A Beautiful Witness

When one team of nine volunteers came to West Africa, God worked in a marvelous way. The women on the team ministered to Fulbe women by washing and massaging their feet, rubbing on lotion, and painting nails. Even a 90-year-old consented to having her feet washed and lotion applied. These women were told why the women from America had come, and many heard a clear presentation of the gospel for the first time. The men on the volunteer team visited and gave a verbal witness to a man for whom IMB missionaries* had prayed for several years. The man stated that he would not be against any of his children choosing to follow Jesus, but he cautioned that he needed to "move slowly." However, he affirmed that if he decided to follow Jesus, he would bring "hundreds" with him. Another man who had a great deal of intellectual knowledge about Jesus gave indication that he was seriously considering the claims of the gospel. When he said that he did not know where he would go if he died, it opened up a great witnessing opportunity for the volunteers.

These men are seeking, but they are fearful of the reaction of their families and of the community if they choose to follow Christ. Pray that God will continue to reveal Himself to these Fulbe men and women who received a witness of Christ's love from these volunteers.

*Name changed or withheld for security purposes

A team of three women volunteers came to prayerwalk with us* and do a beauty culture exchange for three weeks among women from a Muslim people group*. The first week we visited West African women in their homes and invited them to come to my home to experience an American beauty treatment. The prayerwalk team members had their hair braided African style at the home of one of these women. It was interesting that during each of these visits, the conversation turned to inner beauty and God's love, as if God Himself had gone before and orchestrated the conversation. The second week the West African women came to my home where two of the volunteer team members who were Mary Kay consultants did feet and hand treatments, facials, and nail polish. During the third week we went back to the West African women's homes to follow up and thank them. The prayerwalk team experienced another beauty treatment from the West African women when they put henna on their feet and hands.

Please pray for these women whose lives were touched by the American volunteers. None of these women in our people group have yet come to the Lord, but they have become more open to listening to stories and learning more about my beliefs. Their husbands have also become more open and still talk about the day their wives came home from my house looking so beautiful.

*Name changed or withheld for security purposes