Reality Check

As we celebrate 40 years of travelling the world for Jesus, preaching and teaching the Word while sharing Jesus' love in practical ways, we continue to find our perspective challenged. We are confronted with what I call ‘Reality Checks. (Defined as an occasion on which one is reminded of the state of things in the real world)

Gary and I just returned from four weeks of ministry with the Akha people group in Thailand and Tamil believers in Sri Lanka's Northern and Eastern Provinces.  It was a wonderful trip, involving many airline flights, long drives and hot humid weather. Teaching people who are hungry for the Word of God makes it all worthwhile. (Read 'What's on our Calendar' in last month's blog for details of that journey)

Akha Village Church, lunch of pork noodle soup
and Manprang fruit (in the mango family)

Perspective Shifting
 Reality Check

• It's not about me! It’s about Jesus. It's about people. 
• Church is not about your comfort level and convenience: It’s about hunger for the Word of God and to worship Him

Tamil Village Church, Northern Province Sri Lanka

Pastors and leaders in many nations do not have access to Bible Schools or formal theology training.  It's a joy to be on the teaching team of The Legacy Foundation Course and Bible School, which provide solid, Bible-based teaching: literally the foundation of our faith.  Several students travelled 1.5 hours each way to class by bus or motorcycle.

This Grandfather walks with a crutch because his legs are crippled from polio.  He made the 1.5 hour trip every day on his three-wheeler which is adapted for hand controls.

Only God knows how many lives will be touched and changed through the lives and ministry of these students.

Signs along many roads warn that active landmines remain 17 years after the end of Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war.   The danger of landmines exploding prevents people from returning to their homes or farming their land. Halo is a nonprofit organization working to clear land mines from war-torn nations. 

URGENT PRAYER IS NEEDED

In April these five boys were forcibly taken from their Myanmar village by the Peoples Defense Army that is fighting the Military Junta which took over Myanmar in 2020. These boys are only 15 years old. 

Please pray for their safety and protection and that they will be returned to their families quickly. Their families are heartbroken and need the Lord’s comfort and strength. 

Three of them were in the Daniel Education Center we support and is run by our Spiritual Son and Daughter.

Our wonderful friends and hosts in Thailand and Sri Lanka made sure we were comfortable, safe and well-fed.

Kao Soi in N Thailand
Akha Feast 
Sri Lankan Rice & Curry Lunch

Abu & Joseph’s daughters call us Api Pala and Apo Pala (Foreign Grandmother and Grandfather)

Eager to embrace my inner child - I clambered into the back of the pickup with the girls for a ride through Thai towns and countryside.  Not your normal 'tourist' experience.  It was so fun.

Our prayer for you is from 2 Peter 1:2 - 3: "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given us - given you - all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him we called us by glory and virtue."

The Journey Continues ~ Pat

It's great fun to explore the countries God sends us to.
Sunrise at the beach, an elephant sanctuary, Pad Thai, white lotus flowers.

It's Because of You

• It’s because of you – that pure water flows for students in Myanmar

• It’s because of you – that tea garden workers can see to pick the correct tea leaves 

• Because of you – a Sri Lankan woman no longer needs to follow a string to walk from her bed to the bathroom

• Because of you - Christians in many nations are encouraged and strengthened in their faith

“Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those that need them, they will thank God.” 2 Corinthians 9:11 NLT

Almighty God loves people. This truth continues to overwhelm us.  He demonstrates His love in so many ways.  Because of your generous giving, your prayers and loving support, Gary and I are able to share His great love to ‘the least of these’.  (Matt 25:40)

      

Access to clean water is one of the most urgent needs in developing nations.  A reverse osmosis system was purchased and installed at the Daniel Education Center in Myanmar.  Just look at the delight on this boy's face as he drinks a glass of pure water.  Pure water is healthy water.  

Eye vision clinics demonstrate Jesus’ love through practical means. Tea garden workers work hard for meagre wages based on how much they pick. Eyeglasses help them see the proper leaves to pick, and help them with housework and sewing.

After their eye exam, everyone is prayed for.  Our partners in Sri Lanka continue to hold eye clinics and reported that “There is a great testimony from the town of Buttala. An old lady’s cataract disappeared. She is a non-Christian. Today she had come to the church with her daughter and testified. Before coming to the clinic, she had not gone out of her house and had a string to hold and go to the toilet. But after praying she is healed and removed the string.  The Buttala church worker is invited to have a prayer meeting in her house. “ That's our God - touching hearts and lives and bodies with His healing power.

Our main mission is to strengthen and encourage the Body of Christ as we minister the Word of God, pray for the people and share personal words of encouragement and prophecy as the Lord leads.

They in turn share their faith and the love of Jesus with their family and neighbors.  We cannot forget that most of the nations we travel to are on the Open Doors World Watch List, which rates the top 40 countries around the world where it is the most difficult to be a Christian.  Working here requires great wisdom and discretion.

Please keep us in your prayers: November 20th - December 5th as we travel to Kenya, East Africa to teach an intensive week-long discipleship training for 50 - 60 Kenyan pastors, followed by a short safari vacation. 

Today, we pray that you will be reminded that Almighty God - loves you.  Let His love overwhelm your heart and flood it with His great joy.

What a Journey! What a God. ~ Pat

 

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I Left My Heart In Sri Lanka

We’ve travelled to Sri Lanka often enough that it’s familiar and comfortable. Two short flights from our base, it’s on the same time zone, so no jet lag this trip. (If you have experienced jet-lag, you understand that this is a wonderful thing)  Peeling off layers of clothes as the heat and humidity embraces us, we are welcomed by our friends and hosts Layasing and Deepthi.  

The Peacock is Sri Lanka's National Bird

During our three-week stay in Sri Lanka, we found ourselves encouraging several people with God's promise that this would be a year where the 'fruit was sweet'.  That God is bringing his people into a season of mature, sweet tasting fruit, not immature and sour fruit.

Why is this encouraging?  Because as you work for Jesus in a country where only 7.4% of the people believe in Jesus - it can be discouraging. It's natural to want to see results 'now', but fruit that is sweet takes time to mature.  God’s promise is that we will reap the harvest – if we don’t become weary and give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Eye Clinics are an effective tool to share the love of Jesus while meeting a practical need.  We travelled to four different villages, performed basic eye exams for 321 people, gave free eyeglasses as needed, and prayed for everyone.  These are people who work hard for a living, many barely making enough to feed their family. Eyeglasses are totally unaffordable – but desperately needed:  to read, to pluck tea leaves, to clean the rice and lentils that are the mainstay of their daily diet.  The message that Jesus loves them softens hearts to receive the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.  

Sharing a word of encouragement with believers in the village of Panama was a humbling experience.  They are continually persecuted for their faith.  The Buddhist monk who controls the village has declared that ‘there will never be a church here.’  Yet they continue strong in their faith, meeting in home groups. During the Sunday service in Siyambalanduwa, Gary shared a powerful word on ‘Another Touch’.  After service we were honored to set the ceremonial cornerstone for a ten-foot expansion to the church a hall - a simple concrete structure that is filled to overflowing!  What a wonderful problem to have. 

Weekdays found us embracing our inner child and acting out Bible stories for the students at Adara Sevana – a school for the differently abled.  Their smiles and hugs convey their joy, even though they are unable to verbally communicate with us.  After morning chapel we spent time just being with them: sorting and stringing beads to help with hand-eye coordination and basic cognitive function or working on our laptops while they did their letters and numbers.

You are an important part of reaching hearts for Jesus through your faithful prayers, giving and ongoing encouragement. that enables us to share His love wherever He sends us. Thank you!  

Little pieces of our hearts are left in every nation we visit - Sri Lanka continues to call us back.  

May your heart be drawn deeper into the heart of God.  May His plans and purposes for your life be your priority every day.

The Journey Continues ~ Gary and Pat

Pinch Me Moments - Sri Lanka

The amazing tropical island that is Sri Lanka overwhelms my senses as it fascinates my mind. From Moratuwa, our base on the Western coast, we drive inland and upward to an elevation of 5,700 feet.  The relatively new road winds around rich green hills, through tea and rubber estates, terraced gardens and roadside stands displaying brightly hued fresh vegetables.

An hour into our journey we stopped at our 'usual' roadside cafe for milk tea and a sausage roll. Our next stop was Kandy (famous for the Buddhist Temple of the Tooth) for shopping and lunch of 'lump rice': a Sri Lankan specialty of fried rice, chicken, egg, seeni sambol (sweet onion relish) all steamed inside a banana leaf. (very tasty and filling)

We revisited Labookellie Tea Estate for their famous chocolate cake accompanied by free tea (pure, delicious, perfectly brewed Ceylon black tea). It’s great marketing – once you taste the tea you’ll be more inclined to buy some to take home.

During the entire trip, we were amazed at the beautiful scenery and awed by the thought that we were 'revisiting' and recognizing so many beautiful, exotic places far removed from 'normal' life in America.

I call these 'pinch-me moments' (and yes Gary is always happy to oblige). This amazing ‘Journey with God’ has taken us around the world as we follow the call to show the love of Jesus to 'the least of these'.   Neither of us ever imagined that we would experience such beautiful places, gracious people, fascinating cultures and customs. (Did I mention delicious food?)

Ephesians 3:20-21 in the Amplified Bible explains it best: “Now to Him Who, by the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).”   

Adara Sevana is the school Deepthi and Layasing have in Moratuwa for 'differently-abled' young people. Until recently, there was nothing available for them in the regular schools, so without Adara Sevana, which means 'Love Shelter' in Sinhala, they would just sit at home and not learn and develop at all. Some public schools now have limited classes for younger children with special needs. 

Each morning we joined the students at Adara Sevana for daily chapel which included a short Bible story narrated and acted out by - you guessed it - Gary and I! They enjoyed our amateur dramatics. It was a blessing to pray and speak a blessing over them. 

Deepthi and Layasing are wonderful hosts, graciously making sure we had all that was needed to make our stay in Sri Lanka a joy. Not to mention the delicious Sri Lankan food!

Our third weekend in Sri Lanka was truly a God-appointment. A pastor in the hill town of Nurawa Elyia was crying out to God for someone to come alongside to encourage and pray with him.  In answer to his prayers, God changed our plans and sent us to his church for the weekend.   The eye clinic was a blessing: eighty-five (85) people had their eyes checked, and seventy-nine (79) received glasses.  Pastor Paul and his family were encouraged and strengthened as we spent time together in prayer. God gave prophetic words of encouragement that brought great hope.  All of us were blessed to worship together Palm Sunday service as Gary shared on “Another Touch.”

Outreaches to villages are very rewarding and fill our hearts with joy.  Because few people venture to remote rural villages or small churches to minister and help, the people are very appreciative and receptive.  We're expecting to hear good reports of as God continues to work and move through the local pastors and leaders.

Our prayer is that your journey with God fills your heart with joy and wonder.  Spend time with our amazing God – daily.  He’s as close as your breath. He longs to be part of every moment of your day.  

Thank you for your ongoing love and prayerful support as we serve overseas.  April finds us ministering at a couple of different churches. Let’s see what God will do.

The Journey Continues ~ Pat

Our Hearts are Overwhelmed - Sri Lanka

Two weeks into our time in Sri Lanka and our hearts are overwhelmed with the goodness of the Lord.  So many experiences, impressions, emotions - we’re on sensory overload.  

We are overwhelmed as we reflect on:  

• Our great joy to be back in Sri Lanka after almost 5 years. Working with our ministry partners Deepthi and Layasing, we slipped back into fellowship and ministry as if no time had passed.
  
• The overabundance of beauty.  Sri Lanka Means Resplendent land - and it truly is that. Photos provided as proof.
  
• Gracious people who organize and host the eye clinics and services and prepare delicious local dishes for lunch: even toning down the spice level so as not to overwhelm our western tastebuds (although Gary has a missionary stomach  and can eat the spiciest of foods without concern).
  
• The extreme poverty and seemingly un-ending need. Sri Lanka suffered through 25 years of civil war, ending in 2009. The nation was beginning to recover, when the world shut down during the pandemic.  Sri Lanka experienced a severe economic collapse beginning in 2019 and their Prime Minister was forced to resign. Costs of basic necessities have increased 400% over the past 3-4 years. There is little help for the people, their suffering is real.
  
• Gratitude that we can come alongside and show the love of Jesus in a practical way – by giving eyeglasses to those who could never afford them.

Eye vision clinics provide a unique opportunity to serve the needs of people on both a physical level and a spiritual level. Local church workers, pastors, evangelists are involved, meet the people and follow up with them regardless of religion or church affiliation. 

First weekend: Deniyaya  By 5:30 Friday morning the van is loaded with eye glasses, exam equipment, overnight bags, drinking water.  We drive three and a half hours southeast, much of it on the country’s new E-01 toll-road which greatly reduces our drive time.  

Because of the potential for persecution by the Buddhists in this area, the eye clinic was very low key.  With the goal of developing positive relationships in the neighborhood, news of the eye clinic was discreetly spread by word of mouth.

During four and a half hours, sixty-six (66) people had their eyes examined with assistance and translation by local church workers. The local church workers had helped Deepthi and Layasing in another community a few months ago and were very organized and efficient. 

Fifty-six (56) people received glasses. Many had cataracts so severe glasses could not help. Younger people were experiencing eyestrain because of excessive time on their devices. They were given some basic eye care instruction and were taught exercises to strengthen their eyes.

Because of the very real danger of increased persecution, we only prayed with those who were already followers of Jesus; or those who specifically said they believed Jesus could heal them.  This helps to avoid the accusation of 'buying' conversions by giving free eyeglasses.

Sunday morning service at Diniyaya – Joyful praise to the Lord went up from the roof top terrace of a local hotel, rented for Sunday morning’s church service.  Gary shared the Word, communion was received.  What a joy to worship with our Sri Lankan family. 

Second weekend - Udugama & Hiniduma The last time an eye clinic was held in these two villages was October 2017 and my sister Cyndy was with us. Much has changed in the past seven years.  Click here to check out posts from 2017 - Udugama      Hiniduma a    Hiniduma b  

Udugama – is just two and a half hours from Moratuwa.  Friday’s eye clinic was held on an estate that produces palm oil, rubber and tea. Estates or gardens are basically plantations. Tea garden villages are built up over time, workers live and raise their families right where they work.

With three people doing the eye exams, and Pat dispensing glasses, we saw eighty-four (84) people in three hours. All but 6 or 7 were given glasses.   Tea and a local snack were served mid-morning.  A delicious and bountiful lunch followed the eye clinic.

Early evening we drove an hour further south to Galle to visit a brother from the Buttala Church who was in hospital for full checkup - high blood sugar.  Since we were right on a bay of the Indian Ocean, we found a seafood restaurant and enjoyed prawns, cuttlefish and seafood fried rice. Along with Sri Lanka’s most famous beverage – Elephant House ginger beer. 

The local Holiday Inn in Udugama provided basic accommodations (including air conditioning, but not hot water) for SLR 3,000 each; equal to US $10.  We seemed to be the only guests in this beautiful large facility, which apparently stays in business with income from their events hall.  

Hiniduma was a short twenty minute drive on Saturday morning. The eye clinic was held in  the Methodist church house.  People waited patiently under the shade of large trees or in the covered meeting hall where church services are held. 

Eighty eight (88) people were seen in just under four hours, and most were given glasses.  Sister Deepthi also checked several children and youth and taught them exercises to do for vision convergence - which happens when we are on the computer or devices for long periods of time. 

Mid-morning we were served coffee made from locally grown Sri Lankan coffee beans. It was enjoyed with a local dessert crepe rolled around a honey coconut filling and slices of lovely chocolate layer cake, all on very pretty China. 

The church ladies prepared and served a bountiful  lunch, featuring a  special local vegetable.  In Sinhala it’s called “paththra koku” which translates as ‘newspaper hooks’.  Two teenage girls went out and foraged some plants to show us how it looks before cooking; turns out it is a variety of fiddlehead fern. Another new taste experience. 

Plans are to be in Nurawa Eliya for our final weekend. Our last visit there was in February 2016 – click to read Cyndy’s account of that drive. (note this was before the toll road was constructed).

Look for future posts on Sri Lanka and Adara Sevana – a school for the differently-abled. 

Each of you – have a part in the ongoing work God is doing in Sri Lanka.  There is a ripple effect as hearts are opened to hear more about Jesus, families are changed, communities are healed; the long term impact that we will only know in eternity.

~ The Journey Continues -  Pat & Gary

Happy to be back in Sri Lanka

Being based in Asia makes it easier for us to travel to other nearby countries. Flying to Colombo, Sri Lanka took us 2 short flights - a total of 8 hours with travel and layovers, and we are in the same time zone.  No jet lag! Yeah!!  

Compare this to the last time we flew from Las Vegas to Sri Lanka – 4 flights and almost 40 hours travel time (including airport layovers), plus we crossed the international date line. The lack of sleep and 12+ hour time difference results in jetlag that takes 3-4 days to fully recover.

Outreaches are planned for the next three weekends.  Plans are to leave by 5 a.m. Saturday morning, drive 3 – 4 hours to the town where we will hold an eye clinic starting around 9 a.m.   Sunday morning there will be a revival church service.  Late Sunday we’ll drive back to Moratuwa where we are staying with our ministry partners.  It’s a joy to be  ministering together after almost 5 years.   

During the week we’ll spend time at Adara Sevana (Love Shelter), a school for the differently abled and share at a weekly healing meeting. 

Students who completed the week of training.

Gary's recent  ministry travels were fruitful: imparting the Word of God to hungry hearts. He received several precious notes of gratitude from the students - sharing how their lives were impacted during the training sessions. Pat was blessed with several gifts and lots of love and prayers sent back with Gary.

Sunday Services:  This past Sunday, Gary and I shared at two different places.  I had a 2 hour taxi ride one way to a small village. (Taxis here are hired autos, quite reasonably priced)

Gary shared the Word at our home church. The people came hungry to meet with God.  He is always faithful to touch hearts and change lives. 

Raising up the Next Generation

What adventure in faith are you on at the moment?   Sharing our adventures reminds us that as followers of Jesus - every day of our life is an opportunity to share the love of Jesus - wherever you find yourself - with whoever you find yourself with.

Your love and prayers are so important - our hearts are encouraged with every email or message we get from you.

The journey continues ~ Pat

 

Living this New Year - '24' Hours at a Time

I love the focus that a new year brings.  Think about how carefully you handle something new:  for example when you get a new cell phone you are very conscious of how you are using it and where you keep it; you get a cover and a screen protector for it.    You are very  aware and careful – because it’s new. It has a higher value than the ‘old’ item that you replaced. You want to protect your investment.

We have been given a new year - 2024.  At the beginning of each year, we tend to think about what we want to accomplish during the year, making resolutions and plans. Yet as the months go by, how often do we become careless with our time and allow ourselves to drift through our weeks without focus – without purpose.

I want to challenge you to look not at the ‘year’ 2024 – but at ‘24 hours’. Every 24 hour day is a gift to be cherished and wisely lived. 

As we walk through life with Jesus, continually refocusing our hearts and minds on Him, we will have ups and downs.  But as we look back on our journey we should see an overall upward trajectory – from glory to glory, higher and higher, drawing closer to His heart.  Be encouraged that there is purpose even in your pain.  Difficulties propel us upwards, because they draw us closer to the heart of God.  Our ultimate goal is to know Him, to be transformed into His image, and to bring glory to His name.  

That’s the purpose for each of our lives.  Without a vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29: 18 KJV) Without hope, faith wavers, without purpose, we drift.  

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy] ....  Ecclesiastes 3:11 AMPC 

Live each '24 hours' of 2024 with expectancy.  Confident because we serve a God who is with us; a God who is for us; a God who is working on our behalf.

Gary and I are blessed to be living overseas for the majority of the year.  Our purpose – to share the love of Jesus.  However and wherever he leads us. 

What’s ahead in our ’24? 

• Continuing to live and minister overseas
• Gary will be travelling to teach a 2-week Pastor's Training Course 
• He will also be speaking at Sunday church meetings there
• We will both be travelling to Sri Lanka in March 2024

~ The Journey Continues ~ Pat

Just a few of the smiles you are responsible for on
the faces of these little ones that Jesus loves. 
Thank you is never enough. 

Faithful God

One of my favorite songs is "Goodness of  God".  The words of the chorus resonate with my heart and bring me to tears: 

All my life You have been faithful

All my life You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

I will sing of the goodness of God.

In October, I celebrated a milestone birthday.  Looking back over 60 years of this amazing life God has blessed me with, I am overwhelmed with His great faithfulness. 

There have been challenges, heartache, disappointments and loss of loved ones. There have been victories, joys, precious relationships, and great adventures with God.  Each of you reading this is part of my great adventure.  However our lives have connected, whenever and wherever our paths crossed, thank you for being part of my life.

Overseas Mission 2023

The journey continues as we prepare for our first overseas mission trip in three years!  Gary and I will be travelling overseas on January 23, 2023 for four months of ministry.  Airplane tickets have been purchased - which makes it official.

It's a blessing to stay in contact with our ministry partners and see the fruit of their labors for the Lord during our three years in the states.

God's Word is being preached, people are giving their hearts to Jesus and being baptized in water, children are being tutored in school work, and taught about Jesus; the love of Jesus is shown through food distributions, eye clinics, and in towns and villages. 

During this season of Thanksgiving and throughout the year, Gary and I want you to know how grateful we are for you. Your love, prayers, support, every encouraging word - are precious to us. 

May you experience the faithfulness of God in every area of your life. The Journey Continues ~ Pat

Here are just a few photos from our partners overseas.

Sri Lanka - Resplendent Island

The ten days we spent in Sri Lanka went by very quickly and were very productive.  This was our 4th trip together and we quickly settled into our Sri Lankan home in the guest room at Adara Sevana - a school for the 'Differently Abled".  Each morning we joined the students for daily chapel which included a short Bible story narrated and acted out by - you guessed it - Gary and I!  They enjoyed our amateur dramatics. It was a blessing to pray and speak a blessing over them.  We also shared a special lunch on Children's Day.

Our Sri Lankan ministry partners,  Layasing and Deepthi, have caught the vision and seen the fruit of the eye clinic ministry.  Deepthi has pursued her education over the past 3 years and is almost a fully licensed optician. Her training and certification legitimatizes the eye clinics with the Ministry of Health.   Eye clinics were held in the city of Kandy and village of Akureesa.   We saw about 230 people and gave out 200 pair of eye glasses. Everyone received prayer, and a touch of Jesus' love in a practical way.

Worship and the Word were shared in Sunday and Wednesday services, and a special weekend revival service in Kandy.  It is always encouraging to worship with The Church wherever God sends us.

Deepthi and Layasing are wonderful hosts, graciously making sure we had all that was needed to make our stay in Sri Lanka a joy.  Not to mention the delicious Sri Lankan food!

A part of our heart remains in Sri Lanka.  God is moving, the church is seeing increase – remember to pray for them as they shine the light of Jesus in this primarily Buddhist nation.

The journey continues ~ Pat

DISCLAIMER: Due to our travel schedule and sketchy internet - Journal updates are not in real-time or even in chronological order.