“If I could see I would help you,” he said as I went about working on the bush house we were building for the Ron Johnston family along a little wild river in PNG. That took place in 1977, many years ago but that voice and the vision of the young blind man still linger in my mind today. I think this is what keeps me motivated in this ministry of reaching out with the gospel. I can see and God has allowed me to see many things that feeds my soul and moves my heart to action.
At times, as I lay in bed late at night I feel like I am watching a movie as God brings memories from the past. A 12 year old boy I held in my arms plays before my mind often. Janie and I were living in a small village in the early days, just getting started in the work we dreamed about for years. The vision I have today seems so real, I can almost smell the drying skin burnt from the hot fever and feel the lifeless bones as his spirit leaves him for the unknown.
‘Leave him alone,” his family would say as he lay dying “he is already dead.” This is a bit different from what I heard at home before coming to the lonely jungle. “Leave them alone,” you would hear folk say. “They are happy the way they are.” Dying and dead, yes but not happy the way they are. If we could only see we would help more; pray that the Lord of the harvest would open our eyes to see God high and lifted up as Isaiah saw Him and let more of us say,” Here I am Lord, send me.”