My Confession

By Deanna Harrison, serving in Cote d’Ivoire

I have a confession that is difficult for me to make. 

The other day I walked into a room to find a recently widowed pastor’s wife who was inconsolable. She had thrown herself on the floor and was tossing and turning, crying and wailing. Other mourners had begun to gather, and many were weeping. 

After a few minutes I began to cry too. 

Fearful Tears

I am embarrassed to admit that I was not crying for this bereaved young woman. I was crying for me; I was crying because I didn’t know what to do in this culture. 

I have had a long missionary career in two African countries, as well as a 10-year term in France. My husband Randy and I moved to Cote d’Ivoire in 2004 to support the biblical leadership training offered at the West Africa Alliance Seminary (FATEAC) in Abidjan.

Because of civil war, we were evacuated several months after our arrival. We just moved back this past year to Abidjan, so I still feel pretty ignorant about the right way to do things here. 

With this grieving widow, I didn’t feel like an experienced missionary bringing God’s comfort. I felt like a teenager on a short-term missions trip, lost in a brand new situation.

I was desperately afraid of doing the wrong thing. Here was a precious young pastor’s wife mourning the recent loss of her husband, and all I could do was cry for me! 

A Miracle

And then a miracle happened. My Ivorian friend, Bernadette Kouakou, caught my eye and gestured for me to join her on the floor beside the crying woman. When I sat down next to my grieving sister, put my arms around her, and looked her full in the face, all of my self-pity evaporated. 

I realized I didn’t care if I was acting like the experienced missionary. I didn’t care if I was doing the culturally appropriate thing. I didn’t care what the others thought of me. All I could do was feel the pain of this suffering woman. I was not only crying for her; I was crying with her. 

Despite the differences in our nationalities, cultures, and generations, I was able to identify with this woman’s pain. Perhaps I didn’t know how to express it correctly in this new cultural setting, but the Lord knew my heart and heard my prayers on her behalf. 

Hopefully my presence was a comfort to her. I know she, Suzanne, would appreciate your prayers too.

Workers Needed!  

Randy and I later talked with the church president who told us more about the young pastor who had died. He had been in charge of 16 congregations!

Each of these small churches has a lay preacher. But this precious young pastor was the only one in that district qualified to perform communions, baptisms, weddings, funerals, and other pastoral duties. 

As we spoke with the church president, he expressed his concern about who would fill the gap after this young man’s passing. I trust you can see from this why we are so convinced of the great need for Bible training in Africa. 

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Luke 10:2a).

What You Can Do

Pray for God’s healing comfort to envelop recently widowed Suzanne. Continue to pray for the increase of quality Bible training across Africa to fully equip church leaders.

Share

Get Involved...

Pray.

We cannot “Live the Call Together” unless prayer is central to all we do.
Pray with us »

Serve.

Is God calling you to service? We’re here to help you connect your passion with God’s purpose.
Serve with The Alliance »

Give.

Help build Christ’s Church by supporting the ministry and workers of The Alliance.
Give today »