On the island of Saipan, there is a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This hill saw a gruesome event
during the time of World War II and it is called Suicide Hill. As the Allied Troops landed on Saipan,
they fought to gain control of the island which was under the rule of Japan. As the Allied Forces won
the land bit by bit, the remaining Japanese troops set up their last stronghold on this point of the island.
As the Allies moved to take over the stronghold, they witnessed an incredible sight. Hundreds of the
inhabitants of the island began to throw their children over the edge of this cliff and then, jump off after
them. As the fall from that point is 400 feet, the result was, of course, instant death. The Allies began
broadcasting from loudspeakers in the local dialect that there was no reason to jump; that they were
coming to free the people from captivity; that they were saviors, not destroyers; that there was freedom
not oppression in the advance.
But the suicides continued and it was not until the end of the struggle that the real story was learned.
The people of Saipan had been told that the Allied Forces were cruel and that they would take the
people into slavery and rape their women and harm their children. In the face of those stories, the
people chose death rather than trust someone they did not know.
How sad!
As we stood on that point looking into the water, we thought of the spiritual struggle that is in the world
today. So many people are listening to the wrong voices and committing spiritual suicide instead of
welcoming the Savior of all humanity into their hearts. What can we do to make the story we tell...
that He is a Savior and not an oppressor and that He will deal gently with them...more believable?
How do we witness to that to each person we meet? How can we stop them from jumping? How many
times a day should we be thanking God that He has grabbed us?
The above paragraphs were part of our prayer letter in August, 2000, after we had returned from a
mission trip to Saipan. We leave on March 8 to fly to Saipan and plan to return on May 2. Suicide Hill
will still be there and we will see it and think the story again. Please pray for us that our trip and work
may be worthy.
