The Talkalone Walking with Jesus
Allan Eubank travels to the Talakone Karen Tribe
Some writers had attacked missionaries for trying to change the culture of these hill tribes. When Allan told about his trips to this tribe he said, “Walking around their village, one sees human feces lying about swarming with flies; flies crawling on a baby’s face, peering up out of a dirt-encrusted blanket; the legs of a pretty round-faced girl, pock-marked with boils left by hook worm larvae as they bored their way into the young body to sap its strength; anemic men who can’t walk because of the open sores on their upper legs due to a poor diet--but the religion forbids raising pigs and chickens. They are too poor to afford cattle, the rice they eat must be polished until all the vitamins are gone. Do these people rally need help? They crowd around my little supply of medicine seeking relief. Any one who had seen their pitiful state cannot rest easy in a comfortable chair in an air conditioned home and say--‘leave them alone’ Allan could not, and he worked for years to come to this meeting with this Karen tribe and the message of Jesus Christ. (Only God can change people through His word and His Holy Spirit.)
Pastor Allan said, it was not an easy matter for in November we had an urgent message from the Talakone--‘Your betrothed is pregnant (meaning there was sickness in the camp) and there is no doctor and she is not even married yet; what are you going to do about it? They formed a group to go in and the Government police stopped them. They had to get permission through friends in high government offices. Another group was formed, as the party prayed, and met with leaders of the Thai Border Police and some Talakone leaders, clarifying the younger white brothers and sisters relationship, and the long standing tension of expectations (perhaps about 28 years) of the Talakone tribe. They made the trip and gave out medicine.
These Karen wanted to walk with God and know him but were resistant to words that meant change. Jesus and Christian and water baptism. We went back to Acts where they talked about the followers of the “WAY.” Acts 9:2. This they had called themselves and said that the Mon had given them the name of Talakone.
After a water ceremony of blessings and cursing (very interesting for later discussions) still no water baptism and no growth in the tribe. Allan wrote many chapters on different subjects in his book, which meant much work waiting for the break through. In Hebrew the wording in Matthew 11:12 is a bit different than the English translation. ‘The kingdom of heaven breaks through and those who break through take possession of God’s kingdom.’ Matthew 11:12 a little more clarity is in Luke 16:16
A date had been set for the ceremony and they gave three coins as legal binding with a written pledge to keep in touch and help when possible. (Biblical things keep cropping up.)
Now we go to the meeting in the Missionary Prayer Group where Allan sat next to me. By now he is 79 and he was so excited as the Talakone had told him they were ready for water baptism. The seal of God recognizing their need for cleansing and ordaining their walk in righteousness. (Matthew 3:15)
Allan left on his journey just after I had attended their church and all the while I was sick he was traveling and baptizing and I have not heard the story yet for he was sick when he got home and still plans on making the next trip. (Later I found out he was a bit discouraged as there were so few who wanted water baptism. This led God to give me the name of Hosea and a further Bible study which was such an encouragement from God for Allan, as in Hosea chapter 2 God had said, “plead with my people”, and this is what Allan had been doing for many years. Come out of Buddhism and come to Christ for your salvation.
This was Alan’s 7th trip into the Talakone tribe. “When we arrived we began negotiations. The Talakone wanted to know what guarantee we could give them that we were telling the truth and would commit ourselves to them from now on. We tried various ways to explain that we were sincere and truthful, including quotes from the Bible. Nothing we said seemed to satisfy them. Finally after three days of talk, we gave up and asked, ‘What do you want us to do?’ We wished we had asked three days ago, because they knew exactly what they wanted us to do.
They wanted us to go to their worship center and drink the water of blessing and cursing. (Another biblical statement by God in Deuteronomy 28 of blessing and cursing) They explained they would take a bowl of water and dedicate it to the one true God. When we drank the water together we would be committed to one another from now on. When we drank of the bowl they would watch our Adam’s apple to see that we swallowed the water and watch to see if we died. We sat together and I saw the truth of Galatians 3:28
Jesus was beginning the transformation of their minds. They had included a female for the first time; Adelle Anderson who was with us that day. This was when we had given 3 coins as a guarantee to make the covenant legally binding in their eyes. (Talk about Judas and giving 20 coins for Jesus to betray him as a legal transaction.)
We had promised to help them preserve their culture as God transformed their minds. We promised also to do everything in our power to help them progress and develop in their spiritual and physical life; by the power of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit--One God above all.
This was so amazing as it is Biblical in so many ways. The marriage of God and his Jewish bride, “Turn, O backlsiding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you; and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:14-15). If these are Jews, and I believe they are, this whole chapter speaks of those who left God long ago and now they are in exile.
Malachi 2:11 says the same thing: this was a wife that deserted her husband. Marriage is God’s plan from the very beginning of Genesis chapters 2-3
This was from Allan’s book , “Where God Leads…Never Give Up”.
His first expedition began in 1962 and took a forty-day round trip by train, walking, and boat and I think some travel by elephant.
The first Karen evangelist and leader to reach this Talakone tribe deep in the mountains was Olive Po and his wife Olive Mo. He contacted the Talakone leader through mutual friends, and the leader had already predicted this was the year of the “white brothers visit” And then the long years from 1962 with many trips to visit this group Allan never gave up. After I arrived in Chiang Mai did I see the fruit of Allan’s determination in 2008? YES, this is normal missionary life for those who answer the call to go into all the world and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
You can order Allan’s book in the USA
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