Some of you have read about our friend Silas on Ian and Nadia's blog. If you haven't, do read this and this first before reading this update.
Silas has been living at the house of our friend a short ways down the road. There he has received a lot of love and attention. He has had plenty of food, and regained a lot of strength. Two weeks ago, he had a hard time walking on uneven ground. But several times in the past week, he left the house in the middle of the day when no one was home, walked 500 metres to the grocery store near where he used to sleep on the street, and tried to buy some food.
Silas has become a new man in so many ways. Physically, he looks so much better and stronger than a few weeks ago. Emotionally, he has been receiving a lot of love, and has been reciprocating that, opening up a lot more. Spiritually, he is being fed, joining in worship times with our friend's family. A week ago, I went to visit him. Before I left, I prayed with him, and then, on his own initiative, he prayed as well – a beautiful prayer! We were all left in awe of how God has been working in him.
We had been talking for a while about bringing Silas back to his village. The city is not a good place for a man like him, whereas in his village, at least his close family will take care of him. So we planned to take him back as soon as he was strong enough. We notified his relatives so they would be prepared to receive him, and on Friday we drove about 150 km out of Lae to meet them.
We met his family at the end of the road, at the base of the Finisterre Mountains. Silas was very excited to see his youngest brother. His brothers and cousins were also ready to help him out. The plan was that they would take him into the village here at the end of the road, and after a few days, take him to his own village – about a five hour hike into the mountains.
We said good-bye to Silas at the end of the bridge in the picture above. It was very hard to say good-bye. He had come to know us and trust us, and now it must have seemed to him like we were abandoning him. We entrust him into the hands of the Lord now, through his family. We trust that they will take good care of him. The Lord willing, we will be able to make the drive and hike and visit him again one day.
Silas has been living at the house of our friend a short ways down the road. There he has received a lot of love and attention. He has had plenty of food, and regained a lot of strength. Two weeks ago, he had a hard time walking on uneven ground. But several times in the past week, he left the house in the middle of the day when no one was home, walked 500 metres to the grocery store near where he used to sleep on the street, and tried to buy some food.
Silas has become a new man in so many ways. Physically, he looks so much better and stronger than a few weeks ago. Emotionally, he has been receiving a lot of love, and has been reciprocating that, opening up a lot more. Spiritually, he is being fed, joining in worship times with our friend's family. A week ago, I went to visit him. Before I left, I prayed with him, and then, on his own initiative, he prayed as well – a beautiful prayer! We were all left in awe of how God has been working in him.
We had been talking for a while about bringing Silas back to his village. The city is not a good place for a man like him, whereas in his village, at least his close family will take care of him. So we planned to take him back as soon as he was strong enough. We notified his relatives so they would be prepared to receive him, and on Friday we drove about 150 km out of Lae to meet them.
We met his family at the end of the road, at the base of the Finisterre Mountains. Silas was very excited to see his youngest brother. His brothers and cousins were also ready to help him out. The plan was that they would take him into the village here at the end of the road, and after a few days, take him to his own village – about a five hour hike into the mountains.
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| Silas leads the way home, supported by his brother. A few weeks ago it would have seemed impossible for Silas to cross a bridge like this. Even now we were afraid he might fall in. But he made it! |
We said good-bye to Silas at the end of the bridge in the picture above. It was very hard to say good-bye. He had come to know us and trust us, and now it must have seemed to him like we were abandoning him. We entrust him into the hands of the Lord now, through his family. We trust that they will take good care of him. The Lord willing, we will be able to make the drive and hike and visit him again one day.
"God moves in a mysterious way,
ReplyDeleteHis wonders to perform..."