The Calling to Gambia

 Gambia

 (West Africa)

Hello, Family and Friends!

I have great news! God has called me to Gambia. Next year I will be working with two deaf missionaries, Josiah and Elizabeth Smith. They have two beautiful deaf children: an eight-month-old and a two-year-old. I met them at my graduation of disciple training school (DTS) last February. They are self-employed missionaries but partnered with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Gambia. They normally don't have a team but because I obtained God's calling they will. Many unbelievable happenings occurred in which God answered our prayers and led us to each other. I want to share that story with you.

The Smith family joined with YWAM DC ASL to commission me to Brazil.

-05/04/18-

The Smith family returned in Gambia from the USA

-July 2018

The Smiths visited us at YWAM DC dinners a few times before I went back to Brazil. It was nice to get to know them more and talk about their experiences working in the Gambia. This is what started this little flame inside in my body that lit my interest in the Gambia. Sadly it slowly disappeared when I turned my focus on everything Brazil. While ministry volunteering in Brazil for three months, I was looking for my next opportunity. I informed YWAM DC that I would like to work with them as a staff for ASL DTS. After that, I continued to pray to make sure it is His calling or not. In a couple of months, I felt butterflies in my stomach that it was not God's calling for me to be a staff of ASL DTS.

Oddly, I was not paying much attention to my church friend’s message about the Gambia and the Smith family. A year had passed, and when my friend sent me information about the Gambia again I finally decided to check out the information and prayed for His guidance again. I discussed with one of my YWAM DC ministry leader about my godly desire and calling. Her messages gave me some clear answers, and she suggested that I speak with the Smiths. I went ahead to contact them and explained to them about what I have been seeking for. I have a passion for helping families, women, and children who have traumatic experiences including domestic violence, sexual abuse, suicides, etc. They were being excited that someone could come and help, but they would prefer to have someone who wants to be here in an undeveloped country. Of course, they prayed after meeting with me. They felt right and informed me that I could join the ministry with them. God told me to go back to Illinois to build the relationships with the churches for about 6 months. In August, I returned back to the USA and am currently staying with the family in Illinois.

The Smiths spoke with YWAM Gambia about me. It’s only been a year and a half and they just started a deaf ministry but finally opened to welcoming others to staff with them. In February, YWAM opened up more doors to make it possible to welcome more people and open to partnering with them as we work on their deaf ministry and church. Samaritan met with Smiths recently and asked to partner with them to work with the deaf community of those who are trafficked and sexually abused. During the meeting, they thought of me in working with Samaritan. The Smith family moved in their new house last month on September 15! In this new house, they have an extra room for me!

The Smith's Family House

My Room

Love in Christ,

Kevlasha Humphrey

My Room