Many people have asked us if we are scared to move overseas. I suppose there are a lot of ways we could answer this question. Sure, there are times we get a bit queasy at the thought of all we will face, extreme heat, threat of disease, discouragement and so on. Inevitably though, when we are experiencing these times of fear it is when we are focusing on ourselves. As soon as we correct our focus and begin to dwell on the reason and PERSON for whom we are going- every fear is gone. Tom and I have come to know something that is so wonderful, the love of a Savior. He is our everything- our source of life in every way. If the ONE who has given us life has told us to go tell others of Him, what would stop us? This message we bring is worth the sacrifice of everything we have.
I wanted to share with you about about a young couple in a tribe that was willing to sacrifice for Christ. It was a great encouragement to me when I heard it and hope it will be to you as well.
You can always find reasons to say “no.” Moipi certainly had some big ones. The Dao woman was getting ready to move to a distant village with her husband in order to present God’s Word there. “I know that my kids could get sick and die,” Moipi said, since she and her family would be far from the medical care provided by missionaries in her village. “Or my family might not have enough food,” because her husband, Wikipai, would be concentrating on teaching instead of hunting and gardening. “And I am not looking forward to living in a village that is so far from my own home,” she said. Tribal people are not as mobile as people such as you and I, and leaving family and friends is a big deal. But Moipi wasn’t going to let that stop her. “God’s message is a big message,” she said, “and I know that the people need to hear as well and so I will go. God’s message is worth it!”
But that’s not the end of Moipi’s story. Within a few weeks of going to the distant village, her husband became seriously ill. He was doing so poorly that missionaries almost cried when they arrived and saw him. And he didn’t sound like he expected to recover. “If my body dies here in this place, I know that my spirit will continue to live and will go up to be with the Creator. I do not fear death,” he said. But with help, and by the grace of God, Wikipai began to recover. And what would you expect from Moipi after something so close to her fears came to pass? Would you expect her to be upset with God? A lot of people would be. Well, here’s what she said: “Everybody look! I was already looking for places to bury my husband. I already had a place picked out! But it is as if he has been raised from the dead right in front of my eyes! Look at him now. The Creator has caused him to live!”
Wikipai did live for a while but he was never able to fully recover. A short while later he did die. Please pray for Moipi and her children.
As sad as the end of this story is, Wikipai and Moipi’s decision was not a waste. Our Savior’s message is well worth our lives! I can’t wait to meet Wikipai in heaven! There are many other tribal people who finally have the word of God, who are making these same sacrifices to bring the news of Christ to the surrounding villages. Please remember to pray for them and thank God for their willingness to sacrifice for the sake of His name! It is WORTH IT!
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