Life Pacific College

We had the opportunity to connect with Naomi Hokyo ’07 Life Pacific College, now serving as a missionary to Chad. Although she usually has to walk two miles to find internet service (or electricity, for that matter), we caught up with her during some training in South Africa. We thought you’d be interested in hearing what this young alum is doing, in her own words.

Where are you serving and what are you doing?

When I was 8 years old God very specifically spoke to me about this country that I had never heard of―I didn’t even know where it was―Chad. Since graduating from LIFE in 2007 I have been serving in the southern part of Chad in a city named Sarh.

In the two years I have been there, I have done a wide variety of things which have had me draw greatly on the Biblical Studies and Education degrees I received from LIFE. The first thing I did upon arriving was to help start a school and training center. Now I help lead a Bible School and work with a nutrition center which works with malnourished children.

With the Bible School we do a lot of evangelism, most recently in some “unreached” areas—small villages with no church, no missionary, and definitely no Bible in their own language. I am also regularly asked to come into churches to help train Sunday School teachers. With my Foursquare Pastor's License I have had the privilege of preaching in many churches―almost always as the first woman.

At this very moment I am in Durban, South Africa attending a course on Community Development. After serving for two years I felt that it was important for me to receive some new training to help me better develop the work in Chad. The course finishes in December, when I will return to Chad.

What has been the most surprising thing since you arrived?

There most certainly were a lot of practical adjustments to make in moving to Chad,where I live without electricity, cook on open fires outside, walk everywhere, speak a different language, and only wear skirts and dresses (never pants or shorts), but probably the biggest surprise was adjusting to the pace of life. Just coming from college where for four years I not only maintained a full academic load but also juggled a job, church ministry, and volunteer work, I arrived in Chad expecting to be handed a full itinerary in which every moment of my day would be planned out for me. I expected to be given goals and tasks that I was expected to fulfill with deadlines and measured numbers of what would be considered success and what would be failure. Instead I was greeted with, “Welcome, get to know people and we'll see what flows from there.”

In college we had repeatedly heard the quote “direction flows through relationship,” but I'd never really experienced the extreme of that, which in Chad seemed to be more like “nothing flows except through relationship.” In those first few weeks, I really struggled to feel that I was really accomplishing anything. Communication was a challenge and I didn't feel like a “real” missionary.

It was in that time that the Lord taught me a very important lesson—one that I hope to never forget. Our witness and testimony to others will always speak loudest through the actions of our lives. Even when we don't say a word, people are watching us and hopefully seeing the message of Christ's love preached at all times.

It wasn't long until I did get busy with different activities—preaching, teaching, serving—but I do regularly have to tell myself to slow down to match the pace of things in Chad:  remember to come about 45 minutes late to be on time for an event, walk at a gentle march to make sure to have enough time to greet everyone I pass, and never plan my day without the idea that it could all change with the surprise arrival of a visitor!

What experiences and training that you received at LPC prepared you for the field?

The classes I took at LPC, the professors and staff who took the time to mentor me, plus the opportunities I had, all taught me many skills and tools which I regularly use. They taught me the importance of relationships, how to be a good leader, how to manage time, how to work with people who think differently from me, and how to resolve conflicts.

There are just so many things. I could go on and on, but the greatest thing I took away from LPC is that I learned how to seek God. LIFE taught me that the most important thing in ministry, or life in general, is my personal relationship with God. I was given great tools and principles in how to study the Bible, and I was taught many timeless truths that I have found apply wherever I am, whatever language I speak, and whatever work I’m doing.

What is your current vision?

God is still developing a lot within me. Right now there are so many things that I want to do, and so many needs that I see. I really have a heart for unreached people groups, of which there are several within a 20-mile radius of where I'm living. I definitely think that a real open door to a lot of those places is through education as many of them also don't have schools, so I may pursue that.

At the moment, what I would like to start with is a kids club, doing basic evangelism and teaching local kids. This also provides a starting point for me to do some training with a group of young people from the community who I would like to disciple to work with kids as well. As much as possible, I want to always be doing things that have multiplication in mind.

If you know of an alumnus with an interesting story that we should share, contact the Office of Advancement at advancement@lifepacific.edu or (909) 706-3005.