In the early 1950’s it became necessary for the missionaries to have a written permission from the highest authorities in order to continue their work among the town folks and the expanding efforts to contact the tribal peoples. This document was granted in the capital city and had to be renewed every six months. \u00a0Travel and communication being what it was or wasn’t in those days the permit would sometimes expire before the next one was in hand. When this happened the missionaries were required to gather in a certain town to await the granting of a new permit. \u00a0 \u00a0Eventually a permit of longer duration would be granted. \u00a0The story of that miracle of God will come in a later post.<\/p>\n
In the meantime on the morning of Oct. 9, 1952 my father was in the capital city working on a new permit. \u00a0Most of the other missionaries had gathered in their designated town and were eagerly awaiting word of a new permit. \u00a0As the day was getting under way they were visited by some of the town authorities summoning all the men to a meeting at the Mayors’ office. \u00a0This was something out of the ordinary for the men but off they went to meet with the Mayor. \u00a0He informed them their permit had expired and that the\u00a0Governor had ordered all the missionaries without exception to leave town and proceed back downriver to the territorial capital. This of course was not welcome news!<\/p>\n
One of the missionary men had understood the Governor to have ordered them downriver to await the issuance of a new permit. \u00a0The other men understood the Governor to have ordered them to leave the territory altogether. \u00a0Either way the men knew they needed time to think the order through and decide how to proceed. \u00a0They needed to make sure the two families working in a couple of outlying villages, who had not been unable to join the others, be made aware of this unexpected development. \u00a0In this day of much, much better communication it’s hard for us to imagine the dilemma these missionaries faced. What were they to do? They had, everyone of them, given their lives to share the Gospel with these jungle folks. \u00a0They had sold or given away whatever they had back where they came from. \u00a0In the case of my parents I know they had come with the idea they likely would die out there in the jungle. If that was in God’s permissive will for their lives, they were prepared to do that. \u00a0The thought of having to leave just when they were on the cusp of getting out to the Tribesmen up the rivers was almost too much to bear.<\/p>\n
The first thing the missionaries did was to gather together to worship the Lord and cry out to Him. \u00a0At that prayer and strategy meeting they decided to stay put until they were forced to leave or until they knew for sure my Father had been issued an order signed by the governor mandating their expulsion. They also decided to try sending my Father a radiogram not knowing if he’d receive it, but it was the best they could do. \u00a0This is what it said; “Mayor informed us permit expired. Ordered us to territorial capital. Decided to stay here till governor has informed you. Please acknowledge receipt this radiogram”.<\/p>\n
As the men walked down the dirt street to the radio office their hearts clung to the conviction that in spite of the uncertainty of their situation God would get His message to the tribal groups no matter what. \u00a0 They listened in silence to the radio operator send the message and as they were about to leave they heard an incoming radiogram from my Father, which said; I HAVE IT. \u00a0Not sure my return date. The men began hugging one another and praising the Lord. As the radio man handed them the typed radiogram he began hugging the missionaries too. \u00a0Other prominent citizens who had not been in favor of sending the missionaries away joined in the celebration.<\/p>\n
One of those citizens joining in the celebration was Don Jose you’ll remember from the Don Jose post. \u00a0God was confirming in the missionaries and Don Jose’s heart that He was very much in control. \u00a0There were still many seemingly insurmountable \u00a0obstacles ahead to be overcome, \u00a0but the issuance of this permit was part of the foundation God was laying upon which to launch the spreading of His Good news to all the Tribal groups of the jungles and rivers beyond the National towns.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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