The physical and spiritual
darkness that filled the tribal
village was so oppressive it
almost made Nelly and Shwe want
to turn back.
The two GFA native
missionaries had walked for three
days through a thick Burmese jungle
that was infested with tigers, disease
and ruthless bandits who preyed on
isolated travelers.
Then they were almost
overwhelmed by the stench and filth
that surrounded them in the remote
village in northern Myanmar
(Burma). Diseases like dysentery,
malaria and tuberculosis were
rampant.
As the villagers stared at her,
Nelly saw eyes gripped with fear.
The evil spirits the villagers
worshipped kept them in utter
backwardness and poverty—and in
spiritual captivity.
But Nelly knew that God had
sent her there to shine His light into
this darkness. And in spite of the
terrible risks, she was determined to
do it.
A village leader approached
the two women and demanded
they leave. He threatened severe
consequences if they stayed. But
again taking courage in the Lord,
Nelly and Shwe prayed and sought
out a higher village authority, who
miraculously granted them
permission to stay.
Soon, Nelly was exuberantly
ministering to the people. When she
prayed for a young demon-possessed
girl, the Lord delivered the girl
immediately. With God’s power so
evident, more people asked for
prayer, and many were healed.
In that small village, two GFA
native missionaries—backed by the
prayers and support of believers on
the other side of the world—
triumphantly stood on the ashes of
the kingdom of darkness. By God’s
grace, they boldly proclaimed God’s
love to the villagers, and soon a
thriving church emerged where the
name of Jesus had never been
spoken before.
Such victories are at the heart
of Gospel for Asia. Fueled by the
prayers of God’s people, GFA’s
native missionaries are laying
down their lives so that people in
the most unreached places on earth
will learn about Jesus and find new
life in Him.
