We had been in much prayer and excitement with the thoughts
of having the Team from Texas come and visit our location for ministry,
fellowship and mutual encouragement together. Ministry here for our family can
be often described as very lonely work and having this team of friends come and
visit could not have come at a better time for us all.
We first visited a village south of our current location.
This village in the past has been known for its persecution of believers and at
times even violent non-tolerant stance against such people. Currently, there is
not even one single believer represented within this village. Therefore, having
this open door invitation being granted from its leadership is in itself a great
cause for celebration and rejoicing.
On Monday the team and I went and played basketball with
some local college age students that I have great relationships with here in
the city. Several (six) of these young
people I am currently in a discipleship relationship with as we also meet
weekly for study in the scriptures and the content of the Gospel. It was a
great encouragement to these young people to have the team visit and even befriend
some of them in our times in the villages as they also went to assist in the
works there along with the team. It was also great having the men from the team
come and be a part of our Friday study group and share in the fellowship that
we have there as well. Please, continue to pray for these young people as they
seek to be instruments of God’s glory and grace among their own people.
The team numbered six people: (Doctor) Jim Cawley and his daughter
Anna, (Dentist) Mark Bullock and his wife Gretchen (whose family is heading out
for two years on the Mercy Ship) and Chris and Rebekah Disch a young couple who
are currently praying concerning their own involvement in cross-cultural
mission work in the future. This team came to serve in four distinct areas.
One: Was to come and help bring greater credibility to our newly functioning
foundation. Two: Come and train locals in areas of medical and dental care who
can continue this work long after the team has left. Three: Encourage many
local believers who serve Christ in often times very difficult situations.
Fourth: To come and simply hang-out and fellowship with my family and I as we
were desperately in need of some good quality fellowship with other like-minded
believers.
Foundation
Credibility and Training of Locals:
As many of you already know we have been in the process of
starting a foundation here for some time. Within the last two months this
foundation has received proper government approval and has now become operational.
Currently, one of the aspects of this foundation is social/community
development (among other vitally important focuses). Therefore, the medical and dental training
that this team came to provide only helps prove that our foundation is in fact
credible and viable here in South East Asia.
We also visited a second village to the North. This village
also has a history of persecution and resistance against believers as well. After
a good hike in the high jungle we all had time to relax and visit with three
believing families and prepare for a day of clinic work and training the next
day.
The clinics consisted of three areas. One such area was medical
examinations and care of pregnant women. With Doctor Cawley being an OBGYN from
the States and him bringing his portable ultrasound machine (the MAGIC Machine)
with him, his entire time was spent on giving medical examinations. It was
great seeing many of these young women getting to see photos of their little
babies in the womb and learn early what in fact the gender of these babies
were. This is something that none of these women have ever experienced before
and therefore, was a big hit throughout the entire villages. Although, the plan
had been for Doc to train locals in CPR, treating of burns and issues like
stopping bleeding the popularity of his “Magic Machine” was just too much of a
draw as many folks expressed having pains simply to have their turn on the
machine. We as a team had great laughter and joy presented to us in the way of
the “Magic Machine” as the locals called it.
The second area was Dental: Mark and Gretchen came and did a
wonderful job at teaching children and their mothers the importance of proper
teeth care, cleaning of teeth and handing out many toothbrushes for these
children. It was great seeing the crazy amount of children all laughing at each
other as they took their turns with the fluoride trays within their mouths.
Gretchen you did great! Also, Mark personally took it to himself to train two local
men within our foundation in dental cleaning and tooth filling. It was great
watching these men as they went from watching Mark at first to actually doing all
the work themselves among their own people. Mark gave these men a great tool
and even gave these men their own kits (graduation present) to further this
work and technique long after he has left. I personally must thank you Mark for
your commitment to strengthen the hands and ministries of locals and processing
such thinking in your own ministry.
The Third area was Eye Glasses: As has been the practice in
the past we once again took our eye glass kit (I-see kit provided by i-tec
ministries) into the villages to match up locals with eye glasses that could
give greater vision to many. Usually, we have a local man leading this endeavor
however, since he was in the middle of cleaning teeth I was given the privilege
of matching up these glasses to those who needed them most. Thank you all who have provided this equipment and the extra glasses that were needed to provide many here with proper eye glasses to wear.
Encouraging Local Believers
and Fellowship With My Family:
As, I have already written; It was great to have fellowship
and worship alongside of the three believing families in the northern village.
It is always encouraging for these believers to see outsiders who care so
deeply for them. Many of these brothers and sisters have experienced great
hardship for the name of Christ and having the team join in eating their food,
hearing their stories, worship, singing, study of the scriptures and prayer
only bolster their courage and resolve in their walks with Christ in very
difficult locations. Whether in the village, on the basketball court, in a
study group, in a car or at the house this team really took it to themselves to
get to know local believers and love on and encourage them all while learning
and being encouraged by those they came to serve.
Within this teams stay Misty and I along with the kids had
such a great time in fellowship. Seeing faces from home and the conversations
that ensued really gave us all a boost. We are so thankful for the friendships
that we poses and the love of so many who continually support, pray and think
about us and our work here. While the team was here we visited a volcano, hiked
into some bat caves, played with monkeys, ate together at many cultural hot-spots,
visited a Buddhist temple and had several times of fellowship at our house.
Misty and I needed the laughter and relaxation with friends and are so grateful
for the opportunity we had to spend with this team from Texas. We love you all
and are thankful for your service and care for both our family and the many of local
believers you all befriended and loved while you were here. Let us pray that
your time here will have great implications here long after you have gone.
Continued Prayer:
- Continue to pray for Mark and Gretchen as they head out for Africa for two years with Mercy Ship
- Continue to pray for Chris and Rebekah in their time of seeking and searching for the Lords direction in possible future work cross-culturally for the glory of God.
- Pray for our local believers and students who serve Christ in difficult situations and places. Pray for their protection, boldness and resolve for the glory of God.
