God Is Alive in Us
God is moving in the hearts of people all around the world. I saw this firsthand while leading a mission team to Sierra Leone, Africa, serving alongside our global partner, Osman Kamara.
Having grown up in Sierra Leone, Osman is a wonderful example of how missions work can impact someone’s life. As a child, a missionary from North Carolina visited his village to teach the Bible and share the good news of Christ. Osman’s moments with the missionary made a lasting impression on his life. He continues the mission to reach his nation through hope, help, and healing.
Our team had the opportunity to stay in the village of Maforay, near the city of Makeni. Osman and his team spend most of their time in this village, and it was the focal point of our trip. We served with teachers and staff at the newly constructed Christian school in the village, we visited women’s clinics to hand out items for mothers and their babies, and we even traveled to nearby villages to support Osman’s team as they shared the gospel by showing a film about Jesus’ ministry (translated into the local language for each village).
A very special moment happened on the Sunday of our trip when we visited the local church. Worship was in full swing by the time we arrived, and they had saved seats for us in the front row, so we made our way through the crowd of worshipers and immediately joined in with the singing. Osman took the liberty of introducing the team and invited each of us to stand up and share a brief testimony or encouragement. Now, sharing in front of a crowd like that is a little outside my comfort zone. However, Osman has a way of making you feel prepared for just about anything. After we shared, Osman brought a message for the church. Looking around the room, you could tell that the congregation was hungry for the Word of the Lord.
Osman closed the message and urged people to cry out to Jesus, thanking Him for what He is doing in their lives and in the community. Just then, a woman in the back of the church began screaming and yelling uncontrollably. It grabbed my attention and the attention of several others. At first, I wasn’t sure what was happening to her, but it became clear that she was having an internal spiritual battle. Osman called for two people to help her come forward so we could pray over her. As they helped her to the front, she fell to her knees beside me. Honestly, I felt nervous and perplexed at this moment – I had never experienced something like this before. Still, I placed my hand on her shoulder as Osman prayed over her. At that moment, I felt a surge of energy shoot down my arm, through my hand, and into her. Right then, the woman stopped yelling, her breathing steadied, and a tangible presence of peace washed over her. I was in shock, thinking, Was that really what I thought it was? Could that have been a move of the Holy Spirit?
The woman stood up and thanked Osman while heading back to her seat. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to speak with her about what she had experienced, but I am convinced that God met her in that moment. He also revealed Himself to me through His Holy Spirit, reminding me that He is alive in us and working through us. I will cherish that moment for years to come, and I pray that I experience more of that in my life.
I am so grateful for our team and the people we had the privilege of meeting during our trip. It was a blessing to come alongside Osman and help serve the community in Sierra Leone. I will continue to pray for Osman, his ministry, and the amazing people he interacts with. May the message of Jesus permeate every corner of Sierra Leone.
