A Good Friend

Outside of my immediate circle of missionary friends, I do not have many good friends here in Togo. Whether this is because of my personality or because of the vast difference in cultures, I do not know, but one exception to this reality is a man named Adam. Adam is a master electrician who I met during our first several weeks here in Togo while we were working on our houses to make them comfortable and safe to live in. He came highly recommended as an electrician and a good, honest person by the missionaries who lived in Kara. I very quickly developed an honest and sincere respect not only for his knowledge of electrical work but also for his gentle and humble spirit. In our six years here in Togo, I have never heard a negative word uttered about Adam or his work. The only thing that has nagged me about Adam is that he does not know God. You see, Adam is a devout follower of Islam. It isn't his Islamic beliefs that bothers me, because I have a great respect for his sincere devotion and faith to the tenants of Islam. Many people hear the word Islam or Muslim and their minds are taken immediately to images of 9/11 or some other moment of violence or terrorism. However, my experience with Muslim people in Togo is that they are some of the most peaceful, gentle and genuine people I have met here. Adam is no exception. Over the past six years as our relationship has slowly deepened into a friendship my heart has continually been touched by God concerning Adam's lost state. I can relate it to the technique so many people use when trying to decide whether or not to make a big money purchase. The desire enters your heart and then you sit on it for a while. If the desire continues to come into your mind over the course of several weeks or months, then perhaps you should pursue making the purchase. Well, God's continually putting Adam on my heart was a sign to me that I needed to speak the truth of God's love to him. And so I have waited and waited for the right moment. Yesterday, both Adam and I were doing work to prepare our guestrooms for our Tabligbo friends who will be coming at the end of the week. Of course Adam was doing the electrical work and I was putting together bed frames. As I stood there cleaning the bed frames, I very suddenly felt deeply compelled to speak to Adam about Jesus. I can only explain that deep compulsion to speak as a direct leading by the Spirit of God. I believe it was so because of the openness of Adam's heart to stand there near to me and openly discuss his faith and my faith. 2 Corinthians 5:14 came to my mind where it says that Christ's love controls us or compels us. Adam has never experienced or understood the love of Christ as I have and that very love compelled my heart and mind to act and to speak truth. In our conversation, Adam related to me how other missionaries had spoken to him as well and I told him that God was clearly pursuing him and wanted him as His own. That comment drew a look of surprise and interest and our conversation ended with an agreement to continue talking and maybe even sitting down to take a look into God's Word. I love Adam and have a great burden on my heart for his eternal salvation. I desire for him to know and experience the sweet and refreshing relationship with God that is available to him right now. I am sharing this story with you because I need you to share this burden with me and allow that burden to take you to your knees in the presence of God in prayer for Adam. I hope to continue updating you on my relationship with Adam and more importantly his relationship with God. And one day my prayer is that I can share with you the story of how Adam accepted Jesus as his Savior and how he has entered into a wonderful relationship with his God.