Precious in His sight. . . Part II

Jacques has been associated with the Smith family for decades. In fact, he goes back to 1949, when Dr. Laban Smith's sister and brother-in- law, Ruth and Mit Yost, first arrived in Congo. Mit taught Jacques everything he knew about mechanics and driving vehicles. Mit was a master mechanic. Jacques worked with Yost until 1973, when they left Congo to serve The Lord in Haiti.

In 1984, when Jim was putting in an airstrip, at Iwungu, the second mission station his dad opened, Jacques came walking out of the tall grass there and said,"Ntangu Me Lunga". (the time has come). "I'm going to come and work with you now".

Jacques had boulndless energy adn talked a mile a minute. Small in stature, he amazed me at his driving skills of the big seven ton as it stands army truck. He loved to laugh, loved children, and would let our youngest son Jack sit on his lap and steer the big beast down the airstrip at the age of ten. Jack was in his glory.

We owe this driven man much. He was responsible for building the Flossie May Bible School Building. Flossie was Jim's mother's sister, highly instrumental in leading Laban to Christ. Without Jacques that building would not be standing today.

For a period of eleven years we didn't see Jacques, sad that interval was, but in 2007 we asked him to come back and be the driver for the vehicle God gave us for our second Bible school at Iwungu. The relief of carrying generators, speakers, Bibles, and sound equpiment in a car rather than on their heads when going on Evangelism was accelerated when Jacques began driving the staff at Iwungu to various campaigns.

Then, without warning, last year he began losing weight and died of stomach cancer. His son Richard, has faithfully served Christ at Iwungu campus by teaching God's Word in the Bible institute and pastoring the local church as well. Over dinner a few days ago, Richard described his father's last week of life. His last words to Richard were, "don't return evil for evil".

Jacques, we miss you.