Note from Pastor Rick: The story below was included in an email from John Lambert, our missionary to Ecuador. This is the story of one of the earliest missionary families sent out by the Church of God. I was struck by the great commitment and sacrifice, and I was reminded of these words from Hebrews, "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood" (Hebrews 12:4, NIV).
I hope you find this story inspiring.
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In September 1906 Victor and Florence Maiden and their four children Jessie (11), Gracie (8), Glen (5), and Ray (3) left the United States for India. They were farmers from the State of Washington who had responded to a call for farmers to come and help the Indian people. On November 4 they arrived in Bombay and then settled in Assam.
They came with a heart to serve and loved the people of India but they were not prepared for the harshness of life in India and malaria. Three of the children became ill with malaria and on May 19,1907 Jessie died and only two hours after his death Gracie died. They were buried in a double coffin made by fellow missionary Ira Zaugg. Three days later little Ray died and was buried with the others on the same hillside. The Indians urged the Maidens to leave Assam, they believed the water was bad and bid them go to the city of Shillong. On horseback they made the sad trip as Florence wept at leaving behind her three precious children.
In Shillong at J.M. Roy's house Florence was fatally struck with malaria along with a co-worker, Brother Strawn of Canada. Before her death on June 14, 1907 Florence saw a vision of Jesus in Heaven. She rejoiced in the beauty of Heaven and at seeing her departed loved ones safe with Jesus. At her graveside Victor gave a wonderful testimony. The church wept and gave itself anew to the Lord. With the help of Indian believers Victor enclosed a plot of land near the Schillong church where his family and brother Strawn were buried.
After the death of Florence, Victor prayed all night that the life of of little five year old Glen might be spared. On June 19th, one month after his first child died, the last member of his family joined the others with Jesus in heaven.
Two years after his arrival in India, Victor also died...
Revelation 14:13 was written on his tombstone
"Blesses are the dead which die in the Lord...
...they rest from their labors and their works do follow them."
How sad you may say, how senseless you may ponder.
Today in India the 115,000 believers in the 850 congregations of the Church of God would not agree that the sacrifices of the Maiden family were senseless.
Nor would the Maidens as in Heaven they greet each day more and more of the vast multitudes of Indian believers who die in the Lord. ..."and their works do follow them."
May we be faithful, each day living according to our calling, remembering those who have given so much that we might know Christ. And may we never forget those across this world who still search through the darkness to know God.
It will cost a lot to reach the lost for Christ.
It will cost our dreams, our plans, and sometimes our lives.
but they are worth the cost.
