Monday, November 19, 2018
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
STILL, STILL THOUGH DEAD THEY SPEAK
We have been gifted by God with the privilege to work in East Africa. The history of Lutheran mission work there goes back to the 19th century with the mission societies sending men to Tanzania. One very prominent mission society was the Leipzig Mission. The first five arrived at Mobasa on July 12, 1893. In August they arrived at Moshi where we have a sister congregation. They also worked at Machame where we have worked. They developed a Machame language grammars dictionary and hymn book.
Two new Leipzig missionaries, Ewald Ovir and Karl Segebrock arrived in 1895 and proceeded westwards from Machame to see about work among the Wameru. On October 20, 1896 these two servants of God were butchered by the natives. One has to wonder why God took them after so short a stay in the field.
In the city of Arusha today there is the restored old Boma (fort) of the Germans from that time when the Germans ruled. It has been turned into a museum. In one room of the old fort is the history of the German rule pictured on the walls. At one point one can read the report from the natives of what happened that night long ago. As Ewald is dying from eighteen spears, he is saying, "why are you killing us. We came to bring you the Gospel ... to tell you how you can go to heaven through Christ." The Lord had Ewald die as our Lord did-- with love on his lips. As Stephen had mirrored his Lord with "Lord do not hold this sin against them..." so Ewald spoke. There is more to the story of how God was, is and will be in charge. One of the youths who attacked and killed the two missionaries on that dreadful/triumphant night was baptized in 1965. Though an aged man at the time, he was sought out by the Lord, who is at work always His wonder of conversion to perform.
