Geshon had always promised himself that he would make a better life for his children than the one that was afforded to him. Having been raised in a slum in Lusaka, Zambia, Geshon’s parents could not afford to send him to school. As he watched his friends pass by every day on their way to school, he was painfully aware that he would never be able to improve his position in life.
In spite of his lack of education, Geshon tried his hands at many small businesses but none worked out as he’d hoped. He eventually met and married Jane and together they agreed that education would be a priority for their children. Several years on with five new mouths to feed they were struggling to even provide the basic necessities, let alone an education.
The little shop they had started to try to earn more money was not doing well and Geshon was growing discouraged.
I felt like a failure, Geshon said. I couldn’t understand why I’ve struggled so much. I felt the value of my life slowly being replaced with heartache. Eventually, I felt it would be better if I were dead.”
“I felt the value of my life slowly being replaced with heartache. Eventually, I felt it would be better if I were dead.”
Geshon soon began to plan his suicide deciding to buy poison and go into the Bush to drink it so his family would not have the burden of paying for his burial.
When the fateful day had arrived he walked to the shop to buy the poison and was surprised to find that the cost of it left him with no money to leave the area. On his way home, he took a different route than usual and stumbled upon a screening of the Jesus Film as an outreach of the Lusaka Leadership Initiative. He stood curiously watching the film to the end and then left to carry out his plan.
As Geshon opened the bottle of poison, he was struck by the meaning of the film he had just seen. He felt a conviction to go back where the film had been shown and speak with someone. All thoughts of suicide forgotten, he rushed back to speak to the ministers. As they prayed with, he surrenedered his life to Christ and he handed over his bottle of poison.
The following day, the mission evangelists visited him in his home to counsel him in his new faith. Jane was moved by seeing
such a change in her husband and decided to dedicate her life to Christ as well.
“I’m thankful that God prompted me to turn back before it was too late.” Geshon said. “I feel like a heavy burden has been lifted from my life and I am grateful that I took a new path in the nick of time. I believe that was God’s way of calling me to Himself and showing me that He loves me.”
“I feel like a heavy burden has been lifted from my life and I am grateful that I took a new path in the nick of time.”
The couple is optimistic about the future and are thankful for their new knowledge of Christ. Geshon was so enthusiastic about his new-found faith that he joined the mission team in the following days and helped them assemble equipment for The Jesus Film screening. He also shared his testimony. “I want others to be transformed in the same way I have been.”
Please pray for Geshon and Jane as they begin their new lives in Christ. The AE team have introduced them to a local church where they will attend discipleship courses. Pray that God provides for their every need and that their hearts remain strong in the knowledge of God’s love.