What Can I Do?

I sat in a rented plastic chair under a woven grass mat shelter. I held my young infant on my lap as I tried to understand some of the conversations going on around me. I was not alone, but I felt very isolated. I was surrounded by more than 50 women who were laughing, talking, and gossiping as they waited for the food to be served at a neighborhood baby naming party. I understood very little of what was being said. I had come with my Fulani friend, Libby*, but since the new mother and most of her guests were not Fulani, I did not understand the language they were speaking. I played and cooed with my baby until she fell asleep and then I just sat there and looked around. Libby was close by, but she was visiting with her other friends at the time. I remember thinking to myself, "What do I do now?" when I sensed a need to pray. I looked around again at the faces of the women. Some of them had small children in their laps like me, and others were cooking or even snoozing. I no longer saw a crowd of women I barely knew and couldn't communicate with, but I saw souls and hearts and families who didn't know Jesus. Out of that entire group only two of us were following Jesus. My heart broke, and I had to fight to keep tears from falling down my cheeks at this festive occasion. "They're all lost. Oh my God, what can I do? I can't even talk to them." The still small voice answered me, "Pray!"

Today I ask the same of you. PRAY!

• Intercede for people groups throughout the West Africa Region who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior.
• Pray for West African Christians who are being challenged to step out and share their faith in the face of persecution.
• Pray for IMB workers who are serving in West Africa. Ask God to make them sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading in all situations.

An IMB worker among the Fulani of West Africa
*Name changed for security purposes