The Teacher’s Day is too far away! I can no longer contain the ever pressing Inner Voice that speaks of a very kind, devoted and distinguished Teacher, a friend, a missionary and a statesman who is highly respected and admired by all.
On the 25th February 2007 morning, after my quiet time, I started hearing in my heart the same Gospel Message which I was privileged to hear when I was reading in Class IV at Impur Training School sometime in 1942. A very charming, slim, tall, handsome young man, neatly dressed in a white suit and a necktie came to the Devotional Service of the Impur Baptist Church to speak. He confidently went up to the pulpit where only the white missionaries could stand and speak from. At that point of time, the Holy Bible was not available in Ao language, but the Scripture text he had selected to speak from was from the Old Testament – Isaiah 40:8, he read out the verse in English and translated the same into Ao.
There were about 700 students staring at him and hearing him speak in the white man’s language. “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
I asked in my mind why the remembrance of the Sermon I heard some 65 years ago? I believe God has a purpose for the rest of us to emulate from the life of this God-fearing man. When I saw him for the first time, I never thought that he was going to be my teacher, my friend and leader. Once again the good Lord provided me an opportunity to live and work together with him at Kohima in 1961. He was the Director of Education and I was the Minister of Education. His sincerity, honesty, loyalty, hard work, devotion and patience were of the highest order and beyond doubt whatsoever. Whatever educational system we have in Nagaland today is his brain child. He loves the Nagas with all his heart.
In the race of life, he is an exceptional person, in whom is indwelt the living Christ and filled by the Holy Spirit. He is still running the race very well – Hallelujah! He is respected by many as a humble man of God, a spiritual stature to be looked to for enlightenment. I am sure, he is running the Christian race with his eyes on the reward.
I praise and thank God for my teacher who has been touching the needy hearts with his love, care, prayer, smile and teachings of the Word of God that give great encouragement and challenge to all in the Christian race. His smile is wide, his joy genuine, his happiness real. He has a hand to hold, a heart to heal and a living Hope to lean unto tomorrow with love. He is loved and cared for by the Lord Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! This noble teacher is none other than Mr. Yajen Aier. May the Gracious Lord grant him and his lady wife good health and long life. Amen.
R.C. Chiten Jamir
One of his students
