What medicine couldn’t heal, Jesus could.

“Want to come to church with me this weekend?” my schoolmate invited me. “We’re learning all about God.”

I laughed. “Those are just foolish words. I don’t need to waste my time on God.”

Village life, though simple, was also demanding. My parents and I had to gather whatever we ate, so survival mattered to us far more than faith. Yet even through my unbelief, God patiently watched over me, waiting for an opportunity to reach my heart. 

When it came time for me to advance my education, I left the quiet routine of village life and moved to the city of Sotouboua to live with my older brother. I expected new opportunities and a bright future. Instead, I walked into one of the darkest seasons of my life. In Sotouboua, I became seriously ill. My condition worsened quickly, and my family took me to hospitals, clinics and even witchdoctors to find a cure for my maladies. Nothing worked—not the doctors’ medicines and not the witchdoctors’ charms. As my body weakened, I felt discouraged and afraid.

Returning home, I had a happy surprise: I began to recover, albeit slowly. With rekindled hope, I returned to school, but something had changed inside me. I could no longer keep up with my studies. My grades dropped, and no matter how hard I tried, everything felt heavy and confusing. Tired of struggling, I made the painful decision to drop out of school. My dreams had been buried by sickness and failure.

But God still wasn’t done with me.

The following year, I tried again. This time, I managed to finish middle school. I thought the worst was behind me, but when I entered high school, the same problems returned—weakness, confusion and constant health issues. It seemed I couldn’t escape the hopeless cycle.

“Hello, Jonas.” I lay in a hospital bed once again, and someone had come to visit the patient in the bed next to me. My eyes wandered over to the unfamiliar visitor. 

“Hello, friend.” Jonas placed a hand on my neighbor’s bed frame. “May I pray with you today?” 

As the two of them bowed in prayer, I listened quietly, not thinking either of them would pay attention to me. But when he finished praying, Jonas walked over and smiled kindly at me. “May I pray for you as well?” Without really knowing why, I nodded yes.

As he prayed for me, something stirred in my heart—something I had never felt before. Peace. Hope. Light. “Thank you,” I told him, choking back the lump in my throat. “I have been sick for so long, and nothing is working. The doctors can’t seem to help, and neither can the traditional healers. I’m failing in school, and I’m so afraid.” 

Pastor Jonas listened gently. “God loves you,” he told me.“Jesus can heal not only your body, but your heart. Trust Him completely.”

Location
Togo

Author
Told by Brigitte to Agamah Balakibawi, a district pastor in the Kara region of Togo. 

How You Can Help
Pray for Brigitte as she heals from her health trauma. Pray that God will help her to grow in His grace.

Pray for the eight Bible workers in Togo as they seek out those who are searching for the truth. 

Donate to the evangelistic work in Togo by sending your gift marked “Togo Evangelism” to: 

Mission Projects International 
PO Box 237 
Kirksville, MO 63501

To give securely online, visit:
www.missionspro.org/donate

Thank you. Your gifts sustain eight full-time Bible workers and one full-time evangelist who are bringing God’s last warning to Togo. Thank you so much for your support of these workers!