture, death is neither simple nor normal; it always leaves deep scars.

I recently attended the heartbreaking funeral of a young lady about 35 years old. She was pregnant with twins but had complications during childbirth. She and the children died. The complications? A lack of care due to a strike in the country’s health system. She went to the hospital to give birth, and for lack of care, was irreversibly penalized. Her complications were a lack of love, empathy, and respect from others—a direct attack on the Lord God who created human beings in His image and likeness.

The Bible talks about “loving your neighbor as yourself.” But who in Guinea-Bissau knows the Bible? Who knows the teachings of Christ? How many in Guinea-Bissau know Jesus? The questions may sound simple, but they are not. In Guinea-Bissau, almost half of the population is animist (worshiping evil spirits), so they know little or nothing about the message of Christ.

Therefore, we begin to understand why a doctor denies care to a pregnant woman. He doesn’t know Christ. He doesn’t know the Bible. He doesn’t know the teaching about “loving your neighbor as yourself.” He loves only himself, cares only for his own interests, and does not even value the oath he took when choosing to be a doctor.

Looking at the young husband during the tchoru, mourning the death of his beloved wife, I faintly understood his suffering and began to reflect on the need to preach the Word of Christ, to make the biblical message known. Christianity is not just a belief. It is a lifestyle that must be spread, announced to all corners of the Earth.

Knowledge and understanding of the incomparable love of Christ are definitely needed here in Guinea-Bissau. As we multiply the number of Christ’s followers, we are multiplying the number of people who care about the suffering and needs of others, cooperating with God in the restoration of His image in His creatures until Jesus returns.

With such a great challenge, the question remains: “Whom shall I send?” May the answer from each of us be, “Here I am, send me.”

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