Lynton’s home is attached to his church. He gave us the full tour of the house, showing us all the equipment they use when they go out into the jungle on mission trips. What they do is walk out into the jungles, looking for small villages of people that they can share the gospel with. It takes a full day of hiking into the mountains just to reach some of these clans. So they end up staying for several days at a time in the jungle, sleeping on the ground, among the creepy crawlies and wild animals, with only the provisions they pack in on their backs.
We had intended on driving out to the starting point of the jungle and even making a short trek into the forest, but that didn’t ever materialize on this trip.
This morning, we drove into Badulla to get to some internet access, so that the team members could talk to their families and I could update the blog. While at the internet store, I spoke with the manager and we got him to come to Lynton’s house to install wireless internet in his home. After leaving the shop, we went to the market to meet a couple of Christian men.
One of them used to be a high ranking Buddhist monk, who was literally worshiped here in this same city. A few years back, he became a Christian, and immediately he was persecuted for his faith. He now owns a small shoe store in the market, which we visited, purchased shoes from, and prayed for him and his business.
The second man was the manager of another small shop in the city, who is also facing some persecution for being a Christian.
In Sri Lanka, 87% of the country’s 20 million population is Buddhist, something like 10% are Muslim, and less than 1% are Christian, and that includes Roman Catholics, Pentecostals, Assemblies of God, etc. As soon as someone becomes a Christian, the very first thing they are taught in being discipled is how to handle persecution, and how to love those who persecute them.
At 4:00 in the afternoon, we went to a small house church meeting in a strong Buddhist area. It is very difficult to be a Christian here, and evangelism is forbidden. They risk beatings, imprisonment, and even death for holding public meetings, so the church is underground. We sang some songs, had some great fellowship, and each person on the team shared some encouragement with them. It was hard to sit among people who endure things that we don’t even come close to, and try to bring something for them in the midst of that suffering.
After the meeting, we went to Lynton’s son’s home for dinner, which was fabulous. Lewllyn and Shamila prepared a wonderful meal for us. They are Lynton’s right hands in the ministry, and will soon be taking over. It was a couple of hours of fellowship that we enjoyed thoroughly.
Then we got back to the house in time to meet with the man from the internet company, who set everything up for Lynton so that he will now have wifi in the house. If I may confess, I think I insisted that we provide that for him more out of selfishness because I wanted access while we were here.
On Thursday, we had a special church service planned at Lynton’s church. People began showing up around 9:30, and the service started at 10:00. We met and shook hands with every single person there, most of whom traveled up to 35 kilometers just to hear from us. Many of them traveled by bus and on foot. No one drove their own car.
Each person on the team was able to minister to them in some way. Linda and Yasab shared their testimonies, Jami shared one of her songs, and Zach and Billy each spoke for a little more than half an hour each. Then we laid hands on and prayed for every one of them.
People came forward for all sorts of things. One man came forward who go saved when he was 80 years old. He lives on the side of the steep mountain, and his home was washed away in a rainstorm. Now he sleeps on a plank in the jungle, and the people in his village persecute him.
Two women came forward who pick small herbs and vegetables in the mountains, and then go down and spread them on a cloth in the streets to sell them. Since becoming Christians, they have been told to stop selling on the streets or face prosecution. Neither of them is married, so they have no source of income.
One woman came forward with her three children. Her husband left her when she came to Christ, and she has no way to provide for her children.
One old woman came forward, who’s son came to her and told her to deny Christ. When she refused, he forcefully held her hand on a table and held a knife over it, and demanded that she deny Christ. She refused again, and he stabbed the knife through her hand and into the table and walked off. We saw her scars and prayed for her.
Another young woman with a small child came forward asking for prayer for protection from her husband. Since becoming a Christian, he beats her regularly, demanding that she abandon her faith, inflicting bruises and black eyes on her that she carries to church. Lynton and the rest of the believers testified to what they have seen in her life.
So many people came forward asking for similar prayers, explaining how they were suffering persecution for being a Christian. It was heartbreaking and humbling. What is especially amazing for us to see is the fact that these people still love their oppressors. They understand the blindness of their hearts, and so patiently endure the suffering and show the love of Christ to those who hate or persecute them.
We received more blessing from these beautiful people than we brought to them, I am sure. Lynton is continually stressing to us how valuable our presence is to them and how much of an encouragement it is to their faith just for us to come, but I can’t help but feel a strong sense of inadequacy when it comes to what to say to them. They are giants to me. Heroes of the faith.
Its our last day here, as tomorrow we wake early in the morning and make the 6 hour drive back to Colombo, where we will enjoy a little more fellowship with Lester and his family before getting to the airport by 4:00 to start the journey back home.
I will send out one last blog to recap the ministry that has occurred over the past 19 days. Until then, would you please continue to pray for us? We would ask for continued protection during our last hours here, and for safe travels home. Thank you and God bless you.