In a world where social media is the order of the day. Many people feel the need to be constantly validated by the public or belong to the status quo.

I know this is not true for everyone, but I will share my thoughts on this. If you know me well, I am one to post what I wanted when I wanted. (Yu nor lek am e lef to yu). It was less about what others thought and more of my page, my rules. Again, I cared less about “My village people” (lol). However, coming from a spiritual background I grew to realize it was more about the right timing and the intentions of the post than my so-called village people aka monitoring spirits. I mean, it is ok to post a few banters here and there as social media isn’t to be all serious (It is not a job, we are not auditioning for a professional role) and I know social media when rightly used has great positive impacts. I for one am big on sharing my story especially with work as visibility is key in networking.

On another note, negative impacts of social media is people posting to create a certain ideology, many post so people will think they have it all figured out. Happy in their relationship, doing well in life, getting the bag and a lot more but behind the scenes we all have issues and it does not go away by convincing others we are happy.

Discernment

If there is one thing I know now it is that having a truly healthy and happy life out of the media is where life is. There is joy in enjoying life and beauty that comes from important and meaningful moments that do not need to be shared. Being so sure of what you have that a validation is not needed.

There are some blessings that should be between you, God and an intimate circle. Not sharing does not mean you are not excelling, infact, it gives room for less interference. Lets take a movie for instance. Would you watch a movie that's incomplete?…No! It is important we let God write the story completely before wanting to go viral. Lek the Krio proverb go say, “Wae yu Yams white, na for coba am”. People cannot interfer with what they do not know.

Again, this is not me saying, you should overthink posting contents, sister post that content…I am here for it. Infact, you know I am all about the content.

God’s Truth

I will share with you a movie I watched that stuck with me. The opening scene was of a young lady in the bathroom at a high school party running a pregnancy test… It came out positive. The movie progressed showing us both parts of her life, in one, she decided to keep the baby, in the other she did not. In both lives there were sad and joyful moments, but she was happy with her decision.

Unfortunately, our reality is not like that, we do not get to know the end results of the choices we make. But then I ask myself, if we did know, would we still make them? I believe that's the beauty of life and creation, that our destinies are in God’s hand and just like a movie he directs our paths. Is it not beautiful that we wait to see it all unfold in the end…the plot twist that come with the story.

It is not always smooth, I mean some movies are so predictable and others are not on some days you just tell yourself, “I am sure as a writer/director I would have done better with this scene BUT, it is not our story to tell. Just like our lives, somedays we already know the outcome of some choices, other days we do not and on somedays we wonder if a particular phase(scene) in our life is really necessary for the plot twist. Like “Really God, you can just get me there without going through this first” lol, but like actors we play out the scenes we have been given.

The End

However long or beautiful a movie is, it comes to an end, and most times, (If noto den crase ed film dem with no meaning..lol) we get to see the lesson even if the ending is not what we expect. We get to see why each scene was important.

I am not sure what this post is really meant to bring out as I have had so much in my head yet not enough words to pen them down but if there are things to learn it is that there is more to life than validation or proving a point especially when the point is not there. True joy comes when we rely on God’s truth, wait for His time and share things when they are fully mature. When God’s hand covers you, your village people sef go dey happy for yu. There is this wholeness and peace that comes from living life from a true perspective. I hope we find that.

On the 15th of August 2020, I called my dad. As usual, he greeted me with the “Hey daughter, I love you” and proceeded to ask, “How may I help you?” as he knew a request would follow next. It was already almost midnight Zimbabwean time. This was during the Covid19 pandemic and there were lots of changes and restrictions globally. I was in the process of completing my dissertation for my masters course and our graduation had been postponed to a virtual event indefinitely, and so on that phone call, I told my dad that I wanted to come back and complete my dissertation from home. My father being one who prioritized education believed it was best that I totally complete and returned just to be on a safer side. It was then my mother joined in the call, and somehow as a team (lol) we both managed to convince him. He then agreed, telling me he had a trip on Sunday and would revert on Monday with ticket details for that Thursday the 20th of August 2020. I hung up with I love you and a lot of laughter as he jokingly told me to leave him and his wife alone. I then sent him a text to say thank you again, and we had a brief conversation then said goodnight and that we will catch up on Monday. It was already the 16th Zimbabwean time.

Well, that Monday never came. On the 16th of August, I slept in, considering church services had restrictions too. When I woke up and checked my phone, I saw a few unusual, missed calls. I tried to go back to bed but something felt off and so I returned the call. The first call was from an aunt overseas, I believe she was calling as she had heard the news but when she realized I didn’t know yet, went on to catch up about life and current circumstances. Then, I tried to go back to bed…but I couldn’t sleep. Then I got a call from my sister, and she said to me, “Ellie, what is going on, I am in church, but my phone has been ringing non-stop is everything ok?”. I was confused; how do you expect me who is miles away to have the answers (I said to myself). I told her I had heard nothing but will revert. And then I called an aunt who worked for the conference. She told me there had been an accident but there was nothing to worry about as daddy was fine. Still a bit unsettled, I called my sister and passed on this message. For some reasons, I did not think about calling my mum nor my brothers who apparently at that time were on both ends of Freetown trying to locate my father’s body…such a chaotic and emotional scene it must have been.

A few minutes later, I got another call, this time, the person on the other end was crying, she said to me “Ellie, have you seen the video?” with the way she sounded my heart dropped. I knew! I asked her like twice, “What video?” she said to me, “Check your WhatsApp” … and so I did. Apparently, a video of my dad had circulated, one of what happened to be his lifeless but peaceful body. It began to be passed on in social media groups. I then deleted myself from those groups, some I never returned to…Yes, I found out online about my father’s passing. I burst out with a scream, in tears. My sister Janet who had been praying for a miracle in the other room hearing my cry knew exactly what had happened and she too lost it.

From then on, life happened so fast. We got visits from the University and the church off campus that we had been worshiping with since my sister and I had moved to an off-campus residence. That same day, the Uni asked us to pack up and get ready to go home. Thank God we already had been preparing to move. In my grief we packed up with the help of a friend now sister, Charity Afful who spent the night with us, we did not sleep. The next morning around 6am, Janet and I headed to Harare, got our Covid19 tests done and were put in an accommodation for Isolation while we prepared for our flight on the same Thursday dad had initially planned, we go home. During those moments of grief and figuring out details, I also was required to sum up my dissertation before finally going home as it was visible the life I was knew would no longer look the same. Looking back, I am glad I had those few days to process the grief by myself before returning home. I also am forever thankful to Africa University’s then Vice Chancellor, Professor Furusa (God rest his soul) who took care of all these financial responsibilities for my sister and I from the day my dad passed until we returned home.

We were coming home on the Thursday the 20th of August 2020 as planned but for a funeral. (The last time I had seen my dad, was a year prior, September 5, 2019, when he was nominated chancellor at Africa University during a meeting with Bishops from Africa) It was a short visit since I no longer resided on campus, and I still could remember the last in-person conversation we had. At the airport back in Freetown, picked up by my brother John and over 10 of my long-term sister-friends, they welcomed us with flowers and big hugs. As we drove across UMC churches, the reality began to hit. There were pictures in honor of my dad everywhere. He was indeed no more. For the first time, I did not look forward to seeing my mum, not in that state. The story would continue…

My journey with grief did not end there…It only began.

I want to end with a song from the Nigerian songwriter and artist Simi, lyrics slightly personalized. Titled “Charlie” named after her late dad and in his memory, it goes”

“I’ve been trying to write you a song for years, I’m not sure what to say. I can’t stop crying, although you’ve been gone for years, I wish that you could have stayed. See, I’ll Walk down the aisle someday, but you won’t be there to walk me. I’m not mad, I take that back, I’m furious. I didn’t get the chance to tell you goodbye, and I love you, oh I love you. To many merry Christmas’s, many happy birthdays that you have missed. I think about the things that could have been. Cheers to the future way you nor see. I want to make you proud, I hope you’re in heaven smiling down. Say hello, to the Angels now. I’m still your angel now. Daddy, If I could see your face one more day oh my daddy. So many things I want to say, like I miss you and I won’t forget you and this love would last, this love would last forever”

This year in June, I turn 30. Yes, the big age that we all spoke about as kids. Look at us now, the new adults. Who would have thought?

Let’s take a look at how this year began. I have been depressed before, yes, but you see the first two months of this year, Yo! it was hard. Had it not been God and a support system, I really don’t know where I would be. You know when things get so dark and bleak that you can barely see the positives nor can you even picture a way out…that was me.

My turn around began during the hallelujah challenge of February this year. Day two was the peak of my depression, it took His grace to pull me back on track. Towards the end of the challenge, Pastor Nathaniel declared that March is our new year and that old things had passed away and everything else new. I claimed the word. It really was hard living in faith but I just had a whole new feeling. Just like the word I claimed, this very month I began to see God work things out. The doors He opened, the opportunities I lived, these were testimonies that eyes could see, I did not even need to speak it. That is what God does when He comes through.

Now back to the 30th year, prior to now I have had dreams with lots of timelines and every now and then the pressures of society creeps in. Looking all around seeing friends achieve things you are yet to, marriage, kids, a home. I mean, lets not pretend, I have my “God when moments too”

But part of this newness in March, came with a feeling of trust and satisfaction. I know my father as good as He is only wants the best for me. I know that all the decisions I have made, some yes, because I chose them still are part of His plans for me. I see the way He shows off with me, the way He completes, I see the way He forgives, I see the way He re-directs.

I am learning that timelines only rob us off the joy that He has set for us. Okay, so lets say I have all of that which I desire, would that make me happy? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe I still will feel unfulfilled, I still would want more, I still would find something new to complain about. Truth is, I am in a very positive place. Learning to burn bridges, to forgive, to apologize, to communicate, to walk away, to say no, to speak up and most importantly forever dedicated to the soft life while I continue in my current journey and purpose, waiting on His promises.

I can decide to worry about the things I do not have, I still won’t have them yet, and life would continue. Why not focus on what I have and how I can improve. This is the healthiest place my mind has been in a while and I am so thankful to God for the support system and the few people He has placed in my life that have been solid. The people He has used to bless me in fulfilling my purpose.

This is the last year in my 20’s and I still do not have it all together. But here I am, enjoying His greatest gift…LIFE. HERE I AM, the last year in my 20’s basking in His grace and living in His goodness.

I know what you might be thinking, “That it is probably too soon to give reviews for this year, as a lot more could still happen in the next few months”. Well, truth is, you might be right. The more reason I believe I should write this. It is not that I have given up on what could happen before the year ends but because I now know that anything and everything is still possible.

You see, on the 30th of December 2023, one of my friend group and I had a hang out at the beach. Two of us at that point were going through the worst heartbreaks possible. For me, I didn’t even ever think I’ll heal or ever be fine. The term “ok” in that moment seemed really far fetched. But as the title goes, “A lot can truly happen in a year!”

You see, at that point last year, I was not only heartbroken, I also was at a stage of uncertainty. I had my life planned with timelines especially in relation to my dream job but then, reality began to kick in. I wasn’t sure what the way forward was and life was just at a standstill for me or so it seemed then.

Fast forward today, I’m here. I’m still not there yet , whatever we term “there” to be but I am fine, I am ‘“ok”. That was not the last person I was going to love and yes life did move on and I was capable of loving again.

Career wise, God realigned me and somehow I see him connecting the dots to the places I had dreamed of. I have realized that having a dream job doesn’t guarantee daily happiness or fulfillment because even your dream job sucks sometimes. The only difference is the passion or the call, like I would term it. I’ve learnt that in those unexpected U-turns you still find your calling. That a call isn’t limited to a space or place it is inherent. It is wherever God places you in that season. (More details on this in a future blog)

I now know that my life is in a “For such a time as this season”.

I know that just because it doesn’t seem ok now doesn’t mean it won’t be.

I’m still learning, learning to find my voice in the midst of chaos, learning to discern, learning that I am my own responsibility. Learning that the term love isn’t limited to just people but places and experiences. I have burnt bridges this year and made peace with that because I realized those seasons have served their purpose. I am learning to choose me above all but most importantly I know better now that things do get better, that change no matter how slow will definitely come. It could maybe be on your way to work one early morning or while reminiscing to a favorite song in the middle of a long day, or taking a walk at an old spot…then you realize, it does not hurt the same anymore. You realize just how much growth there has been. You are proud of yourself for pushing through, for trying again, for learning to love and be present in the moment. For prioritizing you, friends and family and the few irreplaceable blessings that truly count.

Good things do come out of Broken places.

A lot indeed can happen in one year… in my case, less !!!!

A few years ago, when I decided to start blogging, I made up mind, I’ll share my truth no matter how hard or uncomfortable it was. Like Maya Angelou once said, “ There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

As we approach that time of the year when we reflect on the out-going year with anticipation of the coming year which may differ from person to person depending on the experiences they might have had during the course of the year. I want to share with you my experience so far.

I know the title of this write up gives room for hope, I guess that’s because this has been one of my toughest years yet. Truth is, I started this year on a very rough note and as you already know, I also ended a two year missionary journey as well. Though, I had no idea what this year would look like, I had great anticipation.

Transitioning back home was nothing as I expected and If you were to ask me, I’ll say I’m still in transition. If you know me, I always like to be a step ahead, have some sort of idea or plan on what next or let’s say just have a little bit of control of my situation especially with my career but this year, God taught me what it meant to not be in control. The plans that I had made, the expectations I had none of it turned out as I imagined.

Let’s begin to break it down.

When I thought of transitioning, I really didn’t know how long that would take but I had a time frame in my mind at least one I thought was workable, while I waited for the next big thing in my life to work out. Unfortunately, the expectations I had were not my reality. However, In my wait. God placed me right where I am to be.

Also, in my last blog post “Finding love in Freetown” I said, “ No matter how many times I get heartbroken, I am still always ready to dive into love again”. Well, this year brought an end to two different romantic relationships both leaving me me broken. The latter however left me depressed as well. Not just because of the expectations I had but immediate questions of why relationships were not working out for me or if love was really in the cards for me…But as you know, there are always lessons to learn from these things.

1. God Has it figured out: Although I knew my life and career wasn’t going to magically turn out as I had expected I still had hope, and to be honest God did come through. Not as I wanted Him to but as He should. He opened an opportunity of growth for me where my skills are needed, an opportunity where I also get to grow and honestly the people He placed there, He also knew I was going to need. These people have been a blessing in my moments of uncertainty. They have encouraged, they have valued, they have supported and they have prayed.
2. There are still blessings to count: As I went through these phases in my life, it was very hard to see the beauty in life but in my darkest moments, I realized how strategic God is in placing people in one’s life. The support system He has blessed me with is one I will forever be grateful for. He has again and again showed me His love and reminded me of just how impactful my life and ministry is with these people in my life.
3. Rest is important: This year, I prioritized my mental health more than any. I used to always feel guilty for taking days off and wonder how people do it. Truth is, when you go through stuff. You realize how important rest is. Taking care of your mind, soul and body is a great step to healing. It also gives you time to reflect. Reminds you also that life moves on, the world doesn’t stop because you are going through stuff. That’s the more reason you should prioritize you because you are your sole responsibility and no one else’s.
4. There is a purpose: One of the greatest outcome of my journey is how impactful it has been in developing my relationship with God. I went from being a worrier to being calm over situations I had no control of, realizing that though things don’t pan out as I expected, they actually are working for my good. I’ve learnt to be at peace and to trust God’s process.
5. It is ok to not be ok: Truth is, I don’t always need to know or have it all figured out and it’s very ok to go through the process. To ask questions, sit with self and just move, even if you don’t know what you are moving on to. I have learnt to not ignore my needs or my intuition. I’ve learnt that I’m not too much, I’m just enough. The journey I have been called to isn’t for everyone and that was hard to make peace with, some would come for a season and it’s ok to let go when that season ends. Sometimes the more we hold on the more we delay the process. God always knows what He is doing.

So yes, I may not have had a good year thus far but God still came through. and I am still celebrating testimonies through friends and families. I am still counting my numerous blessings and the greatest of them is that “God kept me”. I may not have had control of what is past, but I now know how to respond better. Do I have resolutions for next year,Naah… I mean I have hopes but I’m just fully trusting whatever God had for me and focusing on self so I’ll be fully ready to receive the blessings in store for me. I speak positively to myself and remind myself that I am worthy of all the good things that will come my way.

To end on a lighter note, you see this love thing, lol we will do again 😁 but this time, healed, whole, ready and with God. I leave you with my personal 2024 motto, “God is about to flex with me”

Thank you for reading!

Compliments of the season!!!

For those who know me, you know I am a hopeless romantic and I wear my heart on my sleeve unapologetically. No matter how many times I get heartbroken, I am still always ready to dive into love again. But if there is one thing I have realized, It is that finding love in our generation is hard. I mean love in general is complex especially because it takes two people from completely different backgrounds, trying to merge into a partnership and most times that seems impossible. As individuals, most of us are still understanding who are we, learning and healing from past traumas, finding self and discovering our why, so just imagine if I, yet to identify these things have to also take up the responsibility of sharing and healing another’s, that could be chaotic.

This does not mean that it is impossible. I believe, people having learnt the art of managing this is most times what we term a successful partnership. Again, I like many others have had a “God when?” moment when I see a couple loved up on a social media post and I also believe that most of us probably have a couple or two we admire. Yes, I do believe in Bibles. altars and covenants, officially termed “Marriage”, but when you look around us today, we realize there is an increase in divorce rates. This does not mean that there are no good marriages or that marriage or commitment is a sham… no, I think it’s mainly because it is impossible to partner with a person when you intentionally refuse to understand self.

Now back to the story I started with, in as much as we all crave perfection in relationships, or hope to find a partner that heals us, or most times save us. Truth is, there is no perfection. Just like the villagers, every relationship has it’s own issues and it is not always that of infidelity. Sometimes it is communication, or the inability to indepthly understand your partner, other times it is the resurfacing of traumatic experiences or repeated patterns. Whatever the case is, there is no true formula for a solution. It just takes two people who decide to actively and intentionally put in the work day after day.

I am no relationship expert, I believe we all are just trying to find that one person we can make it work with and if anything I know this takes lots of forgiveness, It takes lots of reassurance, It takes healing and acceptance, it takes rededication, it takes trust.

Mostly, it takes the God-factor. I have a friend, whom at some point in my life I hurt badly. It left us both broken to a point I believed was the end of our friendship. Today, I doubt anyone knew we ever had a fall out. It did take time, space, lots of conversations, and healing but there was restoration and that is how God works. Sometimes I wonder how He can not only forgive us but embrace us to a point where it is as though there was never a scar.

Finding love is hard, because people are complex but when we take away all the complexities love can be the most liberating experience. To be able to find vulnerability, safety, and peace in a partner; that is beautiful.

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The Origin/Back story:

I have always been fascinated by the flower named “ FORGET- ME- NOT” and so I decided to find out about it. I found out that the name originated from a legendary story of a man and his lover walking beside a river named Danube, who saw a beautiful blue flower in the middle of the river. He leapt into the water to get the flowers for his love and managed to cross the river safely despite the strong current. On returning, he was swept away by the rapids but he successfully managed to throw the bouquet of forget-me-nots to his love as he shouted “forget me not” and completely disappeared. She wore those flowers on her hair until she died and forgot not about him.

Forget- me- not is a story of the remembrance of good memories and a celebration of love.

The Yambasu Story:

As a young eight year old, watching my father serve as a missionary I developed a passion for the work and service. At that time, I had not the call, until around 2018. However, this was finally actualized in 2021 when I began my Global Mission Fellow journey in Liberia. Yes, this was a dream I had desired since childhood but after 2020 when I lost my dad He became the greatest motivation to accomplishing this dream and following his footsteps. My father was passionate about his work, the church, the people and his dream. He was loyal and dedicated to the call that God had put on his life, and he served until the Lord called him home.

My Story:

In the last two years as a fellow, I have walked paths my dad had walked, sat in rooms that he had served and met people he had impacted. There is no way that I can tell my story without telling his but in telling this story and walking his path, I too was becoming. I too was finding my path. The last two years have helped me discover just how capable I am, it has helped me discover how passionate I am about advocacy, not just for the marginalized but most especially for women. In being a voice, I found my voice, In vulnerability, I found strength. In this work, I learnt to persever. That just because it was my dream or passion did not mean it will come easy yet I kept engaging, I kept connecting and indeed I grew.

Integration:

At the end of this month, In about a week from today, I finalize my service as a Global Mission Fellow with the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone. My father until the time of his death served as the President of the Council of Churches and I have been more than honored to be completing my service with the Council of churches. . It has been a blessing knowing that I could live out his dream but more amazingly find my own path. At the Council of Churches, I have not only worked with churches and religious leaders but I have also had the opportunity to sit in rooms where critical and important issues that affect the people of Sierra Leone are discussed as well as be a part of the solutions that can bring change to the people of Sierra Leone.

Conclusion:

If there is one thing I am grateful for it is the fact that my Global Mission experience has encouraged me to share stories, my story. And on this day , August 24th 2023 ,which happens to be my father’s birthday I am sharing my own story of good memories, love, loyalty and remembrance . My “Forget-me-not” story and as I conclude this phase in my life I cannot wait to fully live out my path, own my story and embrace the journey that awaits me.

I cannot end without saying thank you and God bless you to all who have supported. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me!

THE END TO A BEGINNING.

Many people tend to view beginnings more positively than endings. I however believe that endings can be just as beautiful, It all depends on how we choose to view it. At the start of this year( January 2023), I began serving at a new organization(Women Entrepreneur and Environmental Links), knowing that I only had four months left to complete my service in Liberia. Although it was a new beginning, it also signaled the end of a two-year-life-changing experience.

TRANSITIONING

As a Global Mission Fellow, the question “What next?” is a familiar one especially now that we have approached the end of our service. This question has always made me anxious. In a conversation with Reeba, a colleague, during our midterms in Nairobi (November 2022), she said something that was so refreshing and calming. She simply replied, “I am going to take life one day at a time.” This reminded me of Matthew 6:25–28, where Jesus tells us not to be anxious about our lives and to trust in God’s provision. It’s a powerful message that we should all take to heart.

TRUSTING

Again, my mother constantly reminds me not to worry as God has already taken care of all my needs and everything does fall in place in His time. I have always been a worrier, always trying to be a step ahead to ensure that things fall in place. However, most of the opportunities I’ve had in life happened unexpectedly, some times through strangers that God sent my way. It has always served as a reminder that we need to trust God’s plan for our lives, and not be anxious about what the future holds.

THE WHAT NEXT?

What is next for me? Although I knew that my time as a fellow was for a two-year period, it doesn’t make the transition any easier. However, I am grateful for the period of Integration, and I’m excited to be home to complete my service with the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone. I hope to continue sharing my experiences and knowledge with others, and to continue growing and learning in the process.

In the end, life is fleeting, and these moments are precious. I’m embracing this period of transition with a positive attitude, knowing that worrying won’t change anything. Instead I’m taking things one day at a time, trusting in God’s plan and believing the best is yet to come. As the saying goes, “Que sera sera-whatever will be will be.”

Thank you for your continuous support and prayers. Kindly click the link below to read about my call to mission and to support my journey in mission.

https://umcmission.org/?s=Elizabeth+Nyalima+Yambasu

https://umcmission.org/?s=Elizabeth+Nyalima+Yambasu

The 2021–2023 cohort began service at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most organizations had to go virtual thus most of our meetings were online. Though we still bonded, we all longed for an in-person connection. The time finally came about two months ago, as we were excited to learn that our GMF midterm training was going to take place in Nairobi-Kenya. The whole group was finally going to gather in person.

It was an unforgettable experience and there could not have been a better place for such memories than Kenya. From the beautiful city of Nairobi, to the warmth of the people and of course its beautiful history and culture, Kenya just had lots to offer.

As part of sightseeing and visitations, we made a visit to the B.T Cooper United Methodist Academy on the 5th of November 2022. The B.T Cooper Academy is an educational institution for young orphans. Although it was a brief meet, it was a joy to witness these children showcase their talents and skills through music and dance. On that same day, upon return to the Desmond Tutu Conference Centre where we put up, the GMF team hosted a job fair for the leadership of the Kenyan Annual Conference and a cross section of the youths within the Conference. At this fair, each fellow got to showcase their work at their various places of assignment. It was great to see how unique each of our calls were and the impact that has been made within local communities in just a year. It was even more amazing to see how these communities have impacted our individual lives. After church service on Sunday the 6th, we visited the Bomas of Kenya. It was enlightening to learn about the history of the early settlers and their settlements. It was also rich knowledge realizing that many African tribes are intertwined. The day ended with a story telling display of different Kenyan tribes , their cultural dances and the significance behind each dance.

One of my favorite memories was that of Sunday November 6, 2022 before the Bomas experience. We had been assigned to different groups for church service so we could be able to fellowship and experience worship with local churches. However, ours became a beautiful story of how the spirit leads. The larger part of my group found ourselves in a Methodist church that was not on our initial listing. Halfway through the service we realized we were lost. The people however, embraced us with warm and open arms. After the first service, we got to share about our work as missionaries, our home countries and places of assignment. We also got to hear about the church and met with some church leaders. It was a great way to talk about the GMF program and to connect the church in Mission. Like the lost sheep, that was our home coming as we still found our way into one of our Fathers houses. They sent us off with a powerful word of prayer and we left knowing God had a plan for our being there.

One personal thing I appreciated about this trip was not just the display of our beautiful and rich cultures on cultural night (November 7, 2022) but how amazing it was that we still got to be youthful. With so many misconceptions about being a missionary, I loved seeing how genuinely happy we all were surrounded by other young people who had so much passion for the work they do. It reminded me of the beauty of serving God in our youth and that God wants us to have full, healthy and youthful lives. Service should not take that away, It should only remind us that even in our youthfulness, He still has standards set for us to be able to fully enjoy the promises He has in store.

In the end I realized, young or old, we are all but human in an unjust world. We are bound to err, struggle with insecurities, we have our own fears but yet still we keep hoping for a world that is safer. A world where other people don’t get to face the same injustice that we have met with.

HOW TO BE A PART OF THE PROGRAM AND HOW TO SUPPORT!!!

Applications for GMF International is now opened!!! To read more about the program and apply. Kindly use the link below.

Global Mission Fellows

To learn more about my call story and the work that I do, kindly read the link below as you support me in fulfilling God’s mission.

Yambasu, Elizabeth Nyalima

I remember when I first applied in 2019, I was very certain it was going to be the year but as life could have it, the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and suddenly, that dream of becoming a missionary was put on hold. Fast forward, a year later after series of prayers and moments of discernment from the Global Mission Fellows team, I finally got accepted. You could imagine the excitement. (An opportunity I’ll forever be grateful for).

When I first discovered that Liberia would be my place of assignment, I had mixed emotions but as time went on I decided to embrace the opportunity and be open minded. One would have thought that settling in Liberia would come easy considering the fact that I was born and raised in the Western Africa region and Liberia is just a border away from my home country, Sierra Leone. Surprisingly, it didn’t.

Change came with lots of challenges. In reflection however, there is a lot that has been learnt in my first year of service and these are a few;

1.The community: One important topic during our virtual sessions had to do with discovering the assets in our community. To me, one of the greatest asset has been the people. Like missionaries in the Bible, when God calls, He goes ahead. He already places people who will challenge you, support you, enrich you and help you fully discover His purpose for your life. My community has been a daily reminder and contribution to my purpose in service.

2. Purpose Discovery: Discovering one’s purpose may take a life time and one of the first step is discovering self. One thing I have learnt as Hannah Hanson (Director-Young Adults Mission Service) will say is, “ Know when to leave space and when to take space”. The world is big enough for all to shine and true service goes beyond self. It is not always about what one can get from the community but what one can give to the community. What essence is it if the only growth that happens around you is YOU. Is that then really growth? In purpose discovery, It is important to remember that our growth is connected, just like the concept of Ubuntu. “I am because we are”.

3a.Spirituality: The Wesleyan covenant prayer begins with the line, “I am no longer my own, but yours”. Paul also in romans 6:1 talks about the need to die to self. As a young missionary, there is a constant desire to live for self but part of the call demands that you be selfless. In order for us to “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God”(Micah 6:8), we must first be examples.

3b. Truth is, being a missionary is not a green card to having a perfect spiritual life. In one of our first trainings, Natalia Daies (Manager of Missionary Accompaniment) spoke on spirituality as she made reference to Jeremiah 29:13; “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (NIV). From this scripture, I have realized that, your call does not give you immunity from sin. Like every other human you are bound to err . Your journey with God has to be consistent, intentional and personal. However, though we are not immune from sin, we have been given authority to overcome it, as God continues to extend His love and grace to us.

4.God’s love in action: One of the most amazing gifts of service is being able to show God’s love. Being a missionary goes beyond preaching or speaking about God. Being a missionary is love in action. It is spreading God’s love without words or speech. It is our acts of service. It is the way we live, the words we say, our interactions, our thoughts, our whole lives. That who we are may speak so loud without even saying a word.

To Conclude, I believe God has put dream in all of our hearts and most times achieving that dream takes a while. In those times, we should learn to know when God is saying YES, WAIT or No. We should also as we wait, like in my situation develop skills that could help contribute to our overall purpose. The waiting period is a good time to reflect on the journey behind and to trust and remind God of His promises ahead. Service is a beautiful gift and though not all of us are called to serve as missionaries, I believe we are all still called to serve in whatever capacity or field we find ourselves. So as we serve, may we Engage, Connect and Grow and may our life of service show God’s love from Everywhere to Everywhere in every situation, despite the circumstances.

SHALOM!!!