Because you pray for us

One of the believers here in Diouloulou is married. Since he became a Christian around three years ago his wife has been incredibly hostile to his faith. Because he left Islam to follow Jesus, she has at times refused to cook for him and to do his laundry; things that are scandalous in this culture. But to make things worse, on several occasions she has gone to the imam (the local Islamic leader) and asked him to come and talk to her husband about his new faith. She has also freely shared her disdain for her husband's Christianity with everyone in their part of the village.

It goes without saying that this has been hard for our brother to bear.

Up until this time we have had virtually no relationship with his wife. He told us that he wants to invite us over to his home, but his wife would not cook for us. The few times we have ventured to his house she has left soon after we arrived. But we occasionally see her in the market or in the village and we always stop and ask about her and her family before she leaves. She has always been cordial, yet cold.

A few weeks ago our family began to regularly go over to our brother's house and pray for his mother who lives with him who has been sick. As usual, his wife would leave soon after our arrival and we would be sure not to overstay our welcome, but to talk for a few moments, pray, and then leave.

And our visits to our brother's house also caused us to pray more fervently for his wife.

This last Sunday, as our brother was spending some time with us, I went out on a limb and asked him if he would consider inviting his wife to come over with him one day for a meal. No strings attached, just a time to get to know her. He grinned and said that he would think about it and we responded that we would pray that God would give him wisdom in how to handle our invitation. To be honest, we were not sure that he would even ask her as anything associated with his Christianity is a topic that is usually off-limits with his wife.

However, this morning I received a call from our brother and, much to my surprise, he said that he had given the invitation to his wife and she planned to come over. Today. At 3:00. Alone, without her husband. So of course we began to pray.

Gayle prepared a nice, simple meal and at 3:30 our brother's wife arrived. She was carrying her eight-month old daughter and she sat with us in the shade. Over the next hour-and-a-half we talked, ate, played with the baby, and enjoyed each other's company. We did not share the Gospel with her, nor did we start a Bible study or give her a Bible, but we did begin to show her the love of Christ as we served her and shared with her that we pray often for her and her family. As they say here in Senegal, "Little by little the bird makes his nest."

We believe that God opens up relationships like this one, and many, many others that once seemed closed, because you pray for us. Hearts soften and walls break down because of the moving of God and God chooses to move in response to the faithful prayers of His people.

So thank you for praying for us and please pray for our brother and his wife and family. And praise God, the ultimate bridge builder, for doing yet again what in our eyes seemed impossible.