INDONESIA STORY 4 (please do read through these, be encouraged both in your faith and in intercession for Indonesia)
On the island of Papua there are many mountains and jungles and indigenous tribes. Because of the rugged terrain, even today new tribes are being discovered by helicopter or airplane. Years ago, another tribe was discovered. So, an Indonesian pastor along with a female missionary set out by helicopter to meet this group.
The helicopter dropped them down in a field and then took off again. As they walked towards the known location of the tribal village, the tribal people came out to meet them. The tribal people came towards them both with weapons and with food. They gave the pastor and the female missionary a lot of food to eat. Then each tribal member proceeded to touch the pastor or the female missionary on certain parts of their body. The pastor recognized what was happening. Whatever part the tribal member touched, that was the part they were going to eat. The feast was meant to fill them up before they die. The tribe, like some other tribes on the island of Papua, was a group of cannibals.
As tribal members proceeded to touch parts of his arms and legs, the pastor closed his eyes and prayed. He remembers he said, “Dear God, I love you. I am willing to die for you. But if it is not our time, if you still want to use us, please let us escape.” Then, as the tribal members were grasping his shoulders and chest, the pastor shook back his shoulders in an attempt to get their hands off of them. Then all the people ran away! Something strange seemed to happen that scared them off. The helicopter returned and he and the woman ran to it and left the place. They knew it was a miracle they had not been killed.
As days passed, the people they had visited began pressing on the pastor’s heart. He knew he needed to return. He first approached the female missionary, but she said in no way would she return to that place. The pastor eventually found one other man to go with them. And so for a second time he was taken by helicopter to the field outside the village.
After they landed, the tribal people once again came towards him with their weapons. But as they got very close, they broke their spears and bows and arrows! They then told the pastor that if any person comes to their village and is able to escape with their life, then that person is someone greater than them, someone worthy of respect. They had broken their weapons as a sign of peace. They then welcomed the pastor and his friend into the village. There the pastor shared the Gospel with them and led them to Christ.
Here is a picture of that pastor… he had actually just shared that story with us through Pastor Tandi’s interpretation.
Please pray for Indonesia to be delivered of the strongholds of fear and disbelief. God bless you all!
