A 15-year-old girl was pregnant and trying to deliver, but the baby had turned. There was no healthcare at the time in the dense jungles of Kalimantan, Indonesia, on the island of Borneo. The people in her village had no hope that this girl, named Lihut, would live.
So they turned to the local witchdoctor.
He and a few other men decided to jump up and down on the girl’s belly, thinking this would help. Of course, it only caused further damage.
On a nearby grass airstrip, a small airplane—a Cessna 185—touched down and John Hook, a pilot with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), stepped out.
“As I landed and shut down the engine, I thought it was strange no one from the village was there to meet me—usually the whole village came out to see the airplane! That’s when I heard the crying and wailing,” said John.
Back in the late 1970s, John and his wife, Nancy, lived in Kelansam in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. This particular airstrip was one of dozens hand-built by the local Dayak people in the first half of that decade. Like other grass airstrips, the villagers cut the grass on this one by hand.
John’s flights were normally to bring in supplies, like food and medicine. He hadn’t landed here in a while and only stopped in that day to make sure the grass wasn’t getting too long.
He hopped down from the small aircraft and followed a path through the thick jungle, which led to the village.
When he came into the clearing he saw a group of people surrounding a dugout log, where the young girl was lying. (This Dayak tribe was known to put their dead in these logs.)
John checked for a pulse and found one. “Let’s get her in the airplane and I’ll fly her to the mission hospital about an hour’s flight away.” he said. This trek would have likely taken days by foot or dugout canoe.
“No,” they replied, “just let her die.”
Ignoring them, John scooped up the girl, carried her down the path to the airplane, and secured her to the floor of the aircraft. Then he took off for the hospital—praying hard.
“At that time in West Kalimantan, everyone was animistic,” explained Yusmanto Luis, an Indonesian pastor who grew up in that area and now leads a church in the city of Palangkaraya.
Animism is a belief that inanimate objects contain spirits that can affect human affairs in helpful or harmful ways. It involves witch doctors, superstitions, amulets, and charms—to placate the “good” spirits and protect from the evil ones.
“The Dayaks depended on witch doctors, whose power was strong, when they were sick due to their strong beliefs in the spirits of their ancestors,” said Yusmanto.
“MAF helped many people who were close to death by taking them to [mission hospitals at] Serukam or Sintang,” said Yusmanto. “The roads were not good and taking a boat would take at least a week or maybe even a month. MAF opened many landing strips that served as a connection between the villages and the cities.”
A doctor at Bethesda Hospital in Serukam was able to save Lihut’s life. Unfortunately, the baby did not make it. Lihut spent a little over a month recovering at the hospital.
While there, she heard the Gospel and became a Christian.
John flew her back to her village, and when the people saw the girl they couldn’t believe it. They thought she was a ghost! They wouldn’t come near until John rubbed her arm to show them she was flesh and blood. Then they came close and welcomed her home.
“That one little girl, with Jesus in her heart, led her family and then her village to the Lord,” said John. “And if you go there today, there is a large church and they even send out their own missionaries! My ministry was flying an airplane, and yet God used that airplane to bring Christ to one girl, saving one village to become a part of the Body of Christ in Indonesia.”
Lihut’s story was nearly over. Her fate would have made her just one more statistic among people who are cut off from the outside world—cut off from medical care, from education, from hope …
But thanks to people like YOU, MAF was able to be there for Lihut—giving her the chance at a future. Because the ending of her story was changed, her life, the lives of those in her community—and surrounding villages—were transformed.
You can Change the Ending for many other people like Lihut who face sadly predictable final chapters. Find out how you can open doors of hope to create endless possibilities.
A 15-year-old girl was pregnant and trying to deliver, but the baby had turned. There was no healthcare at the time in the dense jungles of Kalimantan, Indonesia, on the island of Borneo. The people in her village had no hope that this girl, named Lihut, would live.
So they turned to the local witchdoctor.
He and a few other men decided to jump up and down on the girl’s belly, thinking this would help. Of course, it only caused further damage.
On a nearby grass airstrip, a small airplane—a Cessna 185—touched down and John Hook, a pilot with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), stepped out.
“As I landed and shut down the engine, I thought it was strange no one from the village was there to meet me—usually the whole village came out to see the airplane! That’s when I heard the crying and wailing,” said John.
Back in the late 1970s, John and his wife, Nancy, lived in Kelansam in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. This particular airstrip was one of dozens hand-built by the local Dayak people in the first half of that decade. Like other grass airstrips, the villagers cut the grass on this one by hand.
John’s flights were normally to bring in supplies, like food and medicine. He hadn’t landed here in a while and only stopped in that day to make sure the grass wasn’t getting too long.
He hopped down from the small aircraft and followed a path through the thick jungle, which led to the village.
When he came into the clearing he saw a group of people surrounding a dugout log, where the young girl was lying. (This Dayak tribe was known to put their dead in these logs.)
John checked for a pulse and found one. “Let’s get her in the airplane and I’ll fly her to the mission hospital about an hour’s flight away.” he said. This trek would have likely taken days by foot or dugout canoe.
“No,” they replied, “just let her die.”
Ignoring them, John scooped up the girl, carried her down the path to the airplane, and secured her to the floor of the aircraft. Then he took off for the hospital—praying hard.
“At that time in West Kalimantan, everyone was animistic,” explained Yusmanto Luis, an Indonesian pastor who grew up in that area and now leads a church in the city of Palangkaraya.
Animism is a belief that inanimate objects contain spirits that can affect human affairs in helpful or harmful ways. It involves witch doctors, superstitions, amulets, and charms—to placate the “good” spirits and protect from the evil ones.
“The Dayaks depended on witch doctors, whose power was strong, when they were sick due to their strong beliefs in the spirits of their ancestors,” said Yusmanto.
“MAF helped many people who were close to death by taking them to [mission hospitals at] Serukam or Sintang,” said Yusmanto. “The roads were not good and taking a boat would take at least a week or maybe even a month. MAF opened many landing strips that served as a connection between the villages and the cities.”
A doctor at Bethesda Hospital in Serukam was able to save Lihut’s life. Unfortunately, the baby did not make it. Lihut spent a little over a month recovering at the hospital.
While there, she heard the Gospel and became a Christian.
John flew her back to her village, and when the people saw the girl they couldn’t believe it. They thought she was a ghost! They wouldn’t come near until John rubbed her arm to show them she was flesh and blood. Then they came close and welcomed her home.
“That one little girl, with Jesus in her heart, led her family and then her village to the Lord,” said John. “And if you go there today, there is a large church and they even send out their own missionaries! My ministry was flying an airplane, and yet God used that airplane to bring Christ to one girl, saving one village to become a part of the Body of Christ in Indonesia.”
Lihut’s story was nearly over. Her fate would have made her just one more statistic among people who are cut off from the outside world—cut off from medical care, from education, from hope …
But thanks to people like YOU, MAF was able to be there for Lihut—giving her the chance at a future. Because the ending of her story was changed, her life, the lives of those in her community—and surrounding villages—were transformed.
You can Change the Ending for many other people like Lihut who face sadly predictable final chapters. Find out how you can open doors of hope to create endless possibilities.
A 15-year-old girl was pregnant and trying to deliver, but the baby had turned. There was no healthcare at the time in the dense jungles of Kalimantan, Indonesia, on the island of Borneo. The people in her village had no hope that this girl, named Lihut, would live.
So they turned to the local witchdoctor.
He and a few other men decided to jump up and down on the girl’s belly, thinking this would help. Of course, it only caused further damage.
On a nearby grass airstrip, a small airplane—a Cessna 185—touched down and John Hook, a pilot with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), stepped out.
“As I landed and shut down the engine, I thought it was strange no one from the village was there to meet me—usually the whole village came out to see the airplane! That’s when I heard the crying and wailing,” said John.
Back in the late 1970s, John and his wife, Nancy, lived in Kelansam in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. This particular airstrip was one of dozens hand-built by the local Dayak people in the first half of that decade. Like other grass airstrips, the villagers cut the grass on this one by hand.
John’s flights were normally to bring in supplies, like food and medicine. He hadn’t landed here in a while and only stopped in that day to make sure the grass wasn’t getting too long.
He hopped down from the small aircraft and followed a path through the thick jungle, which led to the village.
When he came into the clearing he saw a group of people surrounding a dugout log, where the young girl was lying. (This Dayak tribe was known to put their dead in these logs.)
John checked for a pulse and found one. “Let’s get her in the airplane and I’ll fly her to the mission hospital about an hour’s flight away.” he said. This trek would have likely taken days by foot or dugout canoe.
“No,” they replied, “just let her die.”
Ignoring them, John scooped up the girl, carried her down the path to the airplane, and secured her to the floor of the aircraft. Then he took off for the hospital—praying hard.
“At that time in West Kalimantan, everyone was animistic,” explained Yusmanto Luis, an Indonesian pastor who grew up in that area and now leads a church in the city of Palangkaraya.
Animism is a belief that inanimate objects contain spirits that can affect human affairs in helpful or harmful ways. It involves witch doctors, superstitions, amulets, and charms—to placate the “good” spirits and protect from the evil ones.
“The Dayaks depended on witch doctors, whose power was strong, when they were sick due to their strong beliefs in the spirits of their ancestors,” said Yusmanto.
“MAF helped many people who were close to death by taking them to [mission hospitals at] Serukam or Sintang,” said Yusmanto. “The roads were not good and taking a boat would take at least a week or maybe even a month. MAF opened many landing strips that served as a connection between the villages and the cities.”
A doctor at Bethesda Hospital in Serukam was able to save Lihut’s life. Unfortunately, the baby did not make it. Lihut spent a little over a month recovering at the hospital.
While there, she heard the Gospel and became a Christian.
John flew her back to her village, and when the people saw the girl they couldn’t believe it. They thought she was a ghost! They wouldn’t come near until John rubbed her arm to show them she was flesh and blood. Then they came close and welcomed her home.
“That one little girl, with Jesus in her heart, led her family and then her village to the Lord,” said John. “And if you go there today, there is a large church and they even send out their own missionaries! My ministry was flying an airplane, and yet God used that airplane to bring Christ to one girl, saving one village to become a part of the Body of Christ in Indonesia.”
Lihut’s story was nearly over. Her fate would have made her just one more statistic among people who are cut off from the outside world—cut off from medical care, from education, from hope …
But thanks to people like YOU, MAF was able to be there for Lihut—giving her the chance at a future. Because the ending of her story was changed, her life, the lives of those in her community—and surrounding villages—were transformed.
You can Change the Ending for many other people like Lihut who face sadly predictable final chapters. Find out how you can open doors of hope to create endless possibilities.
A 15-year-old girl was pregnant and trying to deliver, but the baby had turned. There was no healthcare at the time in the dense jungles of Kalimantan, Indonesia, on the island of Borneo. The people in her village had no hope that this girl, named Lihut, would live.
So they turned to the local witchdoctor.
He and a few other men decided to jump up and down on the girl’s belly, thinking this would help. Of course, it only caused further damage.
On a nearby grass airstrip, a small airplane—a Cessna 185—touched down and John Hook, a pilot with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), stepped out.
“As I landed and shut down the engine, I thought it was strange no one from the village was there to meet me—usually the whole village came out to see the airplane! That’s when I heard the crying and wailing,” said John.
Back in the late 1970s, John and his wife, Nancy, lived in Kelansam in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. This particular airstrip was one of dozens hand-built by the local Dayak people in the first half of that decade. Like other grass airstrips, the villagers cut the grass on this one by hand.
John’s flights were normally to bring in supplies, like food and medicine. He hadn’t landed here in a while and only stopped in that day to make sure the grass wasn’t getting too long.
He hopped down from the small aircraft and followed a path through the thick jungle, which led to the village.
When he came into the clearing he saw a group of people surrounding a dugout log, where the young girl was lying. (This Dayak tribe was known to put their dead in these logs.)
John checked for a pulse and found one. “Let’s get her in the airplane and I’ll fly her to the mission hospital about an hour’s flight away.” he said. This trek would have likely taken days by foot or dugout canoe.
“No,” they replied, “just let her die.”
Ignoring them, John scooped up the girl, carried her down the path to the airplane, and secured her to the floor of the aircraft. Then he took off for the hospital—praying hard.
“At that time in West Kalimantan, everyone was animistic,” explained Yusmanto Luis, an Indonesian pastor who grew up in that area and now leads a church in the city of Palangkaraya.
Animism is a belief that inanimate objects contain spirits that can affect human affairs in helpful or harmful ways. It involves witch doctors, superstitions, amulets, and charms—to placate the “good” spirits and protect from the evil ones.
“The Dayaks depended on witch doctors, whose power was strong, when they were sick due to their strong beliefs in the spirits of their ancestors,” said Yusmanto.
“MAF helped many people who were close to death by taking them to [mission hospitals at] Serukam or Sintang,” said Yusmanto. “The roads were not good and taking a boat would take at least a week or maybe even a month. MAF opened many landing strips that served as a connection between the villages and the cities.”
A doctor at Bethesda Hospital in Serukam was able to save Lihut’s life. Unfortunately, the baby did not make it. Lihut spent a little over a month recovering at the hospital.
While there, she heard the Gospel and became a Christian.
John flew her back to her village, and when the people saw the girl they couldn’t believe it. They thought she was a ghost! They wouldn’t come near until John rubbed her arm to show them she was flesh and blood. Then they came close and welcomed her home.
“That one little girl, with Jesus in her heart, led her family and then her village to the Lord,” said John. “And if you go there today, there is a large church and they even send out their own missionaries! My ministry was flying an airplane, and yet God used that airplane to bring Christ to one girl, saving one village to become a part of the Body of Christ in Indonesia.”
Lihut’s story was nearly over. Her fate would have made her just one more statistic among people who are cut off from the outside world—cut off from medical care, from education, from hope …
But thanks to people like YOU, MAF was able to be there for Lihut—giving her the chance at a future. Because the ending of her story was changed, her life, the lives of those in her community—and surrounding villages—were transformed.
You can Change the Ending for many other people like Lihut who face sadly predictable final chapters. Find out how you can open doors of hope to create endless possibilities.
A 15-year-old girl was pregnant and trying to deliver, but the baby had turned. There was no healthcare at the time in the dense jungles of Kalimantan, Indonesia, on the island of Borneo. The people in her village had no hope that this girl, named Lihut, would live.
So they turned to the local witchdoctor.
He and a few other men decided to jump up and down on the girl’s belly, thinking this would help. Of course, it only caused further damage.
On a nearby grass airstrip, a small airplane—a Cessna 185—touched down and John Hook, a pilot with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), stepped out.
“As I landed and shut down the engine, I thought it was strange no one from the village was there to meet me—usually the whole village came out to see the airplane! That’s when I heard the crying and wailing,” said John.
Back in the late 1970s, John and his wife, Nancy, lived in Kelansam in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. This particular airstrip was one of dozens hand-built by the local Dayak people in the first half of that decade. Like other grass airstrips, the villagers cut the grass on this one by hand.
John’s flights were normally to bring in supplies, like food and medicine. He hadn’t landed here in a while and only stopped in that day to make sure the grass wasn’t getting too long.
He hopped down from the small aircraft and followed a path through the thick jungle, which led to the village.
When he came into the clearing he saw a group of people surrounding a dugout log, where the young girl was lying. (This Dayak tribe was known to put their dead in these logs.)
John checked for a pulse and found one. “Let’s get her in the airplane and I’ll fly her to the mission hospital about an hour’s flight away.” he said. This trek would have likely taken days by foot or dugout canoe.
“No,” they replied, “just let her die.”
Ignoring them, John scooped up the girl, carried her down the path to the airplane, and secured her to the floor of the aircraft. Then he took off for the hospital—praying hard.
“At that time in West Kalimantan, everyone was animistic,” explained Yusmanto Luis, an Indonesian pastor who grew up in that area and now leads a church in the city of Palangkaraya.
Animism is a belief that inanimate objects contain spirits that can affect human affairs in helpful or harmful ways. It involves witch doctors, superstitions, amulets, and charms—to placate the “good” spirits and protect from the evil ones.
“The Dayaks depended on witch doctors, whose power was strong, when they were sick due to their strong beliefs in the spirits of their ancestors,” said Yusmanto.
“MAF helped many people who were close to death by taking them to [mission hospitals at] Serukam or Sintang,” said Yusmanto. “The roads were not good and taking a boat would take at least a week or maybe even a month. MAF opened many landing strips that served as a connection between the villages and the cities.”
A doctor at Bethesda Hospital in Serukam was able to save Lihut’s life. Unfortunately, the baby did not make it. Lihut spent a little over a month recovering at the hospital.
While there, she heard the Gospel and became a Christian.
John flew her back to her village, and when the people saw the girl they couldn’t believe it. They thought she was a ghost! They wouldn’t come near until John rubbed her arm to show them she was flesh and blood. Then they came close and welcomed her home.
“That one little girl, with Jesus in her heart, led her family and then her village to the Lord,” said John. “And if you go there today, there is a large church and they even send out their own missionaries! My ministry was flying an airplane, and yet God used that airplane to bring Christ to one girl, saving one village to become a part of the Body of Christ in Indonesia.”
Lihut’s story was nearly over. Her fate would have made her just one more statistic among people who are cut off from the outside world—cut off from medical care, from education, from hope …
But thanks to people like YOU, MAF was able to be there for Lihut—giving her the chance at a future. Because the ending of her story was changed, her life, the lives of those in her community—and surrounding villages—were transformed.
You can Change the Ending for many other people like Lihut who face sadly predictable final chapters. Find out how you can open doors of hope to create endless possibilities.
Una ragazza di 15 anni incinta cercava di partorire, ma il bambino si trovava nella posizione sbagliata. Non vi era alcun ospedale nell’intricata giungla del Kalimantan, Indonesia, nell’isola del Borneo. La gente del villaggio non aveva alcuna speranza che la ragazza di nome Lithut sarebbe potuta sopravvivere.
Decisero quindi di rivolgersi allo stregone-curante del posto.
Egli assieme ad alcuni altri uomini iniziarono a saltare sulla pancia della ragazza, ritenendo che ciò sarebbe stato di giovamento; ovviamente, questo non fece che peggiorare la situazione.
Nella vicina pista di atterraggio ricavata nell'erba, era atterrato un piccolo aeroplano - un Cessna 185 - e John Hook, pilota di Missione Aerea di Fratellanza – Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) stava uscendo dal velivolo parcheggiato.
“Appena fui atterrato ed ebbi spento il motore, pensai fosse strano che nessuno fosse venuto a salutarmi, visto che solitamente l'intero villaggio accorreva per vedere l'aereo. Fu a quel punto che sentii le urla ed i lamenti” dice John.
Negli ultimi anni '70 John e sua moglie Nancy si sono trasferiti nel Kelansam, nel Kalimantam occidentale, Indonesia. La pista d'atterraggio in questione faceva parte di un gruppo di dodici piste costruite a mano dalla gente locale Dayak nella prima metà di quel decennio. Come per altre piste aeree erbose, gli abitanti del villaggio tagliavano l'erba a mano.
I voli effettuati da John avevano normalmente lo scopo di portare rifornimenti, come cibo e medicine. Non era atterrato in quella pista da un po' di tempo ed in quel giorno vi si era fermato solo per assicurarsi che l'erba non stesse diventando troppo alta.
John saltò giù dal piccolo aereo ed intraprese il sentiero attraverso l'intricata giungla, che recava al villaggio.
Quando giunse nella radura, vide un gruppo di persone che attorniava una canoa ricavata da un tronco di legno, dove giaceva la giovane. (Questa tribù Dayak era nota per porre i propri morti in tali canoe).
John controllò che ci fosse ancora il battito e lo sentì. “Carichiamola sull'aereo per portarla all'ospedale della missione, ad un'ora di volo da qui” disse. Il tragitto sarebbe probabilmente durato giorni se compiuto a piedi o in canoa.
“No” replicarono gli abitanti del posto, “lascia solamente che muoia”.
Ignorandoli, John sollevò tra le braccia la ragazza, la portò attraverso il sentiero fino all'aereo e la assicurò a bordo dell'aeroplano. Poi decollo in direzione dell'ospedale, pregando intensamente.
“A quel tempo nel Kalimantan occidentale, tutti erano animisti” spiega Yusmanto Luis, un pastore indonesiano cresciuto in quella zona, che ora guida una chiesa nella città di Palangkaraya.
L'animismo è la credenza che oggetti inanimati contengano spiriti col potere di interferire nelle vicende umane in maniera positiva o negativa. Coinvolge l'uso di maghi stregoni, superstizioni, amuleti e talismani con lo scopo di placare gli spiriti “buoni” e proteggere da quelli cattivi.
“I Dayak dipendevano dai maghi stregoni, che avevano un grande potere quando gli abitanti erano malati; ciò a causa delle forti credenze negli spiriti dei loro antenati” asserisce Yusmanto.
“La MAF ha aiutato molte persone che si trovavano vicino alla morte portandole all'ospedale della missione di Serukam o di Sintang. Le strade non erano praticabili e per arrivarvi in barca ci sarebbero volute settimane o addirittura un mese. La MAF aprì molte piste di atterraggio che fecero da collegamento tra i villaggi e le città.”
Un dottore dell'ospedale Bethesda di Serukam fu in grado di salvare la vita di Lithut. Purtroppo, il bimbo non riuscì a sopravvivere. Lithut trascorse poco più di un mese nell'ospedale per rimettersi del tutto.
Mentre si trovava lì, sentì parlare del Vangelo e diventò una figlia di Dio.
John la riportò in volo al villaggio e quando gli abitanti la videro non riuscirono a crederci. Pensavano fosse un fantasma e non le si avvicinarono fino a che John non l'afferrò per un braccio per mostrare loro che la ragazza fosse in carne ed ossa. Allora le vennero vicino dandole il benvenuto.
“Quella giovane ragazza, con Gesù nel suo cuore, condusse la sua famiglia e poi il suo villaggio al Signore” dice John. “Se andate lì oggi, c'è una grande chiesa che manda in missione i propri missionari! Il mio ministerio consisteva nel pilotare un aereo, e tuttavia Dio usò quell'aereo per portare quella ragazza a Cristo, salvando un intero villaggio per farlo divenire parte del Corpo di Cristo in Indonesia.”
La storia di Lithut era praticamente segnata. Il suo destino l'avrebbe fatta divenire solo un ulteriore caso statistico in mezzo alla gente tagliata fuori dal mondo esterno - tagliata fuori dalle cure mediche, dall'educazione, dalla speranza...
Ma grazie a persone come te, la MAF è stata in grado di essere d'aiuto per Lithut, donandole la possibilità di un futuro. Poiché il finale della sua storia è stato mutato, la sua vita, le vite di coloro che risiedevano nella sua comunità e nei villaggi confinanti furono trasformate.
Tu puoi Cambiare il Finale di molte altre persone come Lithut, che affrontano i capitoli finali della loro vita, tristemente predicibili. Scopri in quale modo puoi aprire nuove porte di speranza per poter creare infinite possibilità.
En 15 år gammel gravid jente var i ferd med å føde, men babyen satt fast. På denne tiden var det ingen helsetjeneste i den tette jungelen i Kalimantan, på Borneo i Indonesia. Ingen i landsbyen trodde at Lihut, den unge fødende, ville overleve.
Så kontaktet de den lokale heksedoktoren.
Han og noen andre menn bestemte at de skulle hoppe på jentas mage, i tro på at dette ville hjelpe. Selvsagt skadet det bare mer.
På en landingsstripe av gress rett ved landet et lite fly, en Cessna 185, og MAF-pilot John Hook kom ut.
—I det jeg landet og slo av motoren ¬synes jeg det var rart at ingen fra landsbyen kom og møtte meg. Vanligvis møter jo alle opp for å se flyet. Så hørte jeg gråt og rop, sier John.
Sent på 1970-tallet levde John og hans kone Nancy i Kelansam i West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Akkurat denne flystripen var en av et dusin striper som Dayak-beboerne bygde for hånd. Som andre flystriper av gress var det de lokale innbyggerne som kuttet gresset, også dette for hånd.
Johns flyvninger bragte vanligvis mat og medisiner. Han hadde ikke vært her på en stund så i dag landet han her kun for å sjekke at gresset ikke var blitt for langt. Han hoppet ned fra det lille flyet og fulgte en sti gjennom jungelen, som ledet til landsbyen.
Da han kom til åpningen i jungelen så han en gruppe mennesker samlet rundt en utgravd hule, hvor den unge jenta lå. (Dayak-stammen var kjent for å legge sine døde i slike huler).
John sjekket pulsen, og fant den. —La oss ta henne til flyet så jeg kan fly henne til vår klinikk en times flytur unna, sa han. Strekningen ville ellers tatt flere dager til fots og i kano. —Nei, sa de, —la henne dø.
John ignorerte dem, løftet jenta opp og bar henne tilbake til flyet, sikret henne på gulvet og lettet.
—På den tiden var alle i West Kalimantan animistiske, forklarer Yusmanto Luis, en Indonesisk pastor som vokste opp i området og nå leder kirken i byen Palangkaraya.
Animisme er tro på at alt i naturen har sjel og at disse sjelene kan hjelpe på gode, eller onde måter. Troen gjorde at de brukte heksedoktorer og overtroiske ritualer ved sykdom. MAF hjalp mange mennesker ved å ta de med til sykehus i Serukam, eller Sintang, sier Yusmanto.
—Veiene var så dårlige og med båt ville det ta minst en uke, antakelig en måned å nå frem. MAF åpnet mange landingsstriper som ga forbindelse mellom landsbyer og byer.
En doktor på Bethesda sykehus i Serukam klarte å redde Lihuts liv, men dessverre ikke babyen sitt. På sykehuset ble hun kristen og så sine forfedres tro i et annet lys.
Det var John som også fløy henne tilbake til landsbyen og når folkene der så henne, ville de ikke tro sine egne øyne. De trodde hun var et gjenferd og turte ikke komme nær henne før John strøk henne på armen og viste de at hun var kjøtt og blod. Da kom de nærmere og etterhvert ønsket de henne varmt velkommen hjem. Den lille jenta driver nå en kirke i landsbyen.
Lihut sitt liv var nesten over. Hennes tro kunne ha gjort henne til enda en i en statistikk av mennesker som er avskåret fra omverden, fra medisinsk hjelp, fra utdanning og håp.
Takket være mennesker som DEG, kunne MAF være der for Lihut, og gi henne en fremtid. Fordi hennes historie ble endret, ble det også endring i hennes liv, livene til de andre i hennes landsby og landsbyene omkring.
Du kan forandre fremtiden for slike som Lihut.
Finn ut hvordan du kan åpne dører av håp for å skape nye muligheter.
”Men det sker snart.”
Lihut var 15 år gammel og gravid. Hun var gået i fødsel, men barnet vendte forkert.
På det tidspunkt var der ingen sygehuse eller læger i den tætte jungle i Kalimantan på Borneo, hvor Lihut og resten af Dayakstammen lever. Hendes familie havde intet håb om, at hun ville overleve.
De søgte råd ved den lokale heksedoktor. Ham og nogle andre mænd mente, at det ville hjælpe at hoppe op og ned på hendes gravide mave. Men det gjorde bare mere skade.
På en nærtliggende landingsbane landede en Cessna 185 - et MAF-fly. Normalt fløj pilot John Hook forsyninger som mad og medicin rundt, men den dag stoppede han blot for at se, om græsset på landingsbanen var ved at blive for langt.
”Da jeg slukkede motoren, tænkte jeg, at det var underligt, at ingen fra landsbyen var kommet for at møde mig. Normalt kommer hele landsbyen ud til landingsbanen for at se flyet,” fortæller John.
”Da hørte jeg råbene og gråden.”
Han hoppede ned fra det lille fly og fulgte en sti gennem junglen, der ledte til dayak’ernes landsby. I lysningen så han en gruppe mennesker samlet rundt om en udhulet træstamme, hvor den unge kvinde lå. Efter tradition lægger dayakstammen sine døde i sådan en træstamme.
John tjekkede Lihut for en puls og fandt en!
”Lad os få hende hen til flyet og på hospitalet!” råbte John.
Det nærmeste hospital var en times flyvning væk.
”Nej, bare lad hende dø,” svarede en af dayak’erne.
John ignorede ham, løftede Lihut og bar hende ad stien hen til flyet på landingsbanen.
Så fløj han – bedende for Lihuts liv.
Lihut’s baby overlevede ikke. Men det gjorde Lihut. Hun var en måned på hospitalet, inden hun kunne vende hjem til sin landsby. Der hørte hun om Jesus og blev selv kristen.
John Hook fløj hende tilbage. Hendes familie troede, hun var et genfærd, da de så hende. De kunne ikke tro, at hun stadig var i live.
John blev nødt til at gnubbe hendes arme, før de troede på, at hun virkelig var kød og blod.
”Lihut fortalte om Jesus til hendes familie og siden resten af landsbyen. I dag har de bygget en stor kirke, og Dayakstammen sender endda deres egne missionærer afsted. Gud brugte Lihut, min opgave var bare at styre flyet,” fortæller John Hook.
Lihuts historie var egentlig slut. Hendes skæbne kunne være endt i den udhulede træstamme, og hun var bare blevet endnu et menneske, afskåret fra resten af verdenen - afskåret fra lægehjælp, uddannelse, håb…
MAF har bygget landingsbaner ud over hele Kalimantan for at forbinde landsbyer i junglen med de større byer. At rejse til fods eller med kano kan tage dage eller ligefrem uger. En rejse der ville have været umulig for Lihut.
Takket være mennesker som dig var det muligt for MAF at være der for Lihut – give hendes historie en anden slutning.
Du kan ændre slutningen for andre mennesker som Lihut. Find ud af hvordan du kan være med til at give muligheder og håb til mennesker, der lever i verdens fjerneste egne.
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