Shad and Sarah Deal Making Him known in Indonesia 
Thirst. Hunger. Haven’t we all experienced these feelings of want? Physically, we have all felt thirst on a hot day. We have all felt those familiar inward growls reminding us that it is time to eat. Thankfully, for most if not all of us, our physical hunger and thirst can quickly be quenched and satisfied easily. A glass of water and a bite later, and our hunger and thirst become a thing of the past.
In the book of Isaiah, God extends an invitation to mankind to come to the waters. This invitation is for all who thirst, not for physical water, but for soul-quenching water. Since we began our journey as missionaries here in Indonesia, we have seen over and over again the true thirst and emptiness of a soul who has not yet been to the waters. Most don’t even know such an invitation exists, especially for them personally.
A couple weeks ago, we were faced head on with the reality of spiritual thirst. One of Shad’s closest Indonesian friends lost his mother. Many members of this family live in our neighborhood, and we have been privileged to build close relationships with several of them. We knew this woman was very ill, and Shad had even planned on visiting her in the hospital where she lay in a coma. But the morning he had planned on visiting her, she slipped into eternity.
We watched helplessly from our front door as preparations began for the funeral. In accordance to Javanese culture, her body was transported directly from the hospital to her home– just a few yards outside our front gate. She was removed from the “mobil jenazah”- a form of ambulance designed to transport corpses in situations such as this. The family dutifully carried her inside their small house and began washing the body. Neighbors began to gather– the men setting up tents and chairs for the funeral later that afternoon and the women going inside the house to offer their condolences and prepare food for the family and guests. From inside the house, our usually cheery neighbors and friends offered up haunting moans as they wept and mourned for their deceased sister, aunt, daughter, mother, and friend. One of the woman’s sons, only about eight years old, wept inconsolably as friends tried to shield him from the awful sight of his mother’s dead body.
After a short ceremony there at the house, the body was transported in a simple casket to the burial site. The mourning continued for hours, followed by traditional “prayers” of the majority religion meant to guide the spirit of the dead into a comfortable afterlife.
Our friends, our neighbors, they have experienced thirst. Their lives have been filled with insatiable hunger for hope and meaning and thirst for acceptance and purpose. And they have yet to come to the water. We are reminded every day that we are here to give them a message from God. It’s a simple message, really. Come.
Come to the waters and drink.
Come to Me.
Please pray that our lives would continue to be a witness. Pray that our language, actions, and attitudes would shout that invitation to all who God puts in our path. Pray especially for this family that we see on a daily basis and pray that they will be open and receptive to the truth of Christ.
