I have been so bad at updating this thing but it's probably
no surprise that there's actually not that many opportunities to get online
here. I love this country so much. The people are so loving, hospitable and
kind...its amazing. There is so so so much to talk about, where will I start??
We are now in our 6th week here and we are in our second
ministry area out of 3. The first week
we spent in Dhaka getting settled. Then
moved on to Khagachari where we spent 3 weeks. Khagachari was beautiful, it is
covered by rice fields and
farms. Everywhere is green! Cows and goats roam the streets
everywhere you go, even through the market. It's great. It was a lot more
peaceful than the craziness of Dhaka. Our contacts were this incredible local
family who have completely devoted their lives to witnessing for Jesus in
Khagachari. Samiran, the dad, was once the most wanted man in Khagachari for
trying to tell people about Jesus. The area is majority Buddhist and Hindu.
Crazy, since he is one of the most kind and gentle people I've met.
We were lucky enough to be there for the Bangla new year so
we got stuffed with all the families left overs on house visits. Generally the
food is awesome, so much rice and potatoes and naan, but there was some fun
additions, like toxic rice wine which they really insisted upon, and a couple
of chicken feet. We really were fed well.
And got to meet really interesting people on house visits; pastors with
insane persecution stories, politicians, and teachers. We also led an English
class at the church and made a lot of friends there including our Buddhist monk
friend, Ong. And in the mornings we led
English classes to the local primary school to some really smart kids.
For the second half of our time there we went to church and
house visits all day, travelling by CNG on dirt tracks for a long haul every
morning (CNG are crazy 3 wheel box cars). Then we would walk up into the hills
and through farms for long distances to get to these churches. Then we led the
services with the message, a testimony, songs and a dance skit. The best thing
though was hearing their stories of how strong they have remained in God and
how He has miraculously provided for them from having churches upon churches
burnt down and attempted murder on the pastors! It's the most humbling thing to
be asked to speak messages in to these amazing peoples lives when we have so
much to learn from them!
We got to share the gospel so many times and see as Jesus
completely impacted them. But it was often a sad thing to hear how they know it
is truth but are too scared of the reaction of the villages and being shunned
by their families to turn away from the religion they were raised in. But all
the people we met who were Christians were whole heartedly going for Jesus with
such joy!
We met one wee girl, Shudamki, we called 'mini Hilde' as
they were never separated and her story was amazing. Her and her family were
previously Buddhist and 3 years ago she got a brain tumor. The doctors were
unable to help as there was nothing they could do, so they went for prayer at
the Buddhist and Hindu families and still nothing, and as a cultural thing, the
whole family decided they would die with her and planned their suicide. Then they
went for prayer at a Christian home and Shudamki was healed. 3 years later and
still no tumor! The whole family came to know Jesus and now even if her family
can't make it, Shudamki is at church every week and is best friends with all
the elders! And she's 11! Every house visit we went on she would just appear
from the blue as she just knew the local pastors so well. Oh wow, she was so
inspiring. We got to hear so many incredible testimonies like this! These
people really are so amazing.
Oh and living situations! We are well looked after, sleeping
on concrete floors but with roll out matts, and SQUATIES:... Big wholes in the
ground for the toilet, and bucket showers in Khag. Makes it feel more like
outreach
Since its summer here it gets insanely hot and sweaty,
unless theres a rain storm and then its terrential rain, thunder and lightening
for hours. The storms are crazy but so much fun! Pray for rain...the heat is
too much!
So now we are in Khulna, 16 hours away from Khag. We have
been here for 8 days and have a little over that to go. This is a beautiful
place and shows so much prosperity. We have seen so much poverty and apathy in
Bangladesh but the people we have met here have generally been really motivated
and commited to helping their country. It is very like Khag as there are still
rice fields, cows and goats everywhere, but maybe even more peaceful. The first
3 days here we had to lead the teaching at a conference for 150 people with a
weeks warning! IT WAS AWESOME! It was so great to be in a place of worship and
a church atmosphere that we can relate to and be filled up with about exactly
half way through outreach. I led a seminar on what worship is all about and I
think I got more from it than anyone. We also got to be the ministry team and
pray for the people. This was amazing!....We prayed for many people with pain
and physical problems and saw many healed! One woman I prayed for had pain in
her legs and I prayed and from the little English she had, she said 'gone!' and
the translater confirmed the pain had left.
And theres more!...around this time God gave me a new
revelation of what it really is like to live in the love that He has for me.
And to be broken before Him. There is nothing I have/can/ or ever will be able
to do for God, except be His child! And that's my highest calling! The best
thing I will ever be able to do is be a child of Gods and I am living in that
now! Even if I had a massive ministry healing the sick and bring the lost to
Jesus, it still adds nothing to the perfection He has already made of me in
being His child. he finally took me to a place of brokeness where I could see
how inadequate I am and my sin is, but then how much greater His love and grace
is. It really freed me from a desire to strive to please God in big ministry or
a radical life for Him. Now I've come to realise that that will add nothing to
his love for me and that the best thing I can ever do is just soak in my Fathers
love and let the overflow of that be my ministry. love on people with the love
He's given me. Then I will never try to 'Do' anything for the Lord again but
instead I won't be able to help but love and serve others...but no longer being
work! Delight not Duty!!!
SO the day after this revelation and awesome time with Jesus
we went to share with a classroom of children at a school. We spoke on Jonah
and the whale and sang 'Hallelu, Hallelu' to direct it to the kids, not very
deep....THEN 12 of the adults came forward to give their lives to the Lord! After
that we spent some more time in that area where I got to share the gospel with
2 14yr old girls, from Hindu homes, who ended up wanting to commit their lives
to Jesus and get involved in the church! Pray for Jesus to reveal himself more
to them! THEN we went to teach in another village and again many people came
forward for prayer, but this time for healing. We prayed and again saw many
people with pain set free immediately! It was crazy, but yet felt very
normal...like this is the way things should be.
Since then we have been teaching at orphanages and
children's homes, as well as churches and at house visits. This whole time has
been amazing and the most intense time I've got to have personally with Jesus.
I sometimes need to double take that I'm here and have been allowed to stand
with Jesus and be a part of His plan for this amazing country. Oh and we've had
so much time to be reading the Bible! Reading through Isaiah just now...blown
away! Bangladesh is such a beautiful country, really, you should come!
Next we go to Dhaka for 2 weeks...still unsure of the
specific work we will be doing , like everything else we have done so far.
Please be praying for me for this last stretch that I will
be able to leave here and return home with peace and excitement for what Gods
got for me next, and that I don't pine after Bangladesh once we leave. Also,
that when i come home, I will still be on fire and dedicated to spending all my
time with jesus. And even deeper revelation of Gods love and what it means to
be a child of God...can't get enough of that. I just want this time to be a platform for
where Gods going to rocket me off from and not the most exciting time I'm ever
going to have with Jesus, I expect this to be just the beginning.
Thank you so much for taking an interest in everything I'm
doing and supporting me through prayer. I love knowing that this can encourage
others at home too. Only a month until I'm home now. Can't wait to see you
all!! and you Mum!
Rosh (Bangla word for 'juice')
