A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

IGNORANCE

Youth is the most beautiful time of one’s natural life. The growth, strength, vigor, and the vitality of life is exhibited through out all the senses of the body in which we have been created. It can be likened to springtime when everything bursts forth in beauty and fragrance. But before too long we begin to see a change in the outward appearance. The hot winds of summer come, disease sets in, and we see the first dead leaves appear and the beauty fades away. So it is also with our natural lives. Youthfulness remains only for a very short time.

This evening I wish to speak on the topic of Ignorance; a subject of great importance to us all, but especially for our young people who are in their springtime of their life and living in those informative years in which so much of their knowledge is gathered. Young people are very receptive to new ideas. This is good in many ways but also dangerous. Dangerous, if no regard is given to the old proven ways based upon established facts. We may define ignorance as lack of knowledge, being uninformed, uneducated, or unaware of the true facts.

We are living in a time of history where we see exhibited before our eyes this great contrast of human knowledge over against the vast ignorance of God and the Scriptures. Who could have imagined a few years ago that man would fly to the moon, who is the person here that would think it possible to walk around and live with another person’s human organs. The things we have mentioned and the attempts of man to produce life should make us tremble as to the boldness of man meddling in areas which are forbidden by the word of God. We may well wonder how far God will allow man to go. Yes, we must acknowledge the Lord for many things which have come to us through advanced learning in many areas such as combating disease and improving the health and welfare of mankind in general. On the other hand, we know what the Word of God says in II Cor. 4:18, “For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Never in the history of the United States or Canada has there been such ignorance in regard to the Word of God. Yes, in many cases, Bibles enough — some with several in one household and many sound writings by our godly forefathers. But now the question, young people in my midst, How often do you take advantage of these means which God has given you which reveals that way of salvation through Christ. I might also add, parents, what have you done to instruct your children in the ways of the Lord?

Our ministers and elders who have instructed the children in catechism well realize the ignorance shown even in the very basic Bible stories, saying nothing about the knowledge of our Reformed Doctrine and things necessary for eternity. We are happy to say that we are sometimes much encouraged also by the responses of some. In general, however, it is a time to weep and lament and say with Jeremiah, “Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I may weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people”! Jer. 9:1.

We wish to explore with you the causes of ignorance. This immediately brings us back to Paradise where through the disobedience of Adam, death came upon the whole human race. Ephesians 4:18 says, “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” Boys and girls, young people, men and women, believe the infallible Word of God. Man is totally depraved and inclined to all evil. Natural man inherently hates the truth of the Word of God because it exposes his sins; it reveals that man is under divine condemnation. We wish to hear soft things agreeable to our own depraved nature which fills our heart with pride and allows us to move comfortably in pursuance of our own fleshy lusts. Young people, what happens in your heart if not in your actions when someone comes against you in your conduct of life admonishing you of your sin? Anger and rebellion arises and all too often, words not fit to be spoken comes across the lips. “I’ll live my life and you live yours”. You are saying in essence what we read in Isaiah 28:15, “We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement. Our actions reveal that we love death rather than life.

Now there are many kinds of ignorance; Paul speaks in regard to himself in I Timothy 1:13, “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. The Bible speaks about a pardonable ignorance in Luke 23:34, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. About a pretended ignorance such as the denial of Jesus made by Peter; a judicial and a guilty ignorance followed up by God’s wrath as we read in Romans 1:19–25, “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has shown it unto them. For the invisible things from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Also verse 28, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” My dear friends, these facts from God’s word are becoming more and more a reality in our country at the present time.

We now wish to say something in regard to the effects of ignorance and what it produces. We can readily say it produces error and unbelief in respect to God, the Scriptures and Christ’s second coming.

One thing we must always keep in mind and that is this: We must be quickened, made alive, and our understanding must be enlightened by the Holy Spirit else we are prone to all error and evil.

We know what is taking place in the religious world at the present time. One denomination after the other is uniting with the other to form one big world church. And what has happened to the doctrinal standards of these once orthodox churches? They have tossed them to the wind calling them outdated for the times and problems of today. It has become a social gospel. The World Council of Churches is growing and has taken in almost all the larger denominations. They are no longer preaching the fall of man, regeneration, the Holy Trinity or saved by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their time is spent trying to solve the world’s social ills and now we can see the results. Disorder, rebellion sprouting forth out of these religious organizations and calling people to disobey the government if they do not like the laws of the country. We see this depravity of man bursting forth as a flood even as when a valve is suddenly opened under high pressure. All the results of error by departing from the Word of God.

We see the results mushrooming in our everyday life as we read the newspaper and all too often feel the results in our everyday life. We have had examples of this by members of our own congregations, one being robbed recently in the East and on in Grand Rapids being beaten by a mob. Listen to what the Word of God says in Romans 1:29 when He gives man over to himself, “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful”. Is not this what is taking place before our very eyes in our days? And even in those churches who up to this time have retained the Word of God, what errors have crept in which destroy the soul of man. Many people believe there are many ways to heaven. No matter what he believes as long as he is in earnest. Paul was in earnest when he killed the Christians. God alone had to convert him. Do you think God has changed His method in converting a sinner? Has the Word of God changed? Has God changed? Mal 3:6, “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed”. The philosophy which is being taught in our colleges and universities encourages our young people to reject those things they cannot understand or reason out. Oh the foolishness of man! The creature placing himself above his Creator! Who has ever heard such error! “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned”. And now this philosophy has also made inroads among our own young people who have been taught from their infancy so much differently. They make statements concerning religion, that we are not charitable and that we should not say anything against the other religions. This often offends them. Does this offend you? We are to reject all that is not founded on the infallible Word of God. We must speak against the doctrine, not the person. On the surface this all sounds so charitable and kind. Man shrinks from conflict. He wishes others to think of him as being liberal and loving, but when it comes to doctrines which are not based on the Word of God, there is not room for indecision, we need a distinct, clear-cut, sharply defined doctrinal religion. How did Peter and John answer the chief priest, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees when they told them they should not any longer speak about Jesus, they immediately said, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19–20. Man will not be our judge, but God! “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Col. 2:8.

(The above is a portion of the address given by Dr. G. Deur at the recent Youth Day Conference. We hope to print the concluding part in a later issue.)

1969 YOUTH DAY CONFERENCE

On Tuesday, July 1st, the Annual Youth Conference was held in Vineland, Ontario. The afternoon session was opened by Rev. Heerschap, who welcomed the visitors, speakers, and choirs. The Vineland choir, directed by Mr. A. Van Wyngaarden, then sang a few Dutch hymns.

Mr. John Beeke, of Kalamazoo, addressed the meeting with the topic, “The Different Sights Around Us”. He gave examples of and compared beautiful sights, noble sights, terrible sights, and precious sights. The children’s choir of Vineland, directed by Mrs. H. Van Koeveringe was then heard.

A group of young people from the Toronto congregation presented a mission study, giving a history of the mission work and a brief outline of our missions in New Guinea and Nigeria. Mr. G. Moerdyk, “Uncle Garret”, then led the children present in a Bible quiz. It was wonderful to hear the children’s knowledge of the Bible displayed in their answering of progressively difficult questions. The girls were able to answer more of the questions than the boys, but only by a very narrow margin.

After the combined choir presented a few selections, Rev. Lamain spoke, directing his talk mainly to the younger members present. He closed the afternoon meeting with prayer and asked a blessing also for the lunch that was served.

In the absence of Rev. Hegeman, Mr. J. Beeke opened the evening meeting. The Vineland choir, combined with the children’s choir, sang Psalter 200. This was followed by a solo by Miss Pels of Norwich, who had also sung in the afternoon. Then an address was given by Dr. G. Deur of Grand Rapids, who spoke about “Ignorance”. Different types of ignorance, their causes, and their reasons, were well described. The combined choir again sang, followed by another presentation by the Vineland children’s choir.

Mr. M. Wagenaar, who has instructed the children of the Vineland congregation in church history this past winter, led these children in a Bible study. As Mr. Wagenaar narrated portions of the Bible, the children quoted sections, such as the Ten Commandments, St. Luke 2, etc. The Vineland choir then sang, “Holy, Holy, Holy”, directed aaccompanied by Mr. A. Van Wyngaarden.

The closing remarks were made by Mr. J. Slingerland, who thanked all those who contributed to the day, and expressed the hope that future Youth Day Conferences would be held.

Lia Van Driel

Bible Quiz

Dear Boys and Girls,

Soon the month of September will be here again, when boys and girls will be going back to school. And why do you go to school? Some one might say — To learn about many things that we must know to earn a living in later years. Some one else might say — To get wisdom. Those are good answers. That each one may do his or her best. But we must remember that we must ask the Lord for wisdom, for it is His blessing that we are able to study and learn. And in the Book of James we read, “If any lack wisdom, let him ask of God”. Joseph, Solomon, Daniel, and many others in the Bible were given wisdom by the Lord for their daily labor, whether they were kings and rulers, or workmen in the building of the temple, or in whatever they were called upon to do.

But above this all, we must ask the Lord to give us knowledge of Himself, of His Son Jesus Christ, and of our need of Him for our never-dying soul. This would be a greater wisdom than we can learn in all of our school books.

The first letters of our quiz this month are taken from the text we mentioned above from the Book of James.

What did Jacob see in his dream, which reached unto heaven, as he was travelling toward Haran?

In the days of Herod the king there came wise men from the __________________to Jerusalem.

The queen of Sheba said to Solomon, “It was a ____________report that I heard of thy wisdom.”

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “There is none so wise as thou art; thou shalt be over my ______________”

The Lord said to Moses, “I will be with thy _________________and teach thee what thou shalt say.”

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “__________ “_________________what I shall give thee.”

Who was stoned to death by the Jews soon after Pentecost when they were not able to resist his wisdom?

When Vashti would not come when commanded, the______________ said to his wise men, “What shall we do unto her?”

Shortly before Stephen was stoned, he said, “Behold, I see the heavens __________

In Psalm III we read, “The ____________ of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, he said, “__________has showed Pharaoh what He is about to do.”

In Proverbs I we read, “Hear the instruction of thy father, for it shall be an ________________of grace unto thy head.”

To whom did God reveal the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, which the king was not able to remember?

The answers to last month’s quiz are as follows—

Abigail I Samuel 25

Bathsheba II Samuel 11

Candace Acts 8:27

Deborah Judges 4:4

Elisabeth Luke 1:36

Gomer Hosea 1:3

Hannah I Samuel 2:19

Jael Judges 4:21

Kezia Job 42:14

Lois II Timothy 1:5

Martha Luke 10:41

Naomi Ruth 1

Orpah Ruth 1:14–15

Priscilla Acts 18:2

Rhoda Acts 12:13

Sarah Genesis 17:15–16

Tabitha Acts 10:36–41

Vashti Esther 1:12

Zeresh Esther 5:14

Answers have been received from the following girls and boys —

Martha Vander Male

Mary Jean Vander Male

Lilly Ann Vander Male

Linda Timmer

Nancy Timmer

Joanne Beeke

Louis De Maagd

George De Maagd

Marilyn De Maagd

Tom Block

Char Kwekel

Gary Kwekel

Geri Moerdyk

Steven Slotsema

Shirley Slotsema

Susan Slotsema

Gloria Boluyt

Linda Bleeker

Dave Vander Boon

Debra Vos (2)

Donald Vos (2)

Donna Lyn Zaremba

Nick Greendyk

Joan Lugthart

Val Lugthart

Ken Lugthart

Gordon Boluyt

Bill Boluyt

Ruth Meeuwse

Mike Meeuwse

Eleanor Meeuwse

Peter W. Kievit

John Van Wingerden

Billy Van Wingerden

Janny Van Wingerden

Conny Boesterd

Dave Verhey

Dianne Van Ravenswaay

Marilyn Van Ravenswaay

JoAnn Van Ravenswaay

Esther Van Ravenswaay

Esther Boonzaayer

Ruth Boonzaayer

Betty Van der Waal

John Van der Waal

Tim Van der Waal

Linda Ryan

Colleen Ryan

David Greendyk

Lillian S. Berman

Cheryl Berman

Bill Boesterd

Hans Kuperus

Arlene Kuperus

Curt Jenison

Alan Van Wingerden

John Van Wingerden

John Van Zweden

Joan Van Zweden

Joyce Vander Meulen

Frances Vander Meulen

Teresa Vander Meulen

Evelyn Van Dyke

Ruth Van Dyke

Bruce Blok

Gary Blok

John Blok

Sandy Van Giessen (2)

Gary Van Giessen (2)

Sheryl Van Giessen (2)

Bill Moerdyk

Kathy Van Giessen

Jim Van Giessen

Betty Jean Kamp

Mary Ann Kamp

Linda Mae Kamp

Janet Van Driel

Billy Greendyk

David Greendyk

Tommy Greendyk

Betty Jean Van Der Weile

Gary Roozenboom

Susan Van Grouw

Carolyn Heystek

John Van Woudenberg

Judy Koedam

Arline Kieboom

Joyce Van Den Top

Judy Van Den Top

Gloria Van Den Top

Marty Anker

Rhonda Grisnich

Peter Southway

Janet Arlene Sweetman

Tunis Sweetman, Jr.

Judy Sweetman

Christine Koppert

Alice Koppert

Peter Koppert

Nelly Koppert

John Remus

Linda Remus

Janet Remus

Bobby Greendyk

Joanne Spaans

Lynn Spaans

Marianne Van Hoepen

John Van Hoepen

Arlene Southway

Joan Velier

Ruth Vroegindewey

John Vroegindewey

Lynn Vroegindewey

Neal Boerkoel

Cordy Vandenberg

Janetta Vandenberg

Arie Vandenberg

Paul Vandenberg

Casey Blom

Bobby Blom

Randy Teunissen

Mark Teunissen

Robert Verbeke

Barbara Sue Kamp

Richard Kamp

Sander de Jong

Marsha Koedam

Cindy Hoogendoorn (2)

Gail Hoogendoorn (2)

Carol Overbeeke

Cheryl Verblaauw

Judith Slingerland

John Oudshoorn

Martin John Oudshoorn

Stephan Vanden Brink

Roelie Stapel

Rudolph Stapel

Janice Stapel

Henrietta Stapel

John Martin VanderWiele

Delia Vanden Brink

Peter Feyter

Ruth Van Grouw

Alice Moerdyk

Janet Van Grouw

Albert Van Grouw

And now I see that I have quite a few letters to answer —

MARIANNE VAN HOEPEN — I am quite well, Marianne, and hope you are having a nice summer vacation. You wrote that your school was named G. W. Gray. Do you know who he was? Did your uncle and his family have a safe trip? Perhaps you can visit them in California sometime.

JUDITH SLINGERLAND — I was sorry to hear that you had been in the hospital for the second time, Judith. I hope that you are much better again, and that you have been able to do some riding on your new bike. I do not know if I have ever seen the Dutch paper which has the Bible quizzes in them.

CONNY BOESTERD — How did you like the wedding, Conny? It must have been a busy time for your family. Did you have lots of things to do? Our best wishes to the newlyweds. Did you pick a lot of berries? The important thing to remember is not to eat too many while you are picking.

DELLA VANDEN BRINK — I think your brother is anxiously waiting for school to begin, Delia. Are you as anxious as he is? “Saul” was the correct answer to our riddle. I think both the quiz and the riddle were quite easy, because no one wrote that they had any trouble in finding answers.

COLLEEN RYAN — We are happy to have you join with the other boys and girls in answering the quiz, Colleen. As you can see from the long list of names, there are many who do so. What are you doing during your summer vacation?

ROELIE STAPEL — Yes, Roelie, the summer vacation is rapidly disappearing. At the beginning it looks like quite a long time, doesn’t it. You probably think that graduation from high school is still far away, but how quickly those years pass by.

BILL BOESTERD — You must have quite a few raspberries to pick, Bill. Did you have a good crop of them this year? Are you the gardener, too? It seems you are keeping real busy. Do you think that your raft would hold me?

PETER W. KIEVIT — I am pretty certain I received your last letter, Peter, but I suppose it is possible that it was misplaced. You will have to work extra hard and maybe you can make that trip to Michigan. I think it has been quite a few years since your father was here.

JOHN MARTIN VANDER WIELE — It is nice to have you join in answering the quiz, John. You did real well. You probably won’t find them all as easy as this time, but with a little effort you will be able to answer them all.

JOHN VAN ZWEDEN — What do you feed your rabbits, John? My nephews have two rabbits also. Did you get a cage built for Peter? I remember having rabbits to take care of when I was a boy; in fact, I still have a picture of one of them.

JOAN VAN ZWEDEN — Did your mother arrive home safely again, Joan? How did you get along? I can imagine that you were all happy to see her. I was glad to hear that your grandfather and grandmother were getting better. We have had tornados in Michigan, but I have never seen one.

JANETTA VANDENBERG — Congratulations on the new baby brother, Janetta. I can imagine you would have like to have a sister. It is nice that your cousin came to help out. But there are probably lots of things that you can do to be helpful.

GARY ROOZENBOOM — We have been having quite a little rain for the past two days, Gary. After a week or two of hot weather, they are quite refreshing. It was my sister-in-law who passed away several months ago. It is another proof that we need not grow old before we will be taken away.

JOHN VAN WOUDENBERG — Did your aunt make the long trip safely, John? Three thousand miles is a very long distance to travel and so many things can happen along the way. The Lord must protect us “in the home, and by the way”. I suppose that your mother was happy to see her sister again after 20 years.

SANDER DE JONG — My family is also packing for a trip, Sander. We hope to go to the Smokey Mountains for a short trip. They are located in Tennessee. What is the name of your new dog? Did you enjoy your visit in Alberta, Canada? I have never been in that part of the country.

PETER FEYTER — Your answers arrived in time, Peter. I was sorry to hear that you had been in the hospital, and hope that you are all better again. I have never had an appendix operation, but I understand you can’t exert yourself for some time afterward.

JUDY KOEDAM — Eight inches of rain is certainly a lot of water, Judy, especially when you figure the area it covers. How dependent we are upon the Lord for just the right amount of rain and just the right amount of sunshine. Linda will soon be old enough to play with you, won’t she.

MARTY ANKER — Are you going to keep all the dogs, Marty? Seven dogs are really more than you need. That was quite a long trip to Chilliwack. How many days were you away from home? It seems many people are travelling during these months.

JOHN REMUS — You seem to have lots of things to do during the vacation, John. Do you like to sleep out in the tent? How would you like to live in a tent all the time? Probably you would soon be anxious to move back into the house.

RHONDA GRISNICH — What a nice long letter, Rhonda. Does your new minister have children the same age as you are? We have had quite nice weather in Kalamazoo lately. Tonight we are getting some rain again, but this keeps everything nice and green.

JOHN VAN HOEPEN — What do you like to draw best, John? Birds, trees, animals, or what? Some things are easier to draw than others, don’t you think? When does your school start again? You will probably be happy to be back in school again.

DEBRA AND DONALD VOS — You asked whether there were any names of men in the Bible beginning with the letters W, X, and Y. There are none, and that is why I skipped those letters. But you had some good ideas for those letters. I have never done any camping, so I don’t know if I would really like it. Did you have a good trip?

ARLENE KUPERUS — Did you have a good trip, Arlene? You travelled quite a long ways. Do you have relatives in Canada? I imagine you were happy to be home again. Your letter was the last one this time. Write again, won’t you.

And we will be looking forward to your answers and letters again next month, hoping that the Lord will spare and protect each of us in the days ahead.

With best wishes;

Your friend,

“Uncle Garret”

Missionary Corner

TIMOTHY MISSION FUND

During the month of June, our fund was increased by gifts in the amount of $84.00, which we again gratefully acknowledge. A check in the amount of $100.00 was sent to the Ebenezer Scripture Mission (Mr. & Mrs. Jan van Woerden) in Rhodesia, leaving a balance of $58.40 at the end of the month. As can be gleaned from the following letters and acknowledgments, the needs are many, not only for proper food for the body, but, of much greater importance, for the Bread of Life, as revealed in God’s Word.

This picture shows Reginah as she was being given her bath by Sister Dini Sonneveld on the veranda of the orphanage.

From Bethesda Clinic, Nigeria

Dear mission friends,

When I first came out here, I remember that in one of our outside rooms a motherless child about one year old had been admitted. She was being looked after by her grandmother. The child at that time looked quite miserable, was undernourished and in a poor general condition, and she had a terrible skin infection. The grandmother (who was taking care of her) didn’t look as if she was taking care of herself too well. Later I learned that Reginah (the girl’s name) had lost her mother about three months before.

About six weeks after the mother died, the grandmother had brought the child to the clinic for a check-up. She had received a tin with powdered milk with the instruction on how to prepare the milk and how many times a day it was to be given. When Reginah was brought to the clinic for her next check-up, she had grown become quite a bit thinner. She had only received “some” milk two times a day. Instructions for proper feeding were repeated to the grandmother and the date for the next check-up was written on a small card. The time Reginah was brought in, she had lost quite a bit of weight, and looked far from clean. Admission was advised, but the matter needed to be discussed at home before a decision could be made.

Apparently no one heard from them for a few weeks. Then Reginah had to be admitted. By that time she was in a very poor and serious condition. To begin with, she was undernourished. But in addition, she had lost a great amount of body fluid due to an infection of the intestines and had a bad skin infection as well. Extra fluid was given to her by injecting it beneath her skin and also through a tube which was brought into her stomach. She needed several antibiotics as well as an iron preparation in order to improve the quality of her blood. For weeks it seemed as if there was no response to the treatment, but after about three weeks we began to see some improvement.

The next thing which was done was to see if we could convince the relatives to bring a little sister to look after Reginah. The grandmother was too old to change her habits about child care; and besides she also had a contagious skin infection herself, but nevertheless wanted to carry Reginah at all times and have her sleep next to her. This was not an easy matter to settle. It was hard on the grandmother as well, because she was doing what she thought was best for the child, just as she had always done in her own village. Finally the grandmother agreed to go back to her village, and a girl, Joanna, about eight years old, was supposed to take care of Reginah.

This didn’t seem to solve the problem at all. Joanna felt very lonely and cried a great deal because she wanted to go back home. We thought it would help to put her and Reginah in a spare room in one of the sister’s houses so that Joanna wouldn’t feel so lonesome, and in the meantime she could be taught how to take care of Reginah. But this didn’t work out either. Somewhere in the back of her mind little Joanna had determined that she was not going to stay, and that was it. Something needed to be done about it, so we asked Matthew, our driver who is also a relative of Reginah, to get another little nurse. Joanna was very thrilled about this and she looked like a different girl.

Reginah’s next little nurse turned out to be a boy about seven years old, with the name of Peter. Our hopes by this time were not too high any more, but things turned out pretty well. Peter was eager to learn how to take care of her and he did quite well for a boy of his age. Apart from the persistent skin infection, Rehinah was getting along well. We took her to M’Kar Hospital for a medical check-up and this turned out quite satisfactory. But she still needed intensive care for her skin infection, so she stayed with us at the compound a few more weeks. After that she was ready to be transferred to our orphanage in Ibilla Alachi. Peter went along to look after her there as well. They both stayed there for one year and were brought back to their village during December 1968. The home situation in this particular case seemed very favourable. Her father is a church member who attends the services regularly. Rehinah herself had been accepted by her relatives. Her village, Egah, is about five miles from our clinic so that a “home visit” to see how she was making out wouldn’t be a problem either. It all seemed to work out well, humanly speaking, and we didn’t expect any great problem in her care. Then one night a few weeks after we had visited her, a seriously ill Reginah was brought to the clinic. She had signs of convulsions, was unconscious, and had great difficulty breathing. The information we received from her relatives was that she had been sick for two days and they had taken her to people in Egah who treated her with native herbs. One look at her was enough to see that she had been poisoned with it. It was about 2:30 A.M. when she was brought back to us in this condition. We gave her some treatment although we knew that, humanly speaking, it was already too late. Shortly after 9 o’clock that same morning she died.

All we could think was: “The time and work we had spent on Reginah, and now this.” We know that Egah is one of the places with a “strong centre” for native treatment. Dominating older men and women are filled with hatred against any changes in treating the sick or changing what they call their “customs”, which really means serving their idols. We know that they strongly cling to the fact that a motherless child must be killed, otherwise the evil spirit which killed the mother will not be satisfied and will punish all other relatives in the compound for this. Then to think that Reginah’s relatives had taken her to these people in there village for native treatment was quite a shock for us.

One can’t help to suspect that some of the older people used this opportunity to persuade the village people to stick to the native “customs” and to use it as a proof to them that no matter what the “clinic people” say or do, a motherless child has to die.

In a situation like this, one feels the power of Satan, but also one’s dependence on Him Who is the great conqueror of Satan.

With friendly greetings,

Ann Herfst

TO THE YOUNG

“No!” “Won’t!” “Don’t want to!” Do you recognize these words? My question is directed mainly at younger readers, but does not exclude others. Just in case you do not catch my meaning, I shall put the words into little segments of conversation, and I am sure that you will recognize them then. “Johnny, stop your play and run to the store for me.” “No!” — “Now, Mary, see that you share your candy with your brother.” “I won’t!” — “Time to go to bed, children.” “We don’t want to!” Perhaps these replies are muttered rather than spoken aloud, in case mother should punish us for disobedience. Yet, if they are said under the breath, or even just in our hearts, it is the same in God’s sight as though they were spoken aloud.

Remember that God does come into these things, because it is his law which is being broken and not merely mother’s. In the fifth commandment God requires that we should honour our parents by obeying all their lawful commands. So that when we disobey them, or even just grumble at having to obey, we sin against God as well as against them. How many times have we sinned in this way alone? Do we not need to come to Christ for that salvation from sin which includes forgiveness and the great blessing of a new heart. (Read Hebrews 8:8–12). That would mean such a change in our natures that we would wish to cease from sinning, and would possess some measure of the spirit that was in Christ Himself. You can read what that was in Psalm 40, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea thy law is within my heart.” Is not that a very different attitude from “No!” and “Won’t!” and “Don’t want to!”? (Young People’s Magazine)

ADDRESSES FOR TIMOTHY CORRESPONDENCE

Timothy Section—

Thomas Moerdyk

1222 Vassar Drive

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001

Timothy Mission Fund— c/o Miss Adriana Kievit

1121 North Westnedge Avenue

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007

Timothy Bible Quiz

Garret J. Moerdyk

1104 Roseland Avenue

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001

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