I Didn’t Expect God to Break Me in an Orphanage

It’s been over two weeks since I arrived in Cameroon, and the beginning was not what I expected.

The first week was brutal.

Closed doors. Rejection. Plans falling through. I preached only a handful of times the entire week, which is what would normally happen in a single day for our ministry. It felt like resistance at every turn. It was frustrating, discouraging, and honestly confusing.

But even in that, the Lord was faithful.

Then I moved to a city called Tiko.

And everything changed.

Almost immediately, doors began to open. Opportunities increased. Conversations multiplied. We went from struggling to find places to speak, to averaging over 10 outreaches a day. One day, we reached 14 speaking engagements. In one moment, we saw 2,776 people respond to the Gospel in a single day.

It was clear. This was not strategy. This was God.

But as powerful as those moments were, that was not what impacted me the most.

The real turning point came from where I was living.

Life in the Orphanage

While in Tiko, I stayed at an orphanage called Orphanage to All Nations, a home that has been caring for vulnerable children for the past 16 years.

Thousands of children have passed through this home. Many of them are now grown, have families of their own, and are living stable lives. That alone says something about the work being done here.

Recently, they received triplets after their mother was assaulted by rebels and could no longer care for them. Today, those children are safe, loved, and attending school just a short walk away.

This is not theory. This is real life.

Living here stretched me.

The electricity goes out almost daily. There is no air conditioning. Nights are long and hot. Showers are taken with a bucket. Mosquitoes are constant. Comfort is minimal.

But none of that is what stays with me.

What stays with me is what happened in the middle of it.

Where Real Transformation Happens

Some of my favorite moments have been the simplest ones.

Sitting face to face with the children. Opening Scripture together. Letting them ask questions. Watching them think, respond, and grow.

No stage. No microphone. No crowd.

Just presence.

This is where I began to understand something deeper about discipleship. It is not built on platforms. It is built on proximity.

These moments reminded me of how Jesus walked with His disciples. Not from a distance, but up close. Personal. Intentional. Consistent.

Over the weekend, we took the children to the zoo and then to the beach. We shared a meal together, laughed, and watched them enjoy something many of them rarely experience.

For them, it was a special day.

For me, it was something I will not forget.

What This Experience Taught Me

This season has exposed something I did not fully see before.

You do not need more comfort to find purpose.

You need obedience in the place God puts in front of you.

Living here stripped away distractions. It forced me to slow down. It reminded me how little we actually need and how much we overlook.

Simple things we take for granted suddenly matter.

But more importantly, it showed me the value of investing in people who cannot give anything back.

And that changes you.

A Challenge to Anyone Feeling Stuck

If you are a believer who feels bored, stuck, or unsure of your calling, I want to challenge you directly.

Spend time in an orphanage.

Not for an experience.
Not for a trip.
Not just to help.

Go to be changed.

Because what you think will happen is this.

You will go to impact children.

But what actually happens is this.

God will use them to expose you, humble you, and reshape you.

You will become more grateful.
You will gain perspective.
You will understand purpose in a deeper way.

It will not be comfortable.
It will not be easy.

But it will be real.

Final Thought

I am grateful for this experience.

Not because it was smooth, but because it was not.

Not because it was easy, but because it forced growth.

And I would do it again.

If you have been waiting to feel ready to step into something meaningful, you may be waiting too long.

Go where the need is.

Show up.

Stay long enough to be changed.