On a recent trip in Southern Africa, we had the privilege of seeing God pull together something he had been laying the groundwork for over the course of a couple of years. Before we even had a location of the Bible Institute in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, instructors would travel through the town to view Victoria Falls, a beautiful natural site to witness, and to access the closest airport. On those trips, instructors and teams often visited the local tourist market to explore and possibly pick up a small gift to carry home to family or friends. On one such visit, the team began a relationship with a shopkeeper named Gift. Gift, like all shopkeepers, was interested in selling the items in his shop to provide for his family. But on this occasion, Gift asked us for the purpose of our visit and upon learning it prompted us to tell him our favorite bible verse.  

I shared one with him, and he shifted focus from selling to asking questions about the scriptures. We sat together with another shopkeeper and discussed scripture for a long time. Gift was no doubt a believer who had a hunger to know and understand more and more of what the bible teaches. Over a couple of years, we were able to stay in touch, often checking on each other, swapping scripture passages, and questions via WhatsApp. When in the area, we made a point as often as possible to connect and visit in-person. A couple of months ago Gift organized the shopkeepers in the market and I had the privilege to lead a bible study, share the gospel, and encourage a small group of shopkeepers under a shade tree in the market. On the following two days, Gift and another shopkeeper attended the sessions of the now flourishing location of the Bible Institute in Victoria Falls, giving up their very means of earning a livelihood to learn more about God's Word.