The Lord has blessed His work this year here at the Susu Project. Amidst the Ebola challenge, we have seen His mighty hands at work among the Susu Muslims in Guinea, West Africa.
The world is slowly winning the war against this killer virus, but its catastrophic toll will forever be in the pages of the history books of the Manor River Union. Like warfare, this virus has made many children orphans, many parents childless, many women widows and many homes broken. This disease has shaken the social fabric of the people of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Deeply ingrained traditions of social touching, handshakes and friendly hugs, and gatherings like naming ceremonies, weddings, funerals and even sports events had to be suspended under government order to stop the spread of the virus. We will never forget the distance this virus has created between us and our loved ones. We will never forget those precious lives Ebola took who did not have a chance to know Christ. We will never forget the Ebola ritual (the washing of hands with chlorine bleach and the use of the laser thermometer) that we still perform before entering into a gathering, into someone’s courtyard, or into public places like banks, offices and schools. We will never forget the wailing of a neighbor who has lost a loved one far or near.
Part of our work in reaching out to the lost is to socialize with them so we can share the precious good news. This means visiting the sick in the hospital and attending naming ceremonies, weddings and funerals. These strengthen friendships and open doors for us to share Christ. So when these contacts were prohibited, our work slowed, and many programs for church growth were canceled. This was the work of the enemy of souls.
Yet, in our little corner of the Lord’s vast vineyard, God was working in the hearts of a teacher, a security guard, a gardener, an abused wife, a formerly demon-possessed lady, two students of our school, and an old lady. Among this list were six Muslims. Under the threat of Ebola, my wife and I have been risking our lives and those of our children, breaking every rule to make contact with people in their homes and tell them about Christ. We spent sleepless nights on our knees praying for God’s protection on us and on these souls who were hungry for truth. We cast our burdens and fears on Him Who has promised that He will be with us always as we make disciples for Him. Indeed, He has been with us. We have enjoyed His protection and have seen His transforming power in the lives of the people with whom we are studying. They have been faithfully coming to church each Sabbath, even when Ebola was claiming lives. In January of this year, they finally accepted Christ and were baptized. Stay tuned as we will be sharing their testimonies with you in future articles.
Thank you all for your prayers and support as we touch Guinean hearts with Christ’s message of reconciliation.
