ONE PASSIONATE HEART FOR MISSIONS

D a v i d   P a m   McQuel

The call came early June 2010.
"Hello"
"Hi" I replied.

"My name is Daniel Dafam, a staff of Youth With A Mission(YWAM) Kaduna Base"

"Ok" I echoed.

"What can I do for you" I chipped in.

He continued on how he got my number through an old colleague and went on to explain that they needed a place for practicals for the DTS students of 2010, first batch. And they were told that our mission field is the perfect place.

"What will be our responsibility? " I was a bit anxious, we are young mission field.

" Non." Daniel replied. "Just give our students room to put to practice what they learned. But if the church feels led to help in anyway, it will be well appreciated."

A few days later I told him that we have decided to get an accommodation for the 14 students coming and they will take care of their feeding and transportation.

The deal was done, th Base in Kaduna was working on their passports and in about two weeks, they'd be on their way.

We stayed in touch until then. The church has never undertaken such a responsibility. There was anxiety but their was great anticipation too. 

We got a 5 bedroom bungalow that has been vacant for two years and rented it for just three months. The Fertile Soil Church only had enough funds to pay for the accommodation.

As was my practice, I stayed away from tasking the church members and hated demanding money. It wasn't completely right but integrity and character were more important to me.

Just days before the student missionaries arrived, I got a call from brother Emmanuel, an elderly fellow in church.

"Pastor, good afternoon"
"Good afternoon sir" I replied.
"Where is the key to the missionaries' accommodation?

I sent the key over.
Later that evening I got there and got the biggest shock of my 6 years of missionary work in Ghana.
Brother Emmanuel had on his own, I believe led by God spent a lot to prepare for the arrival of the missionaries.

We were expecting 14 missionaries.
Here are a list of what he bought :
1. 14 high density mattresses

2. Two gas cookers and their cylinders
3. Two dining tables

4. Two fridges

5. A television

6. A video player

7. An iron

8. Cartons of frozen chickens

9. Cartons of liquid milk

10. Cartons of fish

11. Cartons of beef

12. Two 50k-bags of rice

13. Cartons of concentrated tomatoes

14. 14 tea cups

15. Buckets

16. Enough cutlery for all

17. Filled à 200 litres of water

18. Detergents

I was dumbfounded. I lacked words to express my emotions. I have never seen such a passion and commitment to missions in my entire 15 years on the mission field. I was now a student learning about the Father's.

In just one week of their arrival, God took absolute charge of their stay. They and us were speechless.

After a week, he told me to not bother about their welfare anymore. That his family will take care of them.

Truly, for the next eight weeks, his wife will visit the missionaries after every two days, go through their kitchen store to see what needed stocking.

One morning brother Emmanuel walked into his kitchen for a cup of tea, when he heard a voice said to him, "Emmanuel, kneel down now!"

According to him, for the next 30 minutes God told him these missionaries He sent should be his responsibility. He is to care for them and cheerfully without complaints. He should see to their comfort and make it easier for them to serve Him. 

Brother told me this long after the missionaries were gone.

And miraculously, for those 30 minutes his wife and kids somehow stayed in their rooms until the message was well delivered.

Sister Joyce, brother Emmanue's wife took the ladies to a hairdressing salon and signed a deal that for the nine weeks of their stay, the ladies will come for weekly hairdo.

There were also tourists visits, trips to the beach and others all expenses paid.

These young missionaries totally devoted their time and strength to witnessing Jesus and reaching Ghanaian youths. Neither they nor we had any reason to worry about.

During thier final week, Brother Emmanuel bought an expensive renown Ghanaian fabric call Kente, and made beautiful dresses for the last Sunday worship.

And lastly, on the Monday of their departure, it was all tears as he paid off the bus driver that transported them to Lagos.

At the end of the 9 weeks, I have learned more about God's work than ever. It is extraordinary what a passionate heart can do for missions. God's work can go really when Christians learn to hear God's voice about missions.

About nine months ago brother Emmanuel went home to Jesus. He is receiving his reward from the LORD.