Doing God's work: Flora Factor in Africa

By Dustin Gray
Media Specialist

It had to be a peculiar and startling sight for those that shared the road with Flora Factor that afternoon.

In a fit of wholehearted fulfillment, Flora freed her fists of the steering wheel and raised her hands above her head. Tears of joy welled in her eyes and she began to shout praises as the gospel station on the radio announced the opportunity to work with the World Mission Team in Africa.

Immediately, she had recognized God’s will.

“That day was the answer to my prayers,” Flora says.

After regaining control of her vehicle and arriving home safely, she called the Mission Board and got on the list with the World Mission Team.

“The desire had been in my heart a long time…that I could be in Africa and help the people of Africa,” she says.

Though she had been selected to join the World Mission Team in Cameroon, raising enough funds seemed an implausible obstacle.

Flora’s faith was resolute, and she was determined to raise the necessary $3,500.

“If it’s His will, you’ll use all your power to do what you’ve got to do when He calls you.”

She utilized one of her greatest talents, making enormous quantities of her legendary chicken and dumplings and Indian tacos. She held large food sales, using half of her profits to pay her bills, and saving the rest for the mission trip.

She sold the things she no longer needed at garage sales.

“On the last week of my garage sale, the Lord filled in what needed to be done,” she states proudly.

Flora received donations from a host of unlikely places.

“People I never dreamed were giving me a hundred dollars,” she says. “There was a hundred dollars in my mailbox.”

For Flora, there’s only one explanation for the uncommon generosity of her peers.

“Jesus worked through these people.”

Having saved over $4,000 in 5 months, Flora bought a plane ticket and joined the team for their mission trip to Africa.

She forged many lasting friendships on her travels throughout Cameroon, giving testimony and sharing her faith.

“I get uplifted by talking to these people and telling them about Jesus,” she says. “I told the African people that I had been praying for them across the seas for many, many years. I lay in my bed and I prayed for all nations, everybody that’s got a soul.”

Flipping through the compiled albums from her trip, Flora has a story for each photograph. It’s easily realized that this experience, this distant land and its people, is forever ingrained in her heart. Pointing out one of the pictures, her eyes light up when she talks about the opportunity to share her culture with the people of Cameroon.

“I stood out there singing the Seminole Language for these people,” she says. “And I truly believe God translated the words for me. These people that didn’t know my language, they’d all be crying because they heard the words.”

“I even prayed for the people in the Seminole Language,” she adds. “And they just love to hear it.”

Over 13,000 people received salvation through the World Mission Team’s outreach in Cameroon churches and schools, and 300 rededicated their lives. Flora remembers the final day of the trip vividly.

The team was scheduled to return to the U.S. on Easter Sunday, but due to mechanical difficulties, the flight was delayed an entire day. While some were a bit disheartened by the setback, Flora bolstered morale by insisting that a purpose existed for their having to stay an extra day. They held a special Easter service in Cameroon’s largest city, Duala, where 5 more people were saved.

“That was our mission,” says Flora.

Since returning from her trip last month, Flora has traveled to several churches around the county to share her experiences. For the next year or so, she plans to stay close to Wewoka, her hometown.

Occasionally, she makes a trip out to the Carl Albert Indian Health Facility in Ada, where she travels room to room singing for patients and offering her testimony.

“I tell them about my past,” she says. “I used to drink, I used to smoke, but God can take all that away from you. He can change you…I’ve been changed for about 40 years. Now I’m 62, and you can change.”

Some days Flora finds it a bit difficult to get around, but her steadfast resolve won’t allow her to quit.

“Satan, take your arthritis and go on,” she warns, “I’ve got better things to do.”

When asked about returning to Africa, Flora offers a simple answer.

“If the Lord wants me to come back, then I will come back,” she says. “They told me that I had brought peace to their country. That’s why I know the Lord is with me, because these people get peace…and I get peace myself.”