On October 8, 2023, I had a dream that had a profound effect on me. In it, I saw young people boarding a boat to cross the sea to Europe. Suddenly, the boat was shaken by turbulence and flew through the air like an airplane. The young people on board screamed, cried and clung on desperately, but finally the boat returned to the sea. The young people got out and swam towards the shore, except for one, whose lifeless body lay partly on the edge of the boat. This dream deeply challenged me, and led me to reflect on the question of immigration to Europe and God's plans.

Why leave one's own land to occupy that of others? As a black immigrant, I'm well placed to tackle this subject. I won't be called a racist, but I might be accused of selfishness, living in Europe and trying to dissuade others from coming...

The Bible offers us examples of geographical locations where God directed His servants to accomplish His purposes. Take Abraham, for example, to whom God said in Genesis 12:1: "Go from your country, your homeland, and your father's house, to the land I will show you." Abraham obeyed God's call, and this led to the fulfillment of divine plans.However, it's essential to ask God's will and follow it scrupulously. If we act outside His will, we risk running into obstacles. As Pastor Claudy taught us in his message of September 8, 2023: ( Ordinary people, extraordinary lives), available on YouTube. Following our own will can lead us to failure.

We live in a noisy world, but we need to take the time to listen to God. Our sister in Christ Laeticia's uplifting vignette ( available on EZ37M's Ailes channel) on noise reminds us of the importance of stepping out of the tumult to listen to God's voice. What role do we have to play in changing Africa? God has a plan for the African continent, and we need to ask ourselves if we are part of God's army on the march.

We can't build our nation if we're not in the right place. God often gave specific orders to His disciples to go to specific places. For example, in Acts 16:9-10, Paul received a vision of the Spirit showing him Macedonia, and he immediately followed this call.Before I trained you, I already had designs for you. This reminds me of Jeremiah 1:5: "Before I formed you in your mother's womb, I knew you, and before you came out of her womb, I had consecrated you, I had appointed you a prophet to the nations." These words of God to Jeremiah show us that every person has a divine purpose, a special destiny. It's essential to understand that you weren't born in Africa by chance. God has a specific reason for every birthplace, and He places people in particular places to fulfill His purposes. Psalm 139:13-16 says: "You formed my inward parts, you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you that I am such a wonderful creature. Your works are admirable, and my soul knows it well. My body was not hidden from you, when I was made in a secret place, woven in the depths of the earth.".

As Leyla pointed out in her message of October 7, 2023, cemeteries are full of unfulfilled dreams, untapped talents, unfulfilled destinies. The crucial question is: by doing your will, by coming to Europe or elsewhere, do you risk ending up without fulfilling the designs God has for you? It's true that the fear of leaving dreams unfulfilled haunts many lives; why not let God guide you? The key lies in seeking God's will. Just as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying, "Father, thy will be done" (Luke 22:42), we must seek His will for our lives. Sometimes this may mean staying in one's home area to fulfill a specific purpose, while other times it may mean leaving for another place to fulfill His will there.Ultimately, the decision to migrate to a new place must be guided by a sincere search for God's will. If we are in His will, we can have the assurance that we will fulfill the purposes He has prepared for us, no matter where we are. What if you turned your heart and attention to God, asking for His direction for your path, to live a life that reflects His purposes and glory? We can all be together in love and fellowship, but each has his own place, in the geographical location God has chosen, to be more effective in fulfilling God's purposes. Let's know how to listen to His voice, seek His will, and follow His instructions, because that's how we'll find the way to the fulfillment of His destiny for us. Do you know where God wants you to be?

Mary NGASSA