A Year with Manmie

"My soul is consumed with longing

for Your laws at all times."

Ps 119:20, ESV

I woke up the day after giving my life to Christ feeling a bit unsure of where to begin or what to do next. The conversation between me and my sister was still vivid in my head but, as a little bitty baby Christian, I found myself wondering whether the heart transformation of which she spoke had really taken place.

Would I be able to control my tongue if provoked?
Would my face automatically glow, as did my sister's the night before?
Could I really prove to my family that I was a true believer in the power of Jesus?

Sufficiently troubled, I went to Manmie (my mother) and relayed my concerns to her.

"Manmie, everyone in the family seems to be a good Christian . . . everyone except me. My siblings use big spiritual words I don't even understand and they never get in trouble the way I do."

The words came out as pitifully as could be while I continued to wallow in Manmie's presence. As we talked, she graciously presented the Christian life as a very long journey, one that provides numerous opportunities for each Christ-follower to learn valuable lessons taught by Christ, the Leader and Master.

"Well . . . where is He?
How can I learn from Him when I can't even see Him?"

Patient and wise, Manmie suggested it was time for breakfast -- we would resume our conversation later. She went on an errand shortly after breakfast and, upon her return, she presented me with a beautiful present -- a distinguished red Bible in French (the official language of Haiti). I fell in love with it right away but a major problem surfaced upon opening it -- I did not know how to read.

To shed some light on my illiteracy, I must go back to the previous year when I was four years old. Being an extremely timid young boy, the thought of going to school and being away from home in the company of complete strangers simply terrified me. So, it was not surprising I cried for an hour straight after being dropped off on the first day of school. The principal lost no time in discussing with Manmie that, due to my young age, I could afford to wait another year before attempting school again. Delighted with the turn of events, I enjoyed staying home that year -- playing games and getting into mischief. Ironically, the same scenario took place when I turned five, which explains why I was still at home.

So, for the love of this red Bible, the topic of school was broached again . . . with a slight alteration.

"Could you do school with me at home, Manmie?
I mean, could you teach me how to read, please?"

Gratefully, she complied.

I was thus at home with Manmie for a whole year, learning and growing. In the course of that year, Manmie and I worked on the alphabet, prayed together, sang together, read the Bible together (well, I listened for the first six months while she read to me). Teaching me how to read became her priority once this red Bible came into my life. In poverty-stricken Haiti, books were precious commodities which made me cherish this first textbook as a highly prized possession.

Homeschooling taught me other things as well. I learned little choruses, verses, and colors. During family devotions held twice a day, I used to repeat every single word uttered by Manmie or Papi (my dad), and readily memorized hymns and large portions of Scripture.

My love for the Word of God characterized that first year following my conversion. I simply could not get enough of it. I remember begging Manmie to read to me even after she endured a long and exhausting day. My favorite book then was the book of Esther because its story tells of the beauty of Queen Esther, her love for her uncle Mordecai, her courage and her strong faith in God.

With all that exposure, it took a little over six months for me to begin reading the Bible on my own. It was around then that, almost out of the blue, Manmie revisited my earlier questions and concerns.

"Lou, do you know Jesus? Do you know where He is? Has he taught you anything since you've asked Him to come into your life?"

I looked at her beautiful, patient, and wise eyes, which locked with mine and, at that moment, I knew with absolute certainty that Jesus had used Manmie to teach me and guide me to find Him in His precious Word.

For the remainder of that year, I continued to grow in the knowledge of God and became more aware of Christ's influence on my life. And though I was still apprehensive concerning the approaching school year and the changes that were sure to come with it, I was beginning to see Jesus would give me the courage to follow Him wherever He leads.

What a fabulous year that was!
What a wonderful Leader Christ is!

As the journey continues, O divine Master, may this follower gladly and obediently do his part for the glory of God! Amen.