Today we will travel to a country of the African
continent, Angola, and see all the challenges that Adriana lived!
"My name is Adriana Augusta Costa, I will talk
about my experiences in Angola.
I always had the dream of going to Africa, whenever I
saw those meetings on video tape with Bishop Gonçalves, the church full of
people, many manifesting with demons and at the time there were not many
pastors or assistants. He had to stop the prayer to cast the demons away,
that's when it was born in me this dream of serving God in Africa.
After a few years I met my husband, he was a member of
the church, then raised as an assistant. Soon after we started dating, he was
sent to Espírito Santo (Brazil) to do the work of God. We stayed in the faith,
until one day my phone rings ... It was him saying that he was at a pastors
meeting where Bishop Romualdo had just interviewed him so that we would get
married and go to Angola. It was then that began the joys and despairs, lol. I
was speechless, I could not move, in a mix of joy and fear as well.
I was about to face challenges and overcome my own
feelings of fear.
Starting with my mother, who always worked to provide
for my brother and I, we were always together in everything. The pain of
separation was hard, knowing I would not see my mother any time soon.
But I always envisioned my dream and the desire to
serve God in Africa required my sacrifice, and I had to sacrifice. I got
married and went to Angola.
The civil war had just finished when I got there, but
we still had to be very careful, we could not walk alone, we had to be
accompanied by other wives at all times.
And so the challenges began, concerning marriage,
because I just got married and a week later I went to Angola; adapting to the
country and the culture of the people in the church.
For starters, there were in total of 16 people living
together and only one kitchen for all of us to share.
Shopping for groceries was difficult because we did
not have a car so we could get around easily, and there were no taxis either.
They were not like the supermarkets in Brazil, it was an old and broken store,
we were afraid to buy. But as the beef and the chicken came from Brazil we felt
safe to eat. We, wives of pastors, used to buy everything in boxes (chicken and
beef) and we shared it between ourselves).
And that's when I had to start fending for myself,
that is, stop depending on my mom and dad and put my hands to good work. In
addition, we had to get the condongas (public transport) like everybody else,
the smell and the loud music blasting our ears. There were times I had to carry
the chicken boxes on my head and bring it home lol... I done it plenty times,
actually lol ...
Thoughts came, you don’t need this, because my mother
used to go shopping by car.
Whenever well run out of water, we had to go buy water
from a truck in order to take a bath or had to fetch water from the well of the
church, which was not close to home. We had to clean the well where the water
would be placed, and I went to clean it. Imagine cleaning a well full of
cockroaches! lol
Another difficulty was that I did not quite understand
what people were saying; they spoke too fast and did not have time to catch the
words.
Some days I missed my mother and my father a lot, it
was such a pain that I cannot explain, but it was my sacrifice.
I had to be careful even with health because we were
always prone to illnesses.
I wish I had a picture of the street market where we
used to go, the place was terribly dirty, the vegetables were placed on the
ground just over a plastic sheet, and there was a stream of dirty, smelly water
by the side, I could not stand the stench, but had to go there to buy fruits
and vegetables. I saw mothers with their children treading those waters.
Another situation was to counsel women that, even
though they already have 10 children, they still wanted to have more, and
sought prayer to help them get pregnant. Not to mention those women whose
husbands had other 10 women and they accepted it, we tried to give them some
guidance, I saw their faith for the sake of their marriages.
For me it was very difficult to let go of my customs
to embrace new ones, but as the Bible says, He who is of God overcomes.
When I saw those women desiring to be like us, to have
a blessed marriage, be the only wife of their husbands, and above all, to know
God, to be a woman of God, then my strength was renewed to overcome all
difficulties.
And during the meetings I saw that people, even in
such critical situation, but a willing people to seek and know God. Their
dances, joy and the strength of their praise is so beautiful. I was a little
shy to dance at first, but it is impossible not to, their rhythm is contagious.
It was an experience that matured me a lot. "
And you, would you be willing to face such a
challenge? Can you picture yourself in a situation like this? Leave your
comment.
7 comments:
People have been lied to for many years that children will make your husband love you. Many girls still do it up to now trapping a man by giving birth. Here in developed countries people do it to trap rich men as to get maintainable.
You will forever be appreciated beyond words going to these countries for salvation of the people is for the brave.
This is Faith, sacrifice and soul-winner. I love the work that you do, you overcome all this difficult situation.☔☔☔☔
Thank you for sharing your experience. To me the word sacrifice and surrender is not just a word but an action which by the way you did. i long stopped complaining when i face challenges the moment i realized what God wanted from me and to do in my life through them. Nowadays i never even forget each one of them because i have a testimony from them.
.............kisses.........
Thank you for sharing your experience Mrs Adriana.
As much challenging as your situation was, I am more than willing to go that far to serve God because everything begins with a passion, a strong desire and love for it. If we do not love what we do, we will never be willing to sacrifice for it. Over land or sea, those who are passionate about saving souls will go.
Thanks you for sharing this testimony Mrs Andriana.
The work of God is challenging yet very nice it can only be good when you have a willing heart.I believe it is not easy but throu or sacrifices God always honour us.Whenever you have the desire to serve God and his people with your whole hurt you really don't care what happens what dificulties you face,The desire and the vision keeps you going and when ever you see them Blessed your heart lightens.
Yes I want to face those challenges/Difficulties to Glory God,As you've shared your experience I can now picture my self in that situation but through God I can do it as you did with Jesus by your side.
Thanks.
Hello Dona! Thank you very much for sharing this message. Honestly, I can't imagine myself staying in a country which is not safe but I think when we have the desire to serve God we will do everything for Him.
Thanks Mrs Adriana
The love of souls keeps us standing it would not be easy but I would survive
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