abdominal infection for four weeks." His death Friday, August 11, underscored difficulties faced by missionaries working in jungle areas and "came as a shock to the missionary community," said New Tribes Mission (NTM), which establishes churches in unevangelized tribal communities around the world.
"After having his spleen removed and suffering from possible complications from tuberculosis, Elisa came down with malaria," wrote missionary Jim Elliot in a message obtained by BosNewsLife. "He began having trouble breathing and was put on oxygen," in an Indonesian hospital.
CONDITION DETERIORATED
"After several hours his condition deteriorated and he passed away" late Friday, he added. Bowa leaves behind his wife and fellow missionary Juarni with whom he served in the unreached areas of Papua, Indonesia, as well as two young daughters Jennifer and Riryn.
The medical troubles began July 16 when a helicopter was called in to fly the Bowas to a nearby hospital. After two weeks of testing, Elisa endured a five-hour operation to remove his swollen spleen, stop internal bleeding and curb severe infection, NTB said.
While there was some improvement earlier this week, "God obviously had other plans for this_img.jpg "Elisa Bowa leaves behind his wife and two young daughters.")
godly man," and the Lord called him home, friends said in statements obtained by BosNewsLife. Funeral arrangements were not immediately made clear.
NO KNOWLEDGE
Elisa Bowa came from the Wana tribe of Indonesia, who NTB claimed "had no knowledge of Christ before the arrival of a team of NTM missionaries in 1979." He became a Christian as a teenager and gradually started to reach other tribes with the Gospel, NTB said.
"He prepared for tribal church planting at NTM’s missionary training center in Indonesia where he met Juarni [who became his wife]. They’ve served in Papua since 2000 and in 2004 began the challenging and demanding ministry among the Elseng people," the group added.
"As they’ve strived to learn the complex Elseng language, God has given them a genuine love and determination to reach these people." The mission was sometimes interrupted by illness. Before his latest, fatal, illness Elisa Bowa came down with a "nearly fatal bout of malaria. He fought it for five months and, when he was well, went right back to his ministry" NTB said
COMPLICATED SITUATION
His situation has been complicated by often inadequate medical facilities, missionaries suggested. As in many developing countries, Indonesian hospitals require the family to provide food, medicine, blood and daily care of the patient. Till the last moment fellow missionary friends provided him with the blood and medication needed to enable his recovery.
Adding to the difficulties was news that some of his fellow workers and friends were difficult to reach. His close friend and missionary Kevin Miles "is unable to be reached since he and co-worker David Williamson were flown into the mountains of Papua Thursday, August 10 to visit three tribes," the group said.
"The sat-phone the men have is only able to make calls and not receive them," wrote missionary Sherry Miles." A helicopter was to go looking for them, Saturday, August 12, to bring them back. "We know that the Lord only intends good for His children and although we do not know how Elisa’s death will glorify Him, we know that it will," she said. (With BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos and reports from Indonesia).
