There is a A whole city right in the back of the mouth of the Bird’s head peninsula on the western part of New Guinea in West Papua Indonesia – Called Bintuni. It’s a city of transition. The Indonesian government has fostered transmigration camps from populated areas to the west in Indonesia to this small city less crowded city. While the city has only about 50,000 in the greater area it gives one the impression of “It’s fixin’ to explode”. There are 7 indigenous tribes in and surrounding the city plus the numerous non indigenous groups from all over Indonesia.
Through a series of Divine providences the district pastor and I were exploring the transmigration camps and seeing what we could learn. After 2 visits with Muslim house wives they lead us to their Hanif or Mullah – teacher, leader of their Mosque. He gladly invited us into his place in the back of the mosque. It was sort of spare bedroom slash office. He gave me the best chair and then sat humbly on the bed. I asked him a number of questions about his community including about his family (wife died several years ago). He told us that 95% of those who lived here struggled because they had no ability to get their things to bigger markets. I shared with us that 1 Adventist man lived in his camp and that man had left a great impression on him. From that man he knew that Adventist had the same belief about clean and unclean foods both in the Old and New Testaments. He knew that we too believe in Allah (God). We too believe in modesty and moral standards. As we grew close to the end the woman care taker of the mosque came in with a smile on her face and began serving us water. Then I asked if Muslims pray for their Christian friends who hold things in common with them? He smiled, “Yes we do!” I asked if he would pray for me. For the next 3-5 minutes he poured his heart out asking God to bless my ministry and family and that he and I could work together. Clearly this was a man who knew Allah. As I and the district pastor left the care taker said that the Hanif was well read and knew a lot about Adventists. I had told him that I read the Al Quran and found many things Muslims and Adventists have in common. As I left in almost a whisper the care taker said, “He’s read the Bible, too.. He’s been praying to find a Christian who follows it fully. Perhaps we can work together.”
Could it be that this is a Mosque waiting for the second Advent of Isa? Will I get crucified for suggesting such a thing? Did you know that in the Al Quran (Muslims sacred writings), Isa (Jesus) is the way, truth and life, he is slain from the foundation of the world and will come again at the second coming? Could it be that in these camps God could work on the minds and hearts of young people and old people to move to Salvation in Isa, the way, truth and life? So on this peninsula called the Birds’s Head Peninsula of New Guinea right in the “back of the mouth” a Divine appointment was attended to by heavenly Angels and two pastors and one Mullah in the back of his mosque and we never even once had a Bible study. We pray that He will shine His truth to this camp in Bintuni.
The Mullah and I. He places his arm around my shoulder after he prayed for me. What a kind and Godly man. And the refrigerated water his helper gave me and the district pastor never gave so much relief on this hot day. Thanks be to God Allah who guides our foot steps.
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