Solomon Islands – Page 2 – Rick Newton Cross Carrier

October 19, 2015October 19, 2015

THE STORY CONTINUES…

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.

The next thing that happened blew me away!! The Chief came forward with his children and with Robert holding the microphone, the Chief thanked me for coming to Nanakinnimai, his village. “Thank you”, he said, “for bringing the Cross and showing so much concern for my people. That concern is the heart of a chief” and with that he put this beautiful 70 year old Chiefs medallion around my neck and made me a chief of the Kwaio people. The medallion is solid stone sanded smooth with the symbol of the Kwaio people carved in it. (See the pic) Next his oldest daughter put around my neck another beautiful medallion, called the Queens medallion, for Doreen though she was not there. (I sure wish she could’ve been there with me as I know her heart beats the same as mine!) It is about 50 years old and a little smaller than mine. (You can see it on me in the pic) Then the next daughter down brought and hung around my neck a long strand of their shell money which is still valid in the Solomon’s today. Next, the Chief’s son brought his dad his War Club. He then presented it to me and said, “I present this to you because I believe you will fight for my people. We need help, we need school supplies, medical supplies, electricity and more. I give you my club to fight for us”.

By this time tears are running down my face. I thanked him and told everyone how honored I was and that I will help send supplies to them. Well the whole crowd erupted with cheers…. Then I picked up my gift to present to the Chief, a copy of The Bible, Gods Word! I told him, “Chief, you have given me your War Club, I now give you a sword! A weapon that, if you learn and use wisely, you can defend your people from the attacks of the devil who would destroy you if he could. So we this day exchange weapons. But this book is the greatest power in the universe. Honor it, learn it and teach it to your people.”

I presented many other things to different people there that night but I think most of all I gave them my heart and they gave to me, theirs.

The singing, dancing and festivities went on till 1Am. It truly was a beautiful night. I dropped into bed exhausted but laid there in wonder as I thought of all that day had held. Thank you Jesus!!

Contact me if you want to help the Kwaio people in any way. Tell me if the Lord puts something on your heart or if you would like to go back with me next year. I have already bought some school supplies and have gotten some medical supplies but it’s just the beginning of all we could do working together. I have sent them back up the mountain to show them my heart is true and that we will help. Join me! It will bless you more than you can imagine. Just say, “Jesus, here am I send me!”

Till then please keep us in prayer and as always Thanks for Holding The Rope! Luke 9:23-24

Feel free to forward on to other who might want to be a part of this outreach…

October 18, 2015October 24, 2015

Kwaio village Pig Roast

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.

Right now we are in Vanuatu winding up the walk here. Keep praying, it too has been amazing!

If you’re not familiar with our ministry you can learn a little more there. If you would like to help, it will tell you how or maybe be a part of the next trip to bring more bibles, school and medical supplies and teaching to the Kwaio people! To all of you who continue to be a part of the supply line and are praying for us, thanks for holding the Rope!!!

Please feel free to forward on to others.

October 6, 2015October 6, 2015

Later in the Day

In the afternoon of the same day I spoke in the school (in my last write up), this dear lady came over from the “pagan” village, (about a 45 minute hike over the next ridge), to meet the white man that had come up the mountain with a huge cross. Since they still run naked in their village she grabbed some clothes, got dressed and came to Nanakennimai village where I was. Through my interpreter we visited. I shared with her of Jesus’ love and meaning of the cross. She listened and seemed to take it in. Then I noticed her limping. She told me she had a bad cut on top of one of her toes. I checked and sure enough it was infected and hurt her terribly. Of course the village had no clinic or medical supplies so I had her sit down and I grabbed my bottle of drinking water and washed her foot. Doreen had sent me out with a little bottle of hand sanitizer so I cleaned the cut with it using my clean paper towels. I had a little tube of antibiotic cream that I keep in my cross bag so I put that on it and since there was no gauze or band aids, I wrapped the toe in Paper towel strips and used my Jesus stickers to hold it on with. That’s the best I could do!! Then I prayed for her foot, asking The Father to heal her in Jesus name. I hugged her, told her to keep it clean and then she was off. I prayed for her several times as I thought of her but that was it. Now jumping ahead a little out of sequence…Saturday a week ago, our last day in the Solomon’s, Robert shows up for what became a big exchange ceremony with a Chief from the pagan village who had come down the mountain naked as a jay bird to meet the white man that washed and treated his grandmothers foot. Robert had to give him a lava lava to wrap around him, as you see in the picture below. What’s amazing is, that he made that 12 hour trek down to Honiara and came and presented to me his War club. (You can see me holding it in the picture… I will also post a couple other pics of this event). He also presented to Doreen, a hand woven basket. (he has around his neck in the pic).

At that same ceremony, I presented a case of medical supplies, a big case of school supplies and ten more picture Bibles. I told them by faith, that I know the Christians that follow the Cross would have me do that and that they would help! I went ahead and bought the supplies to give then rather than try to ship them back later. Because they need it NOW!! Thank you so much to all of you who have been holding The Rope for Doreen and I. All of us working together, are, making a difference in lives around this world!!!!