A crying need
The sound of wailing woke Jason Knapp at 6 a.m.
Just as you know the sound of your alarm clock means it's time to get up, or the sound of a car horn means you overslept and your carpool is waiting, Jason knew what the wailing meant.
Someone had died.
"They just buried an old leader in the village two days ago," Jason thought. "Why would they be crying again?"
Jason got up and went down to see his neighbor. (Everything is "up" or "down" in the rugged land of the Tobo people of Papua New Guinea.) He learned that a much-loved man had died -- a man whose Tobo name means Big Belly.
Big Belly was loved because he was a loving man, always ready with a smile and good, friendly advice.
And now he was gone, along with his opportunity to hear about the Savior. Jason and his co-workers don't know the Tobo culture and language well enough to teach Bible lessons yet. They would have tried to communicate the Gospel to Big Belly, but his passing was so sudden and unexpected …
"Tap, tap, tap …" Jason's thoughts were interrupted. Someone was carving Big Belly's name into a grave marker. Tears welled in Jason's eyes when he heard that Big Belly had tried to buy his way into heaven the day before he died. He was afraid to die.
The mournful singing, wailing and crying went on all day. It continued as the sun sank and disappeared over the next ridge; it did not cease even as the sun began to brighten the ridge to the east. That was when Jason again joined the people to watch as they called out the names of all their ancestors in a song that lasts all night.
"Do they think their ancestors hear them?" Jason thought. "Do they think their dead ancestors can help Big Belly find his way to Heaven?"
With sunlight spilling across the village, Jason began walking home slowly and a bit mournfully. Then he picked up his pace as a sense of urgency struck him.
"I can't wait until we can teach the truth of God's Word to these people," he thought. "We have no fear of death, no fear of condemnation, a Savior stronger than any spirit, and a hope of eternal life -- all because of Jesus!"
Just as you know the sound of your alarm clock means it's time to get up, or the sound of a car horn means you overslept and your carpool is waiting, Jason knew what the wailing meant.
Someone had died.
"They just buried an old leader in the village two days ago," Jason thought. "Why would they be crying again?"
Jason got up and went down to see his neighbor. (Everything is "up" or "down" in the rugged land of the Tobo people of Papua New Guinea.) He learned that a much-loved man had died -- a man whose Tobo name means Big Belly.
Big Belly was loved because he was a loving man, always ready with a smile and good, friendly advice.
And now he was gone, along with his opportunity to hear about the Savior. Jason and his co-workers don't know the Tobo culture and language well enough to teach Bible lessons yet. They would have tried to communicate the Gospel to Big Belly, but his passing was so sudden and unexpected …
"Tap, tap, tap …" Jason's thoughts were interrupted. Someone was carving Big Belly's name into a grave marker. Tears welled in Jason's eyes when he heard that Big Belly had tried to buy his way into heaven the day before he died. He was afraid to die.
The mournful singing, wailing and crying went on all day. It continued as the sun sank and disappeared over the next ridge; it did not cease even as the sun began to brighten the ridge to the east. That was when Jason again joined the people to watch as they called out the names of all their ancestors in a song that lasts all night.
"Do they think their ancestors hear them?" Jason thought. "Do they think their dead ancestors can help Big Belly find his way to Heaven?"
With sunlight spilling across the village, Jason began walking home slowly and a bit mournfully. Then he picked up his pace as a sense of urgency struck him.
"I can't wait until we can teach the truth of God's Word to these people," he thought. "We have no fear of death, no fear of condemnation, a Savior stronger than any spirit, and a hope of eternal life -- all because of Jesus!"