Age 13: Saved from Marriage

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What will be the greatest things that we will accomplish for Christ in Papua?  Will it be people coming to know Him, whom we love?  Will it be acts of kindness?  Will it be donations made to this project or that?  I’m glad that we don’t even have to worry about the “greatness” of any of our works.
But if there was one situation in which I am sure the heaven’s rejoiced, it is the case of Juntina.  When Darron travelled into the interior mountains at the beginning of summer, Juntina’s story caught his attention.   Juntina had just finished 6th grade in the mountain school and was just about to turn 13.  Her parents came and pleaded with Darron that she be allowed to travel down to the low lands and attend the Adventist Christian school near us, so that she could have a chance at life beyond a childhood marriage.  Otherwise, it was just a matter of a few months before she would need to get married.

Juntina agreed to work on the airstrip in the mountains, in exchange for some funding to be paid on her school bill here.  Darron said she worked as hard as any boy.  While we were in the States, Juntina arrived to Sentani.

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Upon our move into our new home.  Darron suggested I hire Juntina for a few hours each day to just help with extra tasks that our other full time helper just couldn’t get too.  It has been a real test for her to come from a mountain hut with probably no windows and very little furniture to our lavish western house.  I and my full time house helper have to teach her everything from washing dishes in hot water, to folding laundry, to cleaning western bathrooms, etc.  Juntina has a sweet teachable spirit.  The minute her jobs are done, she goes and plays on the trampoline.  She is still a child.  And to think she was soon to be married.  I think Juntina is one of our great Papuan accomplishments.   If only we could save every girl from injustice. 

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