SHIMBI, an African boy, had been to the copper mines where he heard the precious gospel message given out by some Christians. His heart must have been touched for he kept thinking of the Son of God who came into the world to die on the cruel cross for sinners.
Early one morning Shimbi learned that a missionary had come into the neighborhood with a caravan of men who carried all the things necessary for the trek. The tent was pitched near his village. He had missed the meeting of the night before when those nearby sat around a big fire to listen to the story of God’s wonderful love.
This same morning Shimbi came all alone to the tent and sat cross-legged on the ground, clapping his hands together. Did he want a little gift — maybe a button with thread and needle to sew on his shirt? Or was it just to peer into the tent to see the things of the white man, so interesting to African children?
No, it was nothing like that he wanted. To our surprise and joy he said, “I want to believe.” He wanted to believe in the Lord Jesus. It must have been that Shimbi was listening to the Lord Jesus knocking at his heart’s door, wanting to come in. Now was the time to let Him in. This is just what he did! He let the Saviour in.
“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15: 10.
Shimbi knew that the missionary and caravan were to leave the next morning. He had some more questions. So, that same afternoon he came to the tent with another request. This time it was to ask if he could go to the mission school to learn to read and write. Some African boys want to learn in order to earn money at the mines or stores. But Shimbi’s reason was so different. He wanted to go to school so that he could read God’s Word for himself!
So in earnest was he that late that afternoon he brought his father in order to give his consent. His father said, “If Shimbi wants to go to school that is his affair.” He wouldn’t object.
There was one thing about which the boy was quite concerned. That was — How would he know when it was time to “stand up” to get to school on the right day? We counted the days till school opened. Then he asked for a piece of paper and pencil (very scarce in those days). What he was going to do was make a mark on the paper every morning. After the exact number of marks was complete, he then would know it was time to get his very few belongings together and start on the journey to the mission. He was sure he could find some others to travel with who were going in the same direction. No one traveled alone for fear of the wild animals. The paper and pencil, so valued, would be hid in the thatch roof of his mud hut.
The next day we bade farewell and started back to the mission home having spent several weeks visiting faraway villages.
We all wondered whether our interesting little friend would be able to come to school. Yes, he came and really set his heart to learn. He stored up memory verses, and was able to read quite a little in the Goel of Mark — the only book of the Bible translated into his dialect at that time. His desire was to tell his family and friends about the Lord Jesus. When school closed for vacation he told us he was going to preach in his village. He didn’t know what was ahead of him!
So after vacation when school reopened we asked Shimbi if he did what he said he would — did he preach to his people. He hung his head. They wouldn’t listen to him “They are just the fables of the white man,” they said.
But his older sister told a different story. She said Shimbi’s life was so changed since he believed in the Lord Jesus that it really had made an impression on some in the village. His sister wanted to learn more of the Word of God and came to the house several days so that she might get to know more of the One who sent the sunshine and rain to make their crops grow. She was sincere. Her purpose in the visit was to believe also in the Lord Jesus. She exclaimed, “Shimbi has believed and I do not want to be left out.”
This is the happy story of dear Shimbi and his sister. They are both on their way to heaven to be with Jesus, who loved and gave Himself for sinners — for you, for me, dear young reader. Will you meet them up there?
ML-12/27/1970