We met a women in the jungle of Malaysia named Simbag. The day we met her we had no translator; we were just walking down the path when she called for us to come in. I do not know much of her story, but I know from the big scar on her shoulder and the death of her 3 year old daughter a few months ago, that she has a very powerful testimony. I also know that she joyfully and faithfully loves the lord!
We walked into Simbag’s home to find no furniture (this is the norm for the jungle), but we found a welcoming heart and an unexpected meal. Simbag was so excited to entertain us in her home. She made us food and tea, then she got a book off her shelf. It was a bible. Simbag smiled from ear to ear as she held out her bible to us and motioned to us to read it to her. The bible was printed in the Malay language. None of us speak Malay. Funny thing is, Simbag doesn’t speak Malay either! She speaks a dialect of Malay. Simbag, also, can not read. So, here is this beautiful woman filled with the love of Christ, who is so proud to own the word of God even though she can not read the truth inside and even if she could it is not her language. This is by far the saddest thing I have ever heard in my life! I have never felt more convicted and more humbled then I did in the presence of this marvelous women.
We tried to read her some scripture… keep in mind none of us have ever spoke, let alone tried to read this strange language. She sat there wide eyed and so attentive to every word we struggled through. She was so grateful and thankful and excited to hear the Word spoken to her! This women knew she had Jesus in her heart, and she knew she had the Truth, the Word, the promises of God in her home… she just needed a way to know what the Truth, the Word, and the promises actually were!
Here was this women who believed in a God she hardly knew anything about. Here was this woman whose most prized possession was a book she will never read. Here was this woman who grabbed 7 strangers out of the jungle so that they could show her some more of who Jesus is. Ironically, it was her that showed Jesus to me!
