Sharing freedom from fear
Recently in Thailand a hospital nurse died unexpectedly, leaving behind two very young children. She didn’t have a chronic illness and was working normally in the hospital the day she died. As the death was so sudden, everyone in the hospital was both shocked and afraid. People believed that the nurse’s spirit would continue to stay in the hospital. Someone claimed to have seen her ghost. People began to pair up to go to the toilet and seeking companions with whom to share a room at night in the hospital. The ambulance driver took his teenage son to stay with him when he was on night shift.
In the midst of this, Global Interaction team member, Anna, has tried to share her peace in Jesus Christ with those living in fear.
Learning the language
Daniel and Camila are settling into life in the Silk Road Area. As with most new cross-cultural staff, their main task is to focus on learning the local language and culture, which at times can be frustrating and difficult.
Recently though, they have enjoyed spending an hour in conversation in their new language to start each language lesson. They also practice with their nanny, Dan’s sports team and some of Camila’s friends who are also young mothers.
Dan has also started meeting regularly with a young man, “Nick”, to practice his language. These meetings have already opened doors to share about Jesus.
Although Daniel and Camila are still learning and settling in, they have many opportunities to build relationships and share Jesus with those around them.
The power of prayer
In Mozambique, Ana’s sister Fania has AIDS. Global Interaction team members, Andrew and Tanya, have often prayed with her for healing, and have seen God intervene in remarkable ways. Initially Fania was so ill she could not even lift her head, yet she is now up and about and looking a lot better.
As a result, Andrew and Tanya have been able to share with Ana about the power of prayer. Ana now prays at night, and reads the Bible she was given. Ana also said that she has experienced witches entering her home at night. Tanya challenged her next time to pray out loud in the name of Jesus and “see what happens”. Andrew and Tanya say “it’s really important that she experiences God’s power herself and not just agree with everything that we tell her.”
Perseverence
A number of years agon, Global Interaction team members in South East Asia, Dave and Caz, became friends with Mrs Y. Even though they’ve now moved to another city, they still keep in touch with her. Earlier this year they received a text message from her saying “I surrender myself to the Almighty One in the name of Jesus the Messiah.”
This is the clearest expression yet of her growing faith, received without any prompting from Dave and Caz. Many Australians have prayed for Mrs Y for a number of years. Dave and Caz have shared with her many times. She has often seen Jesus answer prayer.
Dave and Caz say, “It is not uncommon for local people to hear the message dozens of times before they believe. This requires that we persevere in praying and retelling the message.”
Floods and promises
Thailand recently experienced a season of devastating and uncontrollable flooding. Global Interaction team members, Paul and Cathy, seized opportunities to give through local community organisations. Paul also went to the local temple to work alongside and chat with the monks packing relief bags with donated goods.
Paul and Cathy were interested to see the rising tide of spiritual conversations that came during this time. “Are these floods a sign of things to come? Is this God’s judgment on Thailand?”
Many people also alluded to a famous Thai monk’s prediction that in 2012 the world would be wiped out in a giant flood. Paul and Cathy were able to share about God’s promise to Noah that it would never happen again, and that we have a Living Almighty God who keeps his promises.
Giving everything over to Jesus
In Outback Australia, Bill and Pauline work alongside indigenous church leaders, training and encouraging them as they lead their own congregations. A few months ago, they shared the story of Laura, a woman who has attended the Lajamanu church for years, and who had been unwell for many months.
Recently, through committed encouragement from others to come back to Wapirra (God), Laura knelt on “holy ground” and gave everything over to Jesus.
Bill and Pauline say, “What a transformation! God healed! He restored and blessed her! Now she is a walking testimony to the love and healing power of the Spirit of God.”
Walking and leaping
Inn passed away in Thailand in October. She was a passionate follower of Jesus, and a great friend to the Thai team. Although wheelchair-bound, Inn was not passive. She organised the family farming and finances, sat in front of her house daily greeting people, and was always informed with what was going on in her community and the world as she listened to the radio and television. Inn was a leader in home groups and discipled another family. She tutored short-term workers in the Thai language.
Inn was a child of God, and she had a special relationship with him as he revealed himself to her through dreams.
She was assured of his intimate knowledge of her, the forgiveness of her sins and a life after this one with him. A while ago in a dream, Jesus took her on a walking tour of rooms he had prepared, including one for her.
She latched on to the Bible story of Peter and John healing a man at the beautiful gate. That man went walking and leaping and praising God. God had already given her the assurance of complete healing and she said, “One day I will walk, leap and praise God.” She is there now.
The Thai community will miss her greatly, but know she is walking and leaping with Jesus.
Peace and joy
In South East Asia, Irene’s helper ‘Amy’, commented that she has observed their incredible peace and joy during recent times of illness and stress. During the past year Rick suffered a serious case of pneumonia and also endured a painful tooth extraction performed locally with a hammer and small chisel. Then came a cancer diagnosis for Irene. By observing Rick and Irene’s lives, Amy said that their faith and trust in God prompted her to pray ‘why can’t I have faith like that?’ Amy shared that for years they have lived a tremendous example to her in following Jesus and she appreciated praying together and studying the Bible with Irene.
Recently, Irene explained the meaning of Jesus’ words ‘if you hate me, you hate the father.’ Amy responded ‘I love Jesus and want to follow him with all my heart, he is my saviour!’