It was raining quite heavily on Saturday morning here in Monrovia,
so instead of being outside enjoying the weekend, I was inside, catching up on
facebook, twitter and the world news. It
was then that the breaking news came up about the attack at the Westgate mall
in Nairobi. Shocked at what I was
reading, my heart instantly broke for those involved- for those Christian
brothers and sisters just innocently enjoying their Saturday morning, which
quickly turned into an incredibly terrifying situation.
Checking for updates every few hours, I just couldn’t get my mind
off of the cruel, cowardly attack that was happening. It wasn’t even the fact that I have been to
that mall, or could picture the layout clearly in my mind. It angers me knowing it was an
attack from a religion that states they are not about
violence. My heart breaks for the
families affected- for those that lost their lives so innocently. With the rain continuing to fall, my mind
continued to wander…. “What if? What if
I was in that mall? What if something similar happened here in Liberia? How
would I react?”
One of the most popular questions I get asked when I am at home
speaking to people is, “Aren’t you afraid? Don’t you fear for your life when
you are over there?” To which my answer,
with bewilderment in my eyes is, “No- not at all.” It has never really crossed my mind- until
now. Yes I have had some crazy experiences- experiences where God has shown up,
been with me, brought unlikely persons to help me, has protected me…Until a
location I am familiar with (albeit is an 8 hour plane ride away) is attacked
and it becomes more personal than just a headline on the news.
Growing up, my parents loved and supported me in where God was
leading me- even if it meant moving 7000 miles away from them. They have never, ever said “Joni, maybe you
should just stay here- I mean there are people who need Jesus in Iowa too,” or
“Joni we don’t want you to go, we are afraid of what might happen…” I am sure these thoughts have crossed their
minds at some point in time, but they have never voiced them to me. I was taught at a very early age about the
sovereignty of God- that He is in control of everything- and even when things
do not make sense around you, if you are attentive to his call and his voice,
and are obedient, you are in the safest place you could be.
A friend of mine was having a conversation with my mom one day,
when someone asked her how she could let her daughter live so far away in
AFRICA of all places. Her response was,
“God has called her to work there- and God has called me to let her go.” Knowing my parents and family are a part of
this calling makes all the difference to me.
There isn’t a fear of living somewhere strange, somewhere so drastically
different from where I grew up. I know
God has called me here, and as long as I am sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s
direction, and obedient to it, I am not afraid. I miss my parents and my family
terribly- and there are days where I just wish there was a way I could
transport myself into their living room for a day or two over the weekend, and
then come back to work in Liberia… (I mean how awesome would that be?!)
Saturday night, as the rain continued to pour onto our tin roof,
my roommates and I settled in for a movie.
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness was the movie of choice, and I was
incredibly intrigued by the title alone.
It is an older movie- probably from the 50’s-60’s about a missionary woman
to China. In the movie, China was being
invaded by Japan- and the missionary had about 100 children with her, needing to
travel a very long distance on foot to get to safety. Her athiest friend turns to her and says,
“Can’t you ask your God for protection? Isn’t that what your religion is
for?” Her response stopped my
ever-growing fearful mind in my tracks-
“My God guarantees the protection of my soul, not of my body.”
God reminded me so very clearly through this movie that I do not
need to be afraid, no matter how crazy thing are around me. For what can man do to me?
They may hurt, or even kill my body. But my God, my God protects
my soul.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I
have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John
10:10
