A LETTER FROM REV. KUIJT

To our dear mission Friends;

This morning we received a letter from Mr. John Spaans. Enclosed in his letter we found a cheque in the amount of US $10,000. To all of you who have given so graciously we extend our thankfulness for this royal gift. May the Lord bless you richly and His Kingdom be extended in this needy land. Perhaps you are wondering where the money goes to. First of all, I can tell you that it is not used for e.g. the salaries of foreign mission workers. The money goes directly into the work of the mission. Existing stations, like Abenaho, Landikma, Langda and Bommele are extending the work. Since import prices went up 200% to 300% you can imagine what this means for our mission work. But not only existing stations were and are being improved, new work was also started. Langda extended to Sumtamon, and Bommela got an out-station at Yalmabi. Nipsan was reopened by the end of last year and two types of work started in the surrounding areas. On the whole, we may see God’s good hand in all the efforts.

When I think of Nipsan, we repeatedly see that (indeed) the work was broken off (for a while) but where the work broke off, it started again. In other words, we had not to start from scratch again. In my last article I wrote something about that, and now will continue my story. In the first place we want to look unto the Lord, Who permitted this village to be struck but Who is also healing it again. And then I also think of the many supporters, and among them, those whose hidden prayers never ceased to remember Nipsan, who brought this terrifying place to the throne of grace. And see, prayers are answered. Some 150 people each Sunday are gathering around the Word of God and it is amazing how good they listen. The first Evangelists went to a village to stay there permanently. Soon the Bo-valley, bordering on the Nipsan-valley, will be occupied with Evangelists. May the Lord grant more of them. It is true for Indonesia as well, that the harvest is great but the labourers are few. And then we found a new task North of Nipsan, in two valleys, which were and are still untouched. For almost twenty years now we are sailing under the flag of St. Paul’s statement: “Not where Christ was named.” And I firmly believe that this almost 2000 years old statement will stay up-to-date until the Lord returns. There will always be work for those who carry Paul’s statement in their Banner.

This time I would like to write a few Unes on the first contact we had with one of the two valleys lying North of Nipsan. We had seen these valleys for several years, however, never had an opportunity to go there. You may wonder what the hold-up was. Those among you who have followed us through the years, will know that transportation in this rugged land has been a great problem. We thank God that the M.A.F. has been a means in the hand of God to provide transportation by fixed-wing aircraft. And this indeed has helped a lot. Thousands and thousands of air miles were flown to runways built by missionaries. Many stations were opened, and because of that, the blessed tiding of the Word of God, for sinners in themselves, was taken to the unreached. Oh, eternity will reveal what the work of the mission has done. Actually I should say: What the Lord has done through missions. Because it is, it was, and will ever be, the Lord’s work. But, and you may be amazed, many still wait for the first Word of God.

For years already, it has been a burden on my heart to have my own transportation in the form of a helicopter. And if I am not mistaken, one day walking from Nipsan to our station in Walmak, I believe the Lord promised me that one day I would have my own transport. Many were against it but I had my Promise! Oh, people of God, who may also have received a promise from the Lord, wait on Him, don’t look upon man, for they cannot help you. Instead look upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith Who will never fail you. He will fulfill His Word, and at the end, you may rejoice in His Name, because…He has done it!! And as you know, the first helicopter was purchased and is waiting for shipment to Nipsan. Now, you can easier buy a pound of sugar than import a helicopter into Indonesia. Our representative in Jakarta is working hard, but thus far I have no word yet that the permission for the importation was issued. So there is some work to do at the throne of grace for the Lord’s people! Pray and you will be given. If we don’t, nothing will be given, according to God’s Word. In the meantime, the M.A.F. got some helicopters and they indeed do beautiful work. Still, for intensive village visitation, which I have in mind, I stay with my (I believe) God-given view of having my own transportation. So we are looking forward to having Mr. Meeuwse at Nipsan for a time to give me necessary further instruction. After that, Mr. Meeuwse will go to another N.R.C. station. Until now, we are dependent on the M.A.F. who are only able to give us a certain amount of time for their commercial flying.

Now, what happened on the 25th of June? Because of the Lord’s command, “Go ye into all the world,” we intended to go North of Nipsan and see whether there was a place to land the helicopter on. Our workers who were supposed to go with us, were ready to go, having their shovels, axes and food ready to start a new work. For a long time already we had seen these villages but had never been able to go to them. We took off with Sabonwarek, our faithful worker, who went with us in February, 1971, to Nipsan and another man from this valley. This man was from Selekehek, a village not far from our station. Actually, a wonder, that this local man was willing to go with us, meeting the unknown, when it appeared that a few weeks before Selekehek was coming to our station to destroy it. War was declared, but by the grace of God, that special day had a happy ending. Maybe a more informative history of this occasion at a later date.

I must say, that the people of that village North of Nipsan, did not invite us to come! So when we arrived above the place, where of course, no heli-pad was ready for us, there was no reception committee to welcome us. The pilot had the nerves to let down in something that looked like a garden. There were some sticks poking up, but the pilot found a suitable place where he could land. (Not everybody would have done that, I think.) After Sabonwarek, the Selekehek man and myself had jumped out of the helicopter, the helicopter took off for a new load of people and left us alone. I walked to a house, just a single hut, and saw a woman and child terribly frightened. At some distance, there was the actual village, and I saw some men walking there. They, however, did not come to us. After all a dangerous sign. All of a sudden I turned myself and saw a warrior ready to attack me. Sabonwarek shouted: “Pendeta, they are attacking us, they want to make war.” It is very difficult to explain what went through my mind in those moments. I thought that my time on earth was finished. Since we had brought no arms with us, not even bows and arrows, the three of us were totally defenseless. There we were, being under attack. I prayed that the helicopter might come back soon. But I also realized that every second was precious. Our Selekehek man kept on talking, trying to get the bows and arrows down. And then, all of a sudden, there came an old man, unarmed to us. He snarled a command to the younger men and they stopped the threatening. Although with quite a bit of hesitation, we could come together and talk. For those of you who will ever visit these areas, keep in mind the word “Chang,” which means “forbidden”. I used it several times and with each time I used the word, there was some hesitation by the man who apparently was intending to kill me. And then, praise God, there came the helicopter back with a new load of workers. Of course, they could not jump out of the helicopter, and I needed to talk to the pilot. I briefly explained the situation and he asked me what to do. While the situation was still far from safe, I suggested to wait for five minutes or so and see how things would develop. Then I went back to my men who were talking and talking and explaining and explaining. By now, you would know, that I am not a hero. I could not accept the invitation of the pilot to jump in the helicopter and go. He understood. And at the other hand it was time to leave the place. When we thought the people had become reasonable, I told the pilot and he took off with the load of workers to bring them back to Walmak as soon as possible and then come back to pick up the three of us. We all knew that anything could happen between his going and coming back. My wife was quite amazed that the load she had just arranged was coming back, but there was no time to explain, so she had to wait for an explanation until later. By the goodness of the Lord, the helicopter arrived in time and nothing happened. We decided to come back later and drop some axes as a little present for these hostile people. After all, they thought that we had come to harm them. In other words, their picking up of bows and arrows was a sign of self-defence, applied wrongly though! After we had done some more helicopter work we came back and dropped some axes from the air. Then we circled around to see whether the axes were picked up. After several minutes, we thought we had better come down again, to be sure whether the axes were taken or not. No, they were still there. That old man came again, unarmed, and I jumped out to hand him the axes. His face was shining, seeing that beautiful present! We took off again and returned to Walmak, our home base. Together with my wife and children, we thanked the Lord for protection and safety. Once in a while, the Lord’s people say, “The Lord is my shield and strong defense! What can man do?”

You will understand that we could not forget that place called Sirikadomon. Fourteen days later we went again, and praise God, the same people received us in a friendly manner, and …a proper helipad was built. Some of my men stayed overnight and they had a very good contact with the people. Not far from Sirikadomon is another place called Dibul. We landed there for the first time and also there a heli-pad was built. Those same native (4) Evangelists were sent into the Bo-valley and stayed overnight. When they came back they had good reports as well. In one village a pig was killed, and for sure, that was a good sign. Next time we hope to penetrate into the second valley, north of Nipsan. Why? For adventure? Mayber there are more suitable places on earth for adventures! No, because the Lord has said to preach the Gospel to all the nations. And by now you will understand that there are still people, sometimes very hostile, who have never heard the Gospel! Paul says in Romans 1:14,1 am debtor both to the (developed) Greeks, and to the (undeveloped) Barbarians. Do we have that same attitude?

Thank you, friends, for your royal gift and for your prayers. We have not reached the end yet. The Lord is waiting for the last elect to be reached with the Good News. And … they will come. No, not with open arms. By nature, we are all enemies of God. But by the powerful operation of the Holy Spirit, working there, when the Truth is brought in faithfulness, they will be reached. You at your place may be co-labourers. For the Lord there are no borders and no distances. He knows where His elect are living. And do you know my desire? That our mission and I myself may be used in His holy hands to reach those elect with all possible means. And if I am not mistaken, He will give me the desire of my heart, because He has spoken. Oh, people of God, what a comfort if the Lord is on our side. We may be brought into situations that we say, “All these things are against us.” But the Lord controls everything and no hair from our heads will fall down without His holy will.

Well, friends, I must close for now. Receive our hearty greetings. May the Lord remember you where you are and be gracious unto you, now and forevermore. Yours sincerely in Him, Rev. G. Kuijt

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