Friends, if you live in the Southern California area, we invite you to join us for this exciting event that will be sure to stir you up to discover your calling to fulfill the Great Commission!  

You will be encouraged through times of worship, challenged through bible teaching, and equipped for your specific calling through workshops. You don’t want to miss this life changing conference!  

Women World Changers Conference, Saturday, June 28th, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. hosted at Calvary Chapel WestGrove in Garden Grove

Cost: $10/person and includes lunch.

To find out more or to register electronically, please visit: http://www.ccwgmissions.org

He Who Began A Good Work In You

As a new Christian, I was convinced that if I gave God permission to do whatever He wanted with my life, He would send me to Africa — not any specific country in Africa, mind you, but to some remote location on the African continent.

I remember sitting in the parking lot with Steve in 1999 after hearing a guest pastor speak about Sudan. We had visited Calvary Chapel Montebello to hear Pastor Pancho Juarez teach. Instead, a guest pastor had shared about missions. During the earliest stage of our walk with the Lord, Steve and I knew we were being called into missions. However, we were not at all clear what that call on our lives meant in relation to Africa.

During the service, Pastor Gary Kusunoki shared the appalling situation in South Sudan and Northern Uganda as a result of years of war, poverty, and disease. He told us about the work being done by Safe Harbor, and he spoke of the work that still needed to be done. One year earlier, in 1998, a cholera epidemic had erupted in the remote village of Midigo, in northwestern Uganda. This is an area near South Sudan where many Sudanese refugees were seeking shelter from the war. At the time, the village had a small clinic, but no medicine and no doctor. Through Safe Harbor, Pastor Gary and others responded in Midigo and hired a doctor (Dr. Emuku Juventine) who left a lucrative practice in Kampala to serve the local people in Midigo and to minister the love and gospel of Jesus Christ.

As Pastor Gary spoke that day at Calvary Chapel Montebello, the Lord laid a burden on our hearts for the people in Sudan and Uganda. After church, Steve and I sat in our car, reluctant to fully embrace the burden. We felt ill equipped to go to Africa, and the problems and needs there seemed so much bigger than the two of us.

Over the the next several weeks, we were in touch with Safe Harbor to learn how we could get involved in the work being done in the region. Interestingly, while we were willing to go to Africa, the Lord did not send us immediately. Instead, He called us to pray, to tell others about the situation, and to invest in the work being done there by God.  It was not until 12 years later (in 2011) that Steve would have the chance to visit these ministries with Pastor Gary and a team of pastors.  We thank God for all that He has done in Uganda since 1999:

A vibrant church plant that started as a bible study under a mango tree by Dr. Juventine now has over 200 adult members committed to growing in the Word of God and a vibrant children’s ministry. CC Midigo serves as a ministry hub for training, discipleship, and church planting in the region. In addition to CC Midigo, three additional churches have been planted in this region.

 The once small and ill-equipped clinic is a fully operational hospital providing maternal and infant care, HIV/AIDS, mobile medical care to remote areas, and surgical operations. This hospital serves 30,000 patients per year.

Education programs offer high quality, Christian academics to hundreds of children, many from non-Christian backgrounds; and

Agricultural projects now provide jobs, training, services, and outreach to the local communities.

Although we are thankful for the fruit flowing from these ministries, there is still much work to be done. This area remains one of extreme poverty, with many illiterate children. The churches, school, and hospital operate in an area that is 95% Muslim. We are convinced that the Christians have been allowed to remain in this region because they are demonstrating the love of Jesus practically by providing health care, education and jobs. So, in addition to saving lives daily, the hospital and school have opened doors to share the gospel.

Steve and I were disappointed that we were not able to travel to Uganda together this year.  But, we are praying for an opportunity to go in the year ahead.  In the meantime, we wanted to highlight two ministries for your prayers and consideration.

The Jeremiah Scholarship Fund

Anei was born into war and poverty in the midst of the civil war between North and South Sudan. In 1996, the village that Anei lived in was brutally attacked by the Muslim militia and Sudanese government troops. During the attack, his village was burned to the ground and his mother was beaten to death as she held his baby sister who was only a few days old. God miraculously preserved Anei, his older brother Majok, and his little sister Faith.  Faith now lives with her adoptive family in the US, but, Anei, and his brother and father still live in Uganda.

Even though Anei moved out of the Sudan in 1998, he still faced a life of poverty in a country where most children grow up illiterate with no hope of an education. Through God’s hand of providence, however, Anei and Majok were able to obtain an education through a Christian ministry called New Hope Uganda. Anei grew up to know and love Jesus as his Savior and to trust Him with his life and future.

Although the chances of Anei having the opportunity to go into medicine were very slim, he has had his sights set on medicine since he was a young child. By the hand of God, Anei graduated from high school, excelling in math and science. When Physician’s Assistant (“PA”) School in Kampala, Uganda, accepted Anei into its program, the Jeremiah Scholarship Fund was established to assist Anei with the costs of tuition and books for his first year.

Anei desires to be a doctor one day, and he is working hard towards this goal. We desire to see the Jeremiah Scholarship Fund provide for Anei’s tuition and books throughout his 3 years of Physician’s Assistant School. We pray that Anei will be the first of many young men and women to become medical workers, teachers, business men and women, and agriculturalists. However, without a scholarship, most of the children in the Midigo area will not be able to go to school beyond the primary level.

Please consider helping a child receive the gift of an education, and their community the gift of a future. To learn more about the Jeremiah Scholarship Fund, please visit the following website: http://www.promisechild.org/anei-sponsorship.php

Promise Child

We are delighted to be serving alongside of Promise Child and CC WestGrove in Uganda. The folks involved in this ministry are truly kindred spirits in the Lord. We hope you will take some time to visit Promise Child’s website and learn more about their work in Uganda, Nepal, and India:   http://www.promisechild.org

What’s Next?

Fifteen years ago, the Lord stirred our hearts for missions. Initially, we were relucant. We had no idea how the Lord could use us.  But, He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it. So, if you feel the Lord tugging at your heart for Anei or the people of Uganda, read more on the above websites or on CC San Juan Capistrano’s website, and ask the Lord how He would like to use you. Steve and I would be happy to answer your questions about the ministries and work in Uganda. And, we hope to have the chance to go to Uganda in the year ahead.  Perhaps, the Lord will call you to go too one day.

“For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’”  Deuteronomy 15:11

Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Eighty percent of the population struggle to survive on less than US$2 per day, and half of the population live below the poverty line. Over the years, Nicaragua has been plagued with political turmoil, guerrilla wars, and natural disasters.

In 1998, Hurricane Mitch (a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 180 mph) took 10,000 lives in Nicaragua. The people living in the region devastated by Hurricane Mitch lost everything, but those things that were loss proved to be gain for the many who later gave their lives to Christ. Following Hurricane Mitch, two churches were planted in Nicaragua: La Capilla del Calvario, in Managua (“CC Managua”) and Capilla Calvario in San Juan de Limay (“CC San Juan de Limay”).  Cal Stuebner is the pastor of CC Managua, and Vicente Gomez is the pastor of CC San Juan de Limay. Both are dear friends who have been faithfully serving the Lord and the people of Nicaragua since 1999.

Over the years, we have watched our friends in Nicaragua persevere through political upheaval, famines, draughts, financial difficulties, illnesses, and turnover. Despite frugal living and serious efforts to establish tent ministries, these ministries have no choice but to continue to rely on donations and short and long term missionaries. Steve and I were delighted to have the opportunity to minister once again in Nicaragua this year.

CC Managua

CC Managua is located in Barrio Santa Ana, the poorest section of Managua, Nicaragua’s capital city.  Since its start in 2000, CC Managua has been faithful to share the gospel, to teach the Word of God, and to minister to the physical and emotional needs of the people. With only 2 full-time staff members, CC Managua relies heavily on short term and long term missionaries who minister alongside of Cal and volunteers from the church.

In addition to the church, which has two bible studies each week, a night of prayer, a youth ministry, and a recently-added foundations class, CC Managua funds and operates a Christian elementary school attended by 135 children. Most of these children would be unable to attend this school without the church’s financial assistance.

From its inception, CC Managua has ministered to people in La Chureca (“the dump”). Although it has been 12 years since we first visited the dump, the sights, sounds, and smells from our first visit remain etched in my mind:

• Children sleeping on trash, wrapped in plastic bags as their only blankets;
• People frantically raking through burning trash with their hands looking for something to eat or recycle;
• Gangs hovering near the entrance to the dump, attacking cars that appear to contain items of value;
• Satan verbally assaulting us through a broken man as we shared the gospel with a mom and her kids; and
• Piles of waste around us igniting through spontaneous combustion and smoldering, reminding us of Gehenna.

Through many years of prayer and ministry in the dump, there has been much progress. Several hundred homes have been built for the people who once lived in the trash, and a recycling center now employs some of these people. The ground has been cleared of all trash, and the land has been redeemed. Our prayer is that many lives have been redeemed as well.

CC Managua also ministers to families living in “Tent City.” Tent City is a section of Managua where rural farmers and their families have set up tents and other makeshift houses. American fruit companies growing crops in Central America allegedly exposed tens of thousands of Central American farmers to toxic chemicals banned by the US EPA. Now, without work, and ill from exposure to the toxic substances, they are principally squatters in the City trying to secure health care from the government. Recently, the Nicaraguan Government has provided housing to replace the tents, but many of these people are still without work, food, medical care, and hope.

Ministry in Managua

During our week in Managua, we were able to minister at the church, near the dump, and in Tent City.

Throughout the week, Steve worked on a variety of projects at the church, including insulation, a hot water shower, auto mechanics, painting, and cleaning. While Steve and Cal worked on projects at the church and made plans for a team visit from CC San Juan Capistrano, I made preparations for a Ladies’ Tea which had metamorphosed into an evening dinner with tea, coffee, soft drinks, and cinnamon buns for dessert. In faith, we prepared gift bags and purchased and prepared food for 50 ladies, although only 26 ladies officially signed up to attend the event.

During the week, Steve and I joined Pastor Cal and a team from CC Chelmsford, walking door to door in the neighborhood near the dump, sharing the gospel, and encouraging and praying with the people. Almost everyone opened their doors to talk to us. We met a young man who listened intently as Steve shared the gospel and then prayed to receive Jesus. We left rejoicing. We spoke briefly to a young woman trapped in a lifestyle from which she seemed powerless to break free. Her eyes told us that she wanted to talk to us more, but the man in the house was becoming annoyed with her. Steve told her that her Father in heaven loved her in a way that no man ever could, and he asked her to consider giving her life to Jesus. We left the property to avoid further irritating the man inside the house, and prayed for Jesus to set her free. We also met and prayed with many Christians who needed strength, healing, and God’s provision.

We also made a house call to a family in Tent City to deliver a cane to an elderly lady. We met three lovely ladies and invited them to attend the Ladies’ Tea planned for later in the week. When it became clear they could not attend unless someone picked them up, we offered to do so. They seemed very excited about the opportunity to have fellowship with other Christians. I got to hold the elderly woman’s hand as she took her new cane for a test drive on the sidewalk, reminding me of the times that I helped my father walk with his walker. She was adorable.

Several days later when Cal and I arrived to pick them up for the Ladies’ Tea, we found them waiting for us, dressed in their Sunday best. Excited to see we had kept our word, they clapped when they saw the church van pull up to the curb.

On the night of the Ladies Tea, we had severe thunderstorms starting about 2 hours before the event and continuing well into the evening.  Because so many ladies walk, ride public buses, or motos, we were concerned that the ladies would not be able to make it to the event. To our surprise, we welcomed 65 ladies!

Steve worked in the kitchen to get the food and drinks ready for the evening.

After worship and a message entitled “Rest,” from Matthew 11:28-30, the ladies were served a delicious meal, drinks, and desserts, at their tables, by Pastors Cal and Steve, and CC Managua’s youth team. It was so cool to shower these ladies with love, to serve them, and to watch them enjoy the little things that we so often take for granted in the U.S. Most of these ladies have never attended a tea or seen matching floral napkins, plates, and cups.

After dinner, I went table to table to greet the ladies and to thank them for coming. Many of them had wrapped up some portion of their dinner or dessert, most likely, to share with someone at home.

Steve lovingly delivered a message to a full house on Sunday morning.  He exhorted us to keep our eyes upon Jesus so that we can finish our race well. He shared examples from the bible of men who started the race but did not finish well, and he spoke concerning the danger of allowing the distractions of this world to take us away from our first love.

During the week, we visited CC Managua’s elementary school and met Carolina, the school’s director. The children were adorable in their uniforms and the property was orderly and clean and an excellent representation of our Lord.  We also had the chance to visit Nicaragua Christian Academy (“NCA”), a Christian school located just outside Managua. Pastor Cal’s wife, Jessica, is a teacher and mentor at NCA. NCA’s mission is to equip children of Christian parents with the spiritual discernment, the moral courage and the academic excellence to impact society through Christian living motivated by a heartfelt love for God.

Nicaragua’s only hope for change is Jesus, and the best possible way to reach this country for the Lord is through its kids.

Dominick Principe

We met a new friend and brother in Lord in Managua who is serving at a drug and alcohol rehab center in Costa Rica. Dominick could use some men to help in this ministry. He said that last month, they had to turn away 45 men seeking admittance. Men, please pray about serving in Costa Rica with Dominick. If you want to contact Dominick to learn more about his ministry, please let us know. Please also keep Dominick in your prayers.

Visit to CC San Juan de Limay

San Juan de Limay is a small village near the Honduras border, approximately 195 kilometers from Managua. This small northern town has narrow cobbled streets, routinely traversed by its residents on horses or bicycles. For many years, the only vehicles seen in this village were the ones driven by visiting missionary teams. Much of the church’s sustenance comes from raising animals and growing crops.

Following Hurricane Mitch, in 1999, Cal, Steve, and others were involved in relief work in San Juan de Limay. The relief work was funded by donations from the U.S. and overseen by an American missionary who hired construction workers to rebuild homes in the village. Each day, before any construction work began, the workers attended a bible study. Through this relief work, many came to faith in Jesus, including Vicente Gomez, who now serves as the pastor of CC San Juan de Limay.

In the Summer of 2001, Steve and I visited San Juan de Limay with a team of 18 from CC Rancho Santa Margarita. Throughout this trip, the Lord moved with the same power and palpable presence as He did in the early church. When we were not in service worshipping and studying the Word, we were sharing the Word with the lost, encouraging and exhorting our new brothers and sisters in the Lord, and praying for the miracles necessary for the people of this village. We saw many come to saving faith during these early years, and we bonded with the members of Vicente’s family and the church body. Over the years, we have returned to San Juan de Limay to teach and disciple the believers and to assist with various construction projects.

God founded His church in San Juan de Limay in 1999, and He has by His power sustained it over these years through many hardships. We were thankful for the opportunity to visit once again with Pastor Vicente and his wife, Claribel, their family, and other dear friends in this church. Please keep the precious families in San Juan de Limay in your prayers. Specifically, please pray that Pastor Vicente will be able to attend this year’s Central American Pastors’ Conference in Guatemala, and for the Lord to cause many in the village to desire the sound teaching of the Word of God.

What’s Next?

On September 16, 2013, Pastors Gary Kusunoki and Steve will lead a team from CC San Juan Capistrano to Nicaragua. The team will serve at CC Managua and visit CC San Juan de Limay. Please pray that their time in Nicaragua will bear much fruit.

The ministries operated by CC Managua and CC San Juan de Limay are ministries that belong to God, not to man. We believe that what they need, God will provide and, indeed, He has done so faithfully over the years.  If, however, you have a desire to serve or to support any of these ministries, in any way, please let us know, and we will gladly provide you with further information.

“If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”  Isaiah 58:10-11

“And now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.”  1 Thess. 3:11

Hello Friends.

Last week, we left Provo Island after spending 6 weeks there.  Saying goodbye to our new friends at Harvest Bible Chapel was very difficult. The Lord truly knit our hearts together with Pastor Tim Rezac and his wife Patty, and others from the church body.  We hope to share more about Provo Island and Harvest Bible Chapel soon, but, in the meantime, we wanted to send our travel schedule to you and ask for your continued prayers.

8/3 to 8/10  — Florida — We were warmly received by all at Calvary Chapel Brandon, including Pastors Marc Orozco, Mark Compton and Pete Randall.  We met old time friends of Janet and Mike Callahan (Pat and Barb Kaneuske).  We had the chance to say hello and get hugs from Justin and Megan Cate.  We were also able to join in prayer as CC Brandon sent forth a missions team to Guatemala to serve with Potter’s Field Ministries.

Mid-week, we were blessed by an amazing message delivered by Pastor Bill Mobley at CC Gulf Coast.  We felt like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

8/10 to 8/14 — Virginia — We will have a chance to visit with Steve’s family and to attend Calvary Chapel Williamsburg.  Steve’s dad is 82 years young, and we are so thankful for the opportunity to spend time with him and with Steve’s sisters and brother.

8/14 to 8/19 — South Carolina — We will have the chance to visit with my sister who has just published her first book, “Gypsy Bags & Travelling Jackets.”  This is a story of her journey towards faith in Jesus and their adventures together.  It’s available through Amazon.

8/19 to 8/26 — Nicaragua — We will be visiting with long time friends, Pastor Cal and Jessica Stuebner at CC Managua, where we will host a ladies’ tea, “The Invitation,” on 8/24.  I will be teaching about Jesus’ invitation to us all in Matthew 11:28-30.  On 8/25, Steve will teach the congregation at CC Managua and then we will head to CC San Juan de Limay to visit Pastor Vicente Gomez, his wife, Claribel, and their congregation.  This is a church born out of relief work following Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

8/26 to 9/1 — Colombia — Steve and I will be joined by Karie Mattson and spend 5 days with missionary Jessica Mahoff who has served with YWAM in Bogota for many years now.  She is such a beautiful servant who radiates the love and joy of Christ.  We are so excited to finally have this opportunity to see her ministries.  Please pray for my ability to share with the young girls a message that will touch their hearts.

9/1 — California — Lord willing, we will return to our home, friends, and Bailey Dog in Southern California.

“But we brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.”  1 Thess. 2:17. While we do desire to see you and be together again, we look forward to the ministry that the Lord has left for us on this last leg of our journey.  So please pray for the Lord’s Spirit to be upon us as we continue this journey so that we might glorify Him in all that we do and say.  Please also pray for safety and good health.

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.”  Psalm 84:5.

After traveling 31,500 miles in 4 months, (35 different beds), it has been good to settle down for a few weeks on Provo Island, Turks & Caicos.  Here, we have had a chance to reflect on the Lord’s goodness and all of the ways that He has guided and blessed our journey.

Blessed in Thailand

During our visit to Thailand, we had a BBQ at a park with the children and leaders from Christian Happy Home in Chiangsaen. One precious little 8 year old whose name was “New” invited me to join her on the mat. Although she did not speak English and I did not speak Thai, we quickly became friends.  All during the evening, New took great care of me, bringing me different foods from the BBQ and then showing me how to eat them.

New and I played games and walked around the park together. As always, it was difficult to say goodbye to the children at the end of the evening.  But, it was especially difficult to say goodbye to New.  Long after we left Thailand, I found myself looking back at the few photos that I had of New and missing her.

On July 9, New went home to be with Jesus as a result of an accident.  As we mourn her loss with the folks at Mercy Ministries Foundation, we thank God for the blessing of meeting New.  Even at her young age, her gift of hospitality, love, and servant’s heart deeply touched our lives.

Blessed in Germany

Our trip to Germany was shortened due to the devastating floods that hit this region earlier this summer.  As we altered our plans, we often had the sense of being led through Germany by the hand of God.  All throughout Germany, we encountered helpers who spoke enough English to direct us and answer our questions. In one city, St. Goar, we were met at a train by a man who told us that we should get back on the next train and move on because the downtown area was under water. While it might not seem like much, this warning kept us from hauling our heavy bags off the train platform and into town.

Upon our arrival in Mainz, the next city, we learned that one of our favorite artists, Marc Chagall, had designed and overseen the manufacture of the stained glass windows of St. Stephan’s church. What a blessing the Lord had in store for us as we explored and learned the history of St. Stephan’s church and the Chagall windows.  Chagall started this work at age 91 and performed much of his work without charge. Chagall stated that he wanted the windows to symbolize the bond between Jews and Christians, and the friendship between France and Germany, “to the glory of God.”

In Rothenburg ob de Tauber, we learned that two men were responsible for the preservation of this remarkably beautiful medieval city. Rothenburg held a special significance for Nazi ideologists. For them, it was the epitome of the German ‘Home Town’, representing all that was quintessentially German. During WWII, Nazi solders were stationed in Rothenburg to defend it. Although the Nazis were facing defeat in March 1945, Hitler had commanded all of his generals not to give up any of the cities and to fight until the end. Despite Nazi resistance, the U.S Assistant Secretary of War ordered his general not to use artillery in taking Rothenburg because he was aware of the historic importance and beauty of Rothenburg. Instead, the U.S. general was ordered to attempt to negotiate a surrender of the Nazis, if possible.

Courageously, the Nazi commander in Rothenburg made the decision to ignore Hitler’s order and to give up Rothenburg voluntarily, saving it from destruction. American troops occupied the town on April 17, 1945, and, today, Rothenburg is a remarkably beautiful and well-preserved medieval city.

As we walked the old stone wall which still surrounds Rothenburg today, marking the various gates and towers along the way, we met a charming man who was the master of the tower keep.  We took some time to visit with him and learned that he was born in Rothenburg before WWII.  His eyes revealed an inner strength and peace that touched us.

Blessed in Paris

After travelling throughout many countries in Europe, we passed back through Paris for 3 days before heading to the Netherlands and Great Britain. During our final 3 days, we rode bicycles, enjoyed a dinner cruise on the Seine River, visited St. Stephan’s in the Latin Quarter, climbed the Arc de Triomphe, and strolled down the Champs-Elysees to sit in the Tuilleries Garden.  As we said goodbye to Paris, the Lord made each of these traditional tourist spots special for us.

On our last evening in Paris, we ate at our favorite restaurant in the Latin Quarter, La Maison de Verlaine, named for the French poet who lived above it.  Verlaine’s apartment was later rented by Ernest Hemingway when Hemingway was a young writer. As our final evening in Paris was drawing to an end, the owner of the restaurant warmly embraced us, and after spending some time together, he shared a famous Verlaine poem with us, “The Exquisite Hour.”

In his poem, the poet encourages: “Let us dream – it is the hour.” This statement seemed to sum up perfectly how we were both feeling about Paris and the ability the Lord had given us to live out our dream.  It is also a reminder of Romans 13:11-12, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand.  Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”

Blessed in The Netherlands

Long before we left the United States, we planned to visit Corrie Ten Boom’s house in Haarlem.  For those of you who don’t know the name, Corrie Ten Boom and her family were Dutch Christians who helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II and were imprisoned for it.  Corrie was the sole survivor, released from the concentration camp due to a clerical error, and she went on to be used mightily by God.  As a new Christian, I was given her book, “Amazing Love,” which is truly a “must read” book.  In addition, we had planned to visit Steve’s cousin, William and his wife, Cheral, who live in Amersfoort.

Even the best-made plans, however, sometime go awry. First, we learned that the express train we had planned to take from Paris to Amsterdam was booked.  Next, we were advised that if we were going to reach Amsterdam by early evening, we would have to take 8 trains, 2 with 5-minute connections. Receiving this news at the train station at o’dark thirty on Saturday morning meant that we would miss the tour of Corrie Ten Boom’s house. The museum closes at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and does not re-open until Tuesday morning.  But, we had a ferry to catch to England on Tuesday morning.  So, as we turned our attention towards the aggressive train schedule ahead of us, with the hope that we would still reach William and Cheral in Amersfoort in time for dinner, I quietly offered up our plan to see Corrie Ten Boom’s house to the Lord, trusting that He who is in control of our lives had a purpose in this change of plans.

On our 2nd of 8 trains, the conductor took a look at our train schedule and gave us a new route which cut out 4 of the 8 trains.  This meant less wear and tear on our bodies, a timely arrival to Amersfoort, and the ability to keep our dinner plans with William and Cheral.  While we were waiting for William to meet us at the train station, I double checked the Corrie Ten Boom website to confirm that the museum was indeed closed on Sundays and Mondays.  Then, I sent a quick email request to the museum to explain our situation and to ask whether there was any chance we could get into the museum on Monday.

Our visit with William and Cheral was a blessing to both of us.  Steve had not seen William since they were young boys, and I had never met William or Cheral.  We had so much fun getting to know one another.  It was also nice to have a “home” for the entire weekend, complete with an awesome dog (Mollie) and home-cooked meals prepared together.

On Sunday, we attended the Holy Trinity Anglican Church with William and were delighted to worship again in English and to partake of communion with family.  We also had the opportunity to meet Andrew Tucker, Executive Director of Christians for Israel International, and to learn more about this ministry.

When we returned “home” from church, we had a surprise email waiting for us from the Corrie Ten Boom museum. The email explained that there were a few exceptional Mondays, 2 or 3 times a year, when the museum was opened for private tours and the upcoming Monday was such an exceptional day.  The email advised us that we could join the private tour in the afternoon or, if we wanted to come early, we could have our very own private tour in the morning.

We arrived at Corrie Ten Boom’s house at 10:00 a.m. sharp where we were greeted with these words, “This is a historical day!”  Our guide then explained that the museum had never been opened on a Monday morning. We started our tour of the Ten Boom home playing the family piano in the living room and singing “You Are My Hiding Place.”  She shared how she came to saving faith through Corrie Ten Boom’s book, “Amazing Love,” and how the Lord later healed her, raising her from a wheelchair.

As we toured the house, our guide shared this family’s faith and their love for the Jewish people, a love which originated with Corrie Ten Boom’s grandfather who taught his family to honor the Lord’s Word to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” from Psalm 122:6.  Throughout our private 2 hour tour of the Ten Booms’ home and lives, we were moved to tears repeatedly, as we reflected not only on the goodness and faithfulness of our God, but, also, on this family’s faith and witness for Jesus. The guides at the museum clearly understand their calling to continue the ministry started long ago by the Ten Boom family.

At the end of our tour, we were blessed to pray with and for our tour guide and the director of the museum for their continuing ministry.  The next several hours after our tour were spent quietly as we reflected on all the Lord had taught us.

Blessed in England

“Welcome home,” said the Ferry Porter as we checked in to our ferry to England.  Later, we were upgraded to a queen cabin with window and fruit basket.

Driving through the English countryside, we passed a church in a small town that was not on our agenda.  There was some sense of activity at the church that caused us to notice it.  We parked and went inside Winchcombe Methodist Church for a visit. As it turns out, Pastor Steve and his elders open up the church during the week offering free coffee and cookies and prayers to those who are just passing by.  We had a great visit with Pastor Steve and were encouraged by him and his faith in Jesus.  Pastor Steve is one of the inter-denominational Street Pastors in the UK and he shared with us how this ministry is being used to bring visibility to “the church” of Jesus Christ.

In York, we were blessed by a great night of fellowship, prayer and Indian food with Dr. Ben, who we met in Cambodia, and his wife Katherine. Dr. Ben gave Steve the great news that the severe pain he had been experiencing in his chest was a pulled muscle near the sternum that would heal in time.  Thank you, Dr. Ben, and all of you who have been praying for him.  Steve is nearly pain free.

Blessed To Be Here

We will be on Provo Island, in Turks & Caicos, until August 3. We have been lovingly received by Pastor Tim, his family, and the entire church body at Harvest Bible Chapel.

We have enjoyed several Sunday services, communion, a men’s bible study, and a prayer and praise night together and we are looking forward to our island BBQ and baptism.

Please continue to pray for opportunities to share the gospel and to minister to the saints.

We will write more about our adventures on Provo Island in the weeks ahead.

Looking Ahead

We are looking forward to a very active August.  Among other things, we will be visiting Calvary Chapel Brandon, Florida, and our families in South Carolina and Virginia.  Then, we will head to Nicaragua and Colombia to serve alongside of Pastor Cal and Jessica Stuebner (Nicaragua) and Jessica Mahoff (Colombia).  More details and prayer requests will follow.

As we continue to reflect on all we have experienced and all the people we have met around the world, Corrie Ten Boom’s words come to mind:  “Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for a future that only He can see.”  We are so thankful for this journey and especially for the Lord’s presence with us each step of the way.

“My presence will go with you.  I’ll see the journey to the end.”  Exodus 33:14

“The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”  Zephaniah 3:27

Recently, we spent 3 days with Pastor Clint and Rhoda Pickens, their 3 children (Caleb, Hope and Josiah) and Pillar Community Church. We wished it could have been 3 weeks. We had a very difficult time saying goodbye, especially to the little Pickens who are as sold out for Jesus as their mom and dad.

Pastor Clint and Rhoda Pickens are missionaries to Wales. Clint is from the U.S. and his wife, Rhoda, is from England. Clint has been in the U.K. since 1997. For many years, and at great personal costs, Clint and Rhoda have prayed and labored tirelessly to reach the lost for Jesus and to teach and disciple the next generation. Knowing some of their struggles and spiritual battles over the years, we were delighted to see so much life and fruit flowing from this ministry.

Pillar Community Church is a community of believers, alive and active in Swansea, Wales, and beyond. The leadership at Pillar Community Church is committed to following the Lord closely in their personal lives; creating a church environment marked by communion and compassion for one another; and reaching out to the world in a contemporary and relevant way, without compromising the Word of God. It’s a great vision statement to be sure, but we saw firsthand that the Lord is making the vision real.

Serving alongside of Clint and Rhoda are missionaries, Sol and Misha Goremano. Clint met and began discipling Sol in England when Sol was involved in youth ministry. Sol has been faithfully serving alongside of Clint for many years now. Sol met his beautiful wife, Misha, when she came to Wales from California on a mission trip. Now, the two of them are serving the Lord together. Misha and Sol shared with us that their vision is from Mathew 6:33 (seek first the Kingdom of God) and Mathew 28:20 (teaching them to observe all things). The joy of the Lord radiates from this young couple.

On Friday night, we attended Rock Steady, a youth ministry led by Nigel and Leane Marshall. Nigel, Leane and their 3 children, Taylor, Georgia, and Jordan, welcomed us into their lives. Their love for the Lord and the youth was evident. In addition to the ministry at Pillar Community Church, Nigel serves with Street Pastors. Street Pastors is an inter-denominational church response in the U.K. to urban problems, whereby spiritually mature Christians engage with people on the streets between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. to care, listen, dialogue and pray.

After prayer and a time of sports, the 30 plus Rock Steady youth settled down for a thought-provoking message delivered by James New. James is definitely a gifted teacher, and adults and youth alike gave him their full attention. As a special gift, Taylor Marshall (age 12) played the guitar and sang a worship song for us. She is an amazingly gifted musician, and we pray that the Lord will open the doors for her to develop and use her gifts.

Among the people behind the scenes making it all work, Rob Jones is serving as a volunteer church administrator. Rob is a teacher and a servant, and it was great to get to know him. We also met Andy and Carys who lead Blaze Youth, and Aaron Miller who is faithfully studying and proclaiming the Word of God, and Phil Collins who is leading the street witnessing ministry. And, there are many others serving at Pillar who made us feel loved during our visit.

On Saturday, we had fun hanging out at the Pickens. Then, Clint and Rhoda went out for a date night and we stayed with the kids.

On Sunday, Sol and Misha led the church in worship, and English never sounded so good! At Pillar, the children stay in the sanctuary during worship, and we could not help but smile when we heard Caleb, Hope, and Josiah worshipping the Lord with all of their hearts.

Steve encouraged the church to keep their eyes on Jesus. He spoke concerning the danger of allowing the distractions of this world to take us away from our first love, and he challenged the church to lay down those activities and affections which are clearly not from the Lord. Following his message, two young ladies prayed to give their lives to Jesus.

Pillar Community Church has a brilliant format on Sundays.The church sits at tables of six for worship and the message. Each table is equipped with coffee and tea service. At the end of the service, fresh baked goods are delivered to the tables. Then, the folks at the tables introduce themselves to one another and discuss the 3 or 4 sermon related questions posted on the screen. We loved the format so much that we found ourselves hoping that the church does not outgrow it.

After the group discussions, we spoke to and prayed with as many of the church body as possible. We met quite a few mature Christians from different backgrounds who love Clint’s passion for the Lord, the lost, and the Word of God. We then enjoyed a delightful afternoon eating Welsh food and fellowshipping with the church leadership.

There are many doors opening for Pillar Community Church and much work to be done. We hope you will visit the church’s creative website (www.pillarcc.co.uk) and pray about getting involved in this work in Swansea, Wales.

Please pray for our safety as we travel through the United Kingdom. We are travelling by rental car now, and, therefore, we are sitting and driving on the “other” side of the road! For the next couple of days, we will be in The Cotswolds. It is a beautiful and peaceful region of England.

On Friday (6/14), we will travel to Swansea, Wales, to spend time with Clint and Rhoda Pickens. Clint is a missionary from the United States and the pastor of Calvary Chapel Swansea. We will attend the church’s home fellowship on Friday evening, spend the day with Clint and Rhoda and their little ones on Saturday, and, Steve will teach at CC Swansea on Sunday morning. CC Swansea has many new believers, mostly in their 20’s and under, with some coming out of rough backgrounds, including homosexuality, drugs, and the occult. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will lead us in all of our interactions with the church body. Please pray that we will recognize and stand strong against all spiritual attacks. Please pray that Steve’s message will be an encouragement to the church, and please pray for those who have not yet believed in Jesus to respond to the gospel message.

On Monday (6/17), we will travel to York, England, to spend time with Dr. Ben and Katherine Sinclair. You may remember our mention of Dr. Ben from an earlier post about a medical outreach in Cambodia. Dr. Ben and Katherine have been serving as short-term missionaries to Cambodia for many years, and they have been praying for the Lord’s guidance with respect to a possible move there. Please pray for the Lord to encourage Dr. Ben and Katherine during our time together, and please pray for the Lord to make His will known to them.

After leaving York, we will spend 2 days in London before we fly to Providenciales Island, Turks & Caicos, on Saturday (6/22), where we plan to spend 5 weeks. Please pray for the Lord to guide and protect us during our time there.

At home, please pray for missionaries, Pastor Cal and Jessica Stuebner who will be visiting California from Nicaragua in June; Pastor Noboru and Julie Ichikawa who will be visiting California from Japan in July; and our friends, Kari and Stephanie, who are coordinating transportation for all of them during our absence.

Finally, please pray for our health. We have been in a lot of cold, moist weather while in Europe. For the past week, Steve has been suffering from a respiratory tract infection, accompanied by a sharp pain in one of his lungs. In addition, his lower back has been seriously bothering him. He is taking antibiotics, and they seem to be helping him, but your prayers for a full recovery would be greatly appreciated.

As always, thank you for going on this journey with us.

Stuffed Bailey’s Big Adventure

For most of our married life, Steve and I have had dogs that we love like children.  When we planned this lengthy trip, we had to make the difficult decision to leave behind our dog Bailey.  Bailey is a Maltese Poodle mix, heavy on the poodle, and as anyone who has ever owned a poodle knows, poodles are people.  Fortunately, the Lord provided two dear friends, Stephanie and Kari, who agreed to take care of Bailey, among other things. They have done a fantastic job, as evidenced by the video clips and photos that they send to us to show us all of Bailey’s activities. Now, our only concern is that, if given a choice, Bailey will choose to stay with Kari and Stephanie when we return to California in the Fall.

To ease the pain of traveling without Bailey, we (read “I”) have carried a Stuffed Bailey who does just about everything our Bailey would have done had she been able to travel with us. Since February, Stuffed Bailey has toured Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, France, Italy, and Hungary and made brief appearances in Myanmar and Laos.  At present, she is on a train to Salzburg, Austria.  Soon, she will be off to Germany, back to Paris, on to the Netherlands, Wales, and England.  From London, she will fly to Providenciales (“Provo”) Island, Turks & Caicos, and then, after a quick visit with family on the East Coast, she will travel to Nicaragua and Colombia.

The Two Shall Become One

Steve and I have been married 33 years.  Without a doubt, we are each other’s best friends. For as long as we have known one another, we have been traveling together, although our destinations and budgets have varied over the years.  We have moved across the country several times, served together on the mission field, and vacationed together around the world.  So, we were both surprised to find out that we are still very different.

For me, one of the most painful things to do is to wake up early and immediately start moving.  I am simply not a morning person.  I never have been.  My brother and sister will tell you that as a young child, they could not get me out of bed early even on Christmas morning.  Steve, on the other hand, is alert and ready to move before the sun rises.

For me, our hotel room is my home.  To sit still in the hotel room, or take long baths, or “nest” by re-arranging the items in my suitcase is both relaxing and enjoyable.  For Steve, our hotel room is a rest stop principally used for showers, sleep, and an occasional lunch.  Beyond the necessary activities, however, the hotel room quickly becomes a prison from which Steve must escape.

For me, to follow a map is torture.  Steve has a built-in GPS.  Steve is a mover, a do-er, and a planner.  I enjoy sitting still, reading, and meditating and, if allowed to do so, I would engage in these activities for hours.  If it were not for Steve, we would miss trains, arrive at destinations without hotel reservations, and be forced to eat at high-priced tourist restaurants instead of local cafes off the beaten paths. Actually, if were not for Steve, we would probably not be moving across Europe on trains at all, and we would have ridden in far more than 3 taxis during our 3.5 months of travel.

Spending 24 hours a day together, in hotels of about 200 square feet, for the past 15 weeks, with another 15 weeks to go, we have come to understand that the work of two becoming one is a lifelong process, and the Lord is still completing that process in us.  As we have had the opportunity to teach concerning marriage multiple times on this trip, we have our own messages for review should we need them!

Funny Moments

After spending 8 amazing days in Paris, we rented a car and spent a week driving from Paris through the gastronomical heart of France to the French Riviera where we caught a ferry across the Mediterranean to Corsica Island.  Some of our funniest moments happened during this drive.

Riding on the autoroutes, you take toll tickets at tollbooths and then stop at various intervals to pay them.  After changing freeways once and travelling for another 100 kilometers, we stopped to pay the toll, but, the automated machine would not take our ticket.  Sitting in one of 20 unmanned toll booths with traffic stopped behind us, we started to get anxious.  All of the instructions on the machines were in French, and we had no idea how we were going to get out of this jam.

Identifying a red panic button, we pushed it, and a live voice came on in French to ask how she could help us. Steve explained the problem in English. Trying to determine how much to charge us, the voice asked, “Where did you come from?”  Without hesitation, Steve proudly told her that we had come “from California.” Before he elaborated by adding “Aliso Viejo,” we realized she wanted to know where we had entered the toll road in order to calculate the toll.  This story and others like it have kept us laughing at ourselves.  We are daily reminded that we are strangers in a foreign land in need of God’s grace and mercy.

Ah Paris!

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it will stay with you.”   Ernest Hemingway

So true. We spent our first 8 days in Europe at a quaint Parisian hotel room overlooking gardens in full bloom, just blocks away from the Sorbonne in the Latin Quarter and immediately fell in love with France.

Paris is the most beautiful city in the world.  All throughout the city, there are flowers, hedges, trees, manicured plants, and lots of parks with benches, lakes, ducks, rowboats, old-fashioned carousels, and freshly spun cotton candy.  In addition to the city’s natural beauty, the Parisians have a way of integrating their art, old and new, into everything.  At every turn, there is a statute, ancient building, mural, bridge, or piece of art to be admired.

French food is amazing, but, you don’t have to spend buckets of money to enjoy it. You can buy outrageously fresh produce and vegetables and cheeses and freshly baked quiches and breads and croissants and pastries as you stroll through the streets and then sit down next to the ducks in a park and enjoy a feast of flavors.   We also enjoyed joining the Parisians for their regular 2-hour lunch break at the local cafes.

We lost ourselves at Versailles, the Louvre, and Notre Dame. We attended an international Sunday mass at Notre Dame where the service was performed in French, Spanish and English.  We were delighted to hear of a special exhibit of one of favorite artists, Marc Chagall, at Luxembourg Gardens, and, once again, hours passed as we considered his works.  We enjoyed strolling along the Seine River and through the Latin Quarter.  We sat on the street corner where “Midnight in Paris” was filmed and enjoyed listening to the church bells chime.  And, we joined hundreds of others at sunset to watch the lighting of the Eiffel Tower.

In Paris and beyond, we fell in love with the French people.  We never met a rude Frenchman or woman. Instead, we encountered a refined people with a rich cultural history, who exhibit remarkable grace and patience, and enjoy a national pride and a desire to share their culture with those who are willing to embrace it.  From the man who introduced us to the metro at the airport, to the lady who left her cash register to help us pump gas, to the toll booth voice who helped us get to the other side, to the cafe owners who shook our hands, to the older couples who wished us “bon appetit” as they strolled past us picnicking in the parks, we found France and the French people a true delight.

Corsica, Isle of Elba, and Budapest

Steve and I spent months at home planning the various destinations for our journey around the world.  We planned the first 2.5 months in Southeast Asia as missionary work, with an 8 day vacation in Paris, and then a mix of missions work and vacation for the balance of the trip.

Following our vacation in Paris and journey across France, we spent 6 days in Corsica.  As you know if you read my last post, Corsica, France, was added as a destination because of a dream that I had as a new Christian. While we were there, Steve had the opportunity to talk about the Lord with a young man, Stan, and we had the chance to pray for the priest and 5 people at a Catholic mass.  We never had a specific revelation as to any other purpose that the Lord might have for us there, but, the Island was truly a time of refreshment for both of us, and we hope to return to Corsica again.

Next, we visited the Italian Isle of Elba and Budapest, Hungary.  My father’s family, “the Mallini’s,” came to America from the Island of Elba.  My mother’s family, “the Pinte’s,” came to America from Budapest, Hungary. The Lord blessed our visit to these two destinations in small personal ways.

We attended church at Calvary Chapel Budapest and had the chance to meet Pastor Jim Metzger, who asked us to give his love to Pastor John and Michelle Randall and Pastor Dave Rolph.  We celebrated communion at CC Budapest for the first time since Good Friday at CC Poipet with Pastor Jeff Henneforth, and we thoroughly enjoyed the worship and teaching.  CC Budapest is 1,400 strong and growing, with a heart for evangelism and discipleship, and a full-time coffee house open to the public.  Everyone we met there made us feel like family.

Break It As Often As Possible

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”   Proverbs 16:9

Before Steve’s first trip to Europe in the early 1970’s, his father told him to make a plan and then break it has often as possible.  We have found this to be good advice.  To stay at nice, modestly priced hotels, they need to be researched and booked in advance.  To avoid spending money on taxis, you need to research and plan your stay around metro, trains and bus lines, or stay within walking distance of the town centers

However, in addition to our advanced planning, we have made several en route adjustments.  We loved Paris so much that we dropped Rome to add 3 more days in Paris.  We decided to skip Venice and head straight to Siena, Italy, an enchanting and romantic City with a Roman history that dates back to 70 A.D., and a major Gothic redo in the 1,400’s.  And, we added 3 extra days in Corsica so that we could truly experience the Island, which meant that we had to shorten our journey through Germany.

Pray for France and Italy

While in France, we saw a Christian movement especially in Paris and what seemed to us to be open hearts and doors for the gospel. We saw advertisements for an evangelical concert in France, but we were not able to make it to the event.  We also read that the French, especially the younger generation, are re-thinking how they view Christianity, and that one road block after another is being removed and there are now more open doors to have conversations about God, faith, and Jesus than Christian workers have seen in a long time.

While in Italy, we had the opportunity to talk at length with several Italians who spoke English.  It was a blessing to get to know these individuals and to learn more about Italy from their perspectives. One professional man from Rome came to our assistance at a train station and travelled with us for several hours, talking the entire time.  Another man was the owner of a cafe and another young couple was the owner of a small hotel.  Each of them shared with us that the government in Italy is corrupt and the people are suffering as a result.  We told them that we would pray for Italy and for the Lord to do a work there.

Future Missions Work

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”  2 Corin. 4:7

We will be visiting Pastor Clint and Rhoda Pickens in Wales, and missionary doctor Ben Sinclair in England.  Steve has been asked to teach at Calvary Chapel Swansea in Wales, so please pray for his message, and our time there.  We plan to visit Pastor Cal and Jessica Stuebner, Calvary Chapel Managua (where we hope to host a tea for the ladies and an Ironman-type dinner and message for the men), and Pastor Vicente Gomez, Calvary Chapel San Juan Limay, in Nicaragua, and missionary Jessica Mahoff in Colombia.  Please also pray for our upcoming 5 weeks on Provo Island (June 22 to July 27). We have a heart to coordinate with believers we previously met there to do some type of an outreach on the Island.  This would have to be coordinated mostly by email or with little advanced planning, so please pray for the Lord to open or close this door.  We also have a heart to visit Japan and Africa, but, we are not certain whether we should plan to do that before heading back to California or later next year.

One In The Spirit

We miss Pastor John’s teaching, and the worship and fellowship at CC San Juan Capistrano, but we are so thankful for this opportunity to experience other cultures, to meet others involved in the Lord’s work, and to report back to you, the body of Christ.  Thank you for every prayer, email message, and Facebook post, and thanks to each of you who have made donations to the ministries we have written about on this blog.  We truly appreciate all that you have done to encourage us in this journey.

Please keep all of the missionaries we have written about previously and those who appear on the “Mission Field” page of this blog in your prayers.  Your prayers truly make a different in the work that is being done around the world.

Finally, thank you for your service to the Lord.  We are keeping up with your work and praying for you too.

When I first became a Christian 15 years ago, my life was in shambles. In my desperation, I cried out to the Lord, and He was faithful to rush in like a flood and forever change my life.

During these early months, I often woke knowing that the Lord had been instructing me or ministering to my spirit. I did not always awake with an understanding of what the Lord had spoken to me. I only had a sense of having spent time with Him. Sometimes I would wake up with the melody or the words of a praise song still running through my mind as though I had been worshipping the Lord. I still recall how excited I was when I first read Psalm 16:7-8 and learned that the Lord ministers to His people in the night seasons: “I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel. My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”

Once I awoke with the sense of having received information or instruction from the Lord concerning the Island of Corsica. In my sleep, an ancient, fatherly man was explaining something to me while pointing to Corsica on a map. When I woke, I recorded the dream in my journal, looked up the name “Corsica” to see whether it appeared in the bible, and asked others concerning the Island’s significance, if any.

Today, Steve and I are on the Island of Corsica. What, if anything awaits us here beyond the beauty of this Island, I do not know. I do know that the Lord speaks to His people, sometimes in dreams, and I have never lost the sense that this dream was a message from Him.

Corsica is a large island, and we had no sense of which of the cities we should visit here. However, just before we left Vietnam, we met a French man in Saigon who was from Corsica. When we told him that we were going to visit Corsica, he told us that we must go to Calvi, so Calvi it is! Initially, we planned to spend 3 days here, but, after only a couple of hours in Calvi, we decided to extend our stay another 3 days. Please pray for us to hear clearly from the Lord and to be used while we are here in Corsica.

Also during my early days of learning to walk closely with the Lord, He spoke the verses below from Job 22:21-30 into my life:

“Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace,
Thereby good will come to you.
Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up,
You will remove iniquity far from your tents.
Then you will lay your gold in the dust,
and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.
Yes, the Almighty will be your gold
And your precious silver;
For then you will have your delight in the Almighty,
And lift up your face to God.
You will make your prayer to Him.
He will hear you,
And you will pay your vows.
You will also declare a thing,
And it will be established for you;
So light will shine on your ways.
When people are brought low, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’
Then He will save the downcast person.
He will even deliver one who is not innocent;
Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.”

Eliphaz was wrong in giving this advice to Job because he did not understand what the Lord was doing in Job’s life, but, the Lord knew precisely what was going on in my life when He spoke these words to me. Through God’s grace and faithfulness, I have seen each of the promises in these verses fulfilled in my life, except for the last verse, which I sense is yet to be fulfilled. In praying over our journey to Corsica recently, I wondered whether it might be here that the final verse, Job 22:30, will be brought to pass by the Lord: “He will even deliver one who is not innocent. Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.”

In reading through these verses again, I was reminded of God’s faithfulness and all that He has done in our lives. He became sin who knew no sin so that we might become His righteousness. He humbled Himself and carried the cross. Love so amazing. Love so amazing, that the cry of our heart should always be:

Take my life
I lay it down
At the cross where I am found
All I have I give to you O God

Take my hands and make them clean
Keep my heart in purity
That I may walk in all you have for me

Take my moments and my days
Let each breath that I take
Be ever only for you O God

Here I stand arms open wide
I am yours and you are my
Mine.

In Vietnam, freedom of religion is technically protected by the constitution.  However, followers of faiths not sanctioned by the Government are subject to persecution.  One such faith is Protestant Christianity.  As a result, nearly all evangelical Christians must operate their ministries and churches “underground” in Vietnam.

Steve and I first became involved in ministry in Vietnam in 2006 after Steve met an American couple that had retired and moved to Saigon to assist the underground church.  Our friends and the people who serve with them have been persecuted —  some even imprisoned multiple times — because of their practice of Christianity.

When Steve and I planned this journey, we wanted to spend significant time in Vietnam.  We planned to visit our friends and their ministries in Saigon.  We also hoped to make new relationships in the underground church.  In addition, we wanted to explore Vietnam and learn more about its history, people, and culture.   Although there were some challenges along the way, we left Vietnam on April 28th with a sense that we had accomplished each of these objectives.

During our journey through Vietnam, we experienced dramatically different regions, climates, and people groups.  We moved slowly through the country from North to South, spending time in Ha Noi, Ha Long Bay, Sa Pa, Da Nang, Nga Trang and Saigon.  We travelled by planes, rickety old trains, and a variety of boats, buses and vans.  We hiked the mountains, walked the busy streets of the old walled cities, visited former war sites, swam at the beaches, road “cyclos” through the French Quarter, and clandestinely visited ministries on a rented “moto.”  We even spent a day at the Cu Chi tunnels used by the Viet Minh during the “American War,” as the Vietnamese commonly refer to it.

We started our journey in Ha Noi.  Ha Noi is a blend of the exotic charm of old Asia, the developing face of a contemporary Asia, and the remnants of the French and Catholic influence.  In 2010, Ha Noi turned 1,000 years old.  Its Old Quarter still consists of the same 36 specialized trade streets which surrounded the ancient palace.  One street is dedicated to china, one to fish, one to silver, one to shoes, etc.  In addition to the established storefronts, there are hundreds of sidewalk vendors selling everything under the sun, and hawkers who walk the streets trying to get you to buy goods or services from them.  Ha Noi has a population of 6 million people, most of whom ride motos, and it seemed as though they all converge on the streets of Ha Noi simultaneously every day.

While in Ha Noi, we spent time with several young professionals who freely voiced the view that their country’s Government was not good for the people.  Trying to build a bridge with them, I too complained about my country’s Government.  However, as soon as the words left my mouth, I knew it was not a fair comparison.  We also had a chance to interact with the older generation, and we were constantly amazed at how well we were received by them.  America heavily bombed Ha Noi, the capital of North Vietnam, during the war, yet we encountered no hostility from either generation.

From Ha Noi, we took a trip to Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay is an enchanting natural wonder.  We listened with fascination as our guide shared stories about the Vietnamese.  Our guide told us that the Vietnamese believe their deceased ancestors have power to bring good fortune and to protect the family.  As a result, almost every Vietnamese household maintains an altar to worship or commemorate his or her ancestors.  Many merchants sell votive papers that represent various gifts such as motorbikes, cars, houses, clothes, and money.  The paper is purchased and then burned in the form of an offering to the dead ancestors.

We also learned that many of the Vietnamese do not have a single religion.  Instead, their belief system seems to be a mix of fate, luck, Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, and mythology.  Remarkably, the Catholicism brought in by the French who conquered and harshly ruled Vietnam for almost 100 years is accepted by the Government.  At the same time, the Government “teaches” that Jesus Christ is America’s God and, thus, the Vietnamese are not allowed to follow Him.  Of course, this makes you wonder who the Government thinks the Vietnamese Catholics are worshipping.

We were also confronted with a significant disparity in the social and economic status and rights of the people despite Vietnam’s professed socialist state.  Seeing the black Rolls Royce in the driveway of a beach front home with private security reminded us of George Orwell’s book, “Animal Farm,” and the ultimate result of a corrupt Government.  All are equal, but, some are more equal than others.  Capitalism is indeed alive and well in Vietnam, but, only those in power are prospering from it.

We explored the beautiful mountains and countryside of Sa Pa that several indigenous tribes have called home for 1,000 years.  In Sa Pa, we met several of Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups.  Chief among these tribes are the Black Hmong, so named primarily because of their black dress.  They live simply, farming the steep mountainous region.  However, with the advent of tourism, some members of these tribes have reinvented themselves as hawkers of handmade trinkets and textile goods. They are the genuine “native'” inhabitants of the area, and they clearly regard all of the political nonsense that has been going on in Vietnam for the past 1,000 years as background noise.  People invade and leave; governments come and go.  Our guide told us that many of the Hmong Tribe, of which he was a part, believed in Jesus, but they have no church and no one to teach them the bible.

Before we left Cambodia for Vietnam, a large team led by North Coast Calvary Chapel came to Poipet to serve with Mercy Ministries Foundation.  The entire team encouraged and refreshed us in so many ways.  Two of the team members were Vietnamese, one from Da Nang and the other from Saigon. While we were in Vietnam, we had the chance to spend more time with these men and their families, and to learn about their ministries.  One of the two men was formerly a petroleum engineer and his wife was formerly a university professor.  These young professionals gave up their careers to serve as full-time missionaries in Vietnam.  The other man was a 10 time national body building champion.  He too has laid down this pursuit to serve the Lord.

These men now lead a flourishing sports ministry, which has reached hundreds of youth and adults not only in Vietnam, but throughout several closed countries in S.E. Asia.  This unique approach to ministry combines the coaching of various sports with the teaching of biblical truths.  The team members not only attend practice, they participate in devotions and bible studies.  While in Da Nang, we attended one of the practice sessions and met one of the soccer teams.  About half of the soccer team has accepted Jesus.

While in Saigon, we were also able to visit our dear friends who support and care for over 500 children.  They are affiliated with a multitude of underground churches of various denominations, and they stand in the gap for little ones who have been orphaned, abandoned, or physically abused.  They ensure that these children are fed, clothed, housed, loved, educated, and raised to know the love of Jesus.

We also had the opportunity to visit one housemother and some of her 20 children supported by our friends.  She is 62 years old, so she asked us to pray for the Lord to raise up a younger mom to continue the ministry and for the Lord to give her the strength and health necessary to raise these little ones.

Another of our friends’ ministries rescues unborn children by offering moms an alternative to abortion.  Our friends explain the origin of life and teach these moms the truth about their unborn babies.  They offer the moms free medical care and room and board until the child is born.  If the mom does not want to keep her baby after he or she is born, our friends assume responsibility for the child.  We had the privilege of visiting one of the several babies homes, and buying ice cream and visiting with some of kids cared for by our friends.

For security reasons, we have not disclosed the names of these fellow servants.  If you have a desire to learn more about any of their ministries, please contact us.   Please also pray for their continued physical and spiritual needs.

For America, the Vietnam War is over.  For Vietnam, it is not.  Its people are still involved in a struggle for political, economic and religious freedom.  For me, Vietnam has been forever changed from the black and white images of my youth into a country of living color in desperate need of Jesus.

“If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?” — David Livingstone

Our nearly 3 weeks in Vietnam have been extremely difficult for me.

Perhaps it is because we have been away from our home church and fellowship for over 2 months now.

Or, it might be the stress of constantly avoiding millions of moving motorcycles — on the streets, on the sidewalks, and just about everywhere else you might imagine — where the only rule of the road is size matters, and the victor in the battle for the right-of-way seems to belong to the one who blows the horn the longest.

Maybe, it is because I have spent a significant part of the last 18 days walking single file behind my husband because whatever sidewalks are available are used to park the millions of motorcycles, or to set up make-shift “restaurants” and “stores” to sell everything under the sun.

There is also the constant inner struggle between the heart break for those desperately trying to eke out a living selling or begging for your business and the frustration of receiving unrelenting offers by well meaning hawkers who cannot take “no” for an answer.

Of course, we are also still recovering from leaving behind our home, our dog, and our friends and ministries in the U.S. and, most recently, in Thailand and Cambodia.

Add to these things the language barrier, the change in diet, the heat and humidity, living out of suitcases that must be kept locked at all times, and a smattering of viruses, and you have the customary experience of every missionary who has ever left home and country to share the gospel.  This is the reason every missionary needs a strong core group at home, as Neal Pirolo discusses in “Serving as Senders,” a book that we highly recommend for those going into the mission field and those responsible for missionary care.

Steve and I are grateful for you, our friends and family, who regularly pray for us and write to us.   We are also thankful for this opportunity to experience firsthand the costs that so many others have paid to share the gospel abroad.  May God bless His ambassadors with physical, emotional, and spiritual stamina, a supernatural love for the people that they have been called to serve, and the blessings of a supportive and praying church.

A friend recently asked me, “what is Vietnam like?”  We hope to answer that question in future posts.  Vietnam is a country of remarkable contrasts, and we have experienced much of it during the past 18 days.  We have 1 more week in country, and we are hopeful that with your prayers and the Lord’s help, we will accomplish, learn, and experience all that He has for us.

“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me and all the Gentiles might hear.”  2 Timothy 4:17

Two weeks ago, we drove past a young lady lying dead on the street after her motorcycle collided head-on with a truck.  For a moment, we hoped she was not someone we knew from the ministries in Cambodia.  But, with that thought came a more somber one.  If she was not, she most likely died without the Lord.  Less than 2% of Cambodia’s population profess faith in Jesus Christ.

This would not be the last time that the Lord would impress upon our hearts the urgency of sharing with others that they have only one life on earth, and the choice of where they spend eternity — heaven or hell — must be made here before it is too late.

For one week, Steve and I had the privilege of leading the morning devotions for 35-40 Cambodian Hope Organization (CHO) staff.  After teaching from the story of Mary and Martha about the importance of sitting at Jesus’ feet for His guidance, Steve and I felt led to go with a CHO team heading out to a village for a medical outreach.  On our way to the outreach with Dr. Ben (a UK Christian doctor who volunteers his time in Cambodia), we talked about how serving in Cambodia had changed our perspectives.  Dr. Ben said that ministry in Cambodia is like triage on a battlefield.  There is a single purpose — to save lives.

We saw as many people as possible at the medical clinic that day, and prayed for each one of them.  So many are without the resources to go see the required specialists or to get further medical treatment.  At the medical outreach, Steve shared the gospel, and many prayed to receive the Lord.  We were so blessed to have answered the Lord’s call to go that morning.

It is amazing how many opportunities there have been to teach the Word of God, to share the gospel, to disciple and train Christian leaders, and to show the love of God to orphans, homeless, at-risk kids, and the poorest of the poor living without hope.

In one month, we taught concerning the fundamentals of a Godly marriage (twice); the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit; the character traits of a Godly leader; the significance of Passion Week; the importance of a devotional life; the need to keep our eyes on Jesus; and the church’s call to share the gospel.  We have had many discussions concerning accountability, the priority of the Word of God, vision, and discipling others.  In addition to teaching, Steve resolved various engineering, plumbing, and mechanical problems at Mercy Ministries Foundation (MMF) and Safe Haven (CHO), and we both worked with CHO’s Executive Leadership on the organization’s vision, protocols, and key documents.  We also had the opportunity to spend quality time talking and praying with the next generation of leaders in both of these ministries.

Throughout our time in Cambodia, the Lord has taught us many lessons.  He taught us that teaching is so much more than what you say from a pulpit.  Teaching is also what people see you do.  If what the people hear you say is different from what they see you do, your words will have little effect on their lives.

We also learned that one’s perspective changes dramatically when you are engaged personally in the battle.  Watching people die from starvation, disease, and physical abuse, day after day, changes how you live, and, it changes your priorities.  There can be true unity within the body of Christ when we are focused on sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Millions of people are dying every day without the Lord.  There is much work to be done.

We are so thankful for the many opportunities the Lord gave us to serve with MMF and CHO.  Without a doubt, some of our favorite people and larger-than-life-heroes serve in these ministries.   We urge you to read more about these ministries and to please pray for the Lord of the Harvest to send more laborers into Cambodia.

When we scheduled the trip to O’Kach Village for my birthday, we thought it would be a great way to spend the day.  We learned of this village while we were still in California, and we had been praying for the ministry being done there by our friends, Vuthy and Tangear.

O’Kach is a remote village with no roads, plumbing, clean water, or clinic.  O’Kach has 1 school teacher, but only because our friends have been paying for a teacher from their personal resources.  Vuthy and Tangear make the difficult trip to O’Kach Village on their motorbike, as often as weather permits, to visit the school children, to take school supplies, and to pay the teacher.

For our trip, Pastor Jeff drove his truck as far as possible.  After meeting the teacher on the outskirts of the village, we boarded a flat bed tractor-type vehicle.  When the flat bed got bogged down in the mud and water, Vuthy, Steve and Jeff, (and sometimes, Tangear) would jump off the flatbed and push from the rear, while the driver tried to free the truck.  When this method was unsuccessful, we called for a larger tractor to pull the flat bed out of the muck.  As we bounced along on the flat bed, trying our best not to get ejected, we laughed and encouraged ourselves that “back home,” people would pay a lot of money to experience this off-road adventure.  Each time that the flat bed got stuck, or we got on and off the flat bed, we got more mud on us.

Our day was filled to overflowing with blessings from the Lord.  We spent time with the school kids and teacher, encouraging them in the Lord with the Gospel (Steve), the story of Noah’s Ark (Jeff), prayer (Kathy), and a heart-warming story, told by Tangear, about how she learned about Jesus as a little girl and then held on to her faith despite opposition at home.  Tangear shared how the Pastor who told her about Jesus had taught her a song, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” which she then sang to the kids in Khmer.  When she sang, “though none go with me, still I will follow,” we were all deeply moved because we knew this was her personal story.  Tangear encouraged these children to keep following Jesus despite the opposition they were certain to face in this predominantly Buddhist country.

While we were at the school, Tangear surprised me with a birthday cake and candles.  I was still getting over the surprise that she had carried such a beautifully decorated birthday cake with her over the rugged terrain, when the school children started singing “Happy Birthday” to me in English.  Her birthday surprise for me was no last minute idea!  Steve then carved the 9″ round birthday cake into 64 pieces, 62 pieces for the kids, and 1 each for the 2 of us.  Once the children were dismissed for the day, we went upstairs into the teacher’s house and ate cabbage rolls, chicken wings, and curry beef, sitting cross-legged on the floor.  Our special meal was made, packed, and carried to the village by Tangear, with love.  She had no way of knowing that cabbage rolls were a special treat in my family, often given as a gift for Christmas and on birthdays.

After lunch, we met briefly with the village leader.  He is not a Christian “yet,” as those from Cambodian Hope Organization are found of saying.  So after he shared with us about the village’s need for clean water, Steve shared with him about his need for living water available only from faith in Jesus.

After praying for him and the village, we walked 1-2 kilometers to reach the houses of the Christians to encourage them in their faith.  Many of them were out working in the fields when we arrived, but, they quickly came to see us.  O’Kach Village has 15 Christian families, which is a larger than normal Christian population for Khmer villages.  They have no pastor or church building, but, they get together regularly to encourage one another in the Lord.

As we visited and shared stories with them, we felt that special unity that comes from being one in the Lord.  One older lady cried as she shared her testimony of what the Lord had done for her and her husband.  Jeff, Steve, and I each shared words of encouragement with them, and prayed for the Lord to meet the village’s needs of a road, pastor, church,  water well, and clinic, and for the strength, health, and protection of the individuals and their families.  The ladies were a little surprised when I started hugging each of them goodbye, and reminding them that we would spend eternity together in heaven.

As we were leaving the village, we looked at the water that filled the holes dug by the village residents and cringed to think about them washing their faces with it, much less drinking it.  As we prayed for the Lord to meet their need for clean water, the words “living water” and “water of life” kept coming to our minds, and we knew this was what those in the village needed most of all.  By the time we had bounced our way back on the flat bed to Jeff’s truck, we had it on our hearts to do more than just pray for salvation. By the time we had returned to our guesthouse, we were pretty sure the Lord was leading us to provide the funds to drill a well.  The Lord impressed Galatians 6:10 on our hearts:  “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”  After we prayed for confirmation from the Lord, I read through my birthday wishes.  One friend wrote these words to me:  “praying that the Lord is pouring out living water through you.”  The next day at CC Poipet, it was agreed between the 5 of us who made the trip that a well would be drilled in O’Kach Village.

We are so thankful for all of your prayers for us, and this opportunity to share with you how the Lord is answering them.

On March 10, Steve and I set off on a road trip across Cambodia with friends, Pastor Jeff Henneforth (Calvary Chapel Poipet) and Rose Martinez (Mercy Ministries Foundation).  After church, we tossed our bags (and a tarp in case of rain) into the back of Jeff’s pickup and left Poipet.  As we set off on our adventure, we wanted to see more of Cambodia and learn more about the Khmer people we have come to serve.  We also hoped for opportunities to connect with and pray for others serving in Cambodia.

There’s No Road To Mondulkiri!

The journey was not an easy one.  We traveled 1,400 miles in 7 days, with many hours on “roads” better suited for mules.   From Poipet, we traveled to Phnom Penh (250 miles), where we spent the first 2 nights.  We then left the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh to explore Cambodia’s “Wild East” visiting the provinces of Stung Treng (300 miles) and Ratanakiri (100 miles).  After 1 night in each province, we headed off to Mondulkiri.  About 1 hour later, our dirt road ended at a rushing river.

After confirming there was no road to Mondulkiri, we backtracked to Ratanakiri to begin our journey back to Phnom Penh.  On this leg of the journey, we encountered a torrential downpour on “roads” that were in such bad condition, we couldn’t help but question whether we had missed another “Closed for Repair” sign along the way.  We spent an additional 2 nights in Phnom Penh.  Then, after having the front 2 tires on Jeff’s truck repaired at a “mom and pop” tire stand, we returned home to Poipet.

All along our way, the Lord was gracious to open up doors for us to meet and pray with others.

“And let him who thirsts come.  Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” 

In Phnom Penh, we were blessed to spend time with Randy Fleming, Director of Water of Life Ministry, and the folks who serve with him in Cambodia’s capital city.  The words above are painted on the wall of the fellowship hall.  This is a perfect verse for this ministry which is loving, caring for, educating and discipling 50 young men and women, ages 14-25.  Most of these young men and women were orphaned, mistreated, or otherwise abandoned because their families could not afford to care for them.  In addition, Randy and his ministry have served as a conduit for many other ministries and activities in Phnom Penh.  We are so grateful for his time and the hospitality he showed to us while we were in town.  Please visit the website at http://www.wateroflifeasia.com or follow the ministry on Facebook.

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For the next month, we will be in Cambodia.  For more on the history of Cambodia, please see our prior post “Cambodia:  Out of the Ashes.”

We will be based in the border town of Poipet.  However, we will also be taking a week-long tour of various ministries throughout the country with Rose Martinez of Mercy Ministry Foundation (MMF) and Pastor Jeff Henneforth of Calvary Chapel Poipet.

We would appreciate it if you would please pray for the following known agenda items, and whatever else the Lord might add to our calendar for Cambodia:

• March 7  –  Cambodian Hope Organization (CHO) – Steve and I will be teaching on the biblical principles of marriage to joint sessions of men and women leaders of CHO.  After the joint sessions, we will meet separately with the husbands and wives to answer any questions and to pray with them.
• March 8 -9 – We will continue to work with CHO to assist in the development of policies and documents for project funding and team/volunteer visits.
• March 10 – Our first Sunday service at Calvary Chapel Poipet.
• March 10-15 – Tour of ministries in northern and eastern Cambodia, from Poipet to Phnom Phen and along the Vietnam border
• March 15 – CHO leadership training for leaders and village school teachers
• March 18 to March 20 – MMF Leaders and Teachers Teaching on Spiritual Gifts (Kathy), and CHO Village Pastors and Leaders Training on Christian Leadership (Pastors Jeff Henneforth and Steve)
• March 25 to March 30 – CHO Village Pastors and Leaders Teaching on Godly Marriages and Sharing of Gospel (Steve and Kathy)
• March 25 to April 5 – Work Projects and Visits with leaders and children at Christian Happy Home

Prayer requests include: (1) clarity in our messages and the translations; (2) open hearts to receive and apply God’s word; (3) salvation for all who hear the gospel; (4) safety during our upcoming road trip; and (5) wisdom and vision for all that the Lord would have us do in Cambodia.

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Ministry in Cambodia

For the last 3 days, we have been in Poipet, Cambodia, with a team of 7 from Montana.  We started with a mad dash across the border with the last team member being admitted into the country with only 1 minute to spare before the border closed for the day.

At Christian Happy Home, 1 of 6 homes for orphans and at risk children operated by Mercy Ministries Foundation (MMF), we played with the kids, conducted morning devotions for the staff, taught English, identified and solved a major plumbing problem, and hosted a large evening BBQ with the staff and kids.

We also visited the pre-school operated by MMF, which ministers to over 300 students in the slums.  There, we shared an encouraging word and played with the children.

Steve and I also had the chance to meet and pray with our dear friend, Chomno In, of Cambodian Hope Organization (CHO) concerning the ministry’s new direction.

Our friend, Pastor Jeff Henneforth, recently planted Calvary Chapel Poipet in the heart of the city.  Jeff was kind enough to host our team for an impromptu mid-week service with worship, a message, prayer, and communion.  During this time, we had the chance to pray and lay hands on the new director of Christian Happy Home, Poipet.

If you desire to learn more about these ministries, please visit their websites located on this blog under the heading “Our Mission Field.”

Steve and I plan to return to Cambodia for a more extended stay later this month.

Cambodia’s Tragic Past

The Communist Party known as the Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia on April 17, 1975.  While the Khmer Rouge was in power, they set up policies that disregarded human life and produced repression and massacres on a massive scale. They turned the country into a huge detention center, which later became a graveyard for nearly two million people.  The Khmer Rouge abolished money, free markets, normal schooling, private property, foreign clothing styles, religious practices, and traditional Khmer culture.  Public schools, pagodas, mosques, churches, universities, shops and government buildings were shut down or turned into prisons, stables, reeducation camps and granaries.  Family relationships were also heavily criticized. People were forbidden to show even the slightest affection, humor or pity. The Khmer Rouge asked all Cambodians to believe, obey and respect the Government, which was to be everyone’s “mother and father.”

Nearly two million Cambodians died from diseases due to a lack of medicines and medical services, starvation, execution, or exhaustion from overwork.  Tens of thousands were made widows and orphans, and those who lived through the regime were severely traumatized by their experiences.  Several hundred thousand Cambodians fled their country and became refugees.  Millions of mines were laid by the Khmer Rouge and government forces, which have led to thousands of deaths and disabilities since the 1980s.  A large proportion of the Cambodian people have mental problems because their family members were lost and their spirits damaged.  These factors are the major causes of the despair that plagues Cambodia today.

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We arrived safely in Bangkok.  It is 2:45 p.m., on February 15.  It was a great trip.  Tomorrow we will meet up with a team from Montana and head to Chiang Rai to serve with Mercy Ministries Foundation for the next week.

There are only three weeks remaining before we depart on the first leg of our journey.  We are being called to minister to the ministers at mission stations around the world.  We have a general itinerary, but, we are praying for the Lord’s final direction day by day throughout this mission.  We are so thankful to our Heavenly Father for the opportunity to set out to encourage His saints in the field.  Please keep us in prayer as we finalize the trip and as Kathy transitions her cases to her partners.  Lord bless each of you for your prayers.  In His Service,  Steve