07/01/04 Tribal Update: Another Tribal Suddenly Entered Glory!

Just yesterday at 1 PM, Emiliana passed into the presence of the Lord. He had been out with the guys hunting a large type of ant-eater, the "ariguri" as they call it. After returning to his village, he and a friend had taken some meat to sell to one of the Hispanic missionaries living about two miles away. Well when they were returning home, there by the creek, he suddenly fell to the ground. His companion Juán Mario, quickly went for help....but when they returned, they found Emiliana dead. He was about 20 years of age. That same afternoon he was buried right there in the village close to their homes.

I clearly remember visiting with Emiliana about his faith. His testimony was clear. He was resting in nothing but the finished payment of Christ's blood and death on Head bone hill.

According to the unbelievers who will interpret Emiliana's death according to the old ancestral teachings, several things may have happened to suddenly cause a death like this:
1. He was shot by an evil spirit.
2. Someone did powerful black magic on him.
3. The beings of the underworld may have come up out of the creek and taken his spirit.

And they will really be talking this up. And the gossip and stories will run far and wide as everyone will be visiting about why this young man would have died so suddenly. The mind of the animist will see this death as having been caused by some force. He doesn't consider heart attacks, germs, or anything like that. And with all the talk, even some of the weak believers may be shaken in their faith and may begin to wonder again just what might have transpired, especially since he was so young and died so suddenly right there by the creek.

Please pray:
-that the believers will stand on the Word of God through all this
-that the believers will rally around the grieving family and encourage and comfort them
-that the Tribal pastors will give godly guidance and instruction through this time of trial
-that the unbelievers will see the difference in the lives of the believers

Thanks so much for being a part of the team,

Merrill