The earth beneath the Dao village trembled, then quickly roared to a full-blown shake. The little wood house where Daapoi was helping translate Bible lessons jolted violently and cracked loudly. The startled missionary wasn't sure what to do, but Daapoi acted like nothing was happening at all. And this was not the common reaction!
The Dao people of Indonesia believe that earthquakes are caused by a giant spirit-driven snake about the size of a very large tree trunk. When it's disturbed, they believe it begins slithering around in the ground, unsettling the earth as it goes. So they immediately rush out of their houses and begin jumping, stomping and hollering to frighten it away.
But Daapoi had just been helping translate the story of Moses and the plagues in Egypt. The Bible lesson showed both the greatness of God's power and also the Israelites' trust in Him as He allowed the plagues to affect only the Egyptians. And it made such an impact on Daapoi that he wanted to put it into practice -- right then.
"I am not afraid!" he announced with a determined look on his face. "I believe that God wants me to hear this message and He can keep this house from falling because it is His message that we are listening to. So let's keep on going! I want to hear the rest!"
The missionary was speechless. In the middle of an earthquake, Daapoi was declaring that God was more powerful than the spirits he had been taught to fear all his life. And then the missionary knew exactly what to do. He and the tribal man kept right on working.
_img.jpg','Daapoi is helping translate God`s message into the Dao language.', 640, 714)){kind=spacer}
