By Phil & Carol

It was Christmas day, and our plan to share the Gospel in this remote area had come to fruition. We were following tire tracks through sandy, windswept country, heading towards a distant cement well. We could sense the growing anticipation as Kandi, Hakeem’s* wife, approached the time of reunion with close family members she hadn’t seen for four years. We had slept overnight at the camp of Hakeem’s aged parents, and now had only an hour’s journey left.

We recalled how, years ago, when Hakeem was 19 and studying as a Muslim disciple in our village, he had decided to become a ‘follower of Jesus.’ His family had strongly opposed and rejected him. Now, years later, we were praying that their hearts might be more open.

Topping another dune, we came to a small settlement of grass huts. We stopped and greeted the men who approached us. Adebayo*, a Muslim cleric, invited us over to one of the huts to see his work. Imagine our surprise when, ducking our heads to enter, we found his woven grass hut set up as a 'boutique,' with garments, swathes of fabric, and a treadle sewing machine in pride of place on the sandy floor.

This man, we discovered, was a tailor, a man of initiative, serving a large area. With a broad grin, he asked us to take his photo, seated at his machine. Phil engaged him in a conversation about the ‘good news’ which God has sent us to share with people. He listened attentively. Phil enquired if he would be interested in having a cassette and a Matthew's Gospel (Linjila) in the Arabic script. Adebayo eagerly accepted these. Some relatives from further away, who were visiting him that day, also asked for a cassette to take to their homes. We left them, praying that God would break down the barriers which blinded them, and convince them of the truth.

Some weeks later, we were back visiting at Hakeem’s place. His wife still hadn’t come home (after six weeks) and Hakeem was wondering how much longer she would remain with her family, so far from where he lives now. He told us that after we had returned him to his home, he reported to his extended family living in the vicinity. His cousin Maman*, who strongly and angrily rejected the Gospel, told him of a troubling dream he’d had the night before. He had dreamed that Phil had given a book to the tailor.

“Yes,” Hakeem told him, “That did happen.”

“What?” Maman exclaimed in disbelief. “Adebayo would never take a Christian’s book. He must have forced him.”

“No,” said Hakeem, “He said he would like to have it.”

“I cannot believe it,” Maman muttered.

Isaiah 65:1-2 says, “And God said, 'I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. ... I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people....'”

As he recalled the incident, Hakeem laughed delightedly. Isn’t the God we worship the God of the impossible? Doesn’t He work in mysterious ways?

In subsequent years, Maman became very open to the Gospel, owning both a MegaVoice and Matthew’s Gospel. The tailor has since died, and we understand that he died as a believer.

*Names changed for security purposes