We witnessed a miracle this morning. We cried together but it was a miracle.
A young Punan couple have sacrificed 10 days to do the check of Acts with Rachel and Bob Clark. They have been here faithfully every day for the past week and labored at this check. For them it is very hard work to sit and concentrate and think. They would rather cut brush or chase pigs through the jungle than do this work.
Then last night word came down from the village. Someone had vandalized their home.
Understand this: She is the neatest house keeper in all Punan land, bar none. She also has a small store in her house. Some people forced their front door and got into the house and wrecked the contents of the store, dumped the soap in the water supply, poured cooking oil on the floor and wrote with permanent markers on the walls of her neat little house.
We figure this was done out of jealousy. In a communal society everybody is supposed to stay at the same level. If someone else is successful others become jealous. They have reason to be jealous of this couple.
They have a beautiful family. Her children are always clean and well dressed, happy and disciplined. Husband and wife have a good relationship. They are good planners and managers of the resources the Lord gives them. Others are jealous of their success.
They decided a few months back to give up this time and do the Bible translation check with Rachel. The miracle this morning – they decided to NOT go home to the village to inspect the damage and clean up the mess. They would continue on with the check. They are now on chapter 20 of Acts – 8 more chapters to go.
We encouraged our hearts with 3 verses this morning. Heb 10:34 – when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever. John 3:20 – All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. Ps 37:1-3 – Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong, For like the grass, they soon fade away…Trust in the Lord and do good.
Please pray for the believers as they process this incident. Rom 12:19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God.
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