In December, 2002, I became quite ill with stomach and intestinal problems. The usual remedies for diarrhea didn’t do anything, and the problem continued to get worse and worse.

Finally, I went to a small Catholic clinic several miles out of town where, at the time, there was a French lady doctor. She examined me and ordered a bunch of tests. She eventually diagnosed the problem as an ulcer.

At the clinic, I met a lady who worked there as a nurse. Her name was Marie. Over the course of my visits, Marie and I became good friends—we just clicked. My ulcer is gone now, but I continue to go out to the clinic to talk and laugh with Marie. There were some long gaps between visits, like when I was on furlough, but we continued to talk and get to know each other.

Marie is searching deeply. There are many things in Christianity that she doesn’t understand, but she follows what she understands and wants to give everything to God.

Marie is the oldest daughter in a bunch of children, one of whom, I discovered later, is a member of our church in Natitingou. Marie grew up out in a village and never had the opportunity to go to school, thus she didn’t learn how to read or write until she came into town. She married a man who, after several years, sent her away because she couldn’t have children. Marie is very kind with children, which is not that normal here.

When Marie arrived in town hurt from her husband’s rejection, the clinic asked her if she would like to work there, and she agreed. But, to do the job, she needed to learn how to read, write, and speak French, so she studied diligently. (She already speaks at least three or four other languages.)

After Marie and I had been friends for some time and enjoyed many discussions about Christianity, I asked her if she would like to study the Bible with me. Her uncle had just died, and she had felt attacks by “his spirit,” so our first couple of Bible lessons were on how the dead are sleeping in their tombs and that a person doesn’t have a spirit that floats around after they die. We also talked about who those beings are that were attacking her. We discussed the great controversy and how Satan was kicked out of heaven with his angels.

Having done research on spiritual beliefs in the local culture helped me address the specifics of Marie’s situation. Having basically no knowledge of the Bible, she wanted to know the stories. Because she never went to school, her French vocabulary is fairly small, so she has a difficult time reading the regular French Bible. But we had just come across another version in simple French similar to the NIV that was much easier for her to read. She always says she can’t read, but I keep telling her she reads better then most kids in high school there, which is true. She is excited about the stories and continues to learn more about the great plan God has for her.

Please pray for Marie that, as we study the Bible together, she will follow the truth God reveals to her. Some steps will be harder than others, but all things are possible with God. The Adventist church is far from her home. It would take her close to two hours to walk there. Pray that, when the time is right, God will work out Marie’s difficulties, including Sabbath work. 

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