In the name of Allah / In the name of Jesus

January 18, 2011

But let me start with the most unexpected. While in Guinea, we zigzagged slowly between the holes in the road. Then suddenly we heard a deafening bang. The rear-window of our minivan bursts in uncountable splinters. On the asphalt we see a man-in-gown, lying beside a broken moped. Getting on his feet he says: Sorry, my brakes do not work. His bonnet lies between the splinters in our van, but he himself isn't hurt badly. 
Our team of six, decides to take the man and the moped to the next village: Bissikrima. Immediately a tribunal is set up at the police station in which the seniors of the village play a key role (photo right). After hours of palavering it is determined that the man-who-lost-his-bonnet (on the photograph in yellowish green) will have to pay for our window, but they add: "He doesn't have a penny".

We realize that if we stick to our accusation he may end up in jail, which doesn't really help us. So we decide to forgive without payment. Isaac Keïta, our AWF coordinator, communicates the outcome to the tribunal, beautifully packed in a Gospel-message; we forgive because we have been forgiven.Everyone starts shouting with joy and a village-elder spontaneously utters a long prayer in which he thanks in Allah's name for the attitude of the Christians. Then Isaac adds a prayer in the name of Jesus. 
It took us many hours, but we hope that our testimony in Bissikrima will result in openness for the Lord Jesus. As far as we know, there is not even one Christian in Bissikrima.

Our trip started in Abidjan and took us to Mali and Guinea. We met with many workers who made a deep impression on us. Among them teachers, evangelists and medical staff. In Conakry we had a meeting with the new Government Minister of Religious Affairs (center photo left). He is Muslim, but very open to collaborate with Christian Churches.
Finally we visited a clinic where many patients are being treated with Christian love. Some of them found Christ in this place! We encourage you to thank God for the open doors in Guinea and ask for prayer for the government which took office last year. And please pray for Bissikrima.

May Christ be known and glorified in this village as well as in all the others yet unreached.