Ecclesiastes 7:4
A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
Death!
Right now we are looking death right in the face as we watch Wes, our beloved sibling, struggle through the throes of Melanoma, stage 4. It certainly isn’t fun, but very painful as we watch his descent “into the grave”, so to speak. However, what makes this whole experience so different for us as believers is our huge hope in Christ! Yes, my brother is filled with hope! He is filled with calm and peace! There is no fear there at all but rather great anticipation for what is coming. For sure he is sad about leaving his beloved wife and family behind but the excitement of his upcoming face to face encounter with his Savior is palpable.
It was back in July of 2021 that we lost Wes’s first wife, Brenda. Then in October of 2022 we lost our brother Murray. Then in July of 2023 we lost Howard, another brother. And now, here we go again! But what makes this so doable is our rest in the bigness and greatness of our faithful, loving and sovereign Father. He is our strength, sustenance, hope and rest. In Him we breathe more easily. Yes, the tears flow, but there is no panic, no trying to twist God’s arm to get Him to do what we want, but rather a quiet rest in God’s will. Psalms 139:16 states: “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” So, if Wes has lived out his days, well, it’s time for Graduation!!! And like I said, we rejoice at his grand promotion into GLORY coming up!!
Dreadful Death!
During our 25 years of living among the P people there in South America, we were struck with anguish as we watched many good friends of ours pass into a Christless eternity before we were equipped language wise to give them the Gospel message. How extremely heart-wrenching that was! I remember this young gal of about 14 years old. I was holding dear Mari as she breathed her last. Then there was our good friend Parachico. He was a powerful shaman and very resistant initially to the Bible teaching. However as he got older, he became more and more interested but at the same time was becoming very hard of hearing. I was still able to teach him though using a small amplifier which he held up to his ear. But you know, I fear that he never clearly understood the message. I remember the day before he died when he suddenly grabbed my arm and anxiously said in a panic, “Grandson, talk to your God for me. I’m very afraid. I’m very afraid of the cold ground. I’m very afraid of the cold ground consuming me. I’m afraid of the fire. Talk to your God for me!” Yes, we prayed for this dear man a lot, but were never sure if he understood what Jesus had done for him on the cross.
There were many sad events like these that we experienced as we lived among the people which are now forever etched upon our minds. How sad it was to have arrived too late for many of them. But oh how sweet the day when we knew enough of the language and culture to clearly give them the truth of God’s word. No, we weren’t giving them “our truth” or “their truth” or the “truth” that the culture was pushing, but rather God’s truth!
Joyful Death!
During our many years on site with the people, we saw several hundred come to salvation in Christ. And we also saw about 50 of them graduate on to Glory to be with their Lord and Savior. What a difference death was for the believers compared to the unbelievers! I can still easily recall the first death of a believer. Paulina was a young mother with three children who seemed to have a mal-absorption problem. We fed her lots of good food but she continued to get thinner. I finally asked her if we could call in the “high-going-fire canoe” (the airplane) to take her to the big medicine house in the large village. She said no. She said, “I trust Jesus, my Lord-Owner-Boss. If He wants me to get better, I’ll get better, but if He wants me to go to be with Him, then I will. I’m good with whatever he wants”. And it was just a couple of days later that the Lord took her home. And as the believing family put her into the hole and covered her with dirt, they began to imagine her chatting with Jesus. They were all excited about that possibility. And then they mentioned Enoch and Abraham, along with the disciples, and many others, that she was possibly visiting with them too! This burial became a wonderful celebration of life! Suddenly everyone was saying, “Truly we are those who live with exceedingly much hope!” Yes, there was a great party celebrating their huge hope in Christ!
Check Out Some of Those Who Have Graduated below!
Thanks for praying…
- for continued progress clarity, wisdom, diligence, and strong backs as we continue to produce radio podcasts We now have 166 done in our series from Genesis to Revelation, and still lack another 60 or so. Pray that we’ll have these all ready to go on the air by March or April of this next year.
- for the safe arrival of 250 more solar-powered radios and the recently printed Bibles into the hands of the people
- for the effective distribution of about 700 radios to remote villages all over P-land, that our coworkers will be able to safely deliver them without them being confiscated at check points, and that the P people will be open to receive them.
- for hearts that will be open to the daily “Creation to Christ” Bible broadcasts as they commence now in March or April
- for a really profitable time for our team with the consultants as they meet the 21st till the 24th of this month
- for much grace for my brother Wes as he moves toward the end of his life, and for his family as well
And Thanks Again…..
….for your partnership with us, for your prayers, for your encouragement, for your notes, and for your fellowship in the Gospel. God is working and is building His church among the Unreached People Groups of the world. Thanks so much for being a part of the team to plant mature churches among the P nation.
Insufficient in our selves but sufficient in Christ,
Merrill and Teresa
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