QUOTE(ClearBlueWater @ Jan 2 2009, 12:21 PM) [snapback]4070053[/snapback]
What happens if missionaries go somewhere to help a group of peoples out and to "spread the good word," and the people are in need but ardently decline the spiritual "education?" Do they still get the physical help or do the missionaries just pack up and move out to help some god fearing folk instead?
This is a topic that is close to my heart.
I will give you a first hand experience.
In the past I was faced with a decision after I first yielded my life to the Lordship of "Jesus."
I had made some plans to possibly enter into the "International Red Cross."
My thoughts ran along this line that maybe through this organization I could reach and help many people that were in serious need.
Yet, upon further thought it became clear, to bind and patch people up, and then, for them to be lost in eternity, was in my mind, not such a good plan.
........
The Decision I Made Thereafter Was A Surrender Of My Will To God And To be A Missionary For Him.
Then being in the Himalayan mountains, in a small Mong Njua village, where Malaria and Typhoid was quite common, there the villagers believed that their smoking indoor fires would keep the mosquitoes out, and they refused the spraying of the Thai government official.
They declined to go to a border school
I lived for 4 months in a dirt floor hut, wearing Mong tribal cloths.
I was the first white missionary, there was no running water, no electric, no roads and it took me 2 days to treek up into these Burma Thai Mountains to this place.
Through an interpreter, I began to share the Creation story, to Christ and His Salvation.
Finally, at the end of the 4 months, I was able to get one Mong New Testament Primer, a first of it's kind, from another Christian group, and I gave it to the only Mong man that could read.
There was a meeting called and held. The village headman and elders in regards to the message I had been sharing.
I can't tell you how excited I was for this meeting to even take place, as everyone arrived of this three small villages clump together, around the 7 thousand foot level, the elders of this total population of about 260 men, women and children.
Had Only One Thought Expressed By The Headman in His Question.
The question was if they became a Christian how many wifes could they have?
For they had multiples wifes.
All eyes where fastened on this strange, who was 6 foot 4 inch, blue eyed, with blonde hair.
The fella who had left beautiful Rich America to come there, they had a hard time of why any sensible person would do that.
I answered their question without hesitation.
I raised 1 finger and then said one wife.
The meeting ended and nothing was said, later all said they did not want to become a Christian.
As a young missionary I was devastated, I just knew that all would become a Christian.
I had spent 5 years in this area and to date now all of these three villages have converted to Christianity.
Is it because of what I said? yes, but, I was just a messenger, there were many other missionaries that have went into these villages.
Now, you can drive on a winding black top road, in one hour's time to this village.
They have pick up trucks, electric, telephones, water to the houses, toilets, and regular little modern Thai city.
The Help that you mentioned about in your reply was facilitated by the Thai government which is Buddhist, and other NGO's (Non Government Agency)
There is much I could share but... I think that covers your questions. Norman
I guess that's a NO then
