Why I Went To Africa
By Todd Taylor
First let me tell you why I almost decided not to go to Africa. I had never traveled out of the United States, not even to Mexico or Canada. I did not have a passport. I had just returned from two weeks of vacation, I could not take more time off from work this summer … I did not have extra money to pay for a ticket and travel to another country. I did not have all my shots and vaccinations. And besides, I had been hunting with Bill (Rev. William Smith) before and got hypothermia and almost died. Did I really want to travel with him halfway around the world to Africa? And the departure date was only six weeks away!
Later that week, I was at church and the guest speaker was Missionary Bob Adams, who spoke about his experiences in Cuba and how he wished to have what these people had, “A pure desire for God even when they had little else in this world.” As I prayed after the service, I asked God to tell me if I should go to Africa. In my heart there was a definite ‘Yes’ That was it; there was no more ‘IF’ … I was going to AFRICA! “God does not ask about our ability or our inability but about our availability!” Remember, God can tell you to go, but you must still decide to go! My wife Janelle had a witness in her spirit that this was God’s plan for me and fully supported my decision to go to Africa.
Once I decided to go, many things happened that showed me that God had prepared the way for me. I could not find my birth certificate, and neither could my Mother. But after prayer and a second look, she found it. I was able to get my passport in just ten days! Time off from work at Hewlett-Packard was another miracle. It worked out such that the time off I needed to go to Africa was exactly between my co-workers already scheduled vacations! Thank you Lord!
Just before leaving, during my furious preparations and packing, I received a call from a good missionary friend, Dave Hall. He gave me several pieces of good advice for traveling. One of the best was an African proverb that he shared in reference to not being able to get everything done and situated before I left. “A moving cow doesn’t leave neat chips!” In other words, if you are going somewhere, not everything is going to be perfect.
My eyes and heart were opened to new places and experiences. But most of all, to new people! After just a short time I felt like I had known these dear brothers and sisters in Christ all my life! I went to Africa to be part of fulfilling the ‘Great Commission’; to go and preach the Gospel in all the world. God gave me the opportunity to be part of that and to bring back pictures and video to share with the rest of the world. I encourage you to be available when God calls and remember that HE will meet you more than half way!
In His Service – Todd H. Taylor