My family has been with New Tribes Mission for 20 years, and I had never heard the story of how NTM began until my NTM history class here at the training center. Paul Wyma told us incredible stories of how God worked in the lives of men and women during the early days of New Tribes Mission! Their faith was tremendous! He told us the story about his dad, Mel Wyma, sending his pregnant wife, Connie, and Paul, who was just a baby, to Bolivia by themselves in the middle of World War II.
When they arrived in southern California where they were to board, they had booked their passage but didn’t have enough money to pay for the ticket. They had 3 or 4 days before the ship left, but they were still missing $125 for the ticket. Mel went to the post office so many times in those few days that the post office workers recognized him, and on the morning they were to leave, the post office called to tell him something had finally come for him. Mel and Connie ran down to post office where they received a check someone had sent them for $125! They were able to buy the tickets and board the boat in time, but all Mel had in his pocket was 75 cents. He gave that to Connie, hoping it would be enough to get them to Bolivia where the other missionaries were to meet them.
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| Mel and Connie Wyma with Paul before leaving for Bolivia |
After seeing them off, Mel got back into the car to go back to the training center in Chico and realized the gas tank was almost empty. He prayed, “Lord, we have always trusted you to take us only as far as you want us to go.” He got in the car and headed north. On the way, he saw two hitch-hikers and stopped to give them a ride. They were headed to Oregon, but Mel said he could take them as far as he was going. During the trip, one accepted Christ. When Mel’s tank was on empty, he pulled over to a gas station and told the guys this was as far as he was going. They asked him if he wanted to join them for lunch, and he refused, but they insisted that they wanted to buy him lunch.
At the end of the meal, one of the guys asked for the key to the car. Mel gave him the key, thinking that he had left something in the car. Before he knew it, he heard the motor start and looked up to see the car leaving! He thought, "Oh, no! He’s stealing the car and it’s not even mine!” But the man just pulled up to the gas pump and began filling it up. Mel ran out to explain that he couldn’t pay for the gas, but the guy insisted that he didn’t have to worry about it! They had realized his predicament and wanted to help him out.
Later, when he had used up that gas, he stopped on the side of the road. Lo and behold, another missionary that was heading back to Chico after a conference saw him and stopped. He gave him enough money to get home!
I have asked myself several times in the last few weeks why we don’t see faith like that today. These men and women had such an urgency and passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ that they were willing to lay aside everything and follow Jesus. They did not let lack of money, or health problems, or age, or over-protectiveness for their children stand in the way. They trusted God completely to meet their needs at the right time, and were willing to sacrifice everything for the cause of Christ.
Could it be that we lack urgent, effective prayer in our daily lives? Is it because we don't dig deeply into God's Word in our own time each day? I mentioned to an experienced missionary that maybe it is because we don't have to trust God as much as they did back in the early days, but she assured me that there is plenty of things that a missionary must trust God about. How I desire that fervent, complete trust in God in my own life! If you want to read more stories about the history of NTM, you should read the book, The Story of New Tribes Mission, by Ken Johnston. While this particular story is not in the book, there are many more that show God’s provision and faithfulness! If anyone wants to read the book, they can get it from the NTM book website.
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