Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Missionary (10/19/06)
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TITLE: Unwilling | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kristie Derksen
10/26/06 -
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“Hello there beautiful lady. What is your name?” A man asked me from my right. I let out an unladylike snort,
“I look anything but beautiful.” I muttered ignoring his question, and continuing on as I if I hadn’t heard him. A few minutes later, another bold man stepped forward.
“You are looking very nice today! Will you marry me?” I groaned in exasperation. Couldn’t they just let me walk by without flirting with me?
When I had first arrived, the men’s attention had been flattering, but after a while it hadn’t stopped, making it irritating. For once, I understood how celebrities must feel. If only all these men knew that I wasn’t cut from the rich material they thought I was. ‘I may be North American, but that doesn’t necessarily mean money!’ I thought.
“More like poor college student.” I mumbled.
“What did you say Marissa?” A group member, Ron, asked.
“Nothing! Just talking to myself.” I said, blushing at my sudden bout of schizophrenia.
I continued to follow the group of five through the bustling market, making sure not to lose them. I grumbled inwardly at the task I was being dragged to. ‘Sharing God’s word with the Gambian people is the reason you’re hear.’ I kept reminding myself, but the last thing I wanted to do was share the good news with these insolent bunch of men. ‘They are all so annoying!’ I screamed in my head. ‘Why won’t they just leave me alone?’
Finally, we stopped by a group of fishermen who were trying to sell that day’s catch.
“And so it begins!” I grumbled as the other five broke off into one-on-one conversations. I stood there avoiding eye contact, pretending to be gripped in deep meditation. But our guide, a young Gambian man, noticed my hostility and reached over, poking me in the ribs.
“Aren’t you going to share the good news Marissa?”
“No. Everyone has someone to talk to, I’m fine! Don’t worry about it, I’ll observe.” I said ignoring his pointed look towards the lone man. Suddenly I saw movement on the end of the bench where the loner sat. I shuddered when I saw his imminent approach. ‘Dang it!’ I shouted within the confines of my mind.
“Hello there pretty lady! Are you enjoying the smiling coast?” He asked me, his accent thick.
“Yes. It’s very beautiful.” I replied. Then there was an awkward silence. This is the part where I was to say something about Jesus, but I didn’t want to. I just wanted him to go back to his bench and continue to uncomfortably sit there.
“So why are you here?” He inquired, filling the silence.
“I am here to observe your country and share my faith.” I quoted the rehearsed answer, pretending to be interested in the color of the dirt. The same dirt that covered me from head to foot. The same dirt that was clogging my pores. The same dirt that… I shifted from foot to foot, when I realised that another awkward silence had descended between us during my silent rampage. I knew God wanted me to tell this man about His love, but I just didn’t have the desire to obey.
“So why don’t you share your faith with me?” The man asked, continuing to study me. I stood there staring blankly at the man. I felt like I had fallen into a well with only one way out, which was towards the light.
Funny how God can still use us whether or not we choose to listen.
And so I took a deep breath, calmed down my nerves, prayed for strength, and told this persistent man the best news he had ever heard.
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You wrote a good slice of reality.