Shanksteps #94
How strong are your beliefs and what are you willing to give up to keep them? A young man came by the house today. And is often the case I first think who is it? If it is someone I don’t recognize I think what do they want. Often its to ask for something. Seeing someone who I didn’t know I asked what they needed. His was a request.
He is in University a full days travel away. He was brought up in a family of animists. While he was young his father didn’t take care of his family or make sure they could go to school. Everyone was for themselves. He made it to high school with the help of other family members. In grade school his father decided to become a Christian and got rid of his extra wives and their children. (Doesn’t seem entirely Christ-like to me) So since that time he has essentially had no father. A few years
ago a Peace Corps worker was here and he helped her a lot and she subsequently helped him get a small plot of land to have a house here in Koza. She has also helped him with part of the schooling for going to University. He has strong beliefs. He is a Seventh-day Adventist. Since he takes his beliefs seriously he has chosen not to go to classes or tests on Saturday, but preserves it as a day holy to God. His first year in University he was able to pass ten out of twelve credits. The two he
failed because he failed to attend the final tests which were on Saturday. The school advanced 160 students of the 400 of the first year. He was also advanced. Now in the second year he is nearing the end and has found out that five of his 13 credits are testing on the Sabbath. So he feels he will not pass this year. When I asked him how many others are in the same situation he said one other. He said most other Christians trample their beliefs while at school, whether it be Sabbath observance
for Adventists, or sexual promiscuity for others, or alcoholism for still others. Sounds similar to many Christians in the US Universities doesn’t it?
He came to see if there was any way I could help him go to a Christian school that did not require activities on Saturday. He said this school generally costs 1.2 million CFA ($2800) to attend per year. 750,000 for tuition, and the rest for rent, food and other living expenses. He thinks he can do it for 1 million CFA. He gets 400000CFA help from his friend, could get 100000 from a younger brother and is asking for help of 250000 a year for three years. This would cover his tuition. He will
work locally to cover lodging and living expenses. All of this to keep his beliefs. How strong are your beliefs? Are you willing to give up critical things in your life for your beliefs.
I hope this story encourages you in your beliefs that those who are following God need to always be firm in the time of temptation to fall to the easy way or to rationalize away your conscious. If any of you are interested in helping a young man please let me know.
In His Service, Greg