Stories from the Field

September 2006

Guinea Time is of the Essence
By Angela Queen, Christian worker in Guinea

As the volunteer team of four walked through the Konkabay village in southeastern Guinea, a young lady called to us in a desperate voice, "Mama, Mama, Mama!" Having relatives in Sierra Leone, she knew this "bit" of English would grab our attention. We did not speak the language of this village, and our only interpreter was not available. As this young lady led us into a cold, dark room, we saw the emaciated body of her dying mother on the floor. Her bony appearance enunciated her struggles for breath. Instantly, we knew this lady was on her deathbed. We fell to our knees weeping as we thought of this lady, created by God, spending eternity separated from the love of Jesus. Many other women came in and lined the walls of the room, uncharacteristically shedding tears as we pleaded with Jesus for this lady's salvation – "Spare her, Father, until she knows and believes." Her youngest son of 3 years played in the floor, yearning to have his mother by his side. We were asked by one of the men of the village, "Why are you crying? She is a dying old woman of 45 years." We continued to pray for her, and we sang for her about the love of Jesus. Knowing that our God is a God of miracles, we beseeched our Father to give her clarity and understanding of our words before her death or miraculously heal her. Before we departed, we had managed to learn how to tell her that Jesus loves her in her heart language. Upon hearing this, she opened her eyes, put her palms together, pulled them to her chest, and then placed her palms on our chests. Without more messengers to share the Gospel, thousands of people in Guinea will die without ever hearing about the love of Jesus. Ask the Lord to send the laborers among the unengaged peoples of Guinea.