Update on the Burnhams

Thanks to the marvel of Internet, friends from all over the world are being updated on what has happened to the Burnhams. A good friend e-mailed me a message dated June 10, 2002, which was forwarded from Bob and Becky Meisel, members of the New Tribe Mission. I’d like to forward this to readers in the hope that they will appreciate again the power of prayer.

"Thanks for your prayers for Martin and Gracia, their children, their families, and for our NTM family this past 377 days, God has graciously sustained us through this difficult time, for which He deserves to be praised.

"On June 7th, God answered our prayers of more than one year. Martin and Gracia Burnham were released from the evil hands of the ASG, but on different travel schedules to their true home in heaven. Martin is now free both in body and spirit,to go into the presence of the Lover and Savior of his soul. Gracia is now free to return to her children.

"By God’s amazing grace, Gracia is recovering well from her gunshot wound in her right thigh. And she is also doing incredibly well spiritually and emotionally. In our short time together she shared a little about how God worked miraculously in and through their lives this last year. She also shared some things with us about Martin.

"He was highly respected by every one of the ASG. In the beginning they laughed in disbelief but as time went on they were in awe of his confident faith in the Lord Jesus.

"He always graciously offered to carry things for the ASG.

Martin was chained to a tree every night by an ASG guard. Every night for the entire term of their captivity, as he was being chained again to a tree, Martin would thank the guard who chained him and greet him a good night.

"On one occasion he was having a very serious talk with Abu Sabaya about God’s judgment on sin, and that one day God would judge his sin. Gracia said she was in the background motioning to Martin to ‘cool it,’ but Martin very gently continued to share the truth of Christ with Sabaya.

"Gracia shared with us that God graciously sustained them through this difficult trial. One day they were very very tired from hiking all day. They set up their hammocks and sat in them and began to talk. Martin said, ‘it’s been a very hard year, but it has also been a very good year.’ They began to thank the Lord for everything they could think of, Gracia said, ‘we thanked the Lord for our hammocks, our boots (Deborah Yap had walked bare foot for the last two months). They thanked God for every believer that they had ever met and could remember. God encouraged their hearts with the thought that this person, couple or family, was probably praying for them.

"The Lord brought Psalm 100:2 to Martin’s mind, which reads: ‘Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.’ Martin said, "We might not get out of the jungle alive, but at least we can go out of this world serving the Lord with GLADNESS. We can serve Him right here, and with GLADNESS.’

"Gracia said the last thing that they did before Martin’s death was to pray together and then laid down for a nap together in their hammock.

"Martin and Gracia’s obedience and perseverance to the Lord’s great commission through this fiery testing of their faith has captured the attention of the world. We thank God for their testimony and anticipate much fruit through their story.

"Their horrendous ordeal is over, but there are many adjustments and challenges that face Gracia. Jeff, Mindy, Zach and the rest of their extended family. We want to express our thanks for your faithful prayers for Martin and Gracia. Please continue to pray for God’s purpose to be fulfilled in and through Gracia’s life. Pray that thousands will hear of the wonderful love of Christ and experience His saving grace through Gracia’s testimony. And pray that the seed planted by Martin’s death will bear much fruit for God’s kingdom.

"Gracia has much to tell, and as she gains strength will be given incredible opportunities to testify of God’s grace and protection in their lives. Please pray for her total recovery, and for her reunion with her children and family in the coming days. Thanks for praying for us as well through this difficult time."