The wail

"Someone just died," B said as he came into the house after class. Of course my immediate sarcastic response was "What you're psychic now?"

But as I stepped outside I could hear wailing, the intense cry when someone dies. There is no other way to describe it. It is a wail. Deep pain, sorrow, tears and sobbing all coming out in a single sound. It's intense, surreal and heart-wrenching. A lady came out of a compound literally 20 yards away. She was being held up by another lady as her body was racked with sobs. They walked down to the corner, both wailing.

B and I immediately got dressed and went with a friend to greet and pray for the family. As soon as we walked in and heard the wailing we both started crying. Crying for the deceased woman and her family that we didn't know. Crying because this family was in such visible pain. Crying because we knew where this woman would spend eternity. Crying because we never knew her, never shared Christ with her. Crying because we'd never have the chance.

We sat and prayed for the family. I hugged and held hands with some of the ladies as they sobbed. I didn't stop crying until I got home.

This brings a new sense of urgency to why I'm here. We hear all the time that there are people dying every second without ever hearing or knowing Christ, but that's never really really really impacted me. Not like this. Now I've seen it, seen the pain that is caused from losing someone and not knowing where they will go. I feel a greater pressure to know the language better, so much better so that I can share Christ every chance I get. To not worry so much about cultural norms and boundaries and boldly share Him who brought me here. To not let another person who lives near me die without hearing about who Jesus Christ is. Please pray with me for these families..for the families who do not yet know Jesus...for the families who I will tell...and for the families I might not get a chance to tell, that somehow they will hear it and believe.