Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

earnest"Greatest NeedFrom Moody MonthlyBy William W. OrrThe problem of food was tremendous. For somethree months prior to our arrival our friends hadbeen unable to obtain flour. There was none to bebought either from the river boats or from theusual sources of supply, ninetymiles and fourteenlong wearisome hours by outboard motor up the river. Fresh vegetables were almost an unheard of commodity, and due to the steaming character of jungleland it was just about impossible to plant things andhave them mature before the seed rotted under thejungle pressure.Then there had to be native help if the missionary was to give his time to the greater work, but thehelp was unsatisfactory. These people were willingbut ignorant, and were not careful in matters ofcleanliness. They could not understand why perfectlygood river water had to stand for twenty-four hoursin order to let the silt sink to the bottom. It was amystery to them after that why the water had to bebriskly boiled for twenty minutes and then cooledagain before one could use it.I could go on and on speaking of hardships. Itseems as if the missionary never stops scratching,for there is that small, almost invisible insect whichburrows its way deep into the skin. There is the difficulty of obtaining suitable language teachers, andthe necessity for patience in acquiring agility inspeaking. There is the matter of distances a tenhours'journey on the river by outboard motor boat,for example, to send or receive mail. There is the lackof the everyday conveniences which the missionaryhas known in the homeland no electricity, no running water, no telephone, and pitifully few of themodern aids that civilization affords.Yet the lack of these do not constitute the missionary's greatest need !On the mission field there is a spiritual battle.There, Satan has entrenched himself in pagan superstition and darkness over a period of many centuries. Either there is a decadent sterlity of a greatfalse church, with its totally unscriptural forms andceremonies, or else there is the diabolical and shameful immorality of naked heathenism. The missionary must battle with these entrenched influences. Hemust combat an unbelievably powerful enemy. Thebattle is a spiritual one, and the missionary's adversary never fights fairly. He seeks to steal up on themissionary's weakest side. He daily implants doubtsand discouragement. He uses every unfair meansto bring about a defeat, first in the missionary's ownsoul, and then to nullify his work.I am convinced that the physical difficulties ofthe missionary are of secondary importance. He canovercome the lack of food and housing. He can getNovember 3, 1954along with much less than is generally thought. Hecan even make proper medical provision to care forhis body. But where is there a sure defense againstthe spiritual onslaughts of the greatest deceiver ofall times? If the missionary's heart is discouraged,then all other difficulties seem mountain high. If hehas lost the will to do battle, then he is completely defeated, even before lifting his weapons. Without adoubt the greatest thing to guard against is the theftof the missionary's peace of mind and inspiration ofheart. Without these he is utterly useless as a warrior of the cross.We returned from the Amazon jungle far moresober Christians than we had been before. Duringthe hours of our return flight our minds went overand over the scenes which we had witnessed. We endeavored to analyze the true missionary picture.There they are down there, our official representatives. They are fine young people, brave and courageous. They do not ask anything special for themselves, but want only that, through their lives, othersmay find the Saviour. How can we help deservingyoung people like these ? What is their greatest need ?As I think of it now, I am sure that through thisfirst-hand experience God answered that questionfor me. The greatest need of the missionary is notthe physical difficulty or material deprivation ; whathe needs the daily inspiration of God. He needs thehourly filling of the blessed Holy Spirit. He needsthat heavenly bubbling over in his life that will firehis mind and strengthen his hand. He needs the constant touch of Almighty God in his life. Then nothingcan daunt him.There isn't the slightest doubt in my mind thathere is the secret of true missionary accomplishment.When God's omnipotence touches the missionary'ssoul, Satan must turn and slink away before the inspired advance of a truly God-filled life. And the natives, too, will note the difference with amazementand will think that God Himself has sent His emissary in their midst.But how may the missionary be touched by thepower of God? How can we bring down that divinepower upon him which will overwhelm everythingin its path? It is true that the missionary himselfcan pray and can place himself on the altar. It is truethat he may read the Scriptures and study, but isthat enough? Is there not a task for those of us athome? I believe that the answer to the missionary'sdesperate problem of spiritual inspiration comesmostly from a "dead in use of the mightyweapon of prayer in the hands of those who hold thelifeline at home.What did I do about it? First of all I told the277