Finding Child-Like Faith In Africa

By Warren and Christina Oberst HWCM Missionaries to Tanzania

Greetings and many blessings from East Africa. We have now been in Tanzania for two months. We successfully completed language school, and have moved into our new home in the town of Moshi, not far from the orphanage. We are adjusting well to our new surroundings, as well as establishing new relationships. Of these, most precious are our new and growing relationships with the children of TOA. They are all so beautiful, and they each have their own special way of filling our hearts with love and joy. We have both been especially moved by the children’s devotion and their faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. It brings tears to our eyes to watch them pray, worship and speak of who Jesus is to them. One little boy in particular who has really touched our hearts is 6 year old Antoni. I have seen pictures of Antoni’s first arrival at TOA and the transformation is amazing.

Antoni is currently diagnosed as having HIV, and he was very sick when God first brought him to the Children’s Home. The love and care he has received here has made such a difference in Antoni’s life. One would not even be able to tell he is sick now, apart from his regular visits with our nurse, Jodie, to the hospital and HIV clinic. One day I rode with the children in the TOA van to the hospital for a checkup, and the whole way there, Antoni kept saying over and over, “THE NAME OF JESUS, THE NAME OF JESUS, THE NAME OF JESUS”. I was moved to tears as I saw his faith and confidence in the Name that is above every name, Jesus Christ. He was declaring the Lord’s name over the name of every sickness he was going to the hospital to be examined for. I have no real words to describe how I felt watching this child, so full of faith, only that it touched me deep inside, and I will never forget it.

We were told by the staff that Antoni has said repeatedly that he knows that Jesus has healed him. There were a few days this past month when the children did not have school due to holidays and they joined the staff in morning prayers and devotions. I could not help but watch little Antoni worship and pray with such a tender yet powerful zeal. All we know, is that we have much to learn from the children here about faith, trust, devotion, love, and of the Kingdom of Heaven. We are moved by the simplicity of the children’s relationship with the Lord, and God has used them to place a greater desire in us to once again become like little children in our relationship with Him. They do not make things complicated, they simply rest in who He is.

I found it very timely that just as I was preparing to write this, that a friend of mine sent an article that included this quote by A. W. Tozer, from his book, The Pursuit of God. It reads: “The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart.”

I came here to Africa to pray for these children and to have faith for them, and instead I have found a vibrant faith present in them that is teaching me how to pray from a place of confidence, expectancy, and hope. We are blessed to be able to come along side the faith of these children and stand in agreement with them for what they already know is true, Jesus Christ is their Healer and their Source.