The air is sticky in the open-walled meeting house. Scraggly dogs wander in and out and a chicken pecks at the crumbs between the bark slat “pews.” But nothing distracts the Piapoco tribal people from listening as my husband tells them about Noah and the Flood. They have been listening to chronological Bible stories for several days now.
Then it happens … again.
Daili, the village prostitute, slowly saunters past the gathering. Today, the same as the day before, she loudly pokes fun at the faithful few. The teaching stops. Daili giggles and continues to jeer until she is finally out of sight.
My heart is heavy. Unable to concentrate as my husband continues teaching, I think about Daili and her desperate need of the Savior. Only prayer can break down the walls of her heart. I decide to earnestly pray for Daili, even awakening in the middle of the night to plead with God for her lost soul.
A week later, just before company is to arrive, I announce to my husband, “I need to go see Daili.”
“But, Honey, our co-workers are arriving any minute,” he responds.
“I have to go!” I say. “I’ll be right back.”
He nods in assent, trusting my judgment.
As I hasten to Daili’s hut, there’s little time to ponder the sense of urgency. Not even the fear of menacing dogs stops me.
The village is silent. With pounding heart I realize that Daili is the only one home. She is sitting outside on a log.
Drawing closer, I wonder what to say.
Daili looks up expectantly and says, “Aren’t you going to ask me if I want to become a Christian? I have been sitting here waiting for you.”
Momentarily stunned, I am aware that something truly supernatural is happening.
I gladly tell Daili about God’s love and Jesus’ sacrificial death on the Cross for her sin. She readily believes and embraces Christ as her Savior.
There is an immediate change in the prostitute. A heavy burden of guilt has been taken from her. Softness creeps into her face. The next day, Daili stands in the meeting house and joyfully declares her faith. We missionaries are thrilled as we realize afresh that God answers prayer and that our endeavors cannot succeed without it.
