We were trying to be very careful not to make too much noise as we left Thailand. To be discovered crossing the river into the neighboring country, where civil war rages, could be deadly. It was a treacherous journey. Hours of boat travel on waterways swollen by the monsoon rains had left us exhausted, our wet clothes plastered against our flesh. Finally, we arrived at our destination.
Our contacts met us and escorted us into the refugee camps nearby. Everywhere we went, we were met with hunger and desperation. Our team quickly distributed some of the food we had transported, and later we shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. That night 120 people gave their lives to Jesus!
The next morning, we set out for a militia camp, home to about eighty soldiers. Gathered around the campfire in the dark, I told them, “You men know what it means to be on a mission, but tonight I challenge you to consider Christ’s call to join in God’s mission.”
That second night, all eighty soldiers repented of their sins and received the free gift of eternal life. These new believers begged us to come back soon, so that they could learn more about Jesus. “We must keep moving,” I told them. “There are others who need to hear the Good News.”
Our next destination was another militia camp, hidden in the jungle. Three hundred soldiers greeted us, men and women who were Buddhist and Animist. Two-thirds of them responded to the love of Jesus. Taking our leave the next day, our hearts were full of joy and longing. “We will come back,” I promised them, “as soon as we can. There is so much to tell you.”
We are thankful for God’s protection on this trip and for his power to save. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will open another opportunity for us to return to the camps soon and encourage the 480 new believers. Praise God for how he is bringing hope to the hidden places of this world!
