Lessons in Submission: How Submission Guided My Mentorship with Mabinty by Ansumana Bangura
In September 2014, during our routine Thursday outreach in our community of Kroo Bay, I met a woman named Mummy Hawa. She told me about her financial challenges living in Kroo Bay as well as the challenges experienced by her youngest daughter, Mabinty. Mabinty was eleven at the time, and in sixth grade.
After hearing their story, I began to spend every Thursday in Kroo bay talking with Mummy Hawa and daughter Mabinty. In her family, Mabinty was seen as the black sheep, or outcast. She was often humiliated by the negative words that were said about her.
Jesus asks Peter three times: Do you love me? If so, feed my sheep (John 21:15-17). This invites us to tend to His sheep, or better understood as, His beloved children. The Lord chose me to continue to show Mabinty love and serve her wholeheartedly, without any reservation.
Mabinty soon joined our Lighthouse program where she received discipleship and mentorship. It was difficult though, as she regularly broke the rules that were set by the Lighthouse leaders. I continued to advocate for Mabinty, and encouraged her to overcome all the trials and challenging moments we experienced with her. I courageously and patiently sat with her day in and day out, submitting to her behavior and character just to put a smile on her face. To me, submission is putting oneself in a vulnerable position to show love and respect, by holding others in high esteem. During this time of journeying with Mabinty, God gave me guidance and direction, helping me to navigate through it.
Jeremiah 22:16 says “He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?’ declares the LORD”.
I invited Mabinty to my family’s home to support, care for, and prepare her for her middle school exams known as Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). She became my daughter. She passed both exams with good grades. It is amazing to see her succeed in this journey of life. She has gone from black sheep to breadwinner in her home. All because God led me to see hope and practice submission in mentoring and being a father-figure to her.
1 Corinthians 1:27-31 says “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him”. God chooses those I serve to teach me how to love better. I have discovered the truth of this passage in Mabinty’s story.
During her time with us in my family home, we had something called “Fambul Tok”, a Krio phrase that essentially means “Family Discussion”. In one of those “Fambul Toks”, she boldly told me that “Dad, sometimes when you come home, your facial expression does not show the true love you are showing me”. In that moment, these verses from 1 Corinthians 13 came to mind “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”. This was significant because, in Sierra Leonean culture, children are not encouraged to challenge adults. In this moment, she was courageously reminding me of what was true and sharing it with love. I stood and looked inside her eyes, and I gave her a hug. I heard her and submitted to what she was sharing with me. I was reminded to continue to show her love, especially with my facial expressions.
Mabinty’s journey was successful because of my continued submission and service, respect for her, hope, humility and ultimately love. Submission to God has shaped Mabinty to a point where she can do any form of skilled work to provide for her family; she is the breadwinner. At the age of 22, she is an amazing woman, waiting to be admitted to university.
Pseudonyms added for the safety of this individual.