Every missionary eagerly awaits their first opportunity to lead someone to the Lord in their language.  It’s the reason we’re here—to share Christ.

On Tuesday evening, the 29th of May, we got our opportunity.  Four people from our church and Douninoma came over to our house to discuss salvation.  One of the ladies had made a profession in the past, but was having some doubts.  She brought her husband and sisters to come to our house and discuss it.  That evening was pretty interesting as Mike asked questions with the help of Douninoma translating into Moore and discussed from the Bible what salvation is and what it isn’t.  When he asked them what salvation was, they responded that it was following the commandments of God—the mentality that if you are a good person and do what God says in the Bible, you can go to heaven.  He discussed a little more, showing more verses.  He then asked the same question.  Again, there was confusion as they tried to mix faith with good works.  This went on for some time—each time he took them back to the Bible.  At the end of his explanations, he left the room, and the group of people that had been quiet the entire evening started going off a mile a minute in Moore.  Douninoma continued to explain what had already been said, but now they felt more comfortable to talk and ask questions.

When Mike returned to the room, Awa, one of the sisters, told Mike she was ready to pray.  She now understood that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ—not by any type of good work.  Her prayer was so simple, in Moore, but so beautiful.  Douninoma translated her prayer into French for us to understand.  Mike and I both had tears in our eyes when she finished.  Her younger sister, Miriam, then took her turn to pray.  When she finished, she too had tears in her eyes.  It was a beautiful evening.  Assitu, the young lady that had already made a profession of faith, gained assurance of her salvation that evening.

Mike Hillhouse, Burkina Faso