| A Testimony |
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Excerpt from the August 2001 prayer letter of
a MUP missionary serving in an Asian country
He is anywhere from 11-15 years old. I guess we'll never really
know for sure. "Unknown" is written on the top line
of each of his charts.
He stumbled into the emergency room of the W.R. Hospital some
three days ago, unaccompanied by family or friends with no money
in his pocket. His face is grossly swollen and his eyes peer
out through tiny slits.
The feet I examine now are pockmarked and tell stories of long
travels without shoes. To my best efforts in [the local language],
he only groans and puts his hands over his eyes, obviously in
pain.
Where does he come from? How can one so young be so completely
alone? For a moment, I want to put my head down and give way
to tears but there is much to be done.
"Deborah", another expatriate who works in the
emergency room has finally convinced a doctor to admit this
little one to the hospital after three days laying in the ER.
The local agency here has established a fund for poor patients
in WR Hospital. These funds cover the bed charge, medicines,
and food, although altogether the costs reach a mere 4 US dollars
per day.
For now, the urgent calls. His blood pressure is dangerously
low and he needs an IV line, blood tests, and antibiotics. I
find myself praying silently, "Jesus, help me be your
hands and feet today." back to top
| An Asian Country |
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News from an Asian Country - May, 2002. Adapted from an e-mail update written by a MUP worker working with a people who don't have a church or believers yet.
This last Wednesday as she was leaving my house, it began to
rain quite heavily. Since she wanted to wait for the rain to
slow before she went to the market, I pulled out a blanket that
needed some mending. She worked on one end and I on the other.
I started asking her questions about what happens when she dies
and where the persons spirit goes and if she thinks there is
anywhere like a heaven. The Lord really shone his face on her
during this time.
After discussing these things for a while, she said no one can
know for sure. I said that I did because there was a book that
God wrote that told about all these things. She couldn't believe
it. But then she said she could never know because she cant
read or write. I told her that her brain has no problem and
her ears are just fine. So she can listen to the stories I tell
her out of the Bible and slowly begin to understand them. And
as she understands, that will turn into belief and belief is
all you need. For the first time it seemed like this entire
"God concept" clicked in her mind. About this time
the rain slowed and she got up and left for the market.
About 20 minutes later I got a call from my teammate. She said
she ran into our friend walking to the market and decided to
go with her. Then she said that I'd better hurry myself down
to the market because our friend slipped and fell and needed
some help. So I put our baby on my back and headed out. When
I got there our friend looked horrible. She was sweating and
shaking. Turns out that she felt really dizzy all the sudden
and just went down. She said it never happened to her before.
When she was able to walk, we hopped on a bus with her and saw
her to her house. It really seemed like such a freak thing to
happen. But I felt like Satan wanted to fill her mind with dizziness
and block out all she had just heard at my house.
So the next day, we bought some lichee berries and headed off
to visit our friend at her home. She was happy to see us and
looked lots better. She said she had felt dizzy the rest of
the previous day and evening. She tried to give me money for
the eggs she had broken when she fell and for the bus ride money.
I wouldn't take it. But then she turned to me and told me how
lucky it was that my teammate had happened to come to the market
with her. Otherwise there would have been no one to help. I
quickly replied "It was the God that I mentioned the day
before who sent her to be with you because he loves you and
cares for you. So we want to thank God for what he did."
It was so neat! Out of her mouth came the words, "Yes,
I thank you God."
All this is just the very itsy beginning of what we know God
wants to do. Only one month ago she didn't have a place in her
mind for this kind of true God. Now some truth is beginning
to take hold and the spirit of God will only build up from there.
Keep asking the father for this very special lady to be worshipping
with us in the great throne room of the most high God someday.
back to top
| Cambodia |
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Compassion for Cambodia January
2002 - February 2002
The fertile fields of golden rice have all been harvested and
now the dead stalks remain for the scrawny oxen to nibble. The
pigs wallow in the mud to stay cool, and the diminishing ponds
are becoming stagnant pools of thrashing fish. Orange dust coats
the palm trees and roofs along the roadways and gives the eerie
impression of a world encased in volcanic ash. Each passing
day brings a gradual rise in the heat. Afternoons are for finding
a shaded spot to rest. The dry season has passed mid-point and
is drawing Cambodia toward its annual zenith of dust and desolation.
Life here is in its own time warp. Days pass at lightening speed
and yet whole epics seem to transpire within each one.
Out at UNACAS orphanage, my English conversation class has steadily
grown. Since there is no fee, each class time has a different
configuration of young people from the orphanage and a large
contingency of community youth who also attend. It is always
a lively class; the orphans are a gregarious group who love
to share.
As for the boys from the Bodin slum, it has been a time of incredible
transition and the painful passage rites of boyhood to manhood
for many of them. Eight of them share an apartment with other
Khmer, which was provided for them by a British man, who has
been working with them for several years, but has moved on to
work in Vietnam. It has proven to be a difficult thing to manage
so many individuals in one household.
Their other struggle is in learning how to manage money that
is given to them once a month, rather than on a daily or weekly
basis. Some are like Noe; he is maintaining very well at Khmer
studies, an English class and a computer class. He is also the
main house manager where the boys live. Two of the younger boys
have been taking beginning English from me on Saturday evenings.
But others are like our dear Houng; he cannot seem to find it
within himself to stick out any regular schooling, and even
dropped out of the vocational class that was teaching him a
trade. He is out of money at the beginning of each month and
ends up in debt to the other boys. He is such a sweet and lovable
character, but he simply refuses to learn how to make life work
without dependency. Life is all about choices no matter where
you live.
The WAT has been a continual whirlwind of one change after another.
We have had many different visitors, installed a water treatment
system, been joined by other funding organizations, been accepted
as our own official NGO and are on the verge of becoming a full-fledged,
24 hour hospice. Linen and medicine cabinets, desks for the
office and other supplies have been added in preparation.
In the midst of all of that exciting transition...the patients
continue to decrease in strength and to pass out of this life.
In the year 2001, 50 patients in our program died, and 2002
has been a constant vigil over many of their bedsides as they
have been spending their final moments on this earth. Three
more died just recently, two women and a little girl. One was
an AIDS widow, the mother of seven. Her second oldest child
is a beautiful 18-year-old girl, who is now responsible for
the raising of the five children younger than her. Her older
brother lives in a different province, working to help support
the others. When she came to her last clinic to receive the
funeral funds that we supply, I saw her standing along the fence
and went over to hug her. She held on tightly to me and silently
shed tears. We both had difficulty letting go so that I could
return to the registrar's table to continue with the clinic.
My first round of educational home visits out to the villages
and schools was enlightening, physically challenging, and, as
always, humbling. It would take me another whole letter just
to describe my trips to the five homes that I visited this week.
Suffice it to say that I think I finally convinced Savoeun,
who transports us by moto, that he isn't being paid in miles
per hour. My arms are still sore from gripping the sides of
the moto. And it is a challenge to be the one deciding how to
distribute monies equally among so many needs. At this present
time, we have 190 children in our program.
"Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children;
and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself
up for us, an offering, and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant
aroma." Ephesians 5:1 and 2
That is my prayer for myself and for all of you in your own
households and spheres of influence. Jesus be our portion and
our heart. back to top
Rhonda
| Nepal |
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Seventy Bandaged Heads
Three days on the road, to travel only 240 miles! A few weeks
ago I had the privilege of being part of a surgical camp for
ears held in one of the most remote parts of Nepal. Four expatriates
and twelve Nepalis traveled over some of the roughest road I've
ever seen to reach the western border. We arrived to find a
line already formed outside the hospital.
The surgeons flew in the next day. A prominent ear surgeon,
walking in the door from a two-day trip in a Land Rover, asked
for a pen and called the first patient. The pace was set. We
worked each day from nine in the morning until sometimes three
the next morning. The schedule went something like this: Work,
eat rice, sleep, work, eat rice, sleep ... I functioned as translator,
audiologist, scrub nurse, sterile processor, and pharmacist,
wearing some of those hats for the first time.
Though exhausting, the experience was extremely fulfilling.
Nepalis who never dreamed they could get treatment because of
cost and distance to travel walked away with reconstructed eardrums
and hearing aides for about six dollars U.S. currency. One twelve-year
old girl I followed from the first exam to the final dressing
change. What a thrill! By the time the week was over, over seventy
bandaged heads sat in on the final teaching session. Just like
Abraham, the Blessed have become a blessing. back
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| Thailand |
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Blazing a New Trail
When other farmers would choose to stay with their
old methods even when their land yields less each year, 2 Christian
tribal farmers have ventured to be pioneers. When 200 pounds
of seed was given by the government, they enthusiastically planted
them on their hillside farms to control erosion and improve
their land. Even as they sowed the seeds, their neighbors began
asking questions and expressing interest. Their leadership in
introducing methods that will benefit their people have already
sown seeds of future opportunities to share Christ. You won’t
see these hero’s in the movies, but these are the people
who are living out the real life adventure of kingdom building
and making good use of opportunities that will glorify Christ.
A Special Tree
Putting down his machete, LauPau took time away from
preparing his mountain rice fields to proudly show me the special
trees he had planted last year. These neem trees were special
for many reasons. Their fruit will make an organic insecticide
that will virtually free him from using dangerous chemicals,
save him money, and supply medicinal benefits to his family.
They had grown remarkably well last year – 2 to 4 feet
and had even survived the 6 month dry season without a problem.
These trees came from your donations. Pesticide related illnesses
and deaths are common here as there are few regulations and
little to no protection used. Preserving life and health is
important as Jesus underscored in his ministry. Safe insecticides
are important for these lay tribal pastor/farmers who count
on their health to support themselves and to ‘feed their
flock’.
Leaf Love
In the States we probably would supply vitamin
pills, but at the Grace Home Christian Orphanage they will be
serving the nutritious leaves of the moringa trees which is
a source of Vitamins A, B, C, Iron, Calcium, and essential Amino
Acids. More of our moringa seeds have traveled to Cambodia where
our former missionary neighbors have relocated. We have heard
reports that up to fifty (50%) percent of the people there suffer
from malnutrition. Most recently these seeds have also gone
to China and to a very poor Hmong tribal village here in Thailand
a struggling small group of believers still very young and weak
in the Lord are being discipled. back to top
| Lahu Village Adoption Plan |
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The Mission
Mekong Ministries began in the fall of 2004. Our vision is to plant churches and see ethnic churches reaching beyond themselves and planting churches.
The Work
Through evangelism using a chronological storying method and distribution of 90 minute fast track tapes and the training of Lahu leaders, over 180 people in 10 villages have put their faith in Jesus and been baptized. We continue to explore new villages and are training leaders in the churches planted to evangelize, disciple and plant new churches.
The Idea
We are looking for communities of believers willing to commit to pray weekly for one of these villages. Over the past two years we have had teams of people travel through these villages with the purpose of praying for the hearts and lives of the Lahu. We are convinced the prayers of these teams have allowed the Holy Spirit to move with freedom in the villages. We believe for the work of God to continue in the area, we need others to join us in praying specifically for the Lahu where we are church planting.
The Plan
We will send you information about the Lahu people along with pictures of your village and general statistics of life in that particular village. We will also email you directions to access a blog set up to keep you up to date with what is going on in your village. We will post stories about the people you are praying for as well as give you a chance to communicate with us what the Lord is sharing with you as you pray for the Lahu.
For more information about The Plan or to pick a village, please send an email to mekongministries@gmail.com
Mekong Regional Ministry -- Affiliated with Mission to Unreached Peoples and OMF Mekong, www.mekongministries.com. back to top
| Ministry
in Mongolia Under JCS |
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Christians
around the world were challenged to reach out to the
people of Mongolia after the fall of communism and
the subsequent economic collapse of the middle 90’s.
The first modern Christian fellowship began in that
time of severe hardship with a handful of people.
Today
there are over two hundred young churches in Mongolia
and thousands of believers. The religious freedoms
in today’s Mongolia and the responsiveness of
the people (of Tibetan Buddhist background) to the
Gospel of Jesus Christ are unique in Asia. As the church
grows in numbers and maturity, and as the country develops
in physical and economic ways, there are wonderful
opportunities to openly serve the people of Mongolia
in the name of Jesus Christ.
One of the challenges facing the Mongolian Church is helping
to set people free from alcoholism. According to government
statistics, 52% of Mongolians have a drinking problem,
and most of that number are men. The social and economic
hardships that result are heart breaking to say the least.
It’s one of the reasons the Mongolian Church is overwhelmingly
women - the Church needs MEN in Mongolia!
One
Mongolian Christian lady named “Worthy” was left by her
alcoholic husband who was violent and unfaithful. Last
December, doctors told him he had liver cancer and had
just two months to live. He went back to his wife (God
gave her grace to forgive him) and she cared for him at
home. In February he went with her to a church “winter
camp,” repented and received Jesus, and was baptized
the following week. Although many were praying for him,
his health continued declining and everyone thought he
would die in early March. Then the Lord miraculously healed
him of cancer and the whole church marveled! However, shortly
afterwards he fell back into his drinking habit - such
is the grip of alcoholism.
We are
all praying that he will be helped by a Jesus centered
12 step program. Joint Christian
Services International (JCS) is operating an Alcohol
Rehabilitation and Life Recovery (ARLR) project which
trains local church
leaders to run Jesus centered recovery groups.
A few weeks ago after a recovering alcoholic gave his
testimony in
one church, the Mongolian pastor asked anyone who
came to Christ through the group to stand - 18 souls
stood up!
Praise God! A MUP
couple and their five children are in Mongolia working
in the leadership of JCS International (a consortium of
14 different mission agencies including MUP) with responsibility
for partnering with local Christians and team building.
He is a civil/structural engineer and she is a teacher.
After
studying Mongolian language for two years
and settling into a Mongolian fellowship,
they have enjoyed the ministry
opportunities God has put in front of them as a family.
In addition to their work with JCS projects and the
local Bible college, they host church small
groups in their home.
Christian family life is a relatively new concept in
Mongolia so the whole family has an automatic
ministry modeling
what it means to follow Jesus. Also the new believers
are very hungry for mentoring input on
everything from business
ethics to basic discipleship to child raising and Christian
marriage relationships.
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