and his young wife had volun teered to go in service to a tribe where heathen customs involved a wide range of superstition. Our missionary's wife became violently ill a short time after they began there. She had to be taken to a mission hospital. There our doctor diagnosed her condition as tuber culosis of the bones in her legs. The couple was told that they could not remain out in the village and that the wife would have to stay in the hospital for a long period of recuperation. This nearly broke the heart of the dedicated workers. Nevertheless they accepted it as from the Lord. During that period the earnest native evangelist took the nurses training course given at the hospital. One Sunday morning I had the opportunity of speaking to all of the Christians at the nearby sta tion where we were labouring. As I talked my heart was burdened concerning the needs of countless thousands so near to our station going to a Christless eternity. I was seeking to challenge the hearts of those there to respond to the call of the Lord in giving out the Gos pel. Coming to the close of my message, I was contrained to give an invitation. I could not help no ticing the young evangelist sitting right near the front of the church. Tears were streaming down his face. He had responded to the message but because of his cir cumstances he was not able to go. I was greatly burdened for his need. It was sometime later that his wife was released from the hospi tal. The disease had run its course and was now arrested. This was a day of great rejoicing. They de termined to go back to the village
where they had a spiritual debt to pay to the people. Now they had four children to take with them. They carried sufficient grain to sus tain the family until their own gar dens would grow. They soon dis covered that this was not nearly enough and they did not know where they could find more. As they prayed about it God brought to their attention the garden of a manwho had just died about three months prior to this time. His field was ready to be reaped. According to tribal custom, however, no one should touch the fruit. To do so meant death. The dedicated evangelist felt this was God's provision for them. He was not afraid of the superstition, and gathered the grain for his hun gry family. The news of what had happened reached everyone quick ly. When none of his family died the people began coming to ask questions about his faith and the Gospel message. Many of them responded, including the village chief who accepted Christ as his personal Saviour. That harvest could have been lost, but God used it to reap a harvest of lost souls. This faithful evangelist had followed the footsteps of his Mas ter. Christ looked over the city of Jerusalem and wept (Luke 19:41). His heart was broken over the lost harvest of His day. Oh that God would give us broken hearts lik ened unto our Master's concerning the lost harvest of our day. Jeremiah received a heart that was burdened for real spiritual needs (Jeremiah 8:20). He saw that "the harvest is past, the summer is ended and we are not saved." No wonder he was mourning. How Page 21
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