This afternoon, I met a man. His name is Patrick. His skin is black as coal. And his smile reveals teeth white as pearls. As I looked at him from afar, I was taken back to the time in my life where I lost my heart to Africa and the people there. As I approached him, he held out his hand. All I could say was, “My name is Sara. Thank you for coming.” He said, “My name is Patrick, I love Jesus.”

I have been attending a Voice of the Martyrs conference for the last 2 days. This man, Pastor Patrick was a pastor in Sudan. Southern Sudan. If you pay any attention to the world, you know what has been happening in the Sudan for many years. This man was tortured. Why? Because he loves Jesus. Because he led others to Jesus. Because he was doing exactly what God calls us to. He was living what the Bible calls a normal Christian life and yet we in America say it is extreme so that we can live comfortably in our mediocrity, calling this “normal.”

Pastor Patrick asked me again what my name was. I said, “Sara.” He said, “Sara. That is a faithful name.” Humbling. I pray that I will be able to live up to these words. I asked him where his family was, they are in the states with him. I then told him that I had been to Uganda. His eyes lit up with a big smile at this and he gave me what we called in Senegal a “double handshake.” He told me that he had lived in Uganda for 5 years. He asked me how I found Uganda to be. I told him that I loved it very much. He asked me what I am doing. I told him I am studying to become a missionary. He said, "People here who have never been there, they don't really understand. The African people love." And they do, they love abudantly. He asked me if I would go back to Africa, I told him that yes, that is my desire. We talked a little more and I just thanked him again for coming and sharing with us his story. He shook my hand again and said “May God bless you.”

Tears came to my eyes as I walked away. I have wanted to go to a Voice of the Martyrs conference for many years, but have never been where one was. When I heard about this one, I knew immediately that regardless of how much homework or how many other fun activities were going on, I had to go. This man’s words will forever ring in my head, “Sara. That is a faithful name.” This brother has been faithful to God at a very high cost. And yet as I looked into his eyes, I saw peace and a love for Jesus. He knows firsthand the cost of following Christ. He was humble. He was full of love. Christ could be clearly seen in this man. And through a simple five minute conversation with him, my life has been changed.