hours later the enemy attacked. They have controlled the area since. Only God knows what has happened to the young tribal believers isolated beyond the barbed-wire barrier. The sound of shelling constantly reminds us there is a “wall” even in the present “neutral” Laos. But dedicated prayer partners are diligently assault ing that barrier by faith and we trust it will yet be come an “open door,” though there will be “many ad versaries.” Will the young converts remain faithful and win others? Will hearts be softened to the Gospel because of suffering, or will Communist propaganda raise a wall of hatred and despair? The answer may well depend upon your prayers for these tribes now behind that “wall.” But this is not the end. Advances are still being made for the Gospel in southern Laos, where about 20 C.I.M. missionaries labor in co-operation with dedicated Swiss and Japanese workers. The Good News still goes out from three remaining tribal stations, kept open all these years at some risk and hardship. God Himself seems to have shifted the present emphasis from the needy tribal people to training the Lao Christians for effective witness to the unreached multitudes about them. Two-month sessions of a Short Term Bible School have been held twice this year, with 16 to 19 students, despite the absence of Chris tian young men still in the army. Revision of the Lao Bible is under way. Bible correspondence courses have been produced, and new tracts and booklets in Lao are coming off the press steadily. Missionaries are cheered that Lao Christians are taking a vital part in literature distribution. Recent resports show that some of the noto riously indifferent Buddhist population is beginning to show interest in Christian literature! Thirty recent baptisms may not seem a large number, but they represent great victories in this land. Nine were Chinese, representing the beginning of a Chinese church in two large towns. Four were tribal converts, and there are others being prepared to take the step. Twenty Lao were baptized this year, representing not only converts, but a deeper understanding of God’s Word and a more determined obedience by some long-standing Christians.
some tribes are yet waiting for Gospel records in their languages, for no way has been found to get the finished records across military barriers. We praise God for the advance, but we cannot forget that many have never yet heard of God’s love. The tribes we are reaching now — the Oy, Loven, Nyahuen, and Loveh — could event ually evangelize the others. Is that why Satan so fiercely opposes the handful of Christians still accessible to the missionary? If you knew the battle facing 22-year old Yuen, you would realize how much your prayers are needed. Yuen has felt Satan’s opposition from the day he was saved, but God’s perfect love has cast out his fears. For nearly a year he was the only Christian in a deeply degraded heathen village utterly devoted to the worship of evil spirits. His clean, separated, honest Christian life deeply impressed the villagers — even his own father, a spirit medium. Yuen led three others to Christ, but two of them eventually turned back because of sickness and social pressure.
Dorothy Davis, SMM graduate, playing Gospel records to Galler tribespeople near Takong. Today Yuen’s only Christian companion is 14-year-old Dahm, now turned out of his sister’s home because of his faith. Before one of the others had turned back, the witch doctor had seen a vision and told of overhearing a con versation between Satan and Jesus. Satan claimed that these three believers were all that would come to Jesus. “All the rest are under my power, are my property, and they work on my land. And these three I am going to strike dead with lightning,” Satan is said to have told Jesus. Earlier this year, Yuen’s father turned over to him five-rice paddy fields to plant the Christian way, without first appeasing the spirits by sacrifices and observing ta boos. If Yuen has a good crop in December and January, the villagers will admit that God’s power is greater than the devil’s If the crop is poor, they may feel they must kill Yuen or fine him a large sum of money to appease the wrath of the spirits. By nature Yuen is timid and shy. But he has come to know God as his wonderful Heav enly Father who will not fail him, and he is confident that God will demonstrate His power, despite the hatred and power of the witch doctors. Yuen could take the easy way and leave, but he is burdened for his people. The area is remote and could be cut off, apart from God’s intervention. There is an urgent need for prayer. Victory could mean that hundreds would turn to Christ, and that a church would be established that could evangelize other tribes. Parts of Laos are open today; most of the tribes are still waiting . . . Is there something God would have you do about it? “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap” (Eccl. 11:4).
Tribal girl bringing wood to the village. With the help of Gospel Recordings in Los Angeles, and in spite of increased danger in traveling during the past two years, a C.I.M. missionary has completed record ings in each tribal language and has made additional Bible-teaching records in the Lao language. These are a great blessing to isolated Christians and inquirers. But
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MAY, 1963
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