Missionary profile – Edme Cachicata

By Mercy Kambura

When I was 14, my family moved from the city to a war-torn part of Angola as missionaries. The town was very remote, and there still were landmines. It was beyond my teenage mind’s comprehension why people would leave their comfortable lives to come to such a place. However, the Lord started working on my heart; He reminded me that Jesus left heaven for me! Years later, I’m a missionary, working with women affected by Fistula, helping restore their bodies, minds, and souls. The four years in the mission field with my parents were my first contact with missionary work. I saw people who had left their countries and wonderful lives to help my people know Christ, and all I was doing was complaining about living in the bush. I began helping my father in the Community Library. I had free access to books, and I got to read a lot of missionaries’ biographies. Although I felt the need to go out to my people and share the Gospel, I had seen how tough life was for missionaries and their kids. I didn’t want to be a missionary, I made up my mind to be a wealthy businesswoman instead. To be an international businesswoman, I needed to learn English and so my father enrolled me in a seminary. While there, I met an American missionary teaching English as he learned Portuguese. He’d tell us many stories from the mission trips they were making. I missed the times I used to be with my family in the mission field.

I accompanied him on one of the visits and was amazed; here was an American who could barely speak Portuguese, trying hard to communicate with the locals to reach them, yet I was fluent in Portuguese and not lifting a finger to make Christ known to my people. That’s when I made up my mind I would be a missionary. I met two foreigners from Holland and England helping women with Fistula. I just kept wondering, “How is God sending people from all these far places to help my people, yet I was here?” When I finished college, I started working with them in the organization Hope for our Sisters, which is a ministry of SIM. We’re helping them regain their dignity and health while preaching Christ and eternity. We have been born in the right place, and God has something for us where we are. We all have to spread God’s love, starting where we are. He knows why we’re here and will use our gifts to serve him. God isn’t only using pastors and doctors. I studied Management and Accounts, and the Lord uses this knowledge for missions. We can all do missions with our gifts and professions.

#Pray:

For the grace of the Lord. We need lots of love and patience for this work.