Category: Places

The morning after the pig roast, I was up and ready to start the Long trek down the Mountain by 6:00 AM. Since so many had gathered outside my hut to say bye and ask prayer for different things, we were much later getting away. (Roberts dad was among them. See earlier post) One family that was building a new house, came and ask me to come to their home to do a prayer of dedication. I was so honored! The family and I gathered at the house held hand and dedicated their home to Gods service. I then wapped one of my Jesus sticker over the door. They love that. Then we climbed down the ladder and headed to the gathering place In the the center of the village.

As we gathered for prayer I gave thanks to The Father for allowing me this incredible time together with them on Kwaio Mountain!!! I felt my heart ache with the Love that God gave me for this people! I soooo did not want to leave. It had been an amazing time there. With still so much need unmet yet….

Denny, the Chief and others came to see me off. On our way out of the village a few of us stopped at the welcome sign they had for me and got a quick picture.

Then with one last look back, I yielded them over in my heart to Gods care and we started that unbelievable climb back down the mountain.

This is a steep climb. Through thick rain forest over slippery boulders and roots. I fell twice going back down. I would have fallen more if it had not been for Jeramy, a young man that Robert had assigned me as my guide. He would steady me at times to his own peril. He also is a young preacher and all the way down the mountain he asked a million questions about the Bible. Even though I was exhausted and winded my heart soared with his enthusiasm and hunger!!! We had to stop many times to rest but the questions never did. 😊👍🏽.

Almost 3 hours later we finally arrived at the river. I waded in, shoes and all and washed up. Bloody legs and everything. The old white guy was tuckered!

As we made our way back along the river,  through the little villages, we found out there had been an earthquake somewhere and there was a chance of a tsunami. So everyone was on the alert. In spite of the threat our boat from World Vision had made its way up the river to meet us. Now we started the hour long boat ride back across the bay to meet the truck for the 3 hour drive back to the other side of the island.

We docked to find no truck waiting. What was there was 3 men who heard I was coming in this morning with the Cross so they had come from their village to get me and bring me back there to preach.  Though my legs were still weak and wobbly from the long climb down the mountain, I shouldered the Cross and started the 3 and a half K walk to their village. We crossed rivers and stopped and shared at huts all along the way. We would share the gospel then pray with them for salvation, healing or whatever the need the people had and then move on.

When we got to the village, word went out and here they came from every direction.  I preached about the Cross and and the Love Jesus has for all man kind. I then gave an opportunity for people to respond and several prayed to receive Christ. Plus I prayed with and ministered to more people about other needs.Though I was exhausted, I was rejoicing to see so many giving their lives to Jesus!

Our truck finally found us while I was preaching. But the driver was in a hurry to start back so we didn’t get to eat what they had prepared for us. The reason he didn’t want to wait is,  it would get dark before we would get to Alki where we were to spend the night and the road was treacherous.  Bridges over rivers that were just narrow boards. This day had been like the Apostle Paul said, in 2Cor. 11:21-33. “In journeyings often, in perils of waters,… In perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea… In weariness and painfulness… In hunger and thirst…. Etc., but when people get saved it’s worth every step, it’s worth every pain, it’s worth all the dangers and struggles. I would do it all again in a heart beat.

In all my life I have never seen a hunger, an openness, like I found on Kwaio Mountain. A tribe of 30,000 people ready to surrender to the Lord. By Gods grace this preacher is going back. But hopefully not alone and not empty handed. In my next write up I will tell about the supplies I have already bought and sent up and the impact it has had. So stay tuned….. Pray about going back with me or holding the Rope for us in a real tangible way, as we go. You can send  school supplies, medical supplies, etc. I want to haul at least one small wind generator and battery up there. If you know anything about one let me know. Let me know if you feel the Lord nudging you in anyway to help.  It will change your life forever. God Bless you and thank you each one who prayed. Also for those who have given to help keep the Cross on the roadsides of the world, many have heard and received because you sacrificed. Someday they will thank you themselves but till then I say thank you!!!! Till next time.

Keep looking up He’s coming.

Please feel free to forward this on to others you know who would like to follow us or help.

As the darkness was gathering over Kwaio Mountain, the locals made their way from their thatched roof huts for the Pig Roast and the nights ceremonies. From the door of my hut I watched in stunned silence as a whole village came out to honor the Cross and the white man that had made such an effort to come up the mountain to share with them. In my wildest dreams I could never have imagined such a thing. Yes, I had talked and prayed with many and listened to their hearts. I had hugged and embraced some who had never seen a white man. I had stood under a tree with the chief for a long while and listened to his hopes and desires for his people. I had told him of friends in America and other places, that I knew and believed would be willing to bring or send help because of the Love the Lord had put in their hearts. I remember him looking in my eyes searching to see if I spoke true. At the end he shook my hand and with one long last look in my eyes, he thanked me….

Now, this night they are gathering to show their kindness, gratitude and their deep desire to honor this man with the Cross.

For the evenings events, they had brought out the generator and strung lights, which they do not do much because gas has to be carried in and up that mountain. This was a sacrifice and I knew it. Then after everyone had gathered and where seated on mats or rocks and logs, they came and got me. At this point I still did not know totally what they were planning, all I knew was that we were going to be exchanging gifts. Then as I came out of my hut, the village applauded and shouted. I was definitely shocked and stunned at this display of love. With tears in my eyes they led me to a table  that they had set up for me. They brought me a plate of taro root, cassava and a sweet potato. As we finished that, everything else began.

Over the PA system powered by the generator, Robert welcomed and greeted everyone. With the few lights we had, I could barely see the crowd that faded out into the night but you could sure hear them.

 

 

  Later, the same day that I spoke in the school and doctored the dear ladies foot from the pagan village, I saw one of the villagers carrying a big pig over his shoulder. I found out then that it was for the pig roast they were going to have in honor of the Cross coming to their village. While they were preparing the pig, Robert took me on a tour of the village. I met his sweet parents and visited with them for a while. When we saw the smoke from the fire at the kitchen hut we headed back. They were already throwing chunks of meat into the fire, right amongst the coals and ashes which is the way they cook.  Being the guest of honor, they presented me with what they considered the best piece…the snout and top row of teeth and jaw, about 8-10 inches long. Yum!! or yikes!!  When the meat was cooked, we fished out the chunks with a stick or the bush knife, brushed off the ashes and put it on a banana leaf (our plate) and Bon Appetite!! I used my pocket knife to dig the meat out of the gums and jaw, lucky me! Then they prepared the fire for the big slabs of meat. It was interesting how they did it. They built 3 layers of logs over the fire and then threw big boulders on top. As the wood burned, the rocks would heat up and soon fall into the fire. They then laid the slabs on the rocks. When they were cooked, the rest of the village feasted.

Robert’s dad came over to visit with me while we cooked. We had a wonderful talk, through an interpreter. He shared how he had come to Christ and then moved with Roberts mother to this village, Nanakinnimai. He had been a witch doctor and chief of the pagan village before he gave his life to Christ in the revival there 50 years ago.  He shared a story about a medical missionary who had been killed by the Kwaio people back in the late 1920’s. The beautiful thing that touched my heart so deeply was that the next morning he was waiting for me outside my hut when I got up because he felt that he had misled me in relaying the story of the missionary. It happened before he was born but the memories were so vivid in his childhood because it was talked about so much! He felt so bad about it sounding like he was actually alive when it happened that he felt like he had lied to me and could not sleep all night until he apologized to me!!! What a beautiful and sensitive heart. He loved Jesus so and would not offend his Lord by misleading me even a little! He had to make that right before I left!  We could all learn from his wonderful example.

What happened that night,  I am still in awe of…words fail me to convey what happened next. So, stay tuned, I will post that soon. 

Please feel free to forward on to others.