Learning to follow the Holy Spirit's Leading...

Flexible

by Alice F. Smith

After completing my first term of missionary service at Doropo, Côte d’lvoire, and finishing a year of stateside assignment (called furlough back then), I was ready to begin my second term in 1982. Arilla Wode and I had been asked to join Norman and Bessie Richards in a church-planting effort in Agnibilekrou.

During that first year, I enjoyed visiting and getting acquainted with each of the families in the small congregation. Though I loved each family, I was especially fond of Christophe and Yiri Palenfo, a young Lobi couple. Christophe worked at the local sawmill, and Yiri enjoyed being a housewife and mother to their two children, a little girl named Clémence and a baby boy named Marcellin. In later years, two more boys—Raymond and Michael—were added to the family.

One morning I was busy taking care of household duties, hoping to find time to work on correspondence before lunch. I also needed to review my lesson for an afternoon ladies’ Bible study. Around mid-morning however, I began to feel impressed to go see Yiri—that she needed for me to come. I tried to ignore this, telling myself I had too much to do. I’d wait to see Yiri at the afternoon Bible study. Still, the feeling persisted, getting stronger by the minute. So, I put everything aside, locked the doors, and went to my car. During the five-minute trip to Yiri’s house, I reminded myself of the important lesson already learned at Doropo: missionaries must be flexible with daily programs and schedules.

When I arrived near the Palenfo house, I parked the car and began the five-minute walk down the dirt path leading to their house. Yiri had evidently been watching for me and began running toward me. She was crying and said, “Oh Alice, I’m so glad you’ve come. I’ve been asking the Lord to send you! Marcellin is so sick; he’s having convulsions, and I don’t have a way to get him to the hospital.”

We ran to the house. Marcellin was burning up with fever. I instructed Yiri to put a wet towel on him to help cool his body. Then we grabbed up Marcellin and little Clémence, and raced to the car. We arrived at the hospital just when the convulsions began again. Thanks to my white skin, we were admitted quickly, and Marcellin began to receive an intravenous treatment for malaria immediately. We prayed and, thanks to the good Lord, Marcellin’s little body responded to the medications. He was released from the hospital the following morning.

In the months to come, it became evident the extremely high fever caused no brain damage. Sadly, both Christophe and Yiri died at a young age in 1996: Christophe from a stroke and Yiri from a “gynecological disorder.” If only they could see Marcellin today, I’m sure they would be proud of him. He is a handsome young man, gifted in music, and doing well in his pursuit of a higher education.

Marcellin could have died before reaching his first birthday celebration. It happens every day in Africa, especially to little ones whose temperatures get so high that convulsions begin. Thankfully, Marcellin’s mother had become a Christian and knew how to pray. She asked the Lord to send help and, though it took awhile for me to listen, the Holy Spirit convinced His missionary servant to go and help. Believe me, since that day, this is one missionary lady who doesn’t tarry when impressed by the Holy Spirit to say or do something!

How wonderful is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I’m thankful He bears witness with my spirit, and I am God’s child (Romans 8:16). He also convicts me of sin, enabled me to understand, believe, and receive Christ as my personal Savior. He comforts and encourages me; He indwells me; He empowers me to witness; He helps me understand God’s Word. He prompts me to worship God; and, as He did that day at Agnibilekrou, He guides me. I can look back over the many years I’ve known the Lord and be thankful for the beautiful—though sometimes strange—pathway along which the sweet Holy Spirit of God has directed my steps.

About the Writer: Alice Smith served in Côte d’Ivoire for more than 30 years. She saw the difficult, hard-packed ground become a ripe harvest field. Alice resigned in 2011 to care for her ill mother in West Virginia. Mrs. Smith has joined her Savior, and Alice actively promotes missions in her home state. Visit www.fwbgo.com.