As I went into the clinic to visit a patient, Lukin greeted me warmly. “I’m so glad when you come to visit me; I miss you when you’re not here. But if I don’t have God, I don’t have anything. Right? One doesn’t have anything if they don’t have God, right?”
“Yes, Uka` (older sister),” I said, as my heart swelled with joy. “You are so right. God is everything. If we don’t have Him, we don’t have anything!” And then we proceeded to talk about heaven and the joy we would share as she leaped and praised God with her body restored to health and total function. She radiated peace, the kind only God can give.
I have known Lukin, the wife of Tawad the witchdoctor, for many years. During our early days here, I frequently visited Lukin’s village and her home. Our daughters had become best friends, and we enjoyed each other’s company, too. But when it came to spiritual things, we were miles apart. She was a traditional birth attendant, and we were often called to the same cases. But Lukin was definitely the one in charge, and I had to stand aside. Many hours I spent waiting politely to be invited to assist in situations where she was unsure. Lukin took Bible studies for a time and even came to church occasionally (especially if there was potluck!).
After a series of strokes left the aging Lukin bedridden, I had her undivided attention, and she became much more open to hearing God’s word. Gradually her heart softened until she finally accepted Jesus. When she received an audio player with God’s word, stories and music in her language, it became her lifeline, and her understanding blossomed.
Now when I visit my elder sister Lukin, we talk of God and the hope we now share in the resurrection and life in Heaven and the New Earth.
What a journey God has taken her on! Lukin has had some very hard bumps and twists and turns in her life’s road, but when she remembers the sorrow, the loss or the pain she has experienced, she now just says, “If I don’t have God, I don’t have anything. Thank you so much for coming and telling me about Him.”
