Up Close … with young missionary Ryan Adeline-‘I feel really humbled by my experiences’ |12 July 2011

It was extremely quiet and all that was heard was the echo of our footsteps as we walked down the aisle inside the St Paul’s Cathedral in Victoria. It was 9am on a Monday but on either side of me people were seated, head bowed deeply in prayer – or conversation – I couldn’t be sure which.

Ryan led me up the black spiral staircase at the back of the church and into an area overlooking the entire Cathedral in all its majesty including the Eagle as if in mid-flight representing John the Evangelist staring at me from before the altar below. I paused and adjusted my recorder knowing this interview would shake many youths into stepping out and making a significant difference in the world.

“A lot of people began asking me if I wanted to become a priest and my answer was no…”

“I was born the son of an Anglican priest, Father Bryen Adeline, and Mary Adeline (nee Lafortune), who was a creche teacher,” he began.

“In 1994, my parents went to Rodrigues to work and I, still very young, had to follow.
I stayed there for 10 years and in 2005, moved back to Seychelles, without my parents this time, to complete my A-levels.”

It was by the age of 18 that Ryan began feeling a strong calling to be fully involved in doing God’s work but was not quite sure what it was he really wanted to do yet.

“A lot of people began asking me if I wanted to become a priest and my answer was no. It was never my interest,” he said, a fleck of exasperation coming through.

“I knew though that somehow, someway I wanted to do something! I just did not know what it was.”

Soon after, Ryan’s years of searching would come to an end after hearing about a very unconventional school.

“I found out about a Discipleship Training School (DTS), and thought about it for a while. Not for long I might add,” he said chuckling.

I finally sent in my application and was accepted to study in July 2008, in Rustenburg, South Africa, for five months.

Crossroads

Far from being overjoyed, however, Ryan found himself slightly unsure.

“I was at a crossroads at this time in my life and it quickly became a turning point,” he said, leaning forward. His head was slightly bowed, elbows resting on his thighs and his hands were clasped as though trying to find the proper words.

“I had got a scholarship from the government of Seychelles and was due to enroll in a Psychology Degree at a University in South Africa.”

“This was a hard time for me and I struggled to come to a decision between studying psychology and missionary work. As was expected, dad was upset at my decision at first but it was, in the end, my choice to make. He got around eventually though, and today is fully behind me.”  

Life as a missionary

“After studying at the DTS in Rustenburg, I stayed on as a staff member for two years.”
 During this time, he recalls travelling to a lot of different African countries.

“I was only 21 when I made the decision and I remember for me it was quite a challenging experience and I often felt like I was out of my comfort zone as I am what most would call an introvert,” he said.

“I had to be brave and confident in my Christianity while speaking and building compassionate relationships which I guess you could say was a necessity.

At one point I began to really feel the weariness and it was a time when I really had to call on God to help me experience my faith at another level. I was depending solely on Him to provide; I had no savings whatsoever and since YWAM (Youth With A Mission) staff members are not paid a salary, we had to raise our own funds for our missions.”
“It was a tough time but I had already decided that lack of money wasn’t going to stop me from doing what I truly wanted to. So far God has not disappointed me and I’ve come to see my life as an adventure; I like not knowing what the next day will bring,” he sighed.

YWAM is an international, non-denominational (members come from different church backgrounds and partner with different churches) Christian Mission Organisation and there are three main things that members do. These are Evangelism, Training (Discipleship Training School & other schools) and Mercy ministries (doing work in communities). This is all done to bring about the ‘Great Commission’.

“In other words, to make disciples who will continue to do what Jesus did,” Ryan explained.
Ryan told me about the HIV ridden villages he had seen and the absolute poverty that he was constantly surrounded by.
“I remember visiting many people, including those living with HIV; women and children, orphans and people in hospices waiting for death to take them.

It was quite frankly horrible! I had never seen such desolation,” he said.

“At one point we went to what we call ‘squatter camps’ where the poorer members of society live. 45,000 people lived in one camp called Freedom Park. It was an area rich in platinum but where none of the members of the society saw even a dime of the profits. Hopelessness was etched on the inhabitants’ faces and their overwhelming poverty was heart-rending to watch.”

Ryan told me that he later found himself partnered with a clinic in Freedom Park.
“We tried our best to help out. What can sometimes be discouraging is that you can never stick around long enough to see the fruits of your efforts; we help one area and it’s off to the next part of Africa and only other missionaries who come after us get to see the good results after a while. I guess it really is ‘some sow and some reap’.”

While he was there, Ryan took part in a number of projects including one called the Orphan Care Project.

“There we helped out a lot with children who had no parents or were being raised by members of their family other than their mums or dads. The Orphan Care Project started as a feeding scheme, as these kids would often go to school hungry.

We would do our best to provide for them, as well as visiting them every day, teaching them about the Bible, skills that they need for everyday living at school, at home, in their communities and playing games with them,” he said, added that he felt it was imperative that parents in Seychelles start to play a major role in their children’s lives – if they haven’t already – as he has noticed that this often has a major impact on their future decisions.
“We cannot work with the youth alone – we need parents’ involvement too,” he said.

Football, silver linings and vuvuzelas

One of the major highlights at this time was the Football World Cup in South Africa and I have to say, it was one of the best experiences for me and the children we were helping. The SONY company had sponsored us tickets to watch three matches and we even got to see a friendly match between one of my favourite teams – England -- versus Platinum Stars, which was the local football team of Rustenburg. It was definitely a silver lining to the whole situation. A year ago, some kids were also sponsored uniforms and provisions in South Africa by General Motors.

By the time I got back to Seychelles it was 2010 and I hadn’t seen my parents in over two and a half years. Since then I’ve been making plans to go and study at the School of Biblical Studies (SBS), a YWAM secondary school, which is also based in South Africa.

Role models and inspiring figures

By then I was fascinated by Ryan’s story and curious to find out who or what had been responsible for the loving and compassionate man sitting in front of me today.

“The people who have inspired me greatly – aside from my parents – are my godparents because they have always been a great example and set the way for me. Both of them were teachers by profession, and my godfather later became a priest,” he said.

“Another person who inspires me is Dr Myles Munroe, government consultant, leadership mentor and pastor in the Bahamas. I love the fact that his passion is to develop leadership in third world countries and that his teachings and talks have affected both Christians and non-Christians alike. His ways of teaching are practical and he’s been invited to give talks to governments, the UN and has even received an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II for his spiritual and social contributions to the national development of the Bahamas!

A mission for Seychelles

“I must say I feel really humbled by my experiences. I’m only 24 but I feel a lot older because of the things I’ve experienced and seen but I don’t regret it one bit. I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do and am now a member of YWAM.
 
“From January till now, we have been preparing legalities for launching YWAM Seychelles and this will go on through the Indian Ocean Games where international YWAM leaders will come to help set up the organisation. Also in the works for this time is hosting a Nations 2 Nations conference which will include celebrations of our diversity, worship and praise, dances and cultural shows. During the Games we are also planning evangelism, forums, workshops, concerts, and prayer walks. This is just the beginning of the mission of YWAM Seychelles.” 

Desires, passions and dreams for the youth of our country

“What I would like to do for our youth today is to encourage them to step out and not be afraid to do what God has called them to do.

“He has put desires, passions and dreams in our hearts and they are there for a reason. Do not be afraid to master the odds because you have gifts and talents for the benefit of others around you and yourselves. Do not be afraid to dream big, and accomplish what nobody else has done.”