I had been looking forward to this lecture trip to the TMC Youth Summit in Togo for months. Now, finally belted into my Air France seat and on my way to Africa for the very first time, I wasn’t feeling well at all. I hadn’t slept much the night before and was dealing with general flu symptoms, so I tried to take a good nap as the plane took off. Although I wore my noise-blocking headset for the next few hours, my sleep was frequently interrupted by the muffled sounds of conversation around me. I don’t think I have ever been on a flight with so many happy people. The plane was full of Togolese returning home for the holidays, all whom seemed to know each other, talking, laughing, and passing plump, contented babies around from seat to seat. The man sitting next to me was somewhat of a celebrity, recognized by other passengers who stopped to chat with him. In between their conversations I noticed my seatmate intently reading from a small book of the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. A few hours into the Paris-Lomé flight, I still felt poorly. I pulled off my headset for the first time since the flight began, to engage a bit with what was going on around me. Before the earphones ever touched my lap, my seatmate asked, « Is this your first visit to Togo ? » And the conversation began. I learned that he is a Mayor of Lomé, the capital of Togo. Lomé is a large city, spread out over many miles, bubbling and brimming with colorful, multicultural life. This bustling community requires an assistant Mayor for each of its five sectors to keep up with the day to day running of the city. My new friend was one of these five. He learned that I am a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, visiting for the first time to lecture for a church organization he had not yet heard of – the Christian Science Society of Lomé. « Monsieur le Maire, » as he would be addressed in French, is a church-loving Baptist who knows his Bible very well. He shared favorite passages with me and I shared mine with him. We were both moved to think deeply and to discuss the spiritual meaning of many different scriptures and their application particularly to prayer and healing. This spontaneous sharing lasted for more than two hours. Interestingly, every question he asked me about prayer was going to be thoroughly covered in my lecture. Just before we landed he asked if he could come to the lecture, scheduled to occur during the Summit the following Saturday. Of course, he was welcome. As we stepped off the plane I realized that I had been healed of the illness during our chat. The thirst for the Christ message of prayer and healing in Lomé, so evident in that first contact on the plane, was a foretaste of things to come. Upon arrival at my hotel, a young man in security insisted on taking my bags to my room. I felt they were quite manageable and tried every which way to get him to let me handle them myself. But, he just quietly continued on, carrying my bags and brushing off my protests. When we arrived to the room and had complete privacy he inquired with such an intent and serious expression, « You are a Christian Scientist ? » I am not sure how he knew this, but I said yes. He then said, « I want to know the Bible. I want to study Christian Science. » I learned that he is a college student working part time at the hotel. He was unable to attend the Summit. So I put him in touch with the active CSO at the University of Lome and with a member of the local Christian Science Society. I also gave him a copy of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy to help him get started with his study. The Summit was a great success. Tom McElroy and I gave two lectures each. The local church members and TMC Youth team conducted workshops. My understanding is that a large percentage, well over half of those attending, learned about Christian Science for the first time at the Summit. Monsieur le Maire did come to my lecture, the first one I have ever given in French, squeezing it into his very busy schedule. He had ten different marriages to officiate during the rest of the day. But he came and listened intently, taking notes and asking sincere, astute questions. Before he left, he obtained his own copy of Science and Health to help his Bible study. We plan to stay in touch to continue the conversation that began on our flight. I could report on hundreds of conversations and contacts made over the course of my five days in Lomé – each one illustrating the same things: a pure love of the Bible and the heartfelt desire to grow in the practice of effective, healing prayer. I would be pleased and ready to go back to Lomé at any time. God’s beautiful, radiant, happy children, with pure hearts hungering and thirsting after righteousness, are found everywhere there. Love it? Please share.
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Kim
12/21/2012 05:54:02 am
Michelle, what a rich experience! I love everything about it. Incredible work you are doing. Merry Christmas to you and yours! Love.
Michelle Nanouche
12/21/2012 09:33:47 am
Merry Christmas, Kim. Love, M
Kathleen
12/21/2012 06:20:42 am
As I thought about the challenge and accomplishment of delivering a lecture that was not in your mother tongue, I realized that really we all speak the same language -- that of Spirit. Thank you for sharing this wonderful event with us. Joyeux noel!
Michelle Nanouche
12/21/2012 09:34:43 am
Joyeux Noel, Kathleen. That language of Spirit thought gets me through a lot of firsts in French! 12/21/2012 07:40:54 am
One more beautiful story about Christian Science. Thank you for sharing this experience Michelle.
Michelle Nanouche
12/21/2012 09:35:39 am
Thanks for the proofread, Marie-Noel. And for the share of Facebook! ;)
Georgia
12/21/2012 09:42:26 am
The language of Love --you speak it well! This is love expressed exponentially! Very inspiring!
Michelle Nanouche
12/21/2012 10:18:53 am
I felt very loved during it all. That conversation with the Mayor was hugely helpful. His questions were exactly what my lecture was about. I needed to know that this was the right message for the right audience. So talkign to him was a real gift to me. Thanks, Georgia! 12/21/2012 09:51:49 am
Very much enjoyed reading about your spiritual and practical adventures: on the Air France flight, with the young man in hotel security and at the TMC Youth Summit in Togo --- you conveyed a VIVID story/picture! Would loved to have heard your first lecture given-in-French amongst the Togolese. I really respect all that you're doing! (I'd also love to have one of those Christmas cookies that you were busy baking at home!)
Michelle Nanouche
12/21/2012 10:20:39 am
Well if you want a cookie, you'd better get here quickly! They will be delivered to family, friends and neighbors, tomorrow.
Tamara
12/21/2012 10:19:52 am
What a beautiful experience, and what a beautiful way to describe it! Thank you!
Michelle Nanouche
12/21/2012 10:21:33 am
Unforgettable, really. Glad to hear from you! 12/21/2012 10:26:38 am
What a wonderful article, Michelle...it really warmed my heart! And good for you, giving your first lecture in French. Yay!
Michelle Nanouche
12/21/2012 11:37:37 am
Thank you, Amy. Yay is right!! ;)
Michelle Nanouche
12/21/2012 11:38:10 am
Whew, even.
Béatrice
12/21/2012 12:04:57 pm
Dear Michelle,
Michelle Nanouche
12/21/2012 11:06:15 pm
Christmas blessings to you and to your family, Béatrice!
Jean
12/21/2012 12:07:41 pm
And blessed are you for doing the work inspired by God, who is Love. As always, many thanks for sharing and widening the ripples.
Michelle Nanouche
12/21/2012 11:17:16 pm
It really was a blessing to me. Lomé is a shockingly materially poor community. Beyond what I imagined. But it is a hard working, "the right way will win the right of way (Eddy)", full of faith community. The Christian Science Society has managed, over a 25 year span, to overcome outright religious persecution, to become legally recognized and build a church. They are spiritually steadfast and strong. Such an example.
Kris
12/21/2012 12:22:20 pm
I sat to read this to take a break from the constant bustle/hustle of getting ready for a household of family about to arrive! It calmed me and refreshed me and gave me great hope for the future of Christian Science and for the future of the globe. Christmas Blessings, Michelle, for your fine selfless work. Now off to bake some Christmas cookies!
Michelle Nanouche
12/21/2012 11:18:24 pm
Thanks Kris. Happy baking! 12/21/2012 04:32:14 pm
This is such a wonderful story Michelle .. thanks sharing this wonderful trip with us!
Michelle Nanouche
12/21/2012 11:19:17 pm
So welcome, Beca.
Nancy
12/21/2012 05:15:00 pm
What a treat to read about the love and pure joy expressed on your adventure. Such evidence of the light of Truth shining through every person and every event during this Christmas season. Thank you for sharing all the details, and thank you for the selfless life you are living -- you are an inspiring example for sure!
Michelle Nanouche
12/21/2012 11:22:27 pm
I hope you will hear more of the stories coming out of this Summit. Everyone involved had equally remarkable moments/ conversations. A gift to us all. Thanks, Nancy!
Ruth
12/22/2012 04:54:52 am
Thank you Michelle for sharing this wonderful experience! Your shining light is a beacon for many!! Merry Christmas!
Yves Michon
1/18/2013 03:47:05 pm
Love this switching article ! Thank you Michelle ! Comments are closed.
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Find me on YouTube I have practiced Christian Science professionally in some form since 1979. But my journey with Christian Science started in a Sunday school where as a young child I was taught the Scriptures and some simple basics of Jesus' method of scientific Christian healing. A significant experience at the age of twelve opened my eyes to the great potential of this practice. After impaling my foot on a nail, I prayed the way I had learned in Sunday school. Within moments the pain stopped and healing began. By the next morning the wound had disappeared completely. Having experienced the great potential of Christian Science, there would be no turning back. |
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© 2011-2024 Michelle Boccanfuso Nanouche, CSB. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Site updated November 5, 2024