An Urgent Plea to Hear the Gospel

My prayer before we began our journey into Yalunka territory was, "Father prepare the hearts of the Yalunka to receive Your Light and Your Truth." And that is exactly what God did!

It took us two hours to travel 18 miles deep into the forest area and further up the mountain to reach the first Yalunka village, Village R*. As soon as we arrived, all the villagers stopped what they were doing to welcome us. After brief introductions, one of the volunteers from Texas told the chief, "We have come a very long way.traveling many hours across the ocean, through the desert, and up the mountain... because we have a very important message to tell you about God's Love." The men wanted to hear this message. They leaned forward, eagerly listening as the team members shared their personal testimonies. No one moved from the circle.for two hours they listened.they wanted more, yet it was getting late.

One man, "M"*, said, "We can't make decisions unless we know more. If someone will come and teach us, we will listen, but if no one comes, we cannot learn because we cannot read well enough ourselves." I took out a gospel presentation booklet and began to read. "M" would not let me stop reading until I finished all 49 pages, including the prayer. Then "M" walked to the front and said. "I want to study the Bible and learn more about how to follow the Jesus road. If you also want to study God's word, then stand here with me." Eleven other men stood with "M".

Rather than traveling to other Yalunka villages, we returned the next day to Village R*. The men sat captivated for the next 5 hours as the team told stories from God's Word beginning with creation, the prophets and through Christ's sacrifice of love for them. The villagers all agreed that the Jesus road is the good road and the right road, but said they need to learn more. One man said, "We old men will soon die. We must learn these things now while we can."

These Yalunka men did not tell us any of their problems or needs. They asked for only one thing - for someone to teach them God's Word. Currently, the closest evangelical witness to this village is four hours away by car. Ask the Lord of the Harvest to call out people who are willing to travel rough roads and sacrifice their conveniences for the sake of these Yalunka men who are waiting. begging for someone to come and teach them, before it is too late.

*Name withheld for security purposes

Rita Salter - Engagement Team