Heading Home

We have made it through customs. Waiting at the gate. The plane is here and the weather is clear. It looks like all is good for an on time departure. Praise the Father. We were blessed beyond description for our days here but we are ready to head home.

Please remember us in our journey. We should arrive home at about 9:40PM Monday.

We are already receiving emails from our friends we have shared with! Pray that we will be faithful to continue sharing the live of our Savior with them! Pray that God will use the Internet for His purpose. Pray that our friends will accept Christ as Savior.

Thank you for your partnership. Photos and video coming to the blog soon. Stay tuned!

Sunday Evening

Praise God for the wonderful things He is doing! Sunday has been a great Lord’s Day!

We began with worship with a local “home group.” Great worship music, message and fellowship but nothing like home!

It is an interesting mix of people at this home group. Folks from every nation come together for worship. The service is in English. The praise team represents various countries some in their native dress. It reminded me of what it will be like one day when every nation and all people groups will sing praises to the Father. What a glorious day that will be!

The afternoon was spent doing some touring. We reflected on a nation that has so much foundation in the Father but now not much present except for those underground or international. We pray that a spiritual awakening might occur here and that people will cry out to the Father!

This evening we hosted 13 who do not know the Son as their Master. It was wonderful to see your team sharing the Word and how the Father had changed their lives. Some wonderful seeds were planted. I am thankful for our family here who will weed the garden by answering questions. We know that the Father is faithful, so we look forward to the future harvest.

Thank you again for your faithful prayers and partnership. We are looking forward to coming home!

Blessings

Saturday morning here!

It has been a long day! Up at 4:30AM. Vans 3 1/2 hours to the airport. Load the plane to sit 4 hours! Finally, takeoff for our 3 hour trip only to be delayed another hour in the air. It has been a long, exhausting day!

Great news though, we have 6 new sisters! Last evening they made a life-changing decision. Thank you for your partnership. News and photos to come.

We are now changing gears with the new location. Tomorrow, we meet with 25 students to travel to a "great" tourist spot. We'll spend the day walking and talking about our Big Brother. Prayers are needed!

I have been reminded about something today. Good results come from hard and sometimes difficult work. Nothing of any worth is easy. We had a tough day but due to our hard work, we have new sisters. How often at home are we looking for the easy way out when it comes to sharing. "Let someone else do it." "That's what the staff is for." "It's just not convenient for me."

There is a lost world waiting for our effort! Their eternity depends upon it!

Thank you for your partnership.

(Photos coming soon. Access to publishing photos has become increasingly difficult. We'll find a way!)

Friday Morning

By the time you read this, we will be on our way to another city. It will either be by bus (first choice) or mini vans (second choice) or public transportation (might as well walk the 250 miles.) No matter, by the time you awake Friday morning, we should be at our next destination. Thank you for your prayers.

Last night was our closing at this location. We spent the day in classes, with students, sharing in a farewell dinner and last minute English corner. Praise God for His faithfulness. We saw Him do some incredible things. We see students being drawn to the Father. We need another week!

Let me tell you about one experience. At our Farewell Dinner, the leaders were all sharing their appreciation for one another and celebrating with a toast. (Sprite) I was fortunate to go last. It gave me a chance to study the culture of this closing. When my time came, I decided to take a risk. I shared with the group that I am a Christian, as most know by now, and that I wanted to pray for them. I know it really took them by surprise! In my prayer I prayed for each leader by name and prayed for the day when we all praise the Father together. My friends here really took it as an expression of love. It was a pretty special time.

There are so many times when we as believers try to “fit” in. We study the culture and try to blend. That is not what the Word tells us to do. We are to be different! We are to be separated. We are to be the salt (add flavor) and light (provide direction.) - even when it is unpopular and/or unacceptable. If we just give another toast, we are no different than the world. We are call to be different!!

I pray that as we leave this campus that there will be such a void created that the 10,950 unbelievers will seek the Father. I pray that the 50 believers will mature to the point where they can disciple this revival. I pray that another team will come here in October to continue what we have begun.

What about you!

Thursday Afternoon

As of Thursday afternoon Asia, our transportation is in jeopardy. There is a bus driver strike. Please pray! We must travel Friday morning to make our next flight! We are searching other means but options are few. Again, please pray!

Thursday Morning

Our time is drawing to a close here at the University and there is still work to be done. The Father is really blessing with relationships beyond our belief! Every team member has established several relationships and has already shared the Good News! We know that the Spirit is drawing these friends to become a part of the family. We may not have the honor or seeing these come to the Father but we pray with confidence knowing that their day of salvation draws near! Please join us in that prayer.

Pray for the start of a student church here at the University. We have met several students who are believers. We have these who the Father is drawing near. Pray that the Father would rise up a leader to develop a student, campus church. Wouldn’t it be incredible to know that we have been a part of a church plant right here at HHU!

Please pray for our team. We have one adult and two students considering returning here for a semester or a year as a teacher or student! Could you imagine the impact they could make! Pray for their support if the Father leads them in this direction. Our home group is not a sending agency. We work through other agencies. Pray for wisdom as we deal with this opportunity. (If the Father is in it, He will work it out!)

Please continue to pray for our families. We miss them so. Pray for their peace of mind knowing that their loved one’s are in the hands of one who cares for them more than they do.

We are so thankful for you and the calling that our Savior has given you to walk beside us as warriors! We thank you for your partnership!

Tuesday Afternoon

The team is making lots of friends. That’s so important in this culture. We don’t share the Good News through a pulpit or by handing out a tract. The Gospel is shared through relationships. Any other manner could result in our deportation.

Last night, Ryan was invited to join a group of guitarist at the sports centers for a “jam” session. A couple of students escorted his there. Upon arriving, Ryan found himself with about 8 other guitarists. Ryan had his acoustic and they had their screaming electrics. On the surface, it looked like a match made for disaster. That’s where you and your partnership – prayers – come in.

These guys played heavy metal then Ryan played worship music. These guys let their guitars raise the roof. Ryan let his music raise praise to the Father. Little did these guys realize that they would be a part of worship. Ryan shared Jesus through music and the Spirit of the Father that lives through him. We for more opportunities.

Our other team members are beginning to have numerous encounters and engagements that are not a part of our regular schedule. The Father is giving us so many opportunities that I’m having to try to juggle our “tour group/exchange” commitments. Please pray that these engagements might bring forth fruit.

I have renewed several friendships from my previous visit. At lunch today, one of the unbelieving faculty members asked me to return thanks for the meal. It was tremendous. There were other members of the university staff joining us. Please pray for follow up opportunities.

This afternoon we take our first martial arts class. Ha! Pray that we don’t hurt anything

This afternoon, I also meet with the University President. Pray for a good meeting. This meeting will open up more doors for the Father.

Thank you for your partnership!

PS. Our food is getting more exotic. Please pray for good health!