Warmest Christian Greetings!
I have just celebrated my big day of 3 score and 10
years. Reflecting on my 32 years of ministry and my 26 years in Asian Outreach,
I praise God for the many special and unforgettable memories, showing me the
faithfulness of God. I am touched with a deep knowledge of God’s presence
living in me and speaking to me through these memories. It’s been a wonderful
journey of discovering God’s unconditional love and finding joy in sharing that
treasure with those I am blessed to meet. All of these memories have impacted
me and have helped so much in my personal growth. You have the power from God
in Christ, to make each day a time for growth. I can recall each memory so
vividly
I remember some years ago I went to visit the Dalit
Slum in Sri Lanka. The smell of the slum as I entered was so repugnant that I
felt like puking. Our co-worker in Sri Lanka was obviously more used to the
smell having been there many times. I prayed that my face would not reveal how
I felt. As we walked along, our co-worker, stopped outside a small hut. From
where I stood I could see it was just one small room with a dirt floor and
inside sat a woman and her children. She was shocked when I went inside but was
happy to see my co-worker. Being a Dalit, an untouchable, she felt she was not
good enough for foreign visitors. After talking to her, our co-worker told me
she would be preparing tea for us. As I entered the slum area I noticed the
river flowing by was full of garbage floating in it and this was also their
only source of water. I wondered where she would get the water for our tea.
She held the cup of tea to me, her eyes filled with
fear and rejection thinking to herself would I accept the tea or refuse to
drink it. I looked at her, thinking that if I drank the tea it would probably
cause me diarrhea but if I refused, the lady would be faced with rejection. My heart
was filled with God’s compassion and I knew that I had to reach out to this
woman and show her the tangible love of God. The minute I stretched out my hand
to take cup, I could see the joy that came over her. I prayed hard before
drinking it. The memory of that joy on her face will always remain with me. It
was how I reacted that made such a difference to that lady. Looking toward the
window I saw many faces peering in, watching and listening intently and I began
to share my own personal testimony of how much God loves me. At the altar call
and every hand there was raised. We now have a church there. Praise God!
The miracles and testimonies I have heard from my
co-workers and Foot Soldiers have also shown me the awesomeness of God and has
impacted and encouraged me greatly. It
has been my privilege and honor to work with these passionate and spirit filled
men and women. Persecution for preaching
the Gospel is a daily affair but their love for the Lord is greater than their
fear of persecution. What amazing faith!
In Bhutan our Foot Soldier, Pastor Lazarus, was
returning home in the evening on a lonely country road near his village when he
saw four men by the roadside and knowing they were from his village he stopped
to talk to them. These men however, brutally attacked him, beating him up
viciously, robbing him and then leaving him for dead by the roadside. When a
police car found him a few hours later he had no pulse and he had stopped
breathing. Two hours later at the hospital God healed him and brought him back
to life. The police wanted him to press
charges and identify his attackers but Ps Lazarus chose not to. He instead
chose
To forgive them. Ps Lazarus demonstrated the power of
forgiveness in Christ. Did this deter him in any way? No it did not and after a
month he was back travelling around the villages sharing the Gospel.
In Vietnam, our Leper Ministry co-worker Hien had been
working tirelessly in the Phu Ly Leper Centre but the authorities were not
encouraging and even hostile. But she persisted and eventually saw her prayers
answered when the authorities began to relax and allow her to visit and
fellowship with the patients. Last December to her amazement, the director of
the centre personally invited Hien and her team to do a Christmas presentation
which he himself attended and enjoyed. That day 28 of the patients ‘children at
the center, accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Praise God that Hien would not give up no
matter how tough the going got. 28 souls were saved that day because of her great
love for God and to trust Him to open the door.
The Glory place Prayer Tower in Siliguri India
overflows with miracles, signs and wonders.
Every report I receive from our coordinator there is filled with the
goodness of God and His love for His people. In February of this year Ps Jiwan
was excited to share about the miraculous healing of a 15 year old Hindu girl.
She had a lump in her breast which was swollen and painful. Doctors told her
parents she needed surgery which was costly. Pastor Jiwan was asked to visit
them and pray for the teenager. He shared about the good news of Doctor Jesus
Christ and asked them to trust God to heal her. In the early hours of the
morning the next day, the lump ruptured and a lot of pus and blood flowed out.
A few days later the swelling was gone and the girl was fully recovered. There
was no more lump on her breast. Her parents on seeing the power of God over
their daughter’s life immediately accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The
young girl herself accepted Jesus also.
God is moving over Asia, reaching, touching and
changing lives and I am humbled that I am called to be a part of what God is
doing here. I can go on and on, telling you story after story for it never
tires me to tell of the goodness and faithfulness of our Lord. I am very
encouraged when I think back of these incidences and more passionate to press
on to see more people ushered into His Kingdom.
Christians are being persecuted everywhere and even
here in our own country Christians are facing great challenges ahead. We never
need to fear for God has promised us in Act 1:8 “But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” Therefore we
stand on the promises of God for He never fails us.
I am truly grateful for your
continued support which has encouraged me and enable me to fulfil God’s plan
for this ministry. My co-workers and I would not have been able to do it
without your support and I thank you for sowing into the lives of others. May
God bless you and your families.
Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
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