Bao obeys
In a reckless mood, their faces painted black, the young men and older boys advance toward each other … marching, chanting, marching, chanting.
Their eyeballs meet. Anger seethes. But they have to pause.
A stick lying in the middle of the muddy jungle airstrip is a demarcation line, holding them at bay … until one man steps over it. They had gone for a jeering confrontation; now the Nakwi and Iteri people found themselves at war.
The Nakwis draw five-foot clubs. The Iteris snatch up bows and arrows.
A club swings down hard, driving Owedi to the ground. Surely his friend Bao will retaliate. Bao prepares his bow and arrows, but an inner voice speaks.
“Stop.”
Bao hesitates. His faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior means a great deal to him. He loves to teach God’s Word. He senses the Holy Spirit prompting him not to join in bloodshed.
Bao obeys.
******
“The next day Bao’s infant got very sick,” missionary Lon Knievel said. “It died in his wife’s arms. Here was a man who listened to what God told him to do and a day later he lost his child.
“To see the strength he had ….” Lon’s voice trailed off and his eyes grew moist.
Lon and his wife, Leah, wept that day with Bao and his wife, Weima.
But Bao did not give up. Soon afterward, he and Weima moved to the Owininga tribe and stayed there for a year to encourage the struggling church.
“Guys like this,” Lon said, “they stay friends.”
He's known Bao for 16 years, and Lon still calls him a real encourager.
Their eyeballs meet. Anger seethes. But they have to pause.
A stick lying in the middle of the muddy jungle airstrip is a demarcation line, holding them at bay … until one man steps over it. They had gone for a jeering confrontation; now the Nakwi and Iteri people found themselves at war.
The Nakwis draw five-foot clubs. The Iteris snatch up bows and arrows.
A club swings down hard, driving Owedi to the ground. Surely his friend Bao will retaliate. Bao prepares his bow and arrows, but an inner voice speaks.
“Stop.”
Bao hesitates. His faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior means a great deal to him. He loves to teach God’s Word. He senses the Holy Spirit prompting him not to join in bloodshed.
Bao obeys.
******
“The next day Bao’s infant got very sick,” missionary Lon Knievel said. “It died in his wife’s arms. Here was a man who listened to what God told him to do and a day later he lost his child.
“To see the strength he had ….” Lon’s voice trailed off and his eyes grew moist.
Lon and his wife, Leah, wept that day with Bao and his wife, Weima.
But Bao did not give up. Soon afterward, he and Weima moved to the Owininga tribe and stayed there for a year to encourage the struggling church.
“Guys like this,” Lon said, “they stay friends.”
He's known Bao for 16 years, and Lon still calls him a real encourager.