This is how God called us to the mission field

May 2017 We received a call from M.M. asking us to meet him in his office. We went and met him, and he shared about God's work in Africa. He told us a lot about how much there is a need for people to go to the fields. At that time, we were listening to him without any reaction, but at the end of our conversation, we told him that we had not thought about this matter, and we did not want to be on such a mission, but we were thinking about the future of our son who would come soon, and we saw that future in Canada.

We left the office and did not give this matter any importance. But since the beginning of our relationship, my wife and I have known very well that there is a purpose behind our lives, but we did not accept that this mission would be part of our story.

Months passed and Daniel came in January 2018, and we actually started preparing the papers for immigration to Canada in February 2018. At first, we felt that things were easy, but we found some obstacles and challenges, and we did not understand why this was happening. In fact, we tried our best to prepare our papers for travel, but every time we found that the laws changed and we needed more points...

We felt that something was wrong, and we began to pray for this matter, whether it was God's will or not.

At that time, the Lord began to use us and opened doors for ministry in Egypt. And we began to get attached to our church, But the file for travel to Canada was still open, and we had to pass exams to get more points. But one day, and I remember it was Monday, we were going to work, and we decided to pray and make a final decision on the subject of Canada. I entered my office and began to pray, and God spoke to me clearly on several matters regarding travel. And then I was completely convinced that it was not God's will, and I felt calm and peaceful. But I asked the Lord to give me a sign that my wife would also be convinced of this decision.

We met after work, and I asked her if she had reached a decision regarding traveling to Canada? And the shock was that she told me the same points that God had spoken to me about. Then we were sure that it was not God's will.

I received another call from M.M. in the summer of 2019, and he spoke to us about the same matter. In fact, we were ready to serve the Lord with all our energy, and we actually told him that we were available to go to Chad, because there was a need. But some things happened that prevented us from moving at that time. And we also did not find a school for our son there, so we felt that the time had not come yet.

We began to grow in our relationship with God, and we began to read the life stories of missionaries, and we began to feel passionate about this work. And we prayed a lot to move to the fields, but the doors were completely closed. I started studying theology in 2021 to prepare myself for this work, because we know for sure that there is a purpose for our lives.

We prayed a lot for the mission, but the Lord did not open any door, but in return the Lord began to open doors for ministry in Egypt. And one day, we decided that we would not pray for this matter again, because it was clear that God's will for us was to serve Him in Egypt. We accepted the idea with joy.

But in May 2023, my wife dreamed that we went to an African country, and we were subjected to theft and other things in this country, but there was a divine work in this country. My wife told me about this dream, and I felt that there was something...

In June 2023, my friend J.M. called me and said, "What do you think of meeting and having coffee together?" We actually met as a families, and we were sharing with them about God's work, and we told them about the dream. And the surprise was that they said, "We met with you for this matter." What? They told us that they were going to Kenya on a short mission trip in August, and that their friends who live there had asked them to bring an Egyptian family with them. We began to pray for this matter, but there was enthusiasm and passion inside us for this matter.

Before traveling, I called M.M. to ask him if he knew anyone there, and he said no. So I told him that we would travel in August on a short mission trip. M.M. called me a week later and told me that he was going to establish a missionary school there, and he told me to try to meet him there. So we decided to be with our friends for three days, and two days with M.M. in another city in Kenya.

The first time in this country was very special, I had never felt this joy before, I had never experienced this divine use before. We all felt God's presence. Then we went to the second city to meet M.M. And at the end of the two days, he said to me, "What do you think of you being responsible for this work here?" In fact, I refused and told him that I would return to Egypt and think about the matter and then tell him.

In fact, during these periods I was very enjoying my job as a project manager of online radio at TWR, and I felt that I was very special and successful in my job, and I had an annual conference for digital media development. I really feel passionate about my job. So I refused the mission, and I said to myself, "Maybe later I will go, but not now." M.M. asked me to travel with him in October, but I refused, because I would travel to Turkey to attend the annual digital media conference.

I went to this conference, and the shock was that I felt that I had no place in this institution. I felt that God was telling me to leave this job. But I refused, and I said, "How can a sane person leave a job like this?" But in the period from October to December 2023, God was speaking to me a lot about leaving this job.

In January 2024, I submitted my resignation to the local manager, and asked him to send this resignation to the regional manager. When the regional manager found out, he spoke to me on the phone several times, until he came specifically to meet me in Egypt in February 2024. But at this time I was applying for other jobs, because I see that God has given me a talent in this field. And indeed, one of the institutions told me that they had agreed to work with them, after three interviews with the managers.

The regional manager came and we talked together, but I felt that I had to leave this job, even though he did the impossible with me, to the point that I was ashamed of his love and insistence that I stay in my job.

I aspired to work with the new institution in March 2024, but I received a call from one of them that the manager had decided that I would not work with them. It was a shock to me. Why do you say no after several interviews and several tests??? I realized then that it was God's hand. But I said to God, "If you want me to go on the mission, I will not go."

I was alone at home in March without work and without passion, but I was praying and studying the word of God. And at that time M.M. called to me. So I told him that I had left my job, and he said to me, "Are you ready?" I said to him, "No, and I will not moved without a clear voice from God." He said to me, "The Lord is leading you."

At this time, there were other job opportunities, but I did not feel comfortable and passionate about them, but the Lord began to open my heart to this mission day after day. At that time I was not working and had no money, but God was sending us my monthly salary with a different friend every month, and then we were sure that it was really God's hand.

In the second week of April 2024, M.M. spoke to me. He told me that he was going to Rwanda for teaching, and he said to me, "Can you come to help me?" I said to myself, "I am available and not working, and there is an opportunity to serve God, why not??" I told my wife and we felt peace about this matter. And I told him that I would go with him to Rwanda, and I began to prepare for travel...

I arrived in Rwanda at dawn in the third week of April 2024. Upon arrival, I regretted agreeing to come. I thought to myself that I'd be too embarrassed to say no. I went to my room to sleep, feeling a little afraid of the place, so I didn't sleep soundly. In the morning, I met with M.M. and we started working... In the evening, when I called my wife, I told her I was frustrated and regretted coming, and she felt frustrated with my feelings.

The first week passed with the same negative feelings, but in the second week, something changed inside me. I felt an extraordinary love for the country and its people, and I felt like this was my place. I don't know how, but I received a calling there. When I called my wife in the last week of my trip, I told her that this was my place, and my wife was happy when I told her, because she was excited about this step.

At the end of my trip, we started looking for a Christian school for Daniel, and we found KICS. When I spoke with them, the tuition fees were very high and we couldn't afford them, but when we talked to them, they asked us to fill out some forms for a discount, and we did that and left it to the Lord.

On the last day of our trip, M.M. asked me to come back in May 2024 to teach Hermeneutics. I talked to my wife because I would be returning to Egypt for only one week and leaving them for three weeks. My wife agreed and felt peace about it.

I returned to Egypt very happy that I had received my calling. I started studying and preparing the material I would teach in a week only, because it was my first time teaching in English. At that time, M.M. called me and asked, "What do you think about Abir and Daniel coming with you to Rwanda so they can see everything and Daniel's school?" We were very happy because we had been praying for this.

I traveled alone in the second week of May 2024, and at that time, God gave me grace in teaching the word of God. I was amazed and excited about what God was doing with me. But I prayed that my son Daniel would receive the same calling.

My wife and son arrived in the last 10 days of May 2024. In the beginning, my son was bored because we were busy with teaching and responsibilities. Daniel started looking for ways to entertain himself, so he started getting to know the people working at the place we were staying, and God gave him grace.

One day, I heard Daniel sharing the Gospel with someone, and the strange thing was that we had tried many times with this man, but he had rejected the Gospel message. At that time, we were very happy, and it was a clear sign from God to us. 

At that time, the school sent us an email saying that Daniel had been accepted into the school and had to take a test to confirm his level. We did the test during that period, and Daniel was accepted into the school, and the tuition discount was approved. This was another sign from God.

One day, we went out to see the country and calculate the cost of living. We returned very discouraged because we saw that the cost of living was far beyond our means. We returned to our room and slept in deep discouragement. The next morning, I found a message from the bank that someone had sent me about $500. I checked to see who sent me the money and found it was my friend Y.H. I sent him a message saying he might have sent it to me by mistake, but he said, "No, I want to send you this money," and insisted that I not send it back. At that time, we felt that God was telling us, "I know everything and I can take care of you." Our eyes filled with tears and our hearts filled with joy. It was a sign from God, that he will care of everything.

We returned to Egypt filled with the calling and vision for this country. Then we started sharing with our church that God had called us to work with Him in Rwanda. But we faced a big challenge, which was that we needed money to start our life in Rwanda. In fact, we needed a large sum of money.

I decided to go to the mission office and tell them about our financial need. I was surprised when the accountant told me that they don't provide money, but that it was our responsibility. I left the office very upset with them and called my wife and told her everything, that they don't pay any attention to missionaries. But after a few minutes, I told myself, "If this is a real calling from God, He will send us the money we need." We said this was the last sign to confirm that we were on the right track.

They kept asking us at the office when we would move. We were supposed to move in July 2024, but we hadn't received the money we needed. So we told them we were still waiting on God. We expected the church to support us with this need, especially since they had encouraged us in this step, but that didn't happen.

One day, I received a call from my friend D.N. He told me he wanted to meet with me, and I told him I would be home shortly. We met, and he told us that God had told them to give us a sum of money, which was exactly what we needed. We wept before God and called the office and told them we were ready to go to Rwanda. And this was the last sign from God.

We booked our plane tickets and travelled to Rwanda on July 21, 2024, and we are still fulfilling God's calling for our lives.

In truth, how wonderful it is to be in God's will, and to walk in the path that God chooses, despite all the challenges you face, because you are walking on a path guaranteed by God.

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