A voice from the past

As a young man, Hector was interested in the Word of God.

God’s Word began to speak to his heart when he worked on the Old Testament translation with Paul and Pam Rasmussen. Paul and Pam were co-workers with my husband, Wayne, and me on the Piapoco missionary team. Hector eagerly anticipated the day when the missionary team would teach his village in the Piapoco language in Colombia.

Then suddenly the translation work and evangelism preparation were cut short. The missionaries had to leave, forced out by guerrillas. We promised to return someday. Hector and the villagers waited, but we were not able to go back.

Eventually the security situation in the area deteriorated so much that even Hector and his wife, Alicia, packed up their family and canoed far downriver to a small town. On the outskirts, they set up their own Piapoco community with their numerous children, in-laws, and grandchildren.

Years later, Hector learned the missionaries were teaching God’s Word in another area, and some of the Piapoco villages even had churches. Hector thought, Will my family and I ever be able to hear this teaching in our own language?

One day in May 2010, Hector heard the usual Piapoco greeting but from a voice long ago tucked away in his memory. He couldn’t believe his ears! Turning around, he encountered Wayne’s smile, and a huge grin broke across his weathered face.

"It’s been a long time," Hector exclaimed, hugging him, "and now we see you again!"

The men sat and talked a long while, bridging the distance of more than 25 years. Then Hector turned the conversation to a matter close to his heart. "Will you come and talk to us, my family group, about God’s Word? I will call them all to come and hear."

Wayne readily agreed.

Returning that evening to share the Gospel message, Wayne found Hector’s sizable family waiting and attentive. Some in the crowd had never heard this message in their own language. The words would continue to be mulled over in their heads, and discussed around their cooking fires.

Hector asked for copies of the Old Testament portions he had helped translate so long ago. Wayne promised to send some. As his flight took off over the jungle, Wayne thought, What they need is for someone to go and teach them the foundational Bible lessons.

The lessons are designed specifically for the Piapoco culture, speaking to their hearts about God’s character, about His love for them, and His answer to the sin problem by sending a Savior to set them free.

Piapoco Christian men have been discipled and trained to teach God’s Word. Wayne and I plan to work with these men to teach evangelistic Bible lessons to Hector’s group. Pray the seeds sown in their hearts will produce the fruit of salvation, and that God will raise up a strong church among them.