Prowling Leopards and Questions about Faith
Ahvey and your missionary became fast friends. It wasn't long before Ahvey started asking questions about the Bible.
“Are you a Christian?”
Ahvey asked your Resonate missionary Matt this question one night while patrolling the neighborhood for leopards.
Less than a year ago, you helped make it possible to send Matt and his family to this country in South Asia where most people practice Hinduism. There are very few Christians in this country, but as a missionary, Matt is working with local churches to spread the gospel. He’s been working hard to learn the language and build relationships.
One relationship has become particularly meaningful—his friendship with Ahvey, a security guard at the housing complex where Matt and his family live.
“Ahvey is special among the gate guards,” said Matt. “His respect for people and his positive attitude made him a favorite of our entire housing complex.”
Matt started a conversation with Ahvey because he needed some help with the local language. They became fast friends, and it wasn’t long before Ahvey invited Matt with him on his nightly patrols.
“During these times, we talked,” said Matt. “We talked language. We talked family. We talked about the new knife he started carrying because leopards were prowling at night. Discussions about work and government led to discussions about justice and the Bible.”
He wondered if I would be able to answer questions from his New Testament reading. He says there’s a lot in the book about the man named Jesus that he doesn’t understand.
Ahvey is a hard worker, but he wasn’t making enough money on his twelve-hour shifts as a guard to make ends meet. He asked his boss for a raise, but when his boss said no, Ahvey had no other option but to quit his job, leave his wife with his extended family, and move to Romania for work. He hopes to return after a couple of years so he and his wife can finally start a family.
Ahvey’s nightly walks with Matt are over—but your missionary is walking with Ahvey in a different way.
They’re keeping up with one another through instant messages and video calls.
“He wondered if I would be able to answer questions from his New Testament reading. He says there’s a lot in the book about the man named Jesus that he doesn’t understand,” said Matt.
We don’t yet know what God has in store for Ahvey, but your gifts and prayers are an easy way that you can continue to make an impact on his life and the lives of so many others.
Will you give today and help us stay in step with Ahvey as he starts a new life in a new country? And please pray for him as he keeps reading his Bible and corresponding with Matt back home. Pray that Ahvey will come to experience the transforming love of Jesus!