So today (Monday, Feb 22) I received a marriage proposal on the walk home from work for lunch (a sister who was trying to set me up with her brother). Then, partially because of that marriage discussion, I was running late to get back to the office to leave for the dance and drama performance. As I was walking along the road, Kagiso [a Botswana man in his mid-late 20s] drove by in his taxi and called out, “Emily!! Want a ride?” We have only met once, last Wednesday when I rode with him the few minutes into Mochudi so I was surprised that he remembered my name! I didn’t have any money on me, and told him that, but he was like, “It’s ok, I’ll take you for free.” He insisted [and he is a kind guy some of the other missionaries know too], and since I was running late, I figured, Why not? [I did of course think about whether this was wise, but felt it was good...it's a lot safer here than I had thought, ie little girls walk home alone from school, women walk alone everywhere]. So I got in and after only about 30 seconds, he asked me, “So, are you a Christian?” I said yes, and asked if he is. He said he’s not really sure. He believes in God…”I think God is ok, I have no problem with God; I’m ok with God. If what makes you a Christian is that you pray, well I pray…but I do not go to church. So I’m not sure…I don’t think I’d call myself a Christian. Because don’t Christians go to church? I can’t because I work then.”
I told him that yes, Christians usually go to church, but that isn’t what makes them Christian. It is about a relationship with Christ, not what you do or whether you go to church. He seemed really open and expecting me to continue, so I ended up being able to share the gospel with him in the taxi! I talked about sin (the bad things we do and have done) that have separated us from God because God is holy and perfect. I shared how the penalty/wages/result of our sin is death, separation from God. He said that he knows of plenty of sinners who haven’t died…and I explained that it means spiritual, eternal death/separation from God. He didn’t think we live forever, so I shared my belief that we all live forever, either eternally in the presence of God (heaven) or eternally apart from the presence of God (hell). I shared that God loves us and wants to have a close relationship with us, so He sent His Son Jesus to come to earth, live a perfect life, and die in our place and rose again to conquer death so we wouldn’t have to suffer that eternal death/separation from Him. Because of His death on the cross, those who accept Him into their lives as their personal Lord and Savior, confessing and turning from their sins and from their own way to follow Christ and His way…these have their sins forgiven and washed away.
Kagiso then asked, “How can we live a pure life in this sinful world? There is so much sin…I don’t think it’s possible to live a pure life…” I explained that when you give your life to the Lord, you are forgiven of your sins and they are washed away…and then God the Holy Spirit comes to live inside you and gives you the power to change and live a more pure life in your actions…You will still mess up here and there (a person does not become perfect the minute they become a Christian…when they sin, they confess and Christ’s sacrifice on the cross still brings forgiveness), but the Holy Spirit in you helps you to grow more and more like Christ, more and more pure in your behavior. [All of this conversation had taken place with 3 or 4 people in the back seat…at this point they were dropped off].
As we drove back towards the YFC office, Kagiso asked me if I drink or smoke. I said no, but I said it’s not necessarily wrong to drink especially because Jesus drank wine…he just didn’t get drunk. Then I said, "But Christianity is not supposed to be just a list of Do’s and Don’ts, but it is about having a relationship with God that is real. We were created to know and love God. You can actually get to know God and hear Him speak to your heart. I wouldn’t be here in Botswana if God hadn’t spoken to my heart and clearly called me to be here." He looked interested, like that would be something I could share with him in the future when I have more time. Then I shared that God has a plan for his life, but he won’t be able to really find it and do what he was created to do until he has a relationship with God through Christ. I felt led to bring up what he had said in the very beginning, that he is ok with God…like, he doesn’t think bad of God. And I said, "You said earlier that you were ok with God, think He’s ok…but that doesn’t mean your relationship with God is really “ok” by His standards. There will be people who thought they were ok with God who even did lots of good things in His name, and yet Jesus will say, “I never knew you.”
At this point we were pulling into the YFC office, and I wanted to convey that giving one’s life to Christ/accepting Him into your heart/becoming a Christian shouldn’t be to just avoid hell and for selfish gain…I don’t think motivating by fear is effective, but instead people should be motivated by love…Christ’s love for them and their love in response. So in order to dispel any thoughts of a ‘prosperity gospel’ where everything is perfect once you know Christ and you should come to Christ to avoid pain and eternal suffering…I shared that it’s not easy to follow Christ, but that it brings you such joy, peace, and fulfillment. At this, we parked outside the YFC office. Kagiso asked me, “So you don’t party?” I said no. “Do you date??” Again, I replied that I’ve never dated. He looked stunned. Especially when I followed that with this— “But I feel content and fulfilled without those things. I don’t feel a need to party or drink or date to feel content or fulfilled…I honestly don’t feel like I’m missing anything without those things.” Kagiso looked stunned yet intrigued, “Really??” I continued, “Yeah, my relationship with God fulfills me.” “Really??” His eyes looked so shocked yet curious. You could see the wheels turning in his head, wondering how this could be. I told him I’m sure we’ll talk more in the future, and next time, I’ll pay him double for giving me the free fare today. I told him I would be praying for him, and he said, “Yes, Emily…please don’t pay me in money…but would you just pray for me? That would be better than money. Please just pray for me.” And with that, he pulled out of the YFC driveway, and I walked into the office amazed at what had just happened!!!
Let’s recap: I was running a little late but that was when Kagiso happened to drive by me on the little stretch of the side road I walk on before the dirt path…he recognized me and remembered my name…offered me a ride, and when I didn’t have money, he still offered me a ride…and I would’ve politely declined if I hadn’t been running late. Then once I accept his kind offer, he asked right away if I’m a Christian…and I felt led to reflect the question back to him…and then the door flew wide open to naturally share the gospel with this obviously curious young man (as well as indirectly to the people who got in the back). Then because they got in, he decided to drive them into town since they were paying, which afforded Kagiso and I more time to talk before he backtracked to the YFC office, where he left asking for prayer. And so that was 10 minutes or so of my life and yet look at how the Lord orchestrated it so beautifully to be such a significant encounter!! Gives more meaning to the verse about always being ready to give an account for the hope that is in you! (1 Pet. 3:15). So if you want, please join me in praying for Kagiso—that the Lord would continue to speak to his heart, and that the Lord would work it out for the conversation to continue and that He’d give me the words to say.
*This just reminded me of what one of the prayer ministers at Bethany College prayed over me (before she really knew me…she had just started in the prayer ministry after two years training in Canada):
Em, God has called you to a life of divine encounters… a lot of it seems so random, but God is saying there’s nothing random about it. You yourself are a divine encounter…It’s not just having divine encounters, but you are the divine encounter for others’ lives…random encounters are going to start coming, and God is going to give you what to say in those times because what you say God will use to change their lives even if you just meet them for a few minutes. I feel there’s this fire in you to speak to them; you’re just gonna know what to speak to them…and these things will just feel normal and you’ll know what to say.
It also reminded me of when Jesus sent out the 72 in Luke 10 and directed them to find a 'person of peace' who is receptive and can serve as a gateway into other networks of people and influence. "Kagiso" actually means peace! And as another YFC worker said this morning, you can tell from talking to Kagiso and looking in his eyes that he yearns for peace...May it be the peace that passes all understanding that comes only from the Prince of Peace!
For His glory,
Em
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