"The Voice of the Underground Church"

Rev. Richard Wurmbrand, 91, author of 18 worldwide Christian bestsellers, translated in over 70 languages, describing his life and 14 years of communist imprisonment, was born the youngest of four boys, in a Jewish family in Bucharest, Romania. Between 1913 and 1919 the family lived in Istanbul, Turkey. His father a dentist died from the flu epidemic in 1919. The poor widow and the four boys returned to Romania. Richard, very gifted intellectually and fluent in nine languages, had a stormy youth, was active in leftist politics and working as a stockbroker when he married Sabina in 1936. The same year both of them were converted when a German carpenter placed a Bible into their hands.

The Wurmbrands joined the Church of the Anglican Mission to the Jews in Bucharest. Their only son Michael was born in 1939. They smuggled numerous Jewish children out of the ghettos, preached daily in many bomb shelters and ended up arrested many times for underground Christian activities during World War II. In the short period between the end of WW II and the transformation of Romania into a communist state (1945-1947) Rev. Wurmbrand printed and organized the underground distribution of one million Russian Gospels to the Russian troops that occupied Romania. He pastored a Church of 1000, mostly made of Jewish converts. In 1948 he was kidnapped from the street by the communist government and disappeared in the communist prison system. He spent 14 years in prison, 1948-56 and 1959-64. His wife Sabina was also in a slave-labour camp from 1950 to 1953. He succeeded in converting to Christian faith some secret police officers.

Rev. Wurmbrand’s books, Tortured For Christ and In God’s Underground, describe his imprisonment and torture in detail. In 1964 Norwegian Lutheran and British Hebrew Christians paid $ 10000 as ransom to free him and his family from communist Romania. In May 1966, he testified in Washington before the Senate’s Internal Security Subcommittee and stripped to the waist to show eighteen deep torture wounds covering his body. Rev. Wurmbrand, 6’-3", has been called the "Voice of the Underground Church" and "The Iron Curtain Paul."

In 1966 the Wurmbrands started Christian Mission to the Communist World which in 1990 was named Voice of the Martyrs, Inc., a worldwide organisation having as its aim the help of Christians persecuted by communist regimes. An important thrust is undertaken presently, after the fall of communism in Russia, into Moslem countries.

Wurmbrand’s message at all times: "Hate the evil systems but love the persecutors." His wife Sabina died on 11 Aug 2000. Continuing to travel and speak past his 85th birthday, Rev. Wurmbrand was confined to bed for the last five years due to strokes and severely advancing leg neuropathy contracted during his three years of solitary confinement which he spent mostly standing and on starvation diet. He died in California on 17 February 2001 of respiratory failure. Praise God for a life like this!

The field is the world. The wind is the Holy Spirit. The world has not yet been saturated with the gospel. Worldwide evangelisation is a mountainous task. It cannot be accomplished by muscle power or monetary strength. As God told Zerubbabel, "It’s neither by might not by power, but by My Spirit" (Zech 4:6,7). Let’s study in this article how the Holy Spirit helps us in missionary work if only we depend on Him.

1. He burdens us to PRAY.

The Holy Spirit descends on God’s people as the "Spirit of Supplication" when they seek Him for direction in missionary outreach (Zech 12:10). We won’t have all the information about places and people we would visit with the Gospel. Our prayers will be limited by the available informations. But when we respond to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, we move into a realm that’s beyond human imaginations (Rom 8:26,27). There’s hardly a vigorous missionary movement that was not birthed in prayer.

In the early sixties one Sunday afternoon the Holy Spirit moved upon our college prayer group mightily as the Spirit of Intercession. He burdened us to pray for the African tribes. We didn’t understand why. We were all students and any of us had hardly travelled beyond 300 kilometers from the Southernmost towns of India. But we kept thinking about these tribespeople. We had the shock of our life when one of our outreach teams in late seventies spotted hundreds of tribal men and women with negroid features in the jungles of the State of Karnataka in India. They are said to have escaped slave traders and been living as a "hidden" people group. We have a growing Church in this community now.

When our missionary praying is dependent on the Holy Spirit, we are able to see the condition of the lost from God’s viewpoint and love people as Jesus loves them. The Holy Spirit effusively pours out in our hearts God’s love that was manifested in Calvary for the ungodly (Rom 5:5,6). This was the testimony of Paul: "I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart" (Rom 9:1-3). This was for the salvation of Israel (10:1,2). Also for him to preach the gospel boldly he pleaded with God’s people to pray "in the Spirit" (Eph 6:18-20).

2. He empowers us to WITNESS.

The last recorded saying of Christ before His return to Heaven explains the supreme reason for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you; and you shall be witnesses to Me." Eventhough the urgency to get the message of the Gospel to people had always been there, Jesus would not let His disciples go on with the job until they had been endued with power from Above (Lk 24:47-49). Jesus Himself though He was the very Son of God did not preach or minister to people in His own power. Peter who had closely watched Jesus for over three years observed, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good" (Acts 10:38). Oratory skills or clever salesmanship will accomplish nothing without the Spirit’s power (1 Cor 2:4).

Not one time encounter but an experience of continuous infilling of the Holy Spirit is a basic must for bold and effective witnessing. Those who were baptized with the Holy Spirit in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost were filled again and "they spoke the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31). There must be frequent stirrings within so we will not be intimidated by fear of any sort (2 Tim 1:6,7).

Peter before Pentecost was a notable coward. But the Holy Spirit emancipated him from the fear of men and empowered him to challenge thousands. He understood what difference it made when the gospel was preached "by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven" instead of by mere human enthusiasm (1 Pet 1:12; Mt 26:34; Mk 14:31). His utter dependence on the Holy Spirit is seen in his unassailable defence before the council: "We ought to obey God rather than men... We are His witnesses, and so also is the Holy Spirit" (Acts 5:29,32).

Satan will not peaceably surrender his captives. Missionary work is a spiritual warfare. As the beautiful feet march with the shoes of the gospel towards the enemy’s territory, all the fury of the principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness will be turned against them (Eph 6:12,15). Satan will have his agents like Elymas to hypnotically influence the hearers of the gospel through sorcery, false prophecy and the like. Only when the witnesses are "filled with the Holy Spirit" can they confront the formidable enemy and set the captives free (Acts 13:6-10; Isa 61:1).

The Bible encourages us to "desire spiritual gifts" (1 Cor 14:1). The first list of gifts in the New Testament is given in the context of evangelism (Mk 16:15-18). Of the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:7-10), the word of wisdom (Acts 15:13-21), the word of knowledge (Acts 8:23), faith (Acts 28:3-6), gifts of healings (Acts 9:33-35), working of miracles (Acts 14:3) and discerning of spirits (Acts 16:16-18) are the most essential to missionary evangelism. God is more than willing to bestow these gifts on us when we ask Him (Mt 7:11). Will the Lord of Hosts be slack in equipping His soldiers before sending them to the battlefront?

3. He directs us to GO.

As per the Great Commission we are to go everywhere preaching the Gospel to everyone. But the condition of one field differs from the other. Some fields are yet to be ploughed. Some other fields are ready for sowing. And there are fields already ripe for harvest. So also the gifts and calling of God vary from missionary to missionary. Some workers are efficient in ploughing, whereas others excel in sowing or reaping (Jn 4:37,38; 1 Cor 3:5-7). The Holy Spirit as the Chief Executive of missionary work decides WHO, WHERE and WHEN. In His sovereignity He can change the course and the candidates. Blessed are the flexible; for they shall not be broken!

The Book of Acts is the textbook on missions. It teaches us through examples how we can be successful in missionary outreach if we follow the voice of the Holy Spirit. The following three incidents are illustrative.

c Evangelist Philip was conducting a glorious healing compaign in Samaria (Acts 8:5-7). This was the talk of the town (v 8). Huge crowds were thronging to hear him and see the miracles. People were baptized in water and getting filled with the Holy Spirit (vv 16,17). In the midst of such a hectic programme and an arduous ministry to thousands, the Holy Spirit directed Philip to go to the desert of Gaza to minister to just one individual! (vv 26,29). This may not appeal to human logic, but the Heavenly Wind blows where it wishes! Those born of the Spirit must yield themselves to be also borne by the Spirit! (Jn 3:8).

 Simon Peter was vacationing with Simon the tanner enjoying the sea breeze and spending time in prayer (Acts 9:43; 10:5,6,9). He would have least expected a missionary call from the gentile world at that hour. He was a biased Jew. But "the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise and go, doubting nothing; for I have sent them" (Acts 10:19,20; 11:12a). Basically Peter was called to be an apostle to the Jews (Gal 2:7,8). He had no personal liking for the non-Jews either. But because Christ in the first instance had given the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to Peter, the Holy Spirit urged Peter to inaugurate the gentile ministry (Mt 16:16-19). Sensitivity to the promptings of the Spirit is indispensable to fulfill God’s missionary programme.

 Paul and Barnabas were two among the five prophets and teachers in the Church at Antioch. The disciples of this Church were the ones to be first called Christians (Acts 11:26; 13:1). Though Paul and Barnabas would have been such a blessing to this local Church, the Holy Spirit spoke to the other leaders to release them for the translocal missionary work (Acts 13:2). The Holy Spirit was so actively operating in this enterprise that it is recorded that these two men were "sent out by the Holy Spirit" eventhough it was apparently the other leaders who sent them forth (compare v 3 and v 4). Which Church does release its best ministers for missionary work? Is the Holy Spirit not speaking to us these days or are we not obeying His voice?

The Holy Spirit not only sends us to the fields but also guides us in the work. His guidance can be either through open doors or closed ones (Acts 16:6-9). He also creates irresistible desires in the hearts of missionaries about specific places or peoples. An example: "Paul purposed in the Spirit... I must also see Rome" (Acts 19:21). Though the message is the same to all peoples, the methods will have to be changed to suit the cultures (1 Cor 9:20-22). The Holy Spirit as "the Spirit of wisdom and understanding" leads us to behave prudently according to the situation (Isa 11:2).

4. He inspires us to GIVE.

Money is not primary in missionary work but it is necessary. Pioneer missionary work is more expensive than the maintenance of established Churches. Though tithing is a healthy practice, if Christians won’t give more than one tenth of their income, world evangelisation will continue to be far from realisation.

The Spirit of Pentecost released a spirit of liberality in those who received Him. According to the Biblical record, there was no direct orders or indirect hint from the apostles to get the disciples sell their belongings and pool the money for common enjoyment, especially to bless the have-nots. The spontaneity of the act is the miracle of miracles! (Acts 2:44,45; 4:34,35).

Fresh outpourings of the Holy Spirit are reported worldwide. People speak in tongues, shout, jump, dance, fall, roll and so on and so forth. But do we hear of anyone sharing his wealth liberally with the poor and the needy as a direct result of being baptized with the Holy Spirit? Which will be a more practical and convincing evidence of Spirit baptism— Acts 2:4 or 2:44? Missions Researcher David Barrett reports that of the top twenty American Churches in giving, not one is charismatic. Where have we gone wrong?

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of glory (1 Pet 4:14). When He possesses us He grants us glimpses of eternal glory. As a result our grip on earthly gold and possessions is loosened. When Abraham was satisfied with the bread and wine received from Melchizedek, King of Salem, he despised the material wealth offered by the King of Sodom (Gen 14:18-24). This dimension of the ministry of the Holy Spirit must be restored in our life and teaching. That alone would usher in the long-awaited revival of giving.

5. He helps us to REAP.

Reaping the harvest is the most exciting part of missionary evangelism. The endtime ingathering of souls is accelerated by the last days ourpouring of the Spirit. Quoting Joel’s prophecy Peter in his Pentecostal sermon said, "It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh... And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:16,17,21). The Holy Spirit mobilizes the entire Church—not just its fulltime ministers—"sons... daughters... young men... old men... menservants... maidservants"— for gathering the grains (vv 17,18). Aggressive evangelism is a natural outflow of the Holy Spirit revival. When God pours out showers of blessing on His people dwelling on His hill, they invariably become a blessing to those all around (Ezek 34:26).

Not only the Church as a community but also each Christian becomes a mighty soulwinner through the fullness of the Spirit. It is told of Barnabas that "he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit... and a great many people were added to the Lord" (Acts 11:24).

In our mission fields we have frequently witnessed outpourings of the Spirit on the hearers of the gospel even before they were formally initiated into Christian life by a mouth confession or water baptism. In such instances the Church growth has been phenomenal. The case of Cornelius is illustrative of this sovereign act (Acts 10:44-48). After all it is the Holy Spirit who baptizes (inducts) people of any culture and status—Jews or Greeks and slaves or free— into the one Body of Christ! (1 Cor 12:13).

At the same time we cannot conclude that the Holy Spirit is not at work if the harvest is poor or delayed. Not all soils are alike. We must be faithful in sowing and watering but leave fruitbearing into the hands of God. The Bible emphatically states, "Neither he who plants is anything, not he who waters, but God who gives the increase" (1 Cor 3:7). Having done all, we must wait on the Lord till He rains on our fields (Hos 10:12). He will not disappoint us. He will cause the former rain and the latter rain to come down for us (Joel 2:23). Stay positive and expectant (v 21). Out labour will not go in vain (1 Cor 15:58). "In due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Gal 6:9b).

6. He causes congregations to GROW.

Just like Abraham sent Eliezer to find a bride for his son Isaac, the Father God has sent the Holy Spirit to get the bride ready for His Son. The Holy Spirit is now preparing the Church to be married to the Lamb of God. Until Christ returns the Holy Spirit works zealously for the Church for her health and growth. About the early Church congregations we read that they walked in the "comfort of the Holy Spirit" and were multiplied (Acts 9:31).

It is the Holy Spirit who ordains overseers to shepherd the Church of God (Acts 20:28). He equips them with His gifts of wisdom, knowledge and discernment and guides them in leadership. As the Spirit of Truth He leads the Church into all truth (Jn 16:13). He reminds the Bride of the words of the Bridegroom so her walk may be pleasing to Him (Jn 14:26). When doctrinal disputes come up, the Holy Spirit sheds new light on the Scripture for better understanding. See how wonderfully He helped the leaders in Jerusalem council to sort out the circumcision issue! Their conclusion was what "seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to them" (Acts 15:28).

The Church grows healthily when "every organ" and "every joint" function effectively (Eph 4:16). A Church with a silent majority is not a New Testament Church. When the Holy Spirit has His sway He energises and enthuses every member to function to his fullest God-given potential. There’s no "non-spiritual" work in the Church. Whether it is artwork or administration, the Holy Spirit is the Enabler (Ex 31:1-5; Acts 6:3).

7. He strengthens us to SUFFER.

Missionary work without suffering is unheard of. The Lord Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit as "another Comforter." As a Comforter, even before the missionaries face persecution, He strengthens their hearts for what lies ahead. Missionary Paul declared, "The Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me" (Acts 20:23).

In His commissioning address to the twelve disciples, Jesus encouraged them saying, "You will be brought before governors and Kings for My sake... But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak... for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you" (Mt 10:18-20). We see this magnificently fulfilled in the case of Stephen. He was not primarily a preacher or a teacher of the Scriptures but only a deacon appointed to look after business matters in the Church (Acts 6:2-5). But his opposers "were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke" (v 10). He died a martyr’s death "being full of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 7:55). It is frequently observed in pioneer mission fields that the answers given by uneducated but Spirit-filled workers in defence of the gospel would baffle the best of theological minds!

Suffering is suffering. Pain is pain. But the Holy Spirit fills the persecuted with inexplainable joy (Acts 13:50-52). This is something which neither the persecuted not the persecutors can understand. The stories of martyrs right through the Church history attest this fact. Of the seven Churches of Revelation 2 & 3, the only two Churches which were not rebuked were missionary minded. The Smyrna Christians were promised "crown of life" and the Philadelphians the position of a "pillar in the temple." What more do we need?

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches about the unchurched!

FEBRUARY 1

I am returning to a tribal village where I worked nine years ago (1992). It is an hour and a half drive from the nearest town into one of the jungles of Orissa. Tigers, bears and pythons on the road are occasional treat to missionaries especially in the nights. The village is the same as it was nine years ago. I am welcomed by the staff and the forty children of the Blessing Children’s Hostel. I am given a cute one room apartment where I can also cook. So I am very comfortable. I had already started to take Chloroquine pills as prevention against malaria.

Our Blessing Children’s Hostel houses 40 children of new believers who otherwise would be roaming around the forests. They are sent to the village school. The teacher was angry with their Christian faith and made them sit on one side of the classroom. During inspection the Inspector found the answers to his questions coming from one corner only. He enquired and found out they were children from the Blessing Hostel and appreciated them. The next day the teacher made the children mingle and sit with the rest. Our children rejoiced at this unusual answer to their prayer.

A boy was admitted to the hostel anaemic, puffy and with protruding abdomen. He was dewormed and anaemia treated. The mother who came to see him some months later started lamenting, "Oh, my baby! He was so fair and fat with a full abdomen. Now his face is thin and dark. Where is his abdomen? Do you feed him or not?" and started shouting at the staff.

Now the keys to the School cupboards are entrusted to our children because they are found trustworthy. Our children bagged 25 prizes in the local Panchayat sports in which 10 schools participated. They played with the village cricket team five times and won four matches. One ended in draw. Mrs. Florence Jaisankar who joined Blessing Youth Mission after resigning as social welfare officer in CMCH, Vellore is in charge of the hostel. She does an excellent job. She is now elected for the second time to be in the Govt. School committee. Because our children would not pay for idol worship festivals the school committee decided to throw out all the Christian children. But someone said, "Then we’ll lose the cream." So the decision was withdrawn.

FEB 2

An associate editor of a local newspaper from the nearest town visited us and threatened to publish things against us if we would not pay him Rs. 5000/-. We refused.

FEB 3

The editor of the same newspaper came and we served him coffee. He enquired about our work and said they received evil report about our work. I said there are people who exploit the tribals. That should be condemned in his magazine. We invited him to join us for lunch and I shared my testimony. He declined the offer, apologised profusely for his coworker’s demand for money and left.

There are tiles piled against the wall of my bedroom from which a snake puts out its head, wags its neck, and goes in. We cannot kill it because the pile is too big. So I have to sleep next to a snake separated only by a wall. I shut the window tight. Temperature plummets to probably 5 degrees Celsius and I slithered into my sleeping bag because my roof is just asbestos. Mosquitos are few but they are guns loaded with malarial parasites.

One of our goats fell sick and we cut it off. I feel sorry for Ranjan, a 9 year old, living with his mother in the campus. Nine years ago she brought him as a baby with cornea sloughed in both eyes. We treated his eyes and told the mother that he would have no vision. Her husband kept urging her to kill the baby. But she refused and came to live in the campus with the baby and was employed as the hostel cook. The boy grew up. Surprisingly now he can see through the periphery of the cornea and runs about playing with other children. I keep wondering if a corneal transplant would help. Atleast he can go to school.

I get up at five, finish my exercises, sweep, mop, wash clothes and vessels, cook breakfast and lunch. Birds chirp, the cool breeze blows and I look around the village nestling in the forest. Mango trees are in full bloom and the scent wafts across the campus. You walk a quarter kilometre in any direction and you enter the forest. Tribals in their colourful dresses walk the streets with baskets on their heads. By 9 a.m. I sit with my Bible in the clinic and wait for patients. 10 to 25 come everyday. But Tuesdays are market days and we get 40-50 patients.

Tribals who graze cattle collect cattle from 10 to 20 houses and take them into the forest. When they return in the evening they are given a bowl of porridge and a cup of curry in each house. That’s their salary everyday. It was so 9 years ago and it is still so today. Who will dare change it? I wonder. A few children go to school. Many do not. Now family planning operation is done in the Primary Health Centre unlike 9 years ago. Some have it done. Many do not, because they do not know how many of their children would survive.

FEB 4

A boy with swollen infected genitalia was brought by worried parents.

FEB 5

The boy had improved remarkably and the parents brought tomatoes from their garden, faces full of smile that thrilled our hearts. A middle aged man was brought with rapid loss of vision. We referred him to a nearby mission hospital. He was found to suffer from retinal detachment and could not be helped much. I feel sorry and helpless.

I am surprised I am still able to communicate and read and sing in Oriya. The old serpent peeped out and showed its cloven tongue.

FEB 6

Today is market day. Tribespeople from interior villages walk upto 25 km to enjoy the fare. It’s their day out. They bring their produce for sale and return in the evening. Many vegetables are now available in the market and also fresh water fish. Five bundles of greens is one rupee! Kendu is a wild fruit eaten fondly by bears and sold in the market. It is small, round and yellow and tastes like sappota. I like it. I have to like it because that’s the only fruit available in the village other than plantains and occasionally papaya. I go marketing every Tuesday for an hour. Ants with ant eggs are sold in cups made of leaves. The people cook and eat them. Still people go by the sun and not by the clock. When we ask their age they innocently reply, "You only will know. You are educated."

FEB 7

Went walking through the village and talked to some womenfolk. The newspaper brings report of people dying of starvation in Bargarh district reeling under a drought. Able bodied men and women leave for other districts or states in search of jobs. Sometimes they are exploited and return disappointed. Many leave behind their aged parents, who are unable to travel, to the mercy of fate. Many of these old people die of starvation. Many take a bath once in 15 days if they are lucky to get some water. Today’s newspaper says a couple sold their 3 year old child to buy medicines for their ailment. My heart is stirred within me. How can I keep reading such things day after day and do nothing? May be we can start a feeding centre. The Lord wakes me up in the middle of the night to pray for these people. I must make a trip to this district and survey some villages where the famine is acute. God help me.

FEB 8

Today is common fasting prayer and missionaries, about 25 of them, from surrounding villages gather for prayer from 10 to 4. I shared the Word. Missionary couple Mr. & Mrs. Gideon Pani brought two big live bats for me to feast on. I appreciated their gesture but could not eat them! Missionaries conduct 4 Sunday Classes in the village for 25-50 children in each. Some adults also sit and listen. One ladies prayer is conducted and 11 ladies attend.

FEB 9

There was a sack load of sample medicines in the clinic. Sorted them out. There were medicines for TB, malaria, dysentry, diarrhoea, worm infestation, arthritis, peptic ulcer, asthma, infection, malnutrition and a whole lot! I was excited, praising God for the doctors who gave away their precious samples and our friends who collected and sent them to us. Bless these people, Lord, and reward them in Your Kingdom!

Our missionary Doctor Jaisankar who has taken care of the Clinic for the past 9 years has established a good name. People have developed a confidence in him and testify that they get well if they came to the Blessing Clinic. He once saw a woman dying of tuberculosis. Her husband deserted her seeing her bringing out copious blood in her sputum. She was started on treatment. She recovered and her life was changed. Her husband joined her and he too was saved. He was found to have tuberculosis and treated. Today they have two children and they are our native workers.

I am excited to see believers from Balugaon area travelling 24 hours to arrive here for the Discipleship Training Camp that starts tomorrow. Praise the Lord. Missionaries Sushant Digal and Prabhathi invited me for lunch.

FEB 10

Had a very nice day. Saw 10 patients. Nirmala, 6 months pregnant, came very sick having continuously vomited for over five days. She has had seven bottles of IV fluids and injections elsewhere. Her eyes were sunken. We gave her Perinorm injection. Night we shared this with other missionaries at the 7.30 prayer and prayed.

Went with Prabhathi for the Scripture Class; 25 children and 8 ladies attended. She is very good and talented. A tribal man was bringing down a pot of juice from atop a palm tree. I enquired about it and learnt that it was fresh juice. They all drink it including children. Only the next day it will become toddy. I drank a glass. It was too sour and too sweet. They said the morning syrup tastes better. Decided to give it a try!

Missionaries Mohan, Ponnusamy, Samal and others arrived for the DTC along with 65 campers. I gave the opening message on Discipline. I was excited. The strategy by Missionary John Thomas, Coordinator for the State of Orissa, is excellent. Missionaries labour in over 150 villages. When there is a group of believers the best of the lot is chosen and brought to the DTC and taught how to pray, read the Bible, witness, and so on. He becomes the leader of the little flock. If he does well he is recruited as a native worker. Now we have over 70 such workers. It is tremendous.

FEB 11

Nirmala’s vomiting has stopped and she was smiling and eating. Praise God! What a reward for us! The campers removed the pile of tiles and killed the six foot snake and two big black scorpions. Thank God! I can now sleep in peace. Went to the ladies meeting in the village with the missionaries and shared my testimony in broken Oriya. A lady with deformed hands and feet due to leprosy was there. If I had come here immediately after I finished my MBBS she would be a normal person today, married with children. Guilt scratches my heart.

FEB 12

Walked with a tumbler for the morning syrup. Soon word spread that I go everyday for a "drink!" So I had to stop it. I have to forego this B-complex rich drink so as not to be a hindrance to others.

Walked to a nearby village for Scripture class with missionaries. After they taught, I taught the 50 children about scabies with flash cards in story form. I decide to do it from house to house. Prabathiki learnt how to do it and got the cards from me. I am so happy to see the enthusiasm and faithfulness of missionaries.

Even simple things like the newspaper bring me great joy here. Missionaries keep sending me food and fruits. There is always too much to eat. Bilod and Rebekah Mandi sent me a whole plate of food and milk and egg! Getting ready for tomorrow’s trip to our mission station at 6 hrs’ distance.

FEB 13

The old jeep roared through the rugged roads. Missionaries Sarasa and Ponnusamy received me warmly. Mrs. Bimala Samal and Christina Christopher with baby Hannie said hello to me and started off for the ladies meeting. I decided to accompany them though tired. Seven ladies attended the meeting. It was good I went.

Staying in our missionary’s house. I am embarassed to walk through their bedroom in the night to the bathroom. The toilet with no light and no running water is at the far end of the compound and I throw the torch around to check for snakes and scorpions. The bathroom is roofless and doorless with a sari hanging for a curtain. I draw water from the well and wash my clothes in the platform around. I feel like a real missionary! The comforts of urban life seem to lose their magic compared to these rich experiences and I wish I live here all my life.

FEB 14

Started at 9 am to a village 50 km away. We turn from the tar road in to a mud road and we are bathed in red dust. Missionaries come by twowheelers. Great people! There is no better word to describe them. God bless whoever gave this old jeep. I keep praising God for the jeep. The driver’s wife is a believer brought to the Lord by Missionaries Premalatha and Chezhian. She is going blind due to retinal disease and only a miracle can restore her vision. The driver pleads with me for help. Lord, please.

We arrive at the village and the native worker’s family emerges from a hut. Soon the believers gather at the worship shed we have constructed — about 50 in number. They bring rice, grains and vegetables in plates as their offering. The entire village except four families has trusted in the Lord. These people were beaten up and their grains burnt by neighbouring villagers. Once they came when the men folk were away. Missionaries were away too. But our native worker’s wife has challenged the gang. Seeing the furious woman they retreated. The tribal women were full of gratitude. Thank God for such Jhansi Ranis! I shared in "my" Oriya and Mrs. Samal translated it to "their" Oriya!

We leave for the next village and arrive an hour later. 35 gathered. I am very encouraged and my heart flutters to imagine the future. Our team of 6 Tamil and 44 Oriya workers here has congregations in 80 villages. The first believer in this village is the pastor now. We visit some houses. People carry the only two chairs in the village from house to house for us and we assure them we can sit on bamboo mats.

A man is brought to me for backache. He feels better after coming to Church. I discover he has got TB in his spine. Another child was brought with swollen lymph glands. Can the Mission afford to treat all such patients? "Lord, are these people condemned to death?" I cry. There is a gentle whisper in my heart, "No, you have money. You can treat them." I resist the idea. "Lord, for how many will my money be enough? I can write in our Magazine and appeal for funds." "If you don’t give, who will?" The whisper stops. I am disturbed till we reach a small town.

We visit our missionaries and then the Tribal Girls Hostel. There are 20 in the age group of 5-8, belonging to Kui, Saura and Kond tribes. They are strictly instructed to speak only in Oriya except during playtime. They are unbelievably smart and stage their action songs for me. A five year old was still being breastfed when she was separated from her mother and brought to the hostel. Their parents are unable to recognise them now. They sit around me, hug my neck for a photograph and run away to play. Their faces reflect joy, deliverance and contentment. How many more such darlings are still wandering the jungles, carrying firewood on their heads with hands full of scabies, easy victim for rapists or to be married at 13? My heart shudders at the thought and I quickly shut it down for fear of becoming neurotic. After eating with our missionaries Prakash and Sudhama, who are incharge of the hostel, we leave at 7.30 pm. I pray very hard to see a tiger or bear on the way. No luck.

It’s been a long day and I quickly fall asleep, happy not to listen to God’s voice again that makes me feel guilty all the time. I know I have not sacrificed enough and I don’t need to hear God’s voice on that again and again.

FEB 15

50 Missionaries gathered for fasting and prayer. Some had to go to the funeral of one of our believers who died of tuberculosis. Death due to tuberculosis! Ridiculous in the 21st Century! Excellent medicines, PG doctors, Government schemes! Only thing lacking is money. No, that’s not the truth. We have money, but we don’t want to give it away. Somewhere in my heart the bell rings again.

FEB 16

Return journey. Our vehicle is stopped for checking. We have not obtained No Objection Certificate to drive in Orissa. We start praying. The driver tells the police that the lady doctor is in and we have to go urgently and they wave us off. We vow to be careful hereafter. We see a poor blind man and give him a 50 rupee note. He is shocked and exclaims he has never in his life pocketed a 50 rupee note. My heart melts. In Tamilnadu some beggars have bank accounts! Here the story is different.

Our missionary has aranged a meeting in the next town and we stay overnight. 150 hungry hearts gather to listen to the Word of God. There is no telephone in the village where I stay. So I call my husband and daughter from here. They urge me to return quickly.

FEB 17

Arrived back from where I started. Very tired. Could not go to the Blessing Festival in the nearby village as planned. It is a believers’ retreat where about 100-300 believers gather for a 5 day retreat. Missionary Mohan from Maharashtra was the speaker. He touched on Cinemas and TV and was later told that none of them had seen Cinema or TV! A big fat man had come walking 20 km with his wife arriving breathless. Our missionaries thought he had come to give trouble. But it seems he had read my books and wanted to meet me. I was so moved. Somehow I should meet this family.

FEB 18

Travelled to see the missionary children’s Boarding School at Lamtaput, 2½ hrs drive from our station. Prof. Ivan Balasing the Correspondent quickly organised a function for us and I rejoiced to see the missionary kids play the guitar, sing, dance and act. How the children of our early missionaries suffered! We are thankful to God for this dedicated man and his school.

We visited the Asha Kiran Hospital and discussed with the doctors about the latest treatments which we noted down. This adjacent mission hospital is a boon to us for any emergency. Our missionary kid Wesley Jaisankar was diagnosed as on the verge of cerebral malaria and was treated here. He is alive today by the grace of God. His mother Florence was operated for ectopic pregnancy and her life was saved.

On the way back the Lord broke my heart. I said, "Lord, I will use my money for the suffering sick. Now I will withdraw Rs. 5000/- and then as and when the need arises."

On arrival back I am handed over a letter from my friend Divya. She writes, "I went around collecting money for Orissa medical ministry. A friend gave Rs. 5000/- and said it is to be used only for TB patients. Oh God! I could not beleive my eyes "God, You are so faithful." I was ashamed of myself. Truly ten fingers clutching the two loaves and five fish must release them first if 5000 and more are to be blessed. And certainly there will be twelve baskets left over!

FEB 19

Orissa Advisory Committee gathers. It is a body of senior missionaries to plan Orissa ministry. Good idea.

FEB 20

Gurupoojari came with an ulcer 2" x 1.5" of one year duration. I suspected it to be a tuberculosis ulcer and started him on treatment. It healed in a week to my utter surprise and he is extremely happy. I am confused. Is it a miracle? Stopped treatment and asked him to come once a month.

A lady came with her mother-in-law complaining of weakness, etc. She was terribly sick but I couldn’t detect anything. I gave her multivitamin and asked her to come after a week. Once outside the clinic the mother-in-law wanted some oinment for an ulcer on her toe. Immediately this lady said, "I also have an ulcer since 6 months." You won’t believe. There was a 3" x 2" inguinal gland with two discharging ulcers! She is recovering now.

FEB 21

I should be leaving for Vellore today. Our tickets are booked for Yemen for the 7th of March. But the people here are tugging at my heart. Relieved to hear from my husband that he would cancel my ticket to Yemen but to return early.

So many with tuberculosis, scabies, malaria, eczema and they can’t pay for the treatment. I am thinking of asking them to bring poultry instead of money. We teach people to use soap for bath and not to bathe in the pond where they wash their buffaloes.

I completed my MBBS in 1969 and DCH in 1973. Most of my medical knowledge has evaporated since I had to settle down for an itinerant preaching ministry with my husband. I cry to God that I am not even fit to be a compounder now. But God tells me He wants only live dogs, not dead lions.

A lady died because she could not deliver her second child. A caesarean would have saved her life. We came to know only after she died. It is so hard to watch such things. Now people are afraid to pass by her grave because they believe a baby was buried alive and the ghost would haunt the place. How much Christianity and the Bible influence the thinking of people!

A lady refused to accept Jesus Christ as her Saviour. The reason— "You will bury me in a box and how will I breathe?" Another lady when told, "God will rain fire from heaven on sinners" answered, "If fires fall from heaven I will go to my mother’s house. It is only 5 km from here!"

FEB 22

Both parents leaving a child to the mercy of grandparents or neighbours is common. Father goes with one and mother with another. It hurts me to see the frightened, insecure look on their faces. All I can do is to promise them free treatment whenever they are brought.

Night falls at seven and soon the village is engulfed in darkness. Since there are no street lights you can’t even go to the petty shops alone. Now it’s time for the drunkards to roam around. I wonder if poverty breeds durnkenness or vice-versa.

‘Kukura’ is dog and ‘kukuda’ is chicken. I very often end up asking, "Did you have dog curry today?"

FEB 23

Heard a heart warming testimony. Mariamma’s husband developed tetanus and became very bad. He was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors gave up hope. Seeing his plight, our missionaries contacted the mission hospital and he was advised some injections and medicines. The village people started wailing. But he recovered and came home. The government hospital doctor said that it was his God who saved him. Seeing him, eight families have newly joined the Church.

When we dispense medicines for babies, mothers want to know if they should take it or the baby!

There is no need to worry about cholesterol because cakes and ice creams are not available here!!!

FEB 24

Missionary brothers brought a man found lying on the road since four days, 3 km from our centre. It seems he was naked and one of our believers had clothed him. We gave him a warm bath and he drank fluids. He could not talk but tears rolled down his eyes. Dr. Jaisankar suggested he could be suffering from cerebral malaria and that we give him injection Chloroquin and take him to the Primary Health Centre for I.V. drip. The doctor at the PHC attended to him very well. We took turns to sit by his side. But he became unconsious and died the next day.

FEB 25

Blood was positive for malarial parasite. The labourers refused to dig a grave for Christians. Brothers went to the nearby village to ask the pastor for permission to bury him in the Christian graveyard, and found the pastor drunk. Finally we somehow buried him. I thought, "Lord, we did so much. Will all go waste?" The Lord said, "Mary broke the alabaster bottle for My death and burial. It was not a waste." Whatever we do for a dying man is not a waste. God will reward us.

FEB 26

The CBI has gone to the family with whom I stay in transit and enquired, "Why has Dr. Lilian Stanley come? We want to meet her next time she comes here." "Lord, give me wisdom."

Two missionaries arrive at the centre very disturbed. A believer had given place in his premises to build a church, and also his hut for our missionary to stay in the village. Now he has backslided and demanded money from our missionary, verbally abused him and beat him. He refused to let people into the church. Senior missionaries went and settled the matter amicably.

A mother came with her four children all with scabies. I asked her to give 50 Rupees (US $ 1) and I will treat all six. She said she would sell her tamarind and bring the money and went away. Pity welled in my heart.

The government doctor and his friends visited our campus. They were very appreciative of what we did for Gabriel (for so we had named the nameless man). They were impressed with our campus. On the streets people stopped us and enquired about him. "Only Christians do such things. Their religion is good," they commented. Many smile at us and show us respect.

FEB 27

Census people came. The lady came in her nightie!

Happy to see Sonai. She was sent to the nearby hospital and was sent back saying nothing was wrong with her. I too didn’t find anything except that she was weak. She vomited all her food everyday. Suddenly I remembered what I studied 30 yrs ago. I made her drink lot of water and observed her abdomen. Her stomach bulged and rolled. Visible gastric peristalsis! A frank case of pyloric stenosis. We sent her to the same hospital with a note and she was promptly operated. I floated on the clouds for having diagnosed the case! Over and above the concession given in the hospital they had to sell a pair of oxen to pay the bill. I felt fulfilled and said, "Lord, you can take me home now." I wanted all the churches in the whole world to ring their bells!

A Kond tribal man with bow and arrow hung across his shoulder entered the clinic and sat in the doctor’s chair. He seated his wife in the stool. I was so thrilled at the scene that I controlled my smile and didn’t disturb him. In fact I was happy. Nine years earlier they had not seen a stool and when asked to sit they would squat on the floor near the stool! I couldn’t understand head or tail of Kond dialect and I had to get an interpreter. I felt sorry for not possessing a camera. 48 patients today!

FEB 28

Giving medicines or injections makes me very nervous. God help me. One of our goat kids was dragged by two wolves into the forest and eaten. Went 2 km into the jungle to see the sad spectacle. The shepherds showed us the waterhole where the tigers and bears come to satiate their thirst. Felt nervous but they assured us that they come only in the night. Plucked figs from a tree loaded with fruits. Bears come to eat these.

A 1½ year old child was brought struggling for breath, lungs solid with pneumonia. In Vellore we would have put her in the oxygen tent and CP 6 hrly. We had neither. But she improved well with antibiotic syrup and prayer. Parents were very happy.

A 15 year old shepherdess was brought by her in-laws for infected scabies. I advised her Ascabiol for Rs. 20/- and that all in the house (6) be treated. They went away unable to pay. They sent the girl to her parent’s house. When parents brought her she was full of pus and swelling and could not even sit. They begged to give time for payment. I gave her antibiotics. They never turned up for Ascabiol. We have decided to call her and treat both families free so the marriage will not break. In cities marriages break over jewles or mobike or TV, but here for just 20 Rupees.

The jeep had gone. So went to a village about 25 km away by bike on a dusty road. About 40 gathered. I was surprised the way Oriya flowed from my mouth. Yes, "They who believe shall speak in new languages!" After the service when I shook hands, a girl hesitantly brought out her hand from under her sari. I recognised the multilated hands. My eyes darted to her feet. Yes, it was Champa whom I met 9 years ago! I remembered the glistening tears in her eyes. Visited her house and comforted her. Tears freely flowed from her deer-eyes. Her brother is a worker with us now. He remains unmarried for his sister’s sake. Who knows what dreams lie shattered within? My heart weeps and I feel so powerless to prevent the tragedies of life.

Our bike’s tyre was deflated. So we walked 1½ km to the next village. Met the blessed parents of two of our native workers. Too tired. Treated patients without enthusiasm. A man was sent to fetch another bike. So we could return home the same evening.

MARCH 1

Our goat kid drinks milk from our dog. It is a funny sight.

MAR 2

62 patients! Two missionaries of Indian Missionary Society (IMS) visited us. The time has come for me to leave. As I wait for the bus, for the first time there after my arrival here, there is a downpour. I wonder if heaven is crying because I am leaving. I leave with a heavy heart and tight throat hoping my husband and daughter would permit me to visit this wonderland again!

(The story of the founding of this Jungle Clinic in 1992 makes the 11th chapter of the author’s book, Better Christian, available from Blessing Youth Mission for Rs. 25/- plus Rs. 5/- for postage.)