A tribute to our friend Pak Elisa

August 12, 2006

I'm Just a Servant

This is what my friend Pak Elisa would say to me when I addressed him with a title of respect "I'm just a servant." He was a humble gentle man who had a heart to serve the Lord and a heart for the lost. He grew up in a tribe himself, and once told me, "Had not missionaries come to my tribe when I was a child, I would still be in Darkness." Knowing this, he too was burdened to go and live amongst an unreached tribal group, with the hopes of sharing with them the same light that he enjoyed. For Elisa, this Tribal group was the "Elseng."

Elisa once told me, "I hear the people out at night calling out to the spirits and their dead ancestors. They should be calling on the Lord. That is why I am here!"

The Elseng people are a hard people, and they live in a hard place. Ever since Elisa and his family moved there, they have experienced much opposition and sickness. Many of you prayed for him last year when he got sick and almost died. A few weeks ago Elisa was medivac out of the tribe because of an infection that wouldn't heal. He continually got worse, and last night he went home to be with the Lord.

We are rejoicing with Elisa that he is in Heaven with his Saviour, but at the same time, we mourn over the loss that we feel.

Prayer Requests:

-Please pray for his Wife Ibu Juarni, and their 2 young daughters Ryrin and Jennie.

-Please pray that the Lord would provide finances for the Bowa family. (A large debt is left behind for them, as Elisa

underwent 2 surguries and required a lot of medicine during his last days.)

-Please pray for the other 2 missionary families in the Elseng. That they would draw their strength from the Lord, to

carry on in this work.

-Please pray for the Elseng people, that the Lord would be preparing their hearts for the gospel message.

The Elseng are a hard people, but no doubt Elisa has left a testimony behind which they will not soon forget.

Thank you for your prayers,

Derek and Sarah Grant

Elisa’s words a few weeks before he died. A few days after he wrote this, he was medi-vaced out of the tribe, never to return again.

"It’s been almost 2 weeks now, I have struggled with this sickness in my back and stomach. It really hurts like I have a thorn in my flesh. I often want this life to be quickly over, but God says 'My Grace is enough for Elisa.' Although many things are not yet clear concerning God’s plan in our lives, but we know that in heavy situations like this, are an opportunity for us to see the faithfulness of God. There is noone who can receive and hope from the life of Elisa Bowa. My body is already broken, and all to often I am affected by heavy trials. It is only by the grace of God that he could use a life like mine to urge others to faithfully serve in the midst of tribal people who are isolated. To all who are healthy, continue forward in your service until we enter the place where we will stop, this is the New Jerusalem, the land and water of heaven. There we will not suffer."
Acts 14:22 - "Where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the kingdom of God."