When being loving doesn't make sense
When people get sick in the jungle, it’s serious business. In fact, they often die.
Missionary Lourens Laureti writes that this grim reality is due not only to the unavailability of medical help, but also to the deeply ingrained animistic trust in spirits and witchcraft that often refuses medical intervention.
As a result of a virus that recently spread through the village, many Mengen people got very sick. One of them was an elderly man, Kosai. Missionaries tried to help him as much as they could, but were limited in what they could do because of the resistance of his fellow clan members. They also tried to convince his family to take Kosai for medical care, to no avail.
Kosai has never been married, so he has no wife or children to take care of him in his old age. After several weeks of illness, Lourens says that one of his co-workers found Kosai alone in his hut in very grave circumstances.
When Mengen believers heard about Kosai’s desperate condition, they gathered together and held a discussion. It was decided that they would reach out and help this poor old man. They cleaned him up and took responsibility for feeding and hydrating him. They also cleaned up his living space. Some believers stayed with him until he was recovered enough that his clan members actually decided to carry him on the two-hour hike to get medical aid for him.
The ministry and love of the Mengen believers spoke deeply to the hearts of Kosai’s clan members. This clan has previously been instrumental in persecuting the Mengen church.
Lourens shares, “One of the unbelievers expressed her amazement by saying she does not know how the believers can continue to show love toward those who persecute them. Eddie, one of our teachers, told her it is because of God’s love for us that we can show love to others, for He loved us and died for our sins while we were still His enemies.”
Lourens is certain that God is using hard times, persecution and even sickness to have His Name glorified through the faith and love He is giving the Mengen church. Continue to pray for Mengen believers, that the power of Christ’s love pouring through them will soften the hearts of the persecutors of the Mengen church. Pray that God will heal Kosai and draw him to Christ. Pray that God will faithfully work in the lives of unbelievers to bring them to repentance and faith for His glory.