“Not again!” Ronald shouted as the wall of filthy brown water bore down on him. Caught in the middle of the river crossing with no time to reach the bank, the flash flood instantly swept him away. A sharp pain flared in his right arm as the current bounced him over jagged rocks. The next instant his big toe seemed to catch fire as it wedged between two boulders, ripping the toenail off.

Only a few months ago, Ronald had accepted God’s call to bring Jesus to the unreached Bangon tribe. The Bangon had no intention of accepting any outsiders, though, and wouldn’t let him move into their territory. The enemy of all mankind was also doing his best to keep Ronald out because every time Ronald packed a bag of rice and started into the mountains to visit his people, a flash flood caught him in the middle of this same river crossing.

The next thing Ronald knew, he was lying on the far bank of the river, his sack of rice next to him. Wincing in pain from the gashes on his arm, he reached out and ran his hand through the rice. It was dry and in perfect condition despite being soaked in the flood. Yet again, God had sent His angel, not only foiling the enemy’s attempt to kill him but also keeping his food supply safe.

Gingerly getting to his feet, Ronald put the rice back on his shoulders and continued up the mountain. Several hours later, bleeding and bedraggled (soaked and muddy), he stumbled into the Bangon village. “Outsider,” someone shouted, and instantly, the villagers disappeared into the jungle. Only the wizened chieftain remained.

“Good afternoon, elder,” Ronald greeted him respectfully. “I have come again to visit your people. I come only to bring good news and to help you.”

“Time and again, we have refused your help,” the old man replied, shaking his head. “Why do you persist in coming?” Bending over, he took a closer look at the blood still oozing from the gashes in Ronald’s arms and feet. “Every time you have come, the spirits have tried to kill you,” he continued. “But you still insist. Fine then. Do you see that patch of jungle across the river? That is our cemetery. We regularly make sacrifices to the spirits there and do witchcraft. If your God is as powerful as you say, you can live beside the cemetery.”

“Thank you, elder!” Ronald almost shouted. “Don’t worry. God is more powerful than any spirits. He will protect me.”

So began Ronald’s story of enduring suffering, working to bring Jesus’ deliverance to Bangon. From that eventful day forward, Ronald has lived with his adopted tribe, demonstrating Jesus’ love for them. Bringing people from complete darkness into the light of the gospel is a long process. Ronald knows, though, that every sacrifice will be worth it when he meets His Lord, accompanied by those He entrusted to his care.

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