Yes, again we are blessed to have a team come visit us here. This time, a team of 3 college students who signed up for the SA101 (South Asia 101) branch of our region. It gives college students an opportunity to visit our region and work with the particular units that request them. They raise their own funds for travel and orientation as well as meals and hotel stays. They stay with us for 8 weeks and help with that unit's strategy. The three that have come to us - 1 male and 2 females - have shown themselves to be very mature and outgoing for their age. It is remarkable to see young men and women broken for the lost of the world, and not only that, but being obedient to do something about it.
They came in and spent 4 days with us in our town as we taught them about our strategy and how they were going to fit in with it. We then drove them 3 hours away to a place where we have seen much fruit in the last few years, so that they could share the Gospel with those that still have not heard, build relationships with those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and also begin to give them some bible teaching. We have CP's in this area that will help them with translation and to bring them to the people they need to encounter. We worked with them in this area for about 3 days, modeling how we are sharing and what we are teaching to new believers. They were set up in a hotel, given their last minute instructions, and we left to come back home. We were nervous about leaving them there, but we know that they are being led by the Spirit. They'll come back in a few days to meet with their team leaders, and de-brief their first short term on their own. They will then go back for 20 straight days to continue what they started, maybe even with a fresh set of eyes. We are only 3 hours away, and if any issues come up, we can always go there. Both of our families, however, leave the country for our Annual General Meeting/visa run at the end of the month, right in the middle of their stay. We have planned to send our driver with our car there to take them about, and our driver is very protective, as well as our CP's they will be working with. We know that they will be safe, with God's protection as well as our national partners taking care of them while we are gone, but there is a sense that since we are not going to be near, we may worry a little bit.
However, we are very proud of how these young adults have handled everything so far. While we were with them, we visited the home of some new believers. The guys sat outside the house talking, with our translator, while the women went in to spend time with the women - of whom none speak any English, nor do the girls speak the local language. We spent about an hour and a half comparing American culture with their culture. It was a lot of fun and interesting for both sides. As we left the home, the girls began weeping. We knew they felt frustrated because they couldn't talk to the women, but one of the girls told us the real reason she felt so bad. She said that she wanted so badly to be able to share the Gospel, but she realizes that she cannot because of the language barrier. On the other hand, she is able to speak to anyone and everyone in America, anytime she wants. But she doesn't share her faith enough. She felt very convicted. Wow. For a college student to feel this broken that she is not sharing enough really encourages me. It shows that not only do we have 3 very mature young people here to help us, but America is getting back 3 spiritually charged young followers of Christ after they are done. I am excited for what God will use them for here, but equally excited about what God is going to use them for in America after this experience.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Recent Stuff
We've been in a holding pattern with ministry recently, which has been nice. After our meeting with the ones we will be training for CP work here, we have been able to relax and spend time as a family. I had planned to do some follow-up CP training with some brothers, but train tickets were difficult to secure, and my interpreter's father had an accident and he was not available to travel with me. It is not wise for Americans to travel the trains alone here, and my wife was not keen on me going on the train by myself. The next day there was a report of 5 people who had some tea laced with a drug. After they passed out, they were robbed by the people who drugged their drinks, and are in the hospital recovering, one of them died. So, I am rescheduling my training for a time when I have someone to travel with me. I know that God protects me as I travel, but I also know that I must be smart about my decisions. Anyways, it was good to be home for an extended period.
Though there is not much going on as far as official ministry, we did attend our first Hindu wedding. Our neighbors, who we have built a good relationship with, invited us to their son's wedding. My wife was excited, as many women get about weddings, to dress up fancy and see all the other fancy outfits. The event was a 3 day process. The first part was an evening get together in our apartment complex where the two families come together and give their official blessing to the marriage. The attendees sat around a circle, where in the middle there were many gifts set on a blanket. The groom and the bride's older brother sat in the middle of the crowd while the 4 Hindu priests told them what to do for the ceremony. This basically gave full agreement from the entire crowd that the wedding could take place. Then we ate a huge meal. The next event was the wedding, and it actually took place 2 nights later, and we got dressed up again and went to a reception hall. The bride and groom came in, all the while people are snapping pictures and walking around, yelling. Very chaotic! They each put a garland around each other's neck to symbolize the beginning of the ceremony. More pictures, more chaos, and then everyone went out to the terrace for dinner, a huge buffet of food that was incredible. Many people asked us how we like being here, is this your first Hindu wedding, how do you find the heat, etc. As we thought this was pretty much all that the ceremony was, one of the family came to us and said-"You are staying for the ceremony, right?" We thought it was over, but we were informed that when the priest was ready, he would begin it, which could be hours from then. We noticed some of our neighbors heading out after eating, which we thought was rude not to stay, but my wife began feeling ill, so we saw our escape. We were told that mostly only family stayed for the entire ceremony, but we were allowed to witness also. We graciously bowed out and came home (fortunately because my wife had a fever of 102.9). The next day, I saw the father of the groom and I asked him when the wedding ended. He said they came home about 5AM! I felt bad for my wife being sick, but thank the Lord that we had an excuse to leave and did not have to stay the entire time. The third event was the reception, two days later, where again, we ate a lot of food while people greeted the new couple, brought gifts, gave blessings and took pictures. It was a very interesting event to be part of, and we are blessed that our neighbors thought to include us in this special time. The groom is from here, but he has been living in America for his job the past 10 months, and he will move back there with his new bride (who has never been out of the country) on July 2. Pray for this couple as they not only are going to experience life together, but they will do it in a totally different culture than they are used to, more so for the bride. Marriage is tough enough, but they are really going to have it tough from the start. We watched a movie called "The Namesake."
It is a great movie about a man from South Asia who works in America, gets married back home and takes his new bride to America to start life. This made us think of this new couple and the challenges they will face in America. We will continue our relationship with our neighbors while we are here. Pray for us as we seek a good time to share more of the Gospel with them.
There are also many other political things happening here in the region. Nepal's political environment has changed from a Monarchy to a Republic. Pray for peace in the region and also for the units that are there for their continued safety during this time. Some of this political unrest from Maoists is spilling into neighboring countries. Also, there is much unrest in parts of India, as the Gujars are planning road closures around the capital. Sometimes this can become violent. There was also a recent terrorist bombing in Jaipur, India that killed 60+ and injured many more. Another terrorist bombing happened in Sri Lanka, killng some and injuring others. Pray for peace for the many people of the South Asia region, that they will hear the truth of the Gospel and come to know the peace that lies in Jesus. People cry out every day for God to save them, heal them, give them peace. However, they do not cry out to the One True God who can do all these things. Pray for the name of Jesus to be proclaimed among this nation and region.
Though there is not much going on as far as official ministry, we did attend our first Hindu wedding. Our neighbors, who we have built a good relationship with, invited us to their son's wedding. My wife was excited, as many women get about weddings, to dress up fancy and see all the other fancy outfits. The event was a 3 day process. The first part was an evening get together in our apartment complex where the two families come together and give their official blessing to the marriage. The attendees sat around a circle, where in the middle there were many gifts set on a blanket. The groom and the bride's older brother sat in the middle of the crowd while the 4 Hindu priests told them what to do for the ceremony. This basically gave full agreement from the entire crowd that the wedding could take place. Then we ate a huge meal. The next event was the wedding, and it actually took place 2 nights later, and we got dressed up again and went to a reception hall. The bride and groom came in, all the while people are snapping pictures and walking around, yelling. Very chaotic! They each put a garland around each other's neck to symbolize the beginning of the ceremony. More pictures, more chaos, and then everyone went out to the terrace for dinner, a huge buffet of food that was incredible. Many people asked us how we like being here, is this your first Hindu wedding, how do you find the heat, etc. As we thought this was pretty much all that the ceremony was, one of the family came to us and said-"You are staying for the ceremony, right?" We thought it was over, but we were informed that when the priest was ready, he would begin it, which could be hours from then. We noticed some of our neighbors heading out after eating, which we thought was rude not to stay, but my wife began feeling ill, so we saw our escape. We were told that mostly only family stayed for the entire ceremony, but we were allowed to witness also. We graciously bowed out and came home (fortunately because my wife had a fever of 102.9). The next day, I saw the father of the groom and I asked him when the wedding ended. He said they came home about 5AM! I felt bad for my wife being sick, but thank the Lord that we had an excuse to leave and did not have to stay the entire time. The third event was the reception, two days later, where again, we ate a lot of food while people greeted the new couple, brought gifts, gave blessings and took pictures. It was a very interesting event to be part of, and we are blessed that our neighbors thought to include us in this special time. The groom is from here, but he has been living in America for his job the past 10 months, and he will move back there with his new bride (who has never been out of the country) on July 2. Pray for this couple as they not only are going to experience life together, but they will do it in a totally different culture than they are used to, more so for the bride. Marriage is tough enough, but they are really going to have it tough from the start. We watched a movie called "The Namesake."
It is a great movie about a man from South Asia who works in America, gets married back home and takes his new bride to America to start life. This made us think of this new couple and the challenges they will face in America. We will continue our relationship with our neighbors while we are here. Pray for us as we seek a good time to share more of the Gospel with them. There are also many other political things happening here in the region. Nepal's political environment has changed from a Monarchy to a Republic. Pray for peace in the region and also for the units that are there for their continued safety during this time. Some of this political unrest from Maoists is spilling into neighboring countries. Also, there is much unrest in parts of India, as the Gujars are planning road closures around the capital. Sometimes this can become violent. There was also a recent terrorist bombing in Jaipur, India that killed 60+ and injured many more. Another terrorist bombing happened in Sri Lanka, killng some and injuring others. Pray for peace for the many people of the South Asia region, that they will hear the truth of the Gospel and come to know the peace that lies in Jesus. People cry out every day for God to save them, heal them, give them peace. However, they do not cry out to the One True God who can do all these things. Pray for the name of Jesus to be proclaimed among this nation and region.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Update- The First Meeting of the 14
14 men were at our first meeting, most of whom we know from the last year of training. My team member has been doing training all over our state to fish for obedient men and/or women to take on the task of reaching the lost peoples of the state and ultimately this country. As Jesus began His ministry, basically, His first year he spent speaking to the multitudes. In His second year, Jesus chose 12 to come and be with Him, where He also sent them out for training. The final year of Jesus' ministry was devoted completely to the 12 he chose. He poured Himself into these 12, knowing that He was leaving them soon, and that they needed to be ready to take over for Jesus after His death, resurrection and ascention.
In the same way, our strategy here has been very similar. For the first year and a half, we have held meetings with many believers to come and see. We then held training sessions in different districts of our state. This was not only to help people understand better the path they chose to follow, but also to fish for obedient men and women who would ultimately become a small group that we could train in our final year on this field. This would then free us up for God to use us elsewhere, and give final responsibility to the national believers to reach their brothers, sisters, parents, friends and everyone in their state.
The 14 assembled this weekend, where we basically told them who we are, what company we work for and how we can help them. We will be going to where they are, once a month, one at a time. We committed to having integrity in all things, providing them the best training in CPM from our company, equip them for the task ahead and ultimately leave them next summer, like Jesus left the 12. They committed to using the best practices of CPM, to being accountable to each other, to working with thier own hands to be self supportive and not coveting anyone else's money, and many other things. We had a covenant drawn up where both my team member and I signed as well as each of the men. 13 of the 14 have signed. The last needed time to think to commit to what we have proposed.
This is a great start. We know that God has chosen this place at this time to begin to reach people and turn them to follow Him. We have the vision that this place, which is the lowest of the low in our region, is going to be used by God in a mighty way. If this place begins to change for the better, many people will begin to wonder what is going on, and slowly they will begin to realize that God is working here and will want what this place has. We are witness to a beginning of a great change right here.
Pray for the14, that they will believe in the things we are doing and follow them. Pray for us, as we go to them that we go with wisdom given from God, and that we remain teachable by them as well. We know that tough times are coming for the entire group, including us. We have counted the cost together, and the eternal reward greatly outweighs the troubles we will all face in the coming year. But we have the promise from our Heavenly Father- "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." ~Matthew 28:20(b)
In the same way, our strategy here has been very similar. For the first year and a half, we have held meetings with many believers to come and see. We then held training sessions in different districts of our state. This was not only to help people understand better the path they chose to follow, but also to fish for obedient men and women who would ultimately become a small group that we could train in our final year on this field. This would then free us up for God to use us elsewhere, and give final responsibility to the national believers to reach their brothers, sisters, parents, friends and everyone in their state.
The 14 assembled this weekend, where we basically told them who we are, what company we work for and how we can help them. We will be going to where they are, once a month, one at a time. We committed to having integrity in all things, providing them the best training in CPM from our company, equip them for the task ahead and ultimately leave them next summer, like Jesus left the 12. They committed to using the best practices of CPM, to being accountable to each other, to working with thier own hands to be self supportive and not coveting anyone else's money, and many other things. We had a covenant drawn up where both my team member and I signed as well as each of the men. 13 of the 14 have signed. The last needed time to think to commit to what we have proposed.
This is a great start. We know that God has chosen this place at this time to begin to reach people and turn them to follow Him. We have the vision that this place, which is the lowest of the low in our region, is going to be used by God in a mighty way. If this place begins to change for the better, many people will begin to wonder what is going on, and slowly they will begin to realize that God is working here and will want what this place has. We are witness to a beginning of a great change right here.
Pray for the14, that they will believe in the things we are doing and follow them. Pray for us, as we go to them that we go with wisdom given from God, and that we remain teachable by them as well. We know that tough times are coming for the entire group, including us. We have counted the cost together, and the eternal reward greatly outweighs the troubles we will all face in the coming year. But we have the promise from our Heavenly Father- "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." ~Matthew 28:20(b)
Thursday, May 15, 2008
First Meeting of The 12
We actually will be meeting with between 12 and 15 obedient followers of Christ. We will be spending Friday and Saturday with these CP's from all over our state to map out the next year of ministry together. My team member and I along with this evangelistic force will go over a covenant and then commit to to co-labor together to have the Gospel, as well as teachings of Jesus reach an enormous population. Just as Jesus chose to pour into just a small group of disciples for the last year or so of His ministry, so we have also found an obedient group of men and women to lead out for God and reach this place for Him. Pray for these two days coming up this weekend, that we speak with wisdom and are able to explain, with God's Word, the task that is ahead of us. I will update after the weekend on how the meeting goes.
Bad Water or Bad Manners?
Yesterday, my team member, our driver, our translator and two CP's went to a village for a short visit to help with their water problem. The only source of water this poor farming village has is an open well that is probably 50 to 100 years old. This is a common problem in the villages here. The water is OK for washing, but it is also their source of drinking water, which is not OK. Many more wealthy villages have hand pumps for each home. Last year, a church team came through and did some surveying of villages that they could help with their water problem. They donated money and told us to handle putting the hand pump in for this village. This helps them, and also opens a door for the local CP to visit frequently and share the Gospel with the people.
We wanted to meet the village leader, but he was not there. As we waited, we were all offered some home-made lemonade to cool off. 1st warning- One of the ladies comes in with a well bucket full of water. She then goes and begins to mix fresh lemons and sugar with the water for us to drink. (little voice is saying "caution") 2ND WARNING- She brings out a couple glasses for us, and we are to drink and give back so it can be refilled for the next person. The glasses were not clear, probably to hide the fact that the water was not all that clear. (little voice getting louder - "politely refuse it if offered") They offered, which I politely refused. One refusal is not enough here. You must say no 3 times for them to leave you be. I looked at our driver, who calmly gulped the water down. (little voice is saying "he's from here, you're not. Just say NO"). The little voice lost. I couldn't turn it down. I gulped it down, (Lord I'll put it down if you keep it down -or IN) as did the wife of my team member and the CP's and our translator. (little voice says "I warned ya! You're on your own dude!")
Then we walked out to take a look at where would be a good place to put the hand pump in the village. As we walked, we saw the open well they used. We looked down inside. A nice film covered the water. WARNING 3- My team member leans over to me (who, by the way has learned listen to his little voice and did not partake) and says "Dude, you probably didn't want to see that is what you drank." I'm a little nervous now. 4th AND FINAL WARNING- Our translator walks up beside me, looks in the well and says to me in a shocked/concerned voice, "We drank this water?" UH-OH. Out came a nervous laugh. After we got in the car, we prayed that none of us would get sick. Well, live and learn. Pray with us that we don't get too sick!
This whole journey is an adventure. If you can't have fun on an adventure, it gets boring or you get bitter.
We wanted to meet the village leader, but he was not there. As we waited, we were all offered some home-made lemonade to cool off. 1st warning- One of the ladies comes in with a well bucket full of water. She then goes and begins to mix fresh lemons and sugar with the water for us to drink. (little voice is saying "caution") 2ND WARNING- She brings out a couple glasses for us, and we are to drink and give back so it can be refilled for the next person. The glasses were not clear, probably to hide the fact that the water was not all that clear. (little voice getting louder - "politely refuse it if offered") They offered, which I politely refused. One refusal is not enough here. You must say no 3 times for them to leave you be. I looked at our driver, who calmly gulped the water down. (little voice is saying "he's from here, you're not. Just say NO"). The little voice lost. I couldn't turn it down. I gulped it down, (Lord I'll put it down if you keep it down -or IN) as did the wife of my team member and the CP's and our translator. (little voice says "I warned ya! You're on your own dude!")
Then we walked out to take a look at where would be a good place to put the hand pump in the village. As we walked, we saw the open well they used. We looked down inside. A nice film covered the water. WARNING 3- My team member leans over to me (who, by the way has learned listen to his little voice and did not partake) and says "Dude, you probably didn't want to see that is what you drank." I'm a little nervous now. 4th AND FINAL WARNING- Our translator walks up beside me, looks in the well and says to me in a shocked/concerned voice, "We drank this water?" UH-OH. Out came a nervous laugh. After we got in the car, we prayed that none of us would get sick. Well, live and learn. Pray with us that we don't get too sick!
This whole journey is an adventure. If you can't have fun on an adventure, it gets boring or you get bitter.
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