When we hugged her she said she felt like God Himself was hugging her.

This is a short testimony by a visiting sister in Christ who recently served with Gospel For Africa on a short term mission trip to Côte d’Ivoire.

She begins her testimony with, “I knew very little about where I was headed and usually that is an uncomfortable place for me. Everything was unknown to me, the language, the food, the people, the land. But somehow the Lord got me to a place of surrender where I felt like “ok Lord, You’re gonna have to guide me and fill me because I have no clue where I’m going or what I’m supposed to do. I got nothing to offer here.” And He did just that.

My second day in Côte d’Ivoire we went door to door evangelizing. I met these two young women. One was pregnant and seemed open to hearing us but the other girl wouldn’t really look at us and didn’t seem as engaged as her friend. As soon as I saw the pregnant girl, I knew the Holy Spirit wanted me to share my testimony with her when I was pregnant with my first child. It was in that moment that I opened my mouth that I knew God was filling it with His words.

Sitting here with these two beautiful African girls and sharing my testimony with them felt like God was up to something. His spirit was moving. After I finished sharing my testimony, the girl who didn’t seem interested actually said she could relate to what I had been feeling in my testimony. Someone suggested we pray for the Holy Spirit to touch them.

I walked over to them and prayed over them. Afterwards the pregnant girl said she felt like a fire in her chest. I was standing next to her friend and I asked if I could give her a hug. I knew as soon as said those words, the Lord was prompting it. After I hugged her she said she felt like God Himself was hugging her. Wow! I felt that too!

Every time I would ask the Lord why I was even going on this trip that’s all I heard was “love.” And this moment confirmed it for me. He loves these girls so much. What a blessing for me to actually be used by the Lord, if you’re willing to just empty yourself, He will fill you.

The entire trip was full of these moments where I witnessed the power of God moving to change people, to soften and heal hearts. We all encountered God during this trip. I will hold on to these moments in my heart and when I’m tempted to doubt or get discouraged I will remember how He showed up and we got to see His glory in Côte d’Ivoire.

God Bless You All!