The first funeral of a Mibu believer, Orine, recently provided missionaries the opportunity to reinforce the Gospel message.
Traditionally, funerals are a desperate, hopeless affair in the Mibu culture. The despair of the people is shown by long loud yelling and weeping, beating on walls, and occasionally beating on other people. Doors are torn down and sometimes whole houses. But this funeral was different.
"Never has a funeral been such a joy to us," wrote missionary Joey Tartaglia.
The funeral took place in a village where the Gospel has not yet been presented. But for five months Orine made the weekly trip from his village to hear the missionaries teach evangelistic Bible lessons and became a believer less than three months ago.
Joey represented the missionary team at the funeral and saw a definite difference between the believers and unbelievers. Though the Mibu believers cried for the loss of a friend and relative, they did so without the hopelessness of years past.
At first many believers were concerned that even though this man was a believer, God may still "have it in for him" because he hadn't attended the last few meetings. They also wondered if maybe his death was a punishment for some sin.
Prior to leaving for the funeral, Joey and his co-worker Geoff Husa had opportunity to talk with the believers and remind them of how God looks at his own children.
Joey had further opportunity to discuss Heaven with the believers while hiking to and from the funeral and sitting around their camp fires at night. Joey explained that Orine no longer has problems -- no more sickness, hunger or pain.
The more the believers talked and thought back to what they have been taught, they knew that God loved Orine as his own child. God was not waiting to dish out punishment, but waiting with open arms to receive him. They were able to see that all death is because of the first sin, and God just chose to take Orine home now instead of later.
The believers were united in their thoughts as they watched the unbelievers, including Orine's unsaved wife and young child, mourn heavily. "They just haven't heard God's talk yet. Soon they will hear and understand."
Bible teaching in that village is scheduled to begin in early June. Some of the new believers will be teaching alongside the missionaries.
Pray that more Mibus will put their faith in Christ and know their eternal destiny.
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