N \ e A V\ q 6
T here is no greater blessing in all the world than giving the truths of God to sin-darkened hearts. Such was our privilege among the Dyaks of Borneo. We found, how ever, that when these wonderful peo ple became converted, they were a real blessing to us personally. Having heard the Word of God for the first time in the village of Balai Ranjok, one man came to me saying, “ I would like to have you come to my village and visit my home.” I promised him I would do so. However, I was somewhat sur prised when the day for the visit came and he ran out to meet me, strangely saying, “ I am so glad you have come. But we aren’t quite ready.” Leading me down the trail to his longhouse, he again assured me that he was glad to see me, but that he wasn’t quite ready. What an odd welcome! Reaching his humble home which was built about eight or ten feet off the ground, with a notched ladder running up into it, he urged me to enter, again apologizing for not being ready. Once inside I was given a block of wood upon which to sit. And as I took my place, I wondered what was going on. /Meanwhile he called to his wife to put on the water. I watched in amazement as he brought in a four-legged arrange ment that vaguely resembled a table. Nodding his head with satisfaction, as much as to say, “We’ll be ready after a while,” he disappeared, and the next time I saw him was at the entrance to the longhouse. He was struggling to bring something inside which was several inches too wide for the opening. But door jambs in the jungles of Borneo are made of bark, so it gave as he jerked it back and forth and with one great yank, he was successful. This rather shaky object was none other than a chair he had built for the occasion. Then in a few moments, he came back with a little woven cloth rug. I was amused as these “ conveniences” of home. He told me to sit down. Pro testing that my shoes were muddy, I wondered at the stability of the “ furniture.” But I knew he would be offended if I didn’t comply with his plan. First, placing a bit o f white cloth on the table, he brought in a tray on which was a bowl of coffee, a bit of sugar in a saucer, a can o f milk and a few cookies. Then he eagerly urged me to help myself. The
What have I done today for the Lord? What did it cost me yester day to serve Him? Pray the Lord of the harvest that He will thrust forth laborers into the over-ripened fields to gather precious souls to His name. There are many just like the man who made the shaky chair and the unsteady table and spread before me a true love feast that day! Let us seek them while it is yet day for the night cometh when no man can reap, teaspoon of sugar I took was not enough for him. “ Have some more. Have all you want,” he pressed. So, not wanting to hurt his feelings I helped myself lavishly. The milk was that thick Eagle’s brand condensed milk from home which is very sweet. This too I had to use in abundance. Literally pushing the cookies at me, he sat down on the floor by my side. In great excitement he watched me drink this strange mixture and eat the odd-tasting cookies. I could not but think of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ when He spoke of the reward for giving even a cup of cold water in His name. (Actually the cold water that day in the jungle would have been more palatable!) Now, coffee, sugar, con densed milk and cookies are not the usual staples of a Dyak home. Know ing I would be coming, he had sent downstream for them, while he in dustriously worked with his hands, laboriously building a crude table and chair for my use. I figured the food must have cost him at least 40 cents. In those days, one could hire all the men he wanted for 8 cents a day! So there on the table was the equivalent of five days’ work. He had gone to all that trouble and ex pense because he wanted to welcome a servant of the Lord into his long house. Do you wonder that my heart was filled to overflowing? Why did he do it? Because one day in the village of Balai Randjok, he had heard about the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God. Hearing about Him, he had bowed his head, heart and knees and received the Saviour. Je sus said, “Whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but Him that sent me. Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” As you think of the dear people in foreign lands who have little op portunity to hear, ask yourself:
V
13
JULY, 1964
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker