Through my passenger window, I can see green palms dot the road, sunken into the reddish-brown soil. Intermixed amongst them, the beautiful jacaranda tree branches are heavily weighted down in full violet bloom. Their petals fall to the ground, making the streets look like a royal carriageway. Feeling hot, I crack my window and take in the smell of fresh diesel fumes mixed with the earthy African soil. It is strange calling diesel “fresh,” I know, but it is a smell my family and I have come to love. Diesel and soil mixed together in an earthy concoction provides a fragrant reminder of Africa as our home. I am enjoying the view and a break from driving in the ‘Nairobi jam’, as my Uber driver navigates the way. My route is taking me into the city to renew my driving license. I spy with my little eye out my window, a lady strolling confidently along the sidewalk with a huge basket of mini yellow bananas on her head. I wonder where she is going and marvel at her balancing skill that she makes look so easy. “How long would it take for me to learn to do that…could I even do that?” I ponder to myself.
The idea of atheism or agnosticism seems foolish to the African mindset.
I ask my driver where he lives and about his family. Family is everything here in Kenya and makes for lively conversation. Everyone enjoys talking about their family, just as much as I enjoy talking about mine. He tells me about his kids, and I inquire about their schools reopening after the 9-month closure for the pandemic. I ask him if he goes to church. I am not surprised that he responds that he does. Being non-religious is extremely rare here, people usually claim an association to a church, mosque or temple. The idea of atheism or agnosticism seems foolish to the African mindset. People here look around and acknowledge what is plain before their eyes, “Someone must have created what we see,” they say to themselves.
Congruently, it is very easy to talk about God, people are interested in talking about spiritual things as it seems natural to do so. This is perhaps opposite to Western culture where many might feel offended if you asked about God in their lives. I have prayed for our conversation, as I usually do before entering my Uber. I am hopeful to share about Jesus.
I have prayed for our conversation, as I usually do before entering my Uber.
I have found that sharing my testimony about what Christ has done for me personally is the easiest way for me to share about Christ.
I have found that sharing my testimony about what Christ has done for me personally is the easiest way for me to share about Christ. I start by telling of how I was raised in the church and was exceedingly active in the church as a youth and young adult. I relate how each Sunday I attended church and was passionate about the Lord and even attended a mid-week Bible study, but the rest of the time I was living for myself, no matter the harm it might bring to me or others. I was living a double life. I was not following the teachings of Jesus, but instead, living my life as I pleased with the hope that attending church would somehow earn my salvation.
Then one day, in the solitude of my college apartment, the Holy Spirit spoke to me in the quietness of my despair, saying, “Either you are going to follow Jesus or not, but you can’t go on pretending. You need to make a choice if you are going to serve Me or not.” In deep repentance and brokenness, with tears flowing down my cheeks, I called upon Jesus to save me. I told the Lord that day in 1992 that I would serve Him no matter what. I can now look back on that day as a clear fork in the road of my life. From that moment on, I wanted to serve the Lord with every part of my life. I was no longer comfortable with my sin. Yes, I would still sin, but now my attitude toward it was completely different. I would repent of my sin as it emerged in my life and turn away from it, seeking now to be obedient to my Savior. Following Christ’s teachings and total surrender to Him became my hope, my desire, my joy.
In deep repentance and brokenness, with tears flowing down my cheeks, I called upon Jesus to save me.
I urge my Uber driver, reminding him that attending church is not what counts (although Christ calls us to do so), what Christ requires from us is love and obedience (and trust in what He did for us on the Cross). He requires total allegiance. Following His teachings as we walk in love with our Savior is what He requires of us.
My driver listens attentively and reacts in agreement. We talk about how many people attend church, but aren’t really living a life of transformation in Christ and how this has affected society. As we talk, I wonder what he is thinking. It is hard for me to gauge his thoughts even though he remains talkative and receptive. Eventually our conversation turns from spiritual matters to something else. I hope I have been an encouragement to him. I pray silently to myself that our conversation would be used by the Holy Spirit as needed in his life.
We arrive outside the licensing office and I thank my Uber driver for getting me here safely. Our paths in life have crossed for only an hour, but it has been an important hour, one that will be used by God in both of our lives.
I look forward to the next hour God will give me in talking with someone. May I use it wisely for your Kingdom, dear Father!
~Dan
The Halvorson Family in Africa 