The Gambia, (Sanneh Kunda) West Africa
Blessing and getting to know our brother in Christ, at 20 years young, Sulyaman Sey from The Gambia in West Africa.
I met Sulyaman Sey through Instagram. Sulyaman and I connected one day through Instagram and since then we have been in touch pretty regularly through the Whats App. He has been overseeing his younger brother Malick and his auntie Mariama. Sulyaman has been jobless since he was released from his recent job working in a bakery. He didn't have a chain to keep his bike from being stolen, and so because of that, his bike was stolen causing him to not be able to go to work. He would travel up to 45 minutes or so one way. Americans are used to riding bikes and for some they will travel to work by them all depending on where they live and their financial situation. The ones you petal manually. In America, the majority own a vehicle and use a bike for recreation from time to time. However, with Sulyaman's mom not being in the picture, and his dad who passed away on a fishing trip for his job (fell over board and drowned), Suly has been doing what ever he can to help take care of his family. This kind of weight should not be resting on his shoulders. Unfortunately it is. We have been in touch daily. He loves it when we face-time. He asked me just the other day if he could call me, " Dad" or "Father". I said, " You can call me your spiritual father". He smiled. The other day, he face-timed me because he wanted to show me where he lives, the kind of living condition he and his family lives in as well as introducing me to his little brother, Malick and his Auntie. Hearing his heart and what he believes God is directing him to do, my heart goes out to him and his family. His dream would be to be a taxi or to own his own garden so he could not only produce food for his family, but eventually turn it into a business. His auntie, Mariama, does the cooking and cleaning for them. While we were chatting, the Lord shared with me about her "foot pain" and " High blood pressure". She didn't really understand what I was asking her so Suly had to step in and translate for me. She was starting a fire with very little wood they had to prepare their first meal in days. Rice and vegetables. I ended up praying for Mariama while she was sitting down cooking. Her hands went from stirring the pot to praising Jesus with hands in the air in tears as Holy Spirit rested upon her lifting the burden that she carries well. She was so thankful feeling at peace. She does have some needs, but we are waiting to see if there has been any noticeable changes in her health.
(Imagine eating this every single day WHEN you could afford it)
Up until this point, while they waited for God to answer their prayers, they were walking around town trying to find food and wood in the streets. Whats amazing is that it cost them $30 USD to get a bag of rice and a bucket of vegetables. They were so thankful for it. They said it would feed them for almost a week, but that is if they carefully portioned their food. There are some people now a days who are ungrateful for what they already do have. And if you really think about it, its pretty disturbing. Those who have more than enough complain because they want more. But, a family like this, barley has anything and just $30 means the world to them. I believe this is one of the reasons why the Lord has me ministering to them. To encourage them and help when I can. Suly told me recently that they went almost a week without food. I told him I know what it's like. A couple of years ago, the Lord had me fast for 7 days. Only water- no food. I got a wake up call and a better understanding what it meant to die to self. A lot of amazing things came out of it, but to be able to sympathize with him knowing what its like to not be able to eat is an understatement. I understood his struggle. Compassion took over at this point, and the scriptures that came pouring out of my heart was James 4:13-17. It Says, "13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin". It also states in Matthew 25: 31-40, 31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me".
As Holy Spirit brought these to the forefront, I knew the Lord was speaking to me. I knew the Lord was saying to me,"Brandon, Will you feed my sheep? Will you be a light to them in the midst of their darkness"? All I could do in that moment was respond. "Yes, Lord".
When they say a picture is worth a thousand words...
I know the Lord knows every need before we can ever ask Him for it. The word of God says so. Knowing that, I've been in a place where I have had more than enough, and also experienced barley making it in life, however, despite all of that, the Lord has taught me through discipline and stewardship how to be content in ALL things. As I continue to talk with Suly, I continue to ask the hard questions knowing the answers already. So, trusting God in all of this, If God leads you to it, He will help you and guide you through it. I know that it was the Father connecting us together. There was nothing on my page that pointed to financial wealth. There was nothing posted that said I had tons of money. Yet, God knew this. Man didn't. Unless you really know me and know how God has instructed me to walk this journey out with Him, HE IS MY HEAVENLY FATHER AND HE IS MY PROVIDER- HE IS FAITHFUL, GOOD AND TRUE. HE NEVER LETS HIS CHILDREN GO WITHOUT. I HAVE TO QUESTION THOSE WHO SAY THAT THEY WENT WITHOUT WHEN THEY HAD EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED, AND QUESTION IF THEY TRULY ARE ONE OF HIS... Anyways, the hard part is grasping the concept of what true wealth really is. Is it financial? The way the world sees it. Or is it deeper than that? There is treasure that many miss out on because the ways of the world out do and out weigh what God views wealth as. Sure, you can quote scripture and say "If you don't work, then you don't eat". So I would ask, okay, If that is the case, then why would the Lord Himself say, take nothing with you? Leave it all behind, give it up to follow after Him? Again, some will walk by faith and go out into the great unknown trusting in their heavenly father knowing that He has their backs. And others, they will play it safe trusting in their own wisdom. Don't you know, that their is more than just wisdom in God? I understand not everyone is called to walk this way. Correction, Not every answered the call of God on their lives because Free Will said you can choose how you want to live your life. And because of this, many miss the true call of God on their lives and take 2nd, 3rd, 4th best, and truthfully if that's what you want to do, then whom am I to tell you otherwise? BUT... Don't you dare for one second try to get me to follow in the footsteps of man who doesn't obey and follow Jesus with holy reverence and awe. Don't you try and mold me with the power of your idle words to follow in the footsteps of man and the ways of man. The bible is meant to challenge you to become more like Jesus. It doesn't encourage you to become more like the world and if you believe that then you are following the wrong god because only Satan offers the world in that way.
I digress.
Though many question it and are challenged by it, the fruit still remains- Holy Spirit produce. You can try and explain it all away with carnal thinking and rationalizing it because its to great to comprehend. It may even convict you. Good! Let it. That is Holy Spirit trying to do something greater in you. Let Him. It's not passing judgment. It's challenging you to let go and go deeper in Christ. It's not letting fear and worry run all of your life. All that is doing is robbing you of the blessing God has for you and for others. I am challenged daily by Holy Spirit to let go and keep trusting Abba father, regardless of what life looks like and how life feels. Regardless of what man says. Regardless of how man treats me. I have learned that Jesus is my true treasure. He is my wealth. He is my everything and I look forward to the day He welcomes me back home. Until then, I want to be a good servant. Ready and willing at the sound of His voice. I don't have any control over anyone or anything and I refuse to. Wanting control is a sign of weakness and its not going to produce the fruit of Holy Spirit. People will come and go in your lives. Learning to be open to the plans of God for my life, I have been blessed beyond any words can describe. I have also been hurt and abandoned over wanting this life to follow Christ. As people leave, God sends new people in. I have learned to even accept that. Its not as painful and its exciting to see why they are being brought into your life. For Sulyaman and his auntie and his little brother Malick, I know they feel the same way ever since God connected us together. One person leaves having everything they need, for 3 others to walk in being completely happy, content with the little amount that has been given to them. We can learn a lot if we get out of our way and our own understanding and allow God to teach us and show us just how truly blessed me really are...
Stove
(Home- They are now in the process of eviction)
If you feel led by the Spirit to help partner with me financially to help these three children of God, you can ***PARTNER WITH WEST AFRICA _SULYAMAN SEY (Goal is $700.00 USD per month or until they can get on their feet and start their dream) *** and I will make sure that it gets to him. I will continue to upload pictures as I get permission from them to do so. They are thankful for any future blessings to come.
Keep stretching us Lord! Help us understand that you are our true source of wealth.
For your Kingdom...
Thank you, and God Bless!
#Grateful
I met Sulyaman Sey through Instagram. Sulyaman and I connected one day through Instagram and since then we have been in touch pretty regularly through the Whats App. He has been overseeing his younger brother Malick and his auntie Mariama. Sulyaman has been jobless since he was released from his recent job working in a bakery. He didn't have a chain to keep his bike from being stolen, and so because of that, his bike was stolen causing him to not be able to go to work. He would travel up to 45 minutes or so one way. Americans are used to riding bikes and for some they will travel to work by them all depending on where they live and their financial situation. The ones you petal manually. In America, the majority own a vehicle and use a bike for recreation from time to time. However, with Sulyaman's mom not being in the picture, and his dad who passed away on a fishing trip for his job (fell over board and drowned), Suly has been doing what ever he can to help take care of his family. This kind of weight should not be resting on his shoulders. Unfortunately it is. We have been in touch daily. He loves it when we face-time. He asked me just the other day if he could call me, " Dad" or "Father". I said, " You can call me your spiritual father". He smiled. The other day, he face-timed me because he wanted to show me where he lives, the kind of living condition he and his family lives in as well as introducing me to his little brother, Malick and his Auntie. Hearing his heart and what he believes God is directing him to do, my heart goes out to him and his family. His dream would be to be a taxi or to own his own garden so he could not only produce food for his family, but eventually turn it into a business. His auntie, Mariama, does the cooking and cleaning for them. While we were chatting, the Lord shared with me about her "foot pain" and " High blood pressure". She didn't really understand what I was asking her so Suly had to step in and translate for me. She was starting a fire with very little wood they had to prepare their first meal in days. Rice and vegetables. I ended up praying for Mariama while she was sitting down cooking. Her hands went from stirring the pot to praising Jesus with hands in the air in tears as Holy Spirit rested upon her lifting the burden that she carries well. She was so thankful feeling at peace. She does have some needs, but we are waiting to see if there has been any noticeable changes in her health.
(Imagine eating this every single day WHEN you could afford it)
Up until this point, while they waited for God to answer their prayers, they were walking around town trying to find food and wood in the streets. Whats amazing is that it cost them $30 USD to get a bag of rice and a bucket of vegetables. They were so thankful for it. They said it would feed them for almost a week, but that is if they carefully portioned their food. There are some people now a days who are ungrateful for what they already do have. And if you really think about it, its pretty disturbing. Those who have more than enough complain because they want more. But, a family like this, barley has anything and just $30 means the world to them. I believe this is one of the reasons why the Lord has me ministering to them. To encourage them and help when I can. Suly told me recently that they went almost a week without food. I told him I know what it's like. A couple of years ago, the Lord had me fast for 7 days. Only water- no food. I got a wake up call and a better understanding what it meant to die to self. A lot of amazing things came out of it, but to be able to sympathize with him knowing what its like to not be able to eat is an understatement. I understood his struggle. Compassion took over at this point, and the scriptures that came pouring out of my heart was James 4:13-17. It Says, "13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin". It also states in Matthew 25: 31-40, 31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me".
As Holy Spirit brought these to the forefront, I knew the Lord was speaking to me. I knew the Lord was saying to me,"Brandon, Will you feed my sheep? Will you be a light to them in the midst of their darkness"? All I could do in that moment was respond. "Yes, Lord".
When they say a picture is worth a thousand words...
I know the Lord knows every need before we can ever ask Him for it. The word of God says so. Knowing that, I've been in a place where I have had more than enough, and also experienced barley making it in life, however, despite all of that, the Lord has taught me through discipline and stewardship how to be content in ALL things. As I continue to talk with Suly, I continue to ask the hard questions knowing the answers already. So, trusting God in all of this, If God leads you to it, He will help you and guide you through it. I know that it was the Father connecting us together. There was nothing on my page that pointed to financial wealth. There was nothing posted that said I had tons of money. Yet, God knew this. Man didn't. Unless you really know me and know how God has instructed me to walk this journey out with Him, HE IS MY HEAVENLY FATHER AND HE IS MY PROVIDER- HE IS FAITHFUL, GOOD AND TRUE. HE NEVER LETS HIS CHILDREN GO WITHOUT. I HAVE TO QUESTION THOSE WHO SAY THAT THEY WENT WITHOUT WHEN THEY HAD EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED, AND QUESTION IF THEY TRULY ARE ONE OF HIS... Anyways, the hard part is grasping the concept of what true wealth really is. Is it financial? The way the world sees it. Or is it deeper than that? There is treasure that many miss out on because the ways of the world out do and out weigh what God views wealth as. Sure, you can quote scripture and say "If you don't work, then you don't eat". So I would ask, okay, If that is the case, then why would the Lord Himself say, take nothing with you? Leave it all behind, give it up to follow after Him? Again, some will walk by faith and go out into the great unknown trusting in their heavenly father knowing that He has their backs. And others, they will play it safe trusting in their own wisdom. Don't you know, that their is more than just wisdom in God? I understand not everyone is called to walk this way. Correction, Not every answered the call of God on their lives because Free Will said you can choose how you want to live your life. And because of this, many miss the true call of God on their lives and take 2nd, 3rd, 4th best, and truthfully if that's what you want to do, then whom am I to tell you otherwise? BUT... Don't you dare for one second try to get me to follow in the footsteps of man who doesn't obey and follow Jesus with holy reverence and awe. Don't you try and mold me with the power of your idle words to follow in the footsteps of man and the ways of man. The bible is meant to challenge you to become more like Jesus. It doesn't encourage you to become more like the world and if you believe that then you are following the wrong god because only Satan offers the world in that way.
I digress.
Though many question it and are challenged by it, the fruit still remains- Holy Spirit produce. You can try and explain it all away with carnal thinking and rationalizing it because its to great to comprehend. It may even convict you. Good! Let it. That is Holy Spirit trying to do something greater in you. Let Him. It's not passing judgment. It's challenging you to let go and go deeper in Christ. It's not letting fear and worry run all of your life. All that is doing is robbing you of the blessing God has for you and for others. I am challenged daily by Holy Spirit to let go and keep trusting Abba father, regardless of what life looks like and how life feels. Regardless of what man says. Regardless of how man treats me. I have learned that Jesus is my true treasure. He is my wealth. He is my everything and I look forward to the day He welcomes me back home. Until then, I want to be a good servant. Ready and willing at the sound of His voice. I don't have any control over anyone or anything and I refuse to. Wanting control is a sign of weakness and its not going to produce the fruit of Holy Spirit. People will come and go in your lives. Learning to be open to the plans of God for my life, I have been blessed beyond any words can describe. I have also been hurt and abandoned over wanting this life to follow Christ. As people leave, God sends new people in. I have learned to even accept that. Its not as painful and its exciting to see why they are being brought into your life. For Sulyaman and his auntie and his little brother Malick, I know they feel the same way ever since God connected us together. One person leaves having everything they need, for 3 others to walk in being completely happy, content with the little amount that has been given to them. We can learn a lot if we get out of our way and our own understanding and allow God to teach us and show us just how truly blessed me really are...
Stove
(Home- They are now in the process of eviction)
If you feel led by the Spirit to help partner with me financially to help these three children of God, you can ***PARTNER WITH WEST AFRICA _SULYAMAN SEY (Goal is $700.00 USD per month or until they can get on their feet and start their dream) *** and I will make sure that it gets to him. I will continue to upload pictures as I get permission from them to do so. They are thankful for any future blessings to come.
Keep stretching us Lord! Help us understand that you are our true source of wealth.
For your Kingdom...
Thank you, and God Bless!
#Grateful