Answering the Call!

India is a second home to Pat and I.  We have been ministering there since 1996.

One of the highlights of ministering in India is the opportunity to minister to the Youth!

They are on fire for the Lord!  The young people pictured below are having an impact on their nation right now, starting in their teens and twenties.

Programs and political leaders will never bring change.  Change will come through the Church.

These young men and women are answering the call found in Isaiah 6:8: " Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" 

Please pray for these young people. They have made themselves available.  They are on fire for the Lord.   They are the hope of India!

Catch you later -  Gary

Young Life - Siliguri, India

Living Word Center - Matigara, India

VILLAGE OUTREACH - Cambodia Journey Part Two

OUTREACH  Defined

Noun - The extent or length of reaching out
Verb - Reach further than
Synonyms - Transcend

It's hard to explain the experience of village outreach. Reaching out not just with human goodness - but with the love and compassion of Jesus Christ.  Going beyond what we can offer in ourselves and becoming His hands and feet on the earth.

Delivering practical help - noodles to feed their family for a week, deworming pills.  Bringing emotional strength - knowing that they are not forgotten - but cared for.  Sharing spiritual truths - a short Bible teaching, songs and games with the children.

"When he saw the crowds, he was deeply moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Matthew 9:36 ISV

Because you gave finances. Because you prayed.  We are able to go. They are able to receive.   God is glorified and His name is praised.

Thank you - for the least of these - Pat

 

NEW LIFE!

Easter Sunday morning, I was ministering in a church in India on "God's Promises".  When the service ended my interpreter, Pastor Deepak, came to me with his wife and a child.

He said, "Pastor Gary, Do you remember that  two years ago you and Pastor Pat prayed for my wife to have a child?  We had been waiting so long and look - this is Janet, God's answer to your prayer!"

What a testimony to the power of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior who brings life when everything seems dead and barren.

Whatever you are believing for; whatever may seem dead; whatever may seem barren in your life; the Lord wants to bring Life!

May the Blessings and the Promises of our Risen Savior be yours today!

Blessings - Gary

Catch You Soon!

The joy of answered prayer.

CAMBODIA JOURNEY 2013 - PART ONE

Location update: Pat is back in the United States, while Gary is ministering in India.

The next few Journal Posts will report on our adventures in Cambodia. While in the middle of travelling and 'doing',  it is difficult to sit down and convey to you everything that has taken place.  (Not to mention inconsistent internet access)

John and Sotey Yoder - missionaries with Reaching Kids International - Cambodia - hosted us for a week of outreach to the villages they work with on a weekly basis.  Weather was hot, the land is dry, and at the village of Phnom Basett (also called Rock Quarry Village) the swimming hole is almost  dry.  So a trip to the beach was planned. For most of the villagers - this was their first time to the beach!  Ever! 

Here is John's report of the Great Beach Adventure:

We came to Sihanoukville, Cambodia (ocean beach resort town on the Gulf of Thailand) to host 65 residents (50 children, 15 adults) from the Phnom Baset rock quarry village, for their first visit here ever!

Gary and Pat , along with RKI volunteer Dina and Sothary (our Khmer gospel teacher/ translator) helped the children in and out of the water to have the time of their lives from mid-morning to late in the afternoon on Saturday the 16th of March.

Sotey did an incredible job purchasing all food, drinks, and beach rentals.  After Sotey handed out sea-sick medicine to all who get car sick because they're not used to riding in moving vehicles (four hour bus trip one way), the four of us spent the night in Sihanoukville then visited the Kbal Chhay Waterfall on the way back to Phnom Penh.

Praise God for showering these kids (and adults) with His love during this event, and for His provision through the generosity of our faithful donors.  It is a day they will never forget.

 Stay tuned for the next installment of CAMBODIA JOURNEYS.    

Live each day with purpose.  Pat

NATION CHANGERS! Part Two

Where ever there is darkness God will send light!  Where ever there are lies, God will bring truth!

In Part 1 we shared about journeying into nations where the government is hostile to the spreading of the Gospel of  Jesus Christ.

The second Access Restricted Nation we ministered in has been experiencing new freedom economically.  More importantly, we are eye witnesses to the new freedom coming to the nation spiritually.

Bibles and other evangelistic material are not readily available to the people of that nation. Receiving a supply of Bibles and other printed material that we brought in gave great joy to the Pastor and evangelists we met with. It was a privilege to minister the Word of God to them, and then pray for and encourage them in their service to the Lord.

What joy there was when we were taken to see a church that is under construction.  The government is allowing the church to be built because one of the local evangelists prayed for a paralyzed man that God miraculously healed!  Because of this miracle - the whole village is open to the message of Jesus Christ and a church was started.   Truth will prevail and darkness will leave!

Delivering The Good News

Thank You for being a vital part in bringing the Light and Truth of the Gospel to S.E. Asia!

Catch You Soon - Gary and Pat

Church Being Built

NATION CHANGERS! Part One

During the first week of March, Pat and I were part of a team that journeyed into two Southeast Asian nations which have been categorized as Access Restricted.   This means that the government is hostile to the spreading of the Gospel.

We are not able to mention the names of the countries, nor show the faces of the leaders that we met with because of  safety issues concerning their identity. However, the days we meet with them were empowering.

In the first country, we conducted a C.E.P. (Church Empowerment Program). Over 100  young men and women came to be instructed, activated, and receive impartation to do the work of the ministry.  Our being there brought them great joy and as Pat and I  ministered the Word of God we could see the impact the Word was having.

The program ended the last day by commissioning everyone to the work of the Lord and providing them with evangelistic Gospel materials in their language.

 At the end, one young man came running up to me sobbing and held on to me for the longest time. It was his way of thanking us for coming.  Pat and I want to thank you for helping us go - your prayers and your support have had an impact on so many that will help bring the Gospel to this Nation and change it forever!

Blessings - Gary

 

THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE

View into Myanmar

The Golden Triangle of Southeast Asia is an area of beauty, history, violence, suffering and hope.  Warm hospitable people of various tribes populate the hill country, even as many migrate to cities desperate to escape the cycle of poverty and isolation.  False hope is offered through the illegal trade of opium.  The Hall of Opium  was a heart breaking education on the tragic history of the opium wars, and the illicit opium trade that has destroyed lives for centuries. In spite of Government eradication programs, illegal activity continues to grow, and will only slow when the demand lessens, and people are given other options to adequately support their families.

As we traveled in the nations of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, hope was evident in the faces of many who have received the love of Jesus.  Our team brought encouragement as we taught young adults and children; visited orphanages and homes; sharing the love of Jesus and a connection to 'the outside world.'  We saw first hand the daily struggles and challenges and heard their hearts' request to continually remember them in prayer.

MeKong River

Confluence of MeKong & Ruak