On a steaming hot summer day, *Alida* sits under the Mango tree in Shinganga village. Aged 35, mother of three, grandmother of one - her heart aches, because her husband wants to bring another woman into the house. *Alida* lost her father at 8 and her mother at 13. She had to leave school at Gr. 5, because there was no sponsor for school fees. What was a girl to do? So she married very young and became a mother.
Together with her sister she rests her head against the tree. They dream of a better life. They believe there is a God, and they know He has a Son. Yet they explain, “If I somehow fall short on the 10 commandments, I will surely burn”. This brings little hope.
On this hot holiday, six sweaty foreigners – who missed the turn off on their planned journey – walk to the shade of the same tree. The greeting was hearty as they explained their 8 month journey through Africa. Grandfather also came to sit down with his homemade beer and cigarette. Small talk turned to shallow, but honest, prayer and an awkward silence followed.
Some of these foreigners went on to explore the village. The men under the tree left for the tavern in the next village. * Alida* shared about their church service the previous day and a rather gloomy discussion on the 10 commandments followed. They were left in a predicament: God is holy and expects holiness, yet she is not able to reach that standard of living. They pondered in a pregnant silence.
Suddenly the foreigners began to smile as they offered a solution: God had made a plan. With great joy they shared of God’s Son who became the perfect sacrifice – offering atonement for their sins. It was indeed possible to know where she would spend eternity, if she believed that this Jesus had truly died for her sin and had risen, conquering death and followed Him with her whole life.
*Alida*’s whole face lit up as she digested this truth. There is hope, there is life.
With new found confidence, *Alida*’s sister asked about the visitation of the dead and if they can change the fate of the dead, as is suggested by her church. The foreigners took their Bible’s with hesitation as this is not an easy subject. By His faithfulness the Holy Spirit led them to the scriptures explaining the truth about this. After the ladies were convinced that no person can cross over from hell to heaven, having seen this in the scripture, *Alida* and her sister concluded that if these answers are found in the Bible, then surely the answers to other questions must also be found in the Bible.
These six foreigners once again prayed with them, and promised to connect them with like minded people. Then these foreigners continued on their journey, leaving a new found truth and the explanation of salvation behind. May God lead the rest of *Alida*’s journey of faith.
*Names have been changed in the interest of confidentiality*
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