Our children are precious to God, they should be precious to us

    In Mark 9:36   Jesus was trying to teach his disciples what Greatness in the Eyes of God looks like.  They were arguing amongst themselves who would be the greatest in God’s Kingdom.  Then Jesus sat them down and put a young child before them.  He took the child in his arms and said, “Whoever receives  one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” 

  In Matthew 19:14 The little children were brought to Him that He might put hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.  But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me for such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid  His hands of them and departed from there. 

  Two very interesting encounters the disciples had with Jesus where it would appear their priorities where a little skewed.  He used his love for children to give them a picture of how God’s perspectives are so very different from the worlds views and ideas of the order of things.  Though these scriptures were meant to teach the disciples about God’s perspective in life, for me, it has reiterated what a wonderful Godly women once taught me when I was a mom of 4 little Derby’s. 

  I was fresh from my first four years on the mission field.  Back on states for a year.  My kids at that time were 8, 7, 5 and 3.  I was struggling so with the responsibility of raising my kids overseas , homeschooling and wanting to be a good wife and missionary.  I felt like I was failing miserably. I really didn’t like homeschooling.  I still had a ways to go with my fluency in the language.  I wanted to be doing meaningful Kingdom work.  I was able to attend a seminar taught by a young mom like me, Brenna Stull.  Her seminar was about how to pray for your children.  Not only did she inspire me to pray for my children in a way I had never imagined, something she said gave me the charge I needed to see God’s perspective for me in this season of life as it related to my children.  These precious gifts from God were given to Doug and I to raise and teach about the living God.  The scripture I took with me that was the framework of my every plan for my children and for ministry opportunities came from Deuteronomy 6:5-9

 ⁵ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

    After that seminar my whole perspective about parenting changed.  I poured myself into showing my children who God was in everything we did.  I changed my attitude about homeschooling and put it in the perspective I was tryng to learn in my own life, God’s heart for the children. Although I still had some very real worries that my kids may never graduate from college, after December of this year, all my children will have a college degree. 

   We also changed our daily routine so we all got up at 6am to see Dad off to work and have devotions together.  At that time, Doug’s schedule was difficult and we never knew if he would be home for dinner, but we knew he would be there for breakfast on the days he wasn’t on call at the hospital so we adjusted.  Those were some sweet times with the  kids.  When they got older we did family Bible study.  My girls missed it so much that when they went to college, they invited their friends to their dorm room to skype  Bible study with their Dad.  Still today they all come to Dad for help in their spiritual walk.  They constantly  ask him for notes from his personal commentaries.   More sweet times still continue. 

  But more than that my children have blessed me beyond my hopes and dreams.

Gary, who is now married to Rez who through his witness in High School helped lead her to faith.  Gary has been a youth minister since he was 19 years old.  He and Rez are raising 2 of their own precious children Karim and Naima.  Together Gary and Rez make a beautiful team for the cause of Christ.  I love to hear Gary preach.  Parts of his father are in every sermon.  This summer and last summer he brought a team to help us with our church planting efforts.  Both times he preached.  It just makes my heart so happy to see.

Jonathan has had so many opportunities in his 26 years of life I just can’t wait to see what is next.  When he was 14 he was in a full length Thai movie as a main actor, which led him to be interested in mass media.  He got a degree in media production and then served as a journeyman with the IMB for 2 years traveling Asia documenting stories of what God is doing in Asia.  This summer he led 5 Nehemiah teams in Thailand. Mentoring, teaching and guiding their work.  Now he is in his last year of seminary at Southeastern and working as a church planter to Thai/Lao people in North Carolina.  He preaches like a young Billy Graham.  (sorry mom biased inserted here)  and like his brother, parts of his father are seen when he preaches. 

Becky is a woman who loves God’s word like no other young women I know.  She graduated from CBU with a degree in Biblical languages.  Her desire is to do translation work for those who still have no way to know God’s Word.  She is married to a civil engineer Josh Duvall, who also grew up in Southeast Asia.  The two of them are applying as I write to be IMB missionaries wherever the Lord will lead.  Both of them use every opportunity God gives to share their faith at work and they lovingly minister in the church in whatever capacity is needed.  I’m just giddy with excitement for where they will be this time next year in the world. 

Sandi is in her last semester of nursing school at CBU.  What a beautiful women of faith she has become.  She has such a caring sensitive heart in all she does. She has been home every summer of her college years just wanting to work along side her Dad.  It’s a joy to see.  God has used her in  many ways while she has been  at CBU to minister and encourage those the Lord has put in her path.  This summer she worked for a couple of months in Phoenix.  Knowing that I was worried about my mom and dad and not being able to help.  She sought every free moment she had to minister to them.   She is a light wherever she goes.  Whatever job she gets out of nursing school will have to allow her an annual trip to work with her Dad.  I’m sure God will provide. 

These 4 lives the Lord gave me to raise.  No mom could be prouder of each one of them.  More than that the years I spent to be the mom God asked me to be for them has rewarded my heart with the blessings of their faith.  To God be All glory and honor. 

C to C (Creation to Christ) and Me

 

  It all began about 5 years ago when I attended a conference with many of my missionary co-laborers.  We were taught how to share the Gospel using simply drawn pictures.  It could be done on a napkin, or a scrap piece of paper from my purse or really anything within reach should the opportunity present itself.  We called it, “Drawing C to C”  .

 

  After I learned it well, I taught the Gospel sharing method to my staff at TCT and also the clinic staff.  It became a great tool in our belt for Gospel sharing opportunities we often have and for new Christians it helped them understand the full Gospel message. clearly.   Since that time, we have used this method in many different ways, while talking to our pieceworkers at TCT on our home visits, when the clinic staff has been doing some of the door to door canvasing, when family members of our staff have had questions about Christianity, at our mobile clinics and most recently as a part of our Christmas celebrations. 

  Last year we asked our best artist to draw a progression of pictures from C to C so we could make a flip chart that could be easily used anywhere.  We all liked the fact that we could draw it ourselves, but we wanted to have a more “reverent” depiction of the story we were telling.  ( quite frankly, some of us couldn’t really draw the simplest angel and make it look holy) The chart turned out beautifully.  We also had our new missionaries fresh out of language school learn how to present C to C using our flip chart.   This became a great success and another tool for our Gospel sharing efforts. 

 

 

  Next, I decided I wanted to make a simple English coloring book using the C to C drawing idea to use in our week long English camps that we had scheduled last summer.  I asked my daughter Becky to help me by using her graphic design abilities.  She did an amazing job and again another tool was born. 

 

  This Christmas the wife of our pastor in Bankgla, Khun Wan, decided to take the coloring book, translate it into Thai, and make huge posters with it  teaching the kids at church how to present C to C with the posters at our Christmas programs. 

 

 

It was such a huge success, we decided to use the posters at our TCT Christmas programs and teach C to C with an emphasis on when and why Jesus was born and what Christmas means.  I believe this was the clearest presentation of the Gospel we have had at our Christmas celebrations yet. 

 

  The results….. people are being reached.  In Nan, Bangkla, and Tungmahajaren, we had completely captive audiences while we share the message together. 

 

Never before have we had the responses we have had from this presentation.  In all of those centers, ALL of the hearers said they were interested to understand this story more, and more than 16 said they were ready to pray with our evangelist to make God their Lord and Savior.  We are still following up on all those women.  Just yesterday we saw one whole family changed by the Gospel of Christ as a result of hearing this clear presentation of God's plan for them.   His message will not return void. 

....And that’s the story of C to C and me. 

 

God placed man in a beautiful garden where He provided everything they needed.

 I am so excited!

In just a few days we will be traveling to Isaan one of the poorest parts of Thailand to do mobile clinics and an English camp at the school where our clinics are.  We have been able to find Jr. High and High Schools that will allow us to come and teach English using the Bible.  We have developed some new tools to use that you see in the pictures here.  Please pray with me for the week ahead that the Lord will use this time to draw many to Him.  Our clinics are September 14-18.  I will post updates on my facebook page. 
For details about each day please click the Prayer Partners tab above.   

Jesus died on the cross to make a way for us to be with God when we die.



God created the Heavens and the earth.

This is a reading book to go along with what they will be taught about
creation and the reason we need God. 

 

Then and Now..............


2003

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

  I was inspired by a friend’s blog to write a, “Then and Now” blog.  So here it is.  Doug and I arrived on the mission field almost 23 years ago.  What I thought then and what I think now are so different.  So here are a few of my top picks.



1992

Then:  I had 3 kids under the age of 4. I thought that was all I could handle.

1993

Becky's wedding 2014

Now: I have 6 kids (4 ours, 2 in laws), all young adults and 2 precious grandbabies.

 

 

 

 

 

Then:  I thought I would never learn Thai well enough to share my faith or sing as a soloist ever again.



Now: I teach nationals how to share their faith, I disciple women, I teach children’s Sunday school…All in the Thai language.  Additionally, I have not only sung many solos in Thai but have written several Thai songs.  Crazy! 

1998 The first of many evangelistic Christmas events

Bangkla Christmas Choir 2001

One of my first invites to sing at a Thai pastors conference.199???

 

Then:  I did not have an evangelistic heart. 

Sharing Creation to Christ 2014

Now:  Everything I do is centered around evangelism.  All I can think about is how to develop more ways to share the Gospel more readily in all situations.  English camps, Mobile clinics, in the homes our TCT workers.  I think I now have an evangelistic heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas 2012 Heaven Came Down

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then: I thought, I’ll never use the skills I developed as a retail manager, while putting Doug through medical school.

Thai Country Trim's full time staff

Now:  I oversee a national business that makes thousands of products for a distributor in England…..and  shares the Gospel with more than 200 rural women weekly. 

Then: I was afraid my kids would grow up and choose not to follow Christ.

Now:  All my kids have the same heart as their father and I and are striving to share Jesus and make disciples right where they are.

Becky and Josh just a year or two away from going overseas to serve God

Gary , Rez, Karim and Naima working at a local church in Gilbert as youth and young adult minister

Jonathan "Derby"  just finished 2 years on the mission field and is currently attending Southeastern Seminary

Sandi, serving next to her Dad this summer.  Currently is attending CBU nursing school.

 

Right Now:   All I can say is, “Wow, Lord, I never imagined where you would take me, if I was only willing to walk with you where you told me to go.”

Isaiah  55:8 &9

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.9"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts

 

Hand Bag Evangelism at its Best

Several months ago I began dialoguing with one of the WMU staff at Worldcraft.org about making some purses for their 2015 fall catalog. As we made samples and I shopped for the right materials, I hoped this would not only bring us a nice size order for this little group of rural Thai women in a small village in Chaing Klang, but but also provide more chances to share the love of Christ and how to know him.  My hope was not disappointed, a few weeks after the samples were approved, we had our largest order ever of purses from Worldcrafts.  I was so excited.  When I called the group leader there, she said, “I’m not sure we can make these in time, we’ve never made this much before.  Can we hire more women?”

 

 I enthusiastically said, “Yes!”  So, Wanpen, went about finding just the right women to help her with the order.  A woman in her neighborhood, Bun, found out about the work available and came to see if she could help.  Wanpen explained to her that she would like to teach her about God once a week during the time she worked for us, and she agreed.  Little did she know that this young lady had learned a little about God when she was young and even went to church with a friend, and then when she was in college she also had some Christian friends.  But no one had explained to her how to follow God.  She always wondered about it.  So as Wanpen began to explain God’s plan for her life, things began to make sense and 2 weeks ago, she gave her life to Christ and is now being discipled by Wanpen and others at the local church.  All because she came to sew some purses.  What a great work we have.

 

What a great time of sharing.  Wanpen is on the left and Bun is on the right. 

 

  I visited these ladies last week and found so many wonderful things.  En, another new believer who came to Christ after being hired to work on orders for TCT last year, is now a vibrant believer, and a leader in the local church.  In addition to that, her whole countenance has changed.   She has gone from being a shy, backward little thing to a woman of great faith.  You can see it all over her face.  She is now the one encouraging Bun.  It was a joy to see.  One of the ladies who works making the wallets and also attends the Bible studies wants desperately to give her life to Christ.  However, her husband will not allow it.  He won’t allow her to eat with the Christians or go to the church building.  He will allow her to work from Wanpen’s home where she does get to learn more about God.  She cannot bring any Christian reading material home or her husband will burn it.  So I promised her that I would ask all my friends to pray for her and that the Lord would change her husband’s heart, like he did for En.  Our God is big and mighty.  Join me in praying for these ladies in Chaing Klang. 

Wanpen- the group leader, that she would be able to explain the deep things of God to the women God brings to her.  Also pray for her husband who is a believer but is still struggling with alcoholism.   

En_ Our new vibrant believer who came to faith just over a year ago.

Bun-  our 2 week old Christian that she would grow in her faith and be a witness to her husband.

Prin- our woman who wants to believe but is hindered.

Kit- Wanpen’s sister who has an inoperable tumor on her brain and suffers horrible headaches.

Yohan- Wanpen’s brother, who just gave his life to Christ last week.  Pray that he will follow God all his days and that he would grow in his faith. 

Here is the direct link to find our purses at the Worldcraft website http://www.wmustore.com/product.asp?sku=H154236

 

A Family of Faith

Ma Boon is a 63 year old lady (far left) was diagnosed with end stage colon cancer 3 months ago. She was told she only a few months to live. She heard from somewhere that the Christian God was a healing God. So she had her husband drive her around until they found a Christian. They found Joy and her little church where they prayed for her. When she came in to the church her husband carried her in on a mat. Ma Boon was skin and bone and unable to walk. They prayed for her and she left. One month later she walked in remarkably better. Three months later she came back looking "fat" and healthy and back to work. It was obvious a miracle had been done. Her doctor was amazed because he gave her no hope. He offered some minor medication (telling her chemo was not worth a try at the stage) and she didn't take them because she said she had faith that her God would heal her. When she came for a check up later the doctor could find no more cancer. 

Husband and wife (second the the left and far right) came to Christ about 20 years ago when a missionary came to their village and taught them about God. He discovered that God had called him and had chosen him. They had a son who was very sick. From four years old to 19 years old he was in and out of the hospital with thalassemia. Mom and dad had to take him to Bangkok for many transfusions and treatments. They were troubled because they were simple uneducated people who didn't know anything about medicine. But soon they learned more about God and that he was the great physician. When their son was about 19 the doctor said he needed his spleen out. But the boy learned from the Bible that every organ in the Bible is important so he felt led that he should keep his spleen. They signed him out of the hospital and asked The Lord to heal him. Now 6 years later he is healthy, married, jaundice free, and he no longer needs transfusions. God did a miracle in his life too. They led their niece Bang ( second the the right) to The Lord and it was Bang who led Ma Boon to The Lord. A great family of faith.

One of the many amazing stories and testimonies from mobile clinic this week. What faith can do!!

 

Every Missionary’s Plight

  I can’t count how many times I have been told over the years how much I must love Thailand and how adventurous I must be to live so far away in a strange foreign land.  If those people only knew how much I am challenged every day and the struggles I face to be content to stay, they would be shocked.  In reality, all missionaries are just a breath away from going home.  We all need your prayers to keep us where we are.  It is a wonderful gift of God each day that we get up from our slumber and walk into the day before us with the Presence of God leading our steps, our encounters, and our decisions.  It is a glorious feeling to know you are right where God wants you to be for the time being.  When I put my head down on my pillow at night I understand Psalm 4:8 better and better.  “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

 Lately the needs of my family in the States have been before me.  I don’t want to worry or try to step in for God, but it does get hard sometimes.  When my daughter-in-law just needs a mom nearby to offer a helping hand with those precious babies… when my youngest daughter is sick and needs her mom for just a day… when my parents just need someone to stop by and play some dominos or pull their weeds.  I am a fixer and I want to fix all their problems.  Then I look at the needs before me here in Thailand.  200+ women who work from their home and not only depend on my wisdom to keep providing income for their families but need me  and my staff to share Christ with them in all our ways.  My husband who needs me to have a peaceful home to come to and good meals to eat after seeing 80 patients a day, and to help pick up the slack of his daily grind, and to work alongside him when our ministries intersect.  My full time staff who need me to be a good example and a wise counsellor.  So much to do, so many lives who I want to be a part of.  The great work of our Lord and Savior sustains me and I cling to the verses He gives me all the time:  “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ² Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (II Corinthians 4:1-10).

 

The Needs of the Few

  We have now been back in Thailand for 3 weeks.  Since our return I have been met with many different needs and challenges at my work at Thai Country Trim.  I am constantly reminded how much I need God's eyes, heart, and compassion.  His wisdom, knowledge, and unconditional love need to lead my every step.  Left on my own, I would fail miserably.  I am often overwhelmed with the feeling that I don't know enough, have enough, or do enough.  So, I ask you to pray for me in these matters.  They are before me daily and I don't want to mess up.

  1. A young mom named Jane who is one of our piece workers.  Her husband just abandoned her and their little 6 month old.  My production manager came to me to tell me about her situation just a few days ago.  She was worried that the mom was not able to feed her baby properly.  So my manager has been allowing her to bring her work in daily instead of weekly so she can have a little money each day to buy formula for the baby because she was unable to breast feed.  She found out that she has been giving the baby regular milk because she hasn't had enough money to buy formula.  (formula is 10 times the price of regular milk here)  I saw the baby yesterday and he looked very undernourished. I bought formula for them today but I need wisdom on how to proceed.  Today she stayed at the center all day and many of my staff witnessed to her.   All my girls are concerned and all have been helping her in some small way.  Pray that God will guide us.  Pray for her baby. 

  2.  A group of refugees from a nearby country came to see if our center might give them some work.  They will take anything we can give them.  This particular group of refugees are Christians who were persecuted and had to flee their country.  They are here waiting for their passage to the country who will repatriate them.  We want to help them but we must do it legally.  Pray for us as we see what God will have us do in this situation.  

3.  My mom and dad have reached the stage in their life where they need more attention and care.  They are in their early 80's and my dad has many health challenges.  My mom cares for him as best she can but the daily needs are wearing on her.  They are hoping to sell their home and move into an independent living apartment where mom will have some help with meals and house cleaning.  I want to be there for them when the time comes for them to move.  Pray for the timing of things so that I can be there for them.  My mom and dad are retired Salvation Army Majors.  They have served and helped people all their lives.  It's now time for them to be helped.  I want to be a part of that.  

4. Starting in May we will have a volunteer team from America every month until November.  We grateful so many teams want to come and help with our work here.  Doug and I want to do a good job picking the sites for our English camp and Mobile clinics as well as give our volunteers a wonderful ministry experience to share in.  Pray the Lord will guide us as we plan these times.  Pray the Lord will go before us and prepare the hearts of those who will hear the Gospel this year from the efforts of Thai Country Trim and Bangkla Baptist Clinic.  May His Word go out and his name be glorified.  

A Thorn in the Head

A Thorn in the Head

 

 

  Most of my friends and partners in our work know that I have struggled for years with severe head aches.  I know I will get one if I get too hot.  Hmmm..... 95 degrees and 95% humidity almost 365 days a year here in Thailand,  doing the math, that means almost daily for me.   Mobile clincs are the worst.  So, when I go on mobile clinics I usually go fully loaded with every medicine that might help, as well as ice packs and caffeinated drinks in the cooler.  Some would say,  why do it????  What are you trying to prove?  Well, I don't have to prove God is worthy of all I have, but I'm glad to endure for the chance to make a difference in the lives of people who might never hear there is a God who made this world. 

  I also usually get a  headache after a major event.  Hmmmm....  orchestrating major events is kind of my thing.  God has given me a huge heart to create huge events which will communicate His message to the most possible people.  So, what do I do?  Quit that too?  I have decided that I cannot quit -- but I have learned that I do need to endure.  Besides, the headaches come after the big events.  No problem! 

     Funny thing is, I rarely have headaches when I'm in America.  Even in red hot Arizona.  So, do I bail and go back and live in the States where life is comfy and all my kids and grandkids live?  No, that is just not God's plan for me right now. 

  God is worthy of all.  Sometimes my "all" doesn't seem like a whole lot.  But I know this is where I'm supposed to be whether I live with head aches or not.  So as long as I can still function well enough to tell people about God and disciple the people God puts in my path,  this is where I'll be.  In my weakness may God show Himself strong. 

 

How can you pray for me this month? 

 

November 17th-  I will be speaking to over 150 TCT non-believers about the God who made this world and how they can have a relationship with Him.  At 11am my time please pray for me, that I would speak fluently the Gospel message God has given me for this time. 

 

November 20th-January 20th-  Doug and I will be on our stateside time in Arizona.  Pray my head will get the rest it needs to ready me for the year ahead.

Below is Doug's preaching schedule.

Nov.  23rd     Palisades Baptist Church, Pearl City Hawaii 

Dec. 6 and 7th  Forest Park Baptist Church Joplin, MO 

Dec 14th  Pinnacle Church,  Scottsdale, AZ    Evening service: Crosspoint Baptist, Tempe, AZ

Dec. 28th  Gateway Fellowship, Gilbert AZ

Jan 4th, North Phoenix Baptist Church,  Phoenix, AZ

Jan. 10-15  International Learning Center, Richmond VA

 



Blasting This Present Darkness With Eternal LIght

 

 

  A few weeks ago, a team from Valley Rim Association in Arizona partnered with us to do 4 days of mobile clinics in the far reaches of Isaan.  They brought a team of  doctors, nurses and children’s workers - 9 wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ with wonderful hearts of service and unity for the task ahead of us.  Our first day was my most memorable, so that is the story I will share. 

                                          Debra Wolfrey Valley Rim team leader and I

 

  Several months ago, a woman from Loie showed up at our little house church plant in Plang Yao.  She shared with us that she was a relatively new Christian and had moved into the area for the purpose of bringing her family to Christ.  Her name is Aunt Wi.  She had heard about our gathering from someone in the market and she found her way to us.  She told Doug that a missionary couple in Loie had led her to Christ.  We were pretty amazed by her bold faith having only been a Christian for a short time.  We looked into it and we did not have any IMB missionaries in Loie.  Over the course of a couple of months, this woman, indeed, led several members of her family to Christ so we decided we should find out more about this missionary couple.  She gave us their name and phone number and Doug gave them a call.  After a long conversation with the M couple, Aunt Wi’s story suddenly became more amazing.

  Aunt Wi was a house helper for the M family who had moved to Loie from where they had been church planting in the south. They have 5 children under the age of 12.  Aunt Wi was not a helpful house helper, she often came to work drunk and would sleep through her work day.  Since moving to this area the M family had little other contacts to share Christ with so they decided to pour their lives into this seemingly worthless soul.  Although Aunt Wi’s help in the home was minimal, they did have plenty of chances to shower her with the love of Christ.  After several months of very challenging encounters, Aunt Wi finally gave her life to Christ and was radically saved. After being discipled for a very short time, she felt the need to go to her family in Plang Yao and share Christ with them so she moved away.  The only convert of 2 years of work for the M couple, moved away!  As Doug and the M couple talked more about their struggles to find people willing to talk to them about Christ,  a decision was made to add their city to our September mobile clinic schedule.  Tuesday, September 16 was the day chosen. 

  As we arrived in their city the night before, we saw immediately Satan’s claim on this city.  There were statues and paintings of 7 demons everywhere as we drove in.  When we arrived at our hotel, the key chain was a replica of the mask on these demons.  It was evident we were in for a battle the next day when we were to share the Gospel with the children in the English camp and the patients at the mobile clinic.  We began to have an understanding of what difficult odds our M family was up against as they tried to make a difference in a place so dark, all by themselves.  Many prayers were raised that night as we went to bed and in the morning we awoke with a sense of God’s Presence with us for the task at hand. 

                                          These were the public toilets at the school

 

  When we arrived at the school where the clinic and English camp would be held, we saw the heads of the seven demons painted everywhere, even on the playground.   The bathrooms were even shaped and painted the same.  When I walked into the room where we were to teach the children, I was overwhelmed by what I saw.  On one side of the room was a giant Buddha figure with pedestals for offerings all around and the other side of the room was an entire wall painted with a mural of the seven demons.  I felt my chest tightening at the oppression of it all.  But, I knew what God wanted me to do.  With Buddha at my back, demon toilets on the side and the a huge Buddha mural  in front, I began to teach 120 children about the God who made the world.  We sang songs about how God made the world with His hands and how all who believe in Jesus could be called the children of God. We all but shouted the name of Jesus as we sang.   We taught them how they could know God.  We taught them how to pray.  Over half of those dear Children prayed with our evangelist.  We don’t know what the future will bring for those children, but we pray this, their first encounter with Christ, will bring them to true faith when they are adults. 

                                                        

 

  At the clinic we saw 220 patients.  Each of them hearing one on one, the Gospel story.  15 people responded and now our wonderful  M couple with few contacts now has 15 people to follow up on that have expressed an interest in knowing God.   Of those 15 people, 7 of them actually prayed with our evangelist.  This was a truly amazing day.  Only a move of God could bring about such a thing in a place like this. 

 

  As we drove away that day we rejoiced in our vans for the privilege of seeing the power of God in such a dark, dark place.  We were moved to pray for our M family and their work ahead.  We were also so very glad to bring God’s light in that very present darkness.