Our Kuna neighbors…Anita and her family
As the plane left the landing strip and soared into the morning sky, I caught a glimpse of the entire village waving farewell. There waws one girl who stood in front of the crowd, crying. I would miss her most of all!
That young girl was the daughter of my nearest neighbor and she quickly became my shadow. When two-month-old Kim would cry, she would abruptly run to get her and bring her to me. I did not understand her kind action, but I always thanked her and stopped whatever I was doing to receive Kim into my arms.
Later I would learn what an immensely special gift I was receiving. The Kuna’s were very accommodating and took turns caring for each other’s babies, freeing mothers to leave the village and go into the jungle to tend to their fields for hours. When the baby cried, the first to reach the distressed child would nurse that baby!
In our village, some of the mother’s had tuberculosis and “My Shadow” had dutifully protected Kim for those early months after entering Kuna land. Our permission to live in Pucuro was granted by the Kuna elders, specifically to bring medicine to the women who were losing their babies during childbirth and to care for the sick. In those early days, we were oblivious to much of their culture, yet silently, God met my “unknown need” through the loving heart of a beautiful Indian princess named Anita.
Like Jacob of old in the ‘barren and howling waste of the desert’, “He (God) shielded us and cared for us, He guarded us as the apple of His eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them on its pinions.” (Deut. 32: 10-11) The eye of an eagle can detect a rabbit or fish from over a mile away! How much more is the protective eye of God on those who walk with Him.
What is your understanding and disposition of God’s protective hand?
Did you know it comes with a condition?
“Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him.” (I John 3: 21) Promises given in scripture are generally followed by a condition. Living under the divine protection of the Almighty God is a promise guaranteed, if we choose to walk by His standards and not our own.
Knowing He is invisibly working on our behalf when we are totally unaware of our need is a magnificent reality to comprehend when finally revealed in the light! And it is a daily reminder to “walk our talk”, so our heart does not condemn us.
“The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him;
And the Lord will cover him all day long…” (Deut. 33: 12)
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
