Tributes 4:

I met Alain/Paul in the early 70's. He had just dedicated his life to Jesus and was reaching out to people in the street of Paris with Gospel tracts. I always knew him to be an on fire witness and he had great faith that the impossible could be reached by simple faith in Jesus. I think his whole life shows that he kept on believing and trusting God for everything.

As for him and me, our first 7 years of missionary work were in France, our paths crossed many times and we worked together on many occasions and in different places. Then we both moved to India with our families and learned to reach out to the Indian people for the next 7 years. At first, India was quite a challenge, then we couldn't leave this amazing field. We fell in love with the people. I guess that's what happens when you give your heart and soul to reach people with Jesus' love.

Both Alain/Paul and family and I and Joy used a base in Switzerland for our work abroad in East Europe, India, and Africa. When I came back from India for a visit in early 1989, just before the Berlin Wall fell down, he was very instrumental in keeping me in Europe, thus starting my 13 years of humanitarian aid for East Europe. Later we kept meeting on our visits to Europe, him and his wife coming from Nigeria and me and my wife coming from Senegal. These short times were always rich and encouraging.

When he started having health problems, we prayed for him. As I had a burnout "out of Africa", I kind of felt that Paul was burning the candle at both hands, yet he was with his family such a great sample of dedication and commitment to the people of Nigeria.

We heard of his "sudden death, sudden glory!" I was shocked, because we are about the same age. As I prayed about his death and for his family I had a vision and I saw him dancing in the sky, so free and happy. Like really enjoying his new condition. I rejoiced too, because after so many years of telling people about Jesus and living by faith, he was set free.

Brother I will see you soon in heaven. In the meantime, what you saw in your full life on earth for Jesus and the Gospel, will carry on through your family. Thanks for having been such a sample of an on fire missionary and being a sweet brother. Thank you Jesus! It is all because of what Jesus did on the cross.

Big hug,

--Luke

 

I remember a few vivid examples of Paul Alain’s life, how he completely took apart the engine of his old camping car and then put it together again. It was in 1980 in France. They had this old van (like those UPS delivery trucks) from 1963 with the steering wheel on the right side and double clutch gears. They lived in it for a year, throughout the winter too. A piston broke, and as missionaries, they had little money, so they asked a company in Germany for a new piston for free. The camping van was towed to the nearest garage in a tiny village and Paul Alain went ahead and took the big motor out, screw by screw and piece by piece. The owner gave him advice and let him work without charge. It was February and bitterly cold. Somehow (with a lot of help from above) he put the new piston in and the garage people helped him to put that big engine back into its place. The work had taken about a month.

After it was completed and after desperate prayer, Paul Alain started the engine and…it worked and they continued to drive it until they left for India in 1982. That was very impressive to me!

Also how he stepped out all the way to the mountains near Innsbruck to go witnessing to the people there in remote areas.

I wanted to mention what a great dad he was, still having 3 of 8 kids on the mission field. A little anecdote is how you gave your kids when they were little a small Christmas present each. One of your little boys got a little eraser. When I asked him what he will do with it, he told me, he will divide it into two pieces and give half of it to one of his other brothers!

--John