Church in a rural village

Following the clear instruction in the Ten Commandments, we sought out a Sabbath (which is on Saturday) worshipping congregation.

Exodus 20:8 - "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy."

Savants-day Adventist Christians meet all over the globe, and are a clarion call back to the character of a Creator God who made man for worship. All around me in SE Asia I see forms of  worship centered around making ones self worthy of acceptance by the Gods. The Sabbath is about accepting Gods power to live in us and make us worthy to follow in His footsteps. It is not about works, but rather a devotion to who God is. A desire to be completely controlled by God and to be like Him. That is the beauty of the Sabbath.

So this morning we were up bright and early to travel out to a distant village for Sabbath services. Driving in Cambodia needs a blog post all its own! Teaser there, so stay tuned. We drove around an hour out of Siem Reap, and the vista went from city scape to rice patty and farm land. The roads went from city street to country paved road, to dirt road to Ox track. We were getting out in the wilds. When we arrived, there was a small group of people outside the church that warmly greeted us.

I told a close friend that one of my wishes was to get far enough out, to really see the country side. I said I would know I was far enough out if the babies cried when they saw a foriegner. My friend quipped that I just wanted to see crying babies, and we had a good laugh together. But today I got my wish. This little girl even in moms arms was unsure of my looking at her. I moved away when she was about to burst into a bawl.

The church was one room, open on two sides, and on stilts. Most structures are on stilts: there is a wisp of a breeze higher up from the ground, there is less damage when the country floods in the wet season, and termites devour any wood materials close to the ground. The church was built up on concrete piers. Most structures have a full basement of tall concrete piers, but this church was just elevated with the three or four feet under the first floor not being used for anything.

A single stairway led to the one room church. There was a white board up front, a water bucket by the stairs, and a railing around the open air sides of the room. You remove your shoes before going into places of worship, or homes. So there was the entire collection of sandals at the foot of the stairs. The flooring was of rough sawn lumber, and at one place at the edge, I feared falling through the floor. (There were some weak boards that seemed to give way when I went by them before I spoke for the sermon. I was so glad no one saw my temporary concern.) Later I pointed the spot out to my family so they would avoid that edge board. The slats between the floor boards would make easy work of sweeping.

There were two fake flowers up front on a table, the only furniture in the church. There were four hymnals on the table. Many in the congregation seemed literate, as they brought their own Bibles and hymnals. Everyone sat the floor. As we settled in bare foot and sitting on the rough boards, I had the distinct impression that this was really a worship place for Jesus to be praised. There was no show, no pomp or circumstance. There was no desire for being the best in clothing or in where they sat. We were just together, worshipping our friend Jesus on His Holy Day.

After Sabbath School and its vigourous discussion in Kumer, there was a five minute break before church.  I was told I would be speaking the sermon as their special guest. (I had been told to be prepared for this, as with gray hair, I would be seen as the visiting elder person in our group.) In the introductory remarks they asked all of the foreigners to move up to the front of the room, and the church also stood. They gave introductions of each person's name and their church position. Then they asked us to introduce ourselves. We told them how happy we where to worship with them in their beautiful church. We told them we brought greetings from the churches of America, far far away. We told them that we have been praying for them even before we knew them, and how special it was to now meet them in person.

The children performed several songs and recitations for us. One song the children sang was in English. I doubt they understood the words they were singing in that song, but it was special. Sunshine gave a children's story titled "The Monkeys are Coming!" and we all enjoyed it.

Later they called me to the front to speak, and then asked what the title of my special music was. This did catch me off guard. But the others in the group quickly volunteered to join me for a song in Englsih before the sermon.

I preached on the story of the sower from Mark 4:1-9. The message was simple in word and concept, and the people seemed to enjoy the study. Speaking through a translator gave me a little slice of time to prepare / simplify the next sentence, so it was a relaxed feeling for me through the sermon. We did a group recitation of Galatians 5:21-22 as the close of the service - the fruit of the Spirit that God wants from our fertile ground hearts.

It was a special day, and one that we will treasure in our hearts for long to come.


Pray with us for a spark!

The Gentle Dragon

I have a most pleasant fruit I would like to introduce. Meet the Gentle Dragon.

It's name is Dragon Fruit, but all of us agreed that this name sounded too firey or spicy. Actually It has a very soft and gentle flavor. It is not strongly flavored, and is mildly sweet. It was served this evening as a part of the dessert fruit plate, and each person had a slice.

The other fruit in the third image below are pineapple and watermelon.

You do not eat the reddish purple rind of the dragon fruit. The inside is white soft flesh with no fibers or texture. Suspended in the fruit flesh are small black seeds that are also soft and not a problem to eat. No need to pick them out which is good since there are thousands of them.

This fruit is a very nice part of a dessert fruit platter. A wonderful new friend of the fruit family!

I have heard there are variations of this fruit in that you can find varieties where the white flesh is reddish or other colors. I will have to continue my exploration of this new friend. Below is a picture of the Dragon Fruit plant, which is a cactus relative.

We are in Cambodia today, and I must say I really enjoy this country. Bangkok, Thailand was a very large and noisy city. Siem Reap is a smaller more rural area. I love it!

Our missionary team splits into four groups today each with a translator to go preach and meet with local village churches. I pray our care will show through as we do not come with a new Gospel or grand words or new wisdom. We come with the simple truth that Jesus came to this earth to give us life. He came to live in us to make us more like Him. He came to save us.

Pray with us for a spark!

Inky Cold Darkness

As we fly, I have been surprised that we have flown north over Canada and the North Pole. Now we are over a polar sea in pitch blackness.

The flight tracker shows -85 degrees F outside. At about 1/2 way of the trip we are far from anything. The ocean is deep under us. It is dark and cold-- Inhospitable outside. This part of the globe has not had sunshine for months, and won't for a few more months. Winter rages its fury all around us.

But a way through which little could survive has been carved for us as we fly over the top of the globe and down toward Siberia Russia and then on to Hong Kong.

Speed: 530 mph, 31000 ft, 9 hrs more flight to go. (Obviously when this posts we will be on the ground.)

In going to this dark place, we need the spark of Jesus and the Gospel to give us warmth and light. Through the valley of the shadow of death -- He is here with us.

Pray with us for a spark.

The puzzle fit on four sides

Packing, weighing, re packing to redistribute the weight. Check

Stayed up late - finishing last min tasks, and getting ready for the 12 hr time change. Check

Driving to O'Hare airport. Check

Parking shuttle and being dropped off at the airport terminal. Check

Check-in and boarding passes. Check

TSA clearance. Check

Preparing to board the aircraft, with gear we really don't want to check under the belly of the plane. Praying.

On board with all carryons with us. PTL. Check

17 hr flight, ready to initiate! Thank you all for your prayers. The pilot just talked about our landing tomorrow night. (!)

Likely will be a day or so before we get connected again.

Reading a missionary story: Never Too Old!

The touching story of Philip Reiswig, missionary to the Crimea.

Read it from: "Miracles on the Mountain" by Bradley Booth (c) 2012. p 91-98.

Highlights:

"I think the biggest problem is that we all want to send a missionary, but none of us want to be the missionary!"

"I am old, but I will go."

A twinge of sadness as he saw the land of his home fade into the distance as he knew it would be his last trip.

"I did not come all the way from South Dakota to here in the Crimea to just make shoes. I came to give away Bible tracks."

"Could you read this tract for me? I left my glasses."

Soon groups of Sabbath believers were springing up across the Crimea.

Let us say with Phillip: Here am I, send me!

Pray with us for a spark.

Immunity

Today we completed the vaccinations we needed for the trip. Needless to say the boys thought they were pin cushions by the time we left the medical office! There were enough shots that two nurses worked together on each of us. Needle after needle, after needle.

As miserable as is the experience of getting vaccinations, getting the root disease would be worse. We have started the suffering for others, but Christ makes our suffering sweet.

As we ate lunch today, we thought about what a vaccination would be like in comparison to the Christian life. Sunshine related the experience of Jesus from John 14:30, "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." Jesus had a sin vaccination from His Father. This is not to say that Jesus was not tempted, for He surely was, but Jesus was dependent on His Father moment by moment, and sin had no room left to take root.

We need the vaccine for sin. We need an injection of God's character, to so completely fill us that there is no place of our bodies left unprotected. May we be able to communicate how beautiful God's love is that others invite Him into their hearts.


Pray with us for a spark.

10/40 Window

The 10/40 Window is a region of land roughly between the 10th and 40th latitudes where there is little Christian influence, and a lot of the world's population.

"Approximately 4.75 billion individuals residing in an estimated 8,463 distinct people groups are in the revised 10/40 Window.  5,915 (62.5 %) of these people groups are considered unreached and have a population of 2.91 billion (61.3 %). The 10/40 Window is home to some of the largest unreached people groups in the world such as the Shaikh, Yadava, Turks, Moroccan Arabs, Pashtun, Jat and Burmese." Joshua Project

Let's put a spotlight on the 10/40 window. Half of the worlds population is in the 10/40 window, but it contains only 1% Christian influence. Of every dollar donated by Christians, you could take a penny and cut it into 100 slivers. Only 7 of those slivers go for the unreached. Counting up church workers, including preachers, youth pastors, etc., there is one missionary working among the unreached people of the world compared to 140 (yes, one hundred and forty) serving the people who have heard the gospel over and over again. Why is this the case since the Gospel commission is to go into ALL the world?

Why is it so completely hard to penetrate these areas with the precious truths of the Gospel? “The 10/40 Window includes numerous spiritual strongholds. The billions of people who live in the 10/40 Window have suffered not only the ravages of poverty and disease, they have also been kept from the transforming power of the Gospel. They are poignant examples of the truth expressed in 2 Corinthians 4:4, which states that ‘the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.’” Joshua Project

It is hard. The 10/40 window people have not been neglected because the spread of the Gospel is easy. This vast area of the world has been blinded to the Gospel because there are powerful forces at work to keep it in darkness, poverty, pain, war, suffering and disease. I don't think the ultimate answer is found in foreigners like us coming over for a short trip. The work in these areas likely needs to be locals who have seen the beauty and kindness of Jesus who will spread that love to their fellow peoples. We realize in this respect, we are not even the "match". But a spark is what we pray for in the 10/40 Window.

But if we could help show the need, through video and photography then perhaps we could help fan a smoldering wick to flame. Perhaps we could assist ASAP Ministries in the support of local workers to then reach out to their own people groups. Perhaps we can share some of our heart with these lands, and then as we return, we keep them in more fervent prayer that God will send forth laborers into His harvest.

Pray with us for a spark.

Introduction

The words from the young missionary pressed into my ears, gaining momentum as they encircled my heart: "If your life was like a match, and you had only one, light it in darkest possible place."

We have thought about this... a lot. In a few days our family will be acting on our thoughts. We don't claim to be the solution to the darkness, but we can be a match giving a spark of light. We are willing to burn and give light for as long as Jesus gives us fuel. And we are willing to be consumed in the process.

This blog will (initially) chronicle the story of a month long trip to South East Asia where we will capture the needs and stories of new places and friends. We are ordinary folks. We have a love for other people and cultures, and we want to learn how we could help the 10/40 window peoples.

Our family numbers four, and since we will be visiting some areas hostile to the Christian Gospel, we will use nicknames for this blog. I am Harvest, and I love gardening and self sustainability homesteading. I am married to Sunshine, the light of my life. We have two wonderful and encouraging sons who are learning to minister to others: Andrew and Daniel. Our boys have been asked to be the videographers and cinematographers for the trip.

We will peer into the darkness to learn how we could help. We know now that we can help by praying  that the Lord will bring native laborers to the task of spreading the Gospel. You could join us in this prayer as well.

In this blog, we look forward to sharing the sights, smells and sounds of SE Asia.



Some words of inspiration that bring focus:


"And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." Acts 26:15 - 18

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"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" Isaiah 52:7

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Pray with us for a spark.