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In June 2010 I returned to the Central Peninsular of Malaysia to meet with the Orang Asli tribe living in the Rainforest. The tribe are aborigines who live deep in the jungle. They are nomadic and their settlement has around 150 men, women and children.

We travelled in a four wheel drive car skilfully driven by Bobby. We certainly needed it as after leaving the main road we drove deep into the jungle, reaching the bumpy dirt roads that had been cut into the clearing. We followed arrows painted on trees until we found the natives in their clearing. 

I was really excited at the prospect of returning to see the progress since my last visit as I had heard that they now had a water supply. More especially after hearing about how God had healed a little girl called Leb since we had been there previously. I read the email from Bobby many times before arriving:

This a direct transcript from Bobby’s email:

“We just came back from the village to check on her progress. We were amazed that Jesus had completely healed her. Her face is so smooth without any more sores throughout her whole body! Hallelujah!

This miracle has totally opened up her parents' and the other villagers' to hear about God. Now they openly speak of wanting to pray to our Lord Jesus when they face challenges and so forth. Thanks for praying. For me, this is the miracle that will see the whole village come to salvation. I can really feel it.”

The team for this visit was Bobby, Pastor Martin, myself and a glove puppet called “Joe Crow”. I took a picture Bible book with me and this proved to be an amazing aid in sharing the Gospel message.

I began to pray en route and had a real revelation from God with the simple message, “I am the light of the world”. I asked Bobby to stop at the next garage. I went straight in and bought a torch. I didn’t know how and when I would use it, I just knew the Holy Spirit would provide the right moment.

We pulled up at the settlement and the first person we saw was Leb’s mother, her beaming smile greeting us with a wonderful welcome. It was fantastic to see familiar faces again; their images had stayed with me and had been continually in my prayers since my first trip. We began to unload the supplies of rice, food, drinks, medical supplies, vitamins, weed-killer and petrol for their chain-saw.

We had brought with us a pre-prepared rice meal for the whole tribe.  There was a large group of tribesman to feed along, with the women and children who appeared from under the trees and out from their huts to get food. It was very evident why they had been in the shade, it was so hot, probably around 36 degrees!

I began by showing them the DVD of my last visit in which I shared the Lord’s Prayer and prayed for the sick. They loved to see themselves being prayed for. I then started to share with them, introducing “Joe Crow”, the puppet.  He brought smiles to their faces and the tribesman gradually joined the women and children gathering around.

We used the picture Bible book as I spoke and Bobby interpreted. The Bible pictures spoke a thousand words as we turned the pages, emphasizing our words as we went from creation to the cross.

It became very clear they were grasping the message and you could see them responding as we continued to share the Gospel. Bobby and I began to work together asking them if they understood that Jesus was their healer. Pointing to what God had done for Leb, they began to nod. We asked them to look around to see how God had become their provider. We asked if they were ready to receive Jesus as their “Spirit God”, as their only true God and they began to nod.

The moment came when we asked them to repent and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. The tribesman and women began to respond as we spoke about what salvation meant and prayed the sinner’s prayer with them.

Finally I asked them to make a cross over their heart as a sign to show that they had accepted Jesus into their heart. As they began to make this sign I knew it was now the moment to use the torch. I shone the light beam on them and explained that they had the light of the world, Jesus, living inside them. I then stressed the importance of keeping that light within them. I illustrated this by switching the torch on and off. They nodded as they understood. I then removed the battery showing them that without power there is no light from the torch.I told them they were all like the torch; they needed to keeping praying and trusting God so that Jesus’ light like the batteries would shine through them. (John 8v12) They nodded and smiled.

Then two of the tribesman asked if we could pray for them.  The first was a young man called Ravi who needed healing in his leg and stomach. Next an older tribesman stepped forward, asking for prayer for better health.

It was a truly amazing day, watching the Holy Spirit minster through us to these dear people. It was wonderful to see the change in these people as they have been blessed by God.  They are looking so much stronger knowing Jesus. I thank God for the love of this local church as they’ve taken these people into their hearts.