Blog Post #9 March 25, 2013 September 1954

"There is a Light in the Valley"


        I really enjoyed this story. The story takes place in the Philippine Valley. There is a tribal group called the Igorots and they live in the Philippine Valley, they are known to the people who live around them as pagans. They practice witchcraft, trial marriages, and blood sacrifices. Some of the tribes still go headhunting. They believe if one of their babies dies, they think that ten people should lose their lives. If an adult dies, then it is decided on how many should lose their life based on the decision of the tribe. It doesn't  say who will lose their life but I know that I would not want to be their next door neighbor. The Nazarene missionaries have been witnessing to them and many are becoming believers. This is a good sign, for the tribe who is living in unhealthy living. The Igorots sacrifice pigs for their ancestors and many other animals are used in the celebration. The story goes on to say that, many would hear the message of Jesus and would come to the altar call and give their lives to Christ. The next night more would come. I particularly liked how the person who wrote this story, Frances Vine, described the Igorots. She says, "Our Nazarene chapel is sending out the gospel in an effort to dispel the dense spiritual darkness. At last we are seeing definite results in the salvation of these precious souls." She didn't call them the derogatory word, "heathens" she called them, "precious souls." To me I think that's how we must as Christians approach people who do not believe in Christ and many who are living in darkness, who still practice witchcraft and sacrifices. She uses metaphors to make her point. One man in the tribe prayed and fasted to ask God to come into his life. He prayed all night seeking Him. She said that, "the light broke through," as to mean the light has finally broken through the darkness of the jungle in a spiritual way. I think this story reflects many stories in Dana Roberts book called, Christian Mission, in that many tribes in Africa never heard of the Gospel. IN chapter 6 of her book she writes about how (my favorite missionary) St. Patrick loved the people who he would try to convert. Also in Chapter 6, she writes about a missionary named Bernard Mizeki, and how he converted many Shona tribal people to Christ.