“How many villages are we passing when we go to our site?” Jon asks. We are on our way back from one of the sites we’ve been working in this week.
“Many. But these are small villages, you know.” The answer came no sooner than another question was asked-
“How many of these villages are unreached?” The question comes.
“All of them.” comes the reply. No Christian influence in countless villages scattered throughout the countryside! True even though small, the combined inhabitants make up a larger number and are just as precious to Jesus as anyone else. Why should they have no opportunity, unreached just because they are in a smaller village?
“Someone should start a primary school here” Someone else had an idea. A good idea at that. A primary school could serve the needs of a number of these small villages and give education as well as knowledge of God to those in these villages. Educating the young it would create an entering wedge into many homes already open to the gospel.
But this is not the only such idea that has come up on this trip. Starting a primary school was only one. We had also found other villages where we wanted to start evening schools. Then there were three villages where one of the Bible workers had specifically requested evening schools. And the pastors in this Region asked for media ministry… Not to mention the need for more Bible workers to follow up in these new places.
I sit. Overwhelmed. A sense of tiredness strikes me. After this last year of toil and burnout, my mind becomes terribly tired and overwhelmed when I find opportunities like this, because I know I can’t do it all. Who will help? Are we waiting for God to do something? He’s already given us the command, He’s waiting for us! Opportunities are perpetual and boundless in this place where the gospel has hardly placed it’s foot.
A local Bible worker’s salary is $60 US, a get by income for most Bible workers, but so many JFA Bible workers are working here faithfully and winning souls for Christ. So many other places need Bible workers, so many places have no Bible workers, no churches, not just Adventist churches, but no church of any Christian denomination! The people are in darkness, in ignorance, they have no knowledge of God or His love. They are clueless!
Jesus gave everything to save us. What are you willing to give to Him? Who will go to impart the knowledge and love to these precious souls? Who will send someone to them? Who will fund local workers? Who will contribute time and talents? Who? Will you? If not you, then who?
Daniel,
This is the cry of my heart! So many completely unreached, and not enough workers. When you are in a place like India, or Thailand, or Cambodia, traveling along for sometimes hours at a time, and you realize that every village you pass has absolutely no Christian influence, the feeling is overwhelming and heartwrenching. Why do the majority of God’s supposed army of youth not feel compelled to do something?? Especially when those who are out there are giving beyond what they have to give? I know the feelings of burnout. They aren’t caused so much because I don’t want to work anymore, but because I’m too exhausted to want to work, to try to figure out what to do next. Now the urgency of the need washes around me like a flood and I long to be back in the field – not because I have anything special to offer in myself, but because it so often seems no one else is going… Oh, where are the reapers?
You all continue to be in my prayers. May God send more reapers into His field!
Sarah VH