Pioneering in - Far Eastern Bible College

eadied to set out for Banjermasin. For precious human souls, Iwas determined to lay aside every anxiety.It was the aborigines’ harvest time when everyone were busyin the paddy-fields. To make this long journey it was easy to findcompanions. At a word, however, over ten would join us, ofwhom seven were chosen. These comprised one who hadfervently witnessed with his wife, as guide, three brothers aspack-bearers, and two sisters as attendants. The brother who actedas our guide was a good witness. A converted sorcerer, he couldthus gain the hearts and wills of many people, that evenMohammedans were obliged to listen to him. Moreover he couldspeak Malay (language of Indonesia) and became my bestinterpreter. Though illiterate he could translate many Biblicalterms. God had given him this special gift. A native of “the otherside”, he could translate into the dialect of his own people. Thesisters, while helping to cook and wash, sang also in theEvangelistic Band’s choir. Musically talented, they lightened not alittle my load.Across our path ahead, however, there still lay that barrier ofanxiety. From our entourage came this postulation, “You areGod’s servant. God will watch over you. We have a little faith. Wehave none to shelter us except you. Sir, wherever you go we willfollow closely. We dare not leave you, eating or sleeping.”Promising, I comforted them with Mark 16:17,18 that they shouldlearn looking up to God.Apart from the cumbersome pump-organ (we reduced ourpackage to the simplest) our inventory included the following:mosquito net, bed sheet, canvass bed and a few changes ofclothes, Bible, gospel posters and their kind, and portable cookingutensils. My cereals and tinned foods consumed, we roastedchicken and wild boar meat and brought along a packet of chilliesand salt, several bamboo-tubes of cooked rice and a pot of water.Besides we were armed with a parang (long knife) each, two118