Adventist Mission

Radiya and the Radio

She was quite obviously a Muslim. I could tell by her expensive bed cover, her mother’s beautiful shawl, and her distinctive facial features. But, you can never tell how Ethiopian Muslims are going to react to an offer of prayer. Some welcome it warmly, almost begging for intersession. Others refuse it sternly, insisting that they don’t want to have anything to do with Christians. Most are quizzically amused – giving you permission to continue, but observing the proceedings with a polite smirk. Radiya fell into the final category.

She was about ten years old, and clearly bored with sitting in her hospital bed. My prayer and selected scripture readings were probably the most interesting thing she’d seen all day. As I closed the door to her private room behind me, I mused. What a pity that I didn’t have any sort of subtle, witnessing-type material that I could give her to pass the afternoon. A creation-focused coloring book would be perfect. Or, a Christian character-building kid’s video on a portable TV set. Too bad neither existed in Gimbie. All I had was my Oromiffa audio New Testament… Surely the Muslims would think it rude of me to offer something so blatantly Christian…

A few minutes later, I was rapping on Radiya’s door. “I brought an Oromiffa radio” I said, grinning broadly. “Would you like to listen to it?” The little girl furrowed her brow and looked to her mother for permission. Mom nodded the okay. “Eyeee!” Radiya replied, “Yes!” With a prayer shot heavenward, I plugged it in and selected the book of Luke. Then, leaving the recorded narrator to begin the Christmas story, I left with a promise to return later.

I won’t deny that I delayed my return as long as possible. When I did knock on the door, I was surprised to find the room abandoned. Radiya and her mother had gone home. One of the cleaners had collected the radio for safe-keeping. I sighed. I had probably scared them away from the hospital with all of that hard-core witnessing.

I had completely forgotten about Radiya when a man came to my office several weeks later. He looked unfamiliar, but explained that he had come on behalf of a friend – a Muslim friend. “You see” he said, “my friend is very interested in the Bible, but is cautious because he lives in the midst of an Islamic community.” The man then proceeded to tell me about how his friend has always wanted to learn more about the Christian writings, but could never do so, because he cannot read.

“However,” the man continued, “his daughter was here at the hospital several weeks ago, and says that she listened to the Christian writings on a radio…” I gasped. Radiya! The man looked at me intently.

“Do you think it would be possible to find a radio for this man? He wants ever so much to learn more.” This time, there was no hesitation.

“Absolutely!” I said, “He’ll get a radio if I have to make it myself!”

We should never be ashamed of the gospel. You never know who may be searching.

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