Precious in the sight of the Lord,
is the death
of His saints.
Psalm 116:15
Much
of my growing years were spent in an American Baptist denomination
church. The denomination was very strong on missions and missionary
support. Through the years, I noticed the frequent use of the word
“Hopevale”. It seemed to be such a key word when it came to
missions. I later learned of 12 missionaries living in a very
jungle-isolated place during World War II, hoping to avoid being
found by Japanese soldiers. They had built shelters and even an area
for worship in that place and called it Hopevale. Those dear folks
were later found and martyred.
After
my sophomore year in college, I went to serve on the student staff at
our denominations conference center in Green Lake, Wisconsin.
Someone mentioned a trail of interest regarding Hopevale that was up
from the center, but as I recall wasn't very accessible. You had to
know where you were going even though at the time I wasn't quite sure
what I was even looking for.
The
trail wound through a dense forest area. Every now and then, there
were stopping places along the trail. At each place was a poem
posted, each written by Jennie Adams, a martyred nurse. I had
recently purchased a hard back New Testament, but didn't have it with
me upon that first visit. As I walked that trail and stopped to
read each poem, I knew I had to return and copy them. They are
written in the back of that very old, beat up book that I still
have.
In retrieving that book and checking the back, there they are...poems written in such a simple, but profound fashion. That young woman had no idea when the Japanese soldiers would come. This is just one of those poems.
Living
in a lonely forest
War clouds darkening the earth
Stripped of
treasures I valued,
Things that once seemed of worth.
Though
I'm barefoot in the kitchen
With it's dirt and gravel floor
I'm
not poor while I have orchids
Blooming at my kitchen door.
I'm thinking of missionaries today who face danger every day in their ministries across the world. Many can't even say where they are located nor can they make public that they are missionaries and not just computer techs or teachers. They lived on an edge we will never understand and pray we will never have to know in our own lives.
More
and more, we're finding that we Christians aren't the most popular
in our own country and that sentiment is growing the more we take our
stands for Christ. We may never walk barefoot in a dense forest.
hiding from those whose aim it is to destroy us. We have a hope
beyond any understanding as did the Hopevale twelve that Satan's
crowd will never understand.
Dear Father, thank You for the memory of those who have gone before us, bearing Your message in the most difficult of circumstances. May we too be faithful in sharing Your message while there is time. Thank you for Jesus and all He means to us. Amen
I'm thinking of missionaries today who face danger every day in their ministries across the world. Many can't even say where they are located nor can they make public that they are missionaries and not just computer techs or teachers. They lived on an edge we will never understand and pray we will never have to know in our own lives.
More
and more, we're finding that we Christians aren't the most popular
in our own country and that sentiment is growing the more we take our
stands for Christ. We may never walk barefoot in a dense forest.
hiding from those whose aim it is to destroy us. We have a hope
beyond any understanding as did the Hopevale twelve that Satan's
crowd will never understand.
Dear Father, thank You for the memory of those who have gone before us, bearing Your message in the most difficult of circumstances. May we too be faithful in sharing Your message while there is time. Thank you for Jesus and all He means to us. Amen
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