Paul, the Indian boy, lives in an isolated village far up in the frozen Northland. He is only fourteen years old but is an excellent dog team driver, and his dogs are so well trained for the trail that they can tell the way even when there are no tracks in the snow.
But Paul is not only an excellent guide over the trackless snow; he has been able to guide many other Indians to the Lord Jesus for the salvation of their souls.
Paul’s uncle was saved through a missionary and moved to Paul’s village where no one knew about the Lord Jesus, and where there was much drinking and sinfulness. Paul’s uncle became a real testimony in this needy village, but he was greatly persecuted. Like everywhere else, many people preferred their sins to the Saviour. No one seemed to care to listen to the wonderful story of the Saviour’s love until one day young Paul, who was then just twelve years old, accepted the Lord Jesus as his Saviour. After that Paul and his uncle enjoyed reading their Bibles together, and always they told others of the wonderful Saviour they had come to know.
“Let us pray, Paul,” said his uncle one day, “and ask God to send a missionary here to help explain the way of salvation to our people.”
So they prayed and missionaries far away were praying too. Finally a missionary felt he could go but he had an accident, and two years passed before the Lord finally opened the way for him to try again to make the trip with his dog team. This time all went well and several nights later he arrived at the village.
What a cheerful sight it was in the dusk to see the light gleaming out across the snow from the native chief’s cabin. The door of the cabin was flung wide, and stepping inside the missionary found not only a warm welcome but some great surprises awaiting him.
The news that he had arrived spread in no time and the villagers flocked to the chief’s cabin. Soon the room seemed to be filled to overflowing. As the missionary looked about at the glowing happy faces, he could hardly believe he was in the village where a short time ago there had not been one Christian and which had been noted for its drinking and wickedness.
Now the cabin was ringing with the joyous singing of gospel songs. The missionary noticed that they were using the same song books he had given Paul’s uncle ten years before. They were well worn but had been faithfully cared for, and the missionary marveled at how well the children and grownups had been taught to sing.
Then came the happiest surprise of all. The Indian chief and many others began to tell of how they had been saved—saved through the faithful testimony and witnessing of Paul and his uncle. Many had turned to the Lord, and the whole place had been revived. Liquor and cigarettes were no longer sold in the town. What wonderful things the Lord had done through a faithful young Christian Indian and a boy dog team driver!
During the days of his visit with them, the missionary found a hearty welcome in nearly every home, and how they did enjoy gathering together to study God’s Word! How wonderfully God had answered the prayers of Paul and his uncle, and the missionaries! The missionary himself could not help but think, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”
The last day they had a children’s meeting, and as the bright-faced children gathered together the missionary rejoiced to see how well cared for they looked. They were not the neglected, sad-faced children that he often saw in the villages where drinking parents thought of nothing but satisfying their wicked thirst. What blessed changes the gospel had brought in this isolated village, far from civilization as we know it!
M.J.T.
ML-08/13/1978