I must confess that I have much less patience than I would like, which is why I sometimes find myself in situations where this deficiency is particularly noticeable. Every time this happens, I view it as an opportunity that God is providing for me to grow in this area. Truthfully, if someone were to ask me what I believe to be the most important characteristic for a missionary, I would say it is patience: patience with processes in the field and behind the scenes (donors, office, churches, etc.), patience with family, the missionary team, locals, and the culture, to name a few. Patience is a vital ingredient in life.

I would like to share a recent episode. Near my house, there is a small store, a taberna (tavern), where we purchase groceries and household items. The owner is a Muslim named Abduramani, a native of Guinea-Conakry. Every day I stop by to purchase something and chat a little; it is a good opportunity to practice my French.

A few days ago, I went there to buy a 50kg (110-pound) bag of rice. As always, he is very friendly and took good care of me. We put the heavy bag of rice in the car, I paid and began to drive off. However, I had not noticed that a small table was directly in front of the car. It was low, and I did not see it, so I ended up knocking the table over and breaking it. I stopped the car. As I was getting out to see what had happened, Abduramani motioned for me to go, making it clear that everything was fine. Since I was late, I followed Abduramani’s instructions and left.

The next day, I returned to the taberna to apologize and tell Abduramani that he could have another table made, and I would pay for it. It was the least I could do for him. Abduramani then said something that both surprised and embarrassed me. With an extremely patient look and a smile on his face, he told me not to worry, saying, “It was just an old table.”

I insisted that I should fix the table so that he would not be left with the loss.

“Pastor, I am not going to bother you because of an old table, and I know you, and I know that if it were the other way around you would do the same for me. We are brothers.”

Friends, that was like a punch in my stomach. I know myself well. I know that I would probably have been very angry and impatient if he had broken my table. Perhaps I would not have treated him with the same patience.

I left Abduramani’s tavern immersed in thought about the importance of being patient with situations and people, both as a Christian and as a missionary. I realized how much I still have to grow in this character trait. What a wonderful lesson!

Interestingly, a day or two later, and moments after parking my motorcycle in front of another taberna, I heard a noise. I looked back and discovered my motorcycle on the ground. A man had been maneuvering his car and accidentally knocked my motorcycle over. At that moment, Abduramani’s words came to mind, and I thought, It’s just a motorcycle. The man got out of the car, embarrassed and apologizing, and helped me pick up the motorcycle. I told him not to worry, it was okay; after all, it was just a motorcycle.

When we are not patient with people in situations like these, we often give the impression that things are more important than people. From the point of view of a missionary, of a Christian, this is absolutely wrong.

The Holy Spirit, through my friend Abduramani, helped me remember that we are in the field to reach people, and the way we relate and react can make all the difference between success and failure.

And you, how is your patience? How have you reacted in moments of stress? If, like me, you need to grow in this character trait, ask God for patience. He can provide an Abduramani for you.

Pray for the missionaries, so that we can be a channel of blessing and a living testimony of a loving and generous God.

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19-20).

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