Captain's Log #36
October, 2003

EMERGENCY!
The sudden and unmistakable sound of screaming coming from someone in severe pain, shot adrenalin through my system and without conscious thought I killed the engines and was kneeling next to where the 17 year old girl was lying on the bench seat toward the rear of the vessel. There was no question that this Fijian girl was not having fun. The pastor's wife was holding the girl's head and I made the mistake of taking her hand. Something was very wrong and as the spasms of pain shot through her, I thought my hand had just been broken.

We'd left well before dawn and it was now late morning and we were a long ways into the gauntlet of islands, working our way through the reefs. The relief I felt was overwhelming when looking at the charts, I realized that we were not all that far from where there was actually a 'nurses station' on one of these islands. Changing direction we headed North West and before long we were pulling the boat up to a jetty and unloading people to get them out of the way. I was really glad to see a professional looking, uniformed nurse who climbed on board and begin examining our 'patient'.

"She had surgery 2 years ago to remove her appendix", the nurse conveyed her gathered information to me. "Since then there have been many complications, requiring a total of 5 surgeries!"

"What kind of complications?" I asked.

"once they found that they had left a razor blade inside her...
once they found that they had left a cotton swab inside her...
and once they found that they had left a small pair of scissors inside of her... but I think that's all."

"So what's the problem now, can you tell?" I asked.

"Yes, I can tell what the problem is... it's obviously her other appendix... on the other side... they are failing now and they will have to be removed!"

I said nothing, but was glad to see another nurse coming up to give another opinion, because I'd always thought we only had one appendix!

After an intense prayer for wisdom.....QUICKLY....I allowed them to sedate our passenger, and we transported her through the islands to where there was a small hospital with a real doctor who admitted her. Eventually about 10 days later we were able to get her back to the main island... and (the short version is) she's ok.

Please never stop praying for us and whatever each day might hold. Occasionally we have a boring day, but sometimes we pray to have more.

GIVE HER AWAY?
"Pastor Harmon?" her voice was quite and I almost missed it behind me. Turning slowly around I saw her... a beautiful young Indo-Fijian girl, dressed in a pure white wedding dress. "Pastor Harmon... (I had to strain to hear her)... would you please consider doing me the honor... (there were tears gathering at the corner of her eyes now)... of giving me away in marriage?" I was struggling to swallow.

Ashika's father is dead and for over two years she had been separated from her Hindu family and friends ever since she began her new life with Christ. She had been running from a very tragic set of circumstances when she found herself surrounded by unexplainable compassion extended to her from the body of Christ. Through two young men, Aju and Aaron, who had recently accepted the Lord and then quickly became active in the JESUS Film ministry, Ashika came face to face with the Living God of the Universe and the life He was offering to her... and she made her choice. The Johnson's, with open hearts, adopted her into their home for well over half a year; she was given a place to live, food to eat and clothes to wear. The word TRANSFORMATION is the right word but hardly describes what happened to her as she became a radical new creation in Christ and instantly began to radiate His unfathomable love... she would never be the same again.
Who was the intended groom? None other than the young man who had first led Aju and Aaron to Christ.... himself a man transformed by the grace of God!

I heard the words...
"Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"

We who have Christian families take them for granted, I thought.
"On behalf of her Christian family, her brothers and sisters who love her and care so very much about her, I am honored to give Ashika away in marriage today."

A TRANSFORMED BRIDE
It has made me realize how much I am longing for that day which all of us live for...
....when our Father will present us
.... radiant, transformed and pure
....to His only Son
.... as His bride!

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready." Revelation 19:7

He is able!
Hope to see you on that day!
Harmon

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