The end of winter for Burma?

In The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, Narnia just begins to show signs of thawing when the children visit. One of the first signs is the visit from Santa Claus. At that point in the story, no one was sure the thaw would continue, but hopes were high that the White Witch would finally be defeated and spring would come!

Similarly, things in Burma are beginning to change...
The people say, "Slowly, slowly things are better here. Slowly, slowly...and things will get better if the April election goes well. Will it be fair? We hope so."

For those who don't know, Burma (or Myanmar) had been ruled by an illegal military junta since the 60's. IT was considered the second most repressive regime in the world. Last year that changed and they supposedly have a democratic government now. The election, though, was rigged so the government party won but even still things are beginning to change for the better. We hope and pray it continues and reaches to all areas of the country!

Here are some pictures from my brief stay in a slowly thawing Yangon...

Bible School graduates

Touring in Yangon.



Buddhist temple.

Local kids!

Playing!

Why not Pakistan?

When I told people I was going to Pakistan they thought I was crazy, but I figured, why not go to Pakistan...I've never been there! :)

And...now that I've been here, I think I win the to go or not to go debate! I had a wonderful time and met some really lovely people. Of course I was mostly careful and I was only in Lahore as well, so not really a dangerous area!
Here is my trip in pictures:

 Fort Lahore--one of the few toursit sites we saw.

 With friends. The national symbol of the freedom of Pakistan is behind us.

 With the kids from one of the villages we visited. Many of them spoke at least a little English.

 A typical street in Lahore in the areas we were visiting.

 Enjoying some great Pakistani food with some friends!

With my Pakistani grandmother! :)

I spent less than a week here--it was too short! Hopefully I'll be able to return and see some more of the country in the future.

Rajahmundry road blocks etc.

Greetings from India: land of masala chai, brightly-coloured saris, and beautiful countryside!

Of course for many, it is also still a land of poverty, corruption, and injustice.

I arrived this year into the middle of an ongoing demonstration. Shortly before I arrived, some of the higher castes had defaced the statutes of a well-revered social reformer. These statues can be found almost everywhere and the man they honour is well-loved by the lower classes. The damage to the statues sparked protests across Rajahmundry. Road blocks shut down traffic for hours, stores were closed, and schools were canceled. The day after I arrived I was heading out to teach a group of children and women with Ariann Somero and Jean-Mary. We were almost two hours late and only made it because our car was small enough to sneak through the stopped traffic on the sides of the road or between the semi-trucks. Often we had literally less than an inch between us and the trucks on either side! We didn’t quite make it out of the traffic though. We eventually were stopped completely about 500 metres from our turn-off! Thankfully though, we were close enough to walk and therefore still made it in time to see the kids and the women. It is difficult to get too angry with them when I think I would essentially agree with their position. I, too, believe in social justice, a lack of corruption, and freedom!

Our days with the kids and women have been blessed! Kids are always fun and I’ve enjoyed singing and playing with them. And telling them Bible stories too, of course! This is the first year I’ve also spent a significant part of my time with the women as well. I love studying the Word with them and seeing their interest and participation. I just wish I could communicate better and get to know them personally.

No trip to Rajahmundry is complete without a trip to the Mission Hospital and we were there yesterday. Today, we were at the Mission Clinic, located about 1½ hours from town. It is both inspiring, but also bittersweet to visit these places. The mission hospital used to help millions every year with almost any medical problem. Today, because of lack of funding, the people still come but all too often the doctor can diagnose but not treat the patients due to lack of funding. There are currently no in-patients, no surgeries, and only limited amounts of medicines. The full staff is now cut down to only one part-time doctor and one nurse. As we sat and observed yesterday, the doctor saw about a dozen patients. All were diagnosed, but few could be treated. Please pray that God would be with these millions of patients who have nowhere else to go. Please also pray that funding would appear again to help the hospital and clinic treat these people. For more information on the mission hospital, check out their website: http://www.missionhospitalindia.org/

I’m leaving the city for the countryside tomorrow. The time always seems to pass so quickly! I look forward to visiting the next place, but I don’t want to leave the people here. I wish I could just clone myself into a dozen people so that I could stay in each place I visit. There is so much work to be done in so many areas! Each time it is time to leave I have to wonder: why are there so few labourers in God’s vineyard?

Friendly Kenya

From the sweltering heat of Watamu to the unseasonal rains of Kisii and from the crowded streets of Nairobi to the untamed bush of Maasailand, my trip to Kenya took me all over the map. Despite the diversity of weather and population though, one thing didn't change: the friendliness of the people. The Kenyan people are some of the warmest and most welcoming people I've ever met!

In Watamu, we were visiting an orphanage supported by the Larium congregation. We were warmly welcomed by the Fondo family who run the orphanage and encouraged to return for a longer visit anytime.

In Nairobi, we stayed with a wonderful family in the suburbs. They welcomed us into their home and helped us get oriented to the crazy city of Nairobi!

In Upper Guccha (near Kisii), the people's warm welcome made even the rain and the mud seem insignificant! We arrived after an hour-long walk through the mud to be met by smiling people, warm food, and a cheery mud hut!

In Maasailand, we walked through the fields to arrive at the church: a clearing under a large tree. When the congregation saw us coming in the distance, several of the women ran out to meet us and escorted us back singing the entire way!

I had an absolutely wonderful time in Kenya and look forward to going back! 

One more post for South Africa!

I left South Africa at the end of November, but I thought I'd share a few more photos with you regardless! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Joyce told these preschool kids the story of Jonah and they in return shared a song with her!

Jacob praying with some of the people staying at the hospice near Ikageng. When we left, the director begged us to return whenever we could.

Dan speaking to the students at a local high school. The principal was very happy to have us there and emphasized the importance of having prayer in her school.

Bob praying for people we met while walking through the township of Sufurbylt.

Stay posted for a post on my trip to Kenya (which took place last month). I'll post it in a few days.

A return to South Africa

I'm back in South Africa and have been here for over a month! A week after I came, Dennis Hilman joined me and three weeks after that Bob Maki, Calvin and Debra Matson, Dan and Joyce Karnes, Thomas Questad and Jacob Seppanen came.

Before the team arrived, much of my time was spent in planning with the awesome planning committee here. However, I also found lots of time to hang out with my kids and with other friends I made here over the last few years.

I also rather enjoyed doing some gardening--it was a nice way to relax! I put in beans, beets and swiss chard...but now I haven't had time to weed and water, so I hope something actually grows... :)

The team arrived on Oct 18th and since then it has been BUSY! Schools, prisons, hospitals, youth centers, churches, Sunday schools, detention centers, preschools, and private homes: it's been a whirlwind so far and it's not over yet!

Calvin and Debra left us a few days ago and they are missed! We are now in a new province: the Northwest province where we've slowed down slightly, but not too much. :) This last picture is from the first Saturday adter the team arrived. We held a Sunday School day for about 100 kids from the United Lutheran Church! It was a great day! Please continue to pray for the team here as we continue to work together until next Monday.

Russia...take 3!

A week ago, I returned from my third trip to Russia. This trip was unlike all my previous trips to Russia or anywhere else because I went as a leader of sorts!

Several months ago, the Foreign Mission board of my church asked me to take the position of Foreign Mission youth leader. Part of my duties is to lead/help lead youth mission trips. Russia was the first trip I took in this position. It was awesome to travel with my good friends and fellow missionaries Greg Greve and Dennis Hilman on this first trip. They are and always a pleasure to travel with...and I always learn a lot from them. Also with me on this trip were Brian Niematelo, Thomas Questad, Jaclyn Somero, and Debbie Rokala. Here is the trip in picture-form:

Here is are whole group minus Dennis. This is as we are leaving Schekino for Moscow at the beginning of the trip. From Moscow we caught a train to Yoshkar-Ola. In Russia, there is always lots of travel by bus, train, subway, tram, car, etc.






Sergei and Luba shared a beautiful testimony with me as we were visiting after the short service we had in their village. Unlike most families here, Sergei was the first member of his family to come to faith. He said that he felt God's call for 10 years, but it wasn't until this small mission church was planted here a few years ago that he listened. Before he came to the church they were always fighting and had considered getting a divorce. Now, however, he confided to me with a smile, he was so happy that his wife was there beside him and that God had brought them together again in faith!

Eating cotton candy in Cheboksary! :) We went walking in the evening and the cotton candy caught our eye!








It was awesome to be in the country for Oksana's wedding! There were two ceremonies--one civil ceremony in town (required in order to be married in Russia) and then a religious ceremony in Oksana's home village of Guruz Purga. Dennis Hilman took part in the religious ceremony.

 The youth camp held immediately after the wedding was a highlight of the trip! We had lots of kids show up--more than was expected! We almost ran out of places for people to sleep. We combined English teaching with time spent around God's Word. On the last evening we all shared personal testimonies and then Dennis, Greg, and Brian prayed for all those who requested prayer. Immediately following the prayer our van arrived and we said quick good-byes and headed off into the night!
 

Greg and I stood as godparents for the daughters of Yuri and Julia in Yekaterinburg. Angelica is 4 and Veronica is 1 1/2. Please pray for this family that they will continue to raise their daughters with the love ad fear of God! Angelica and I became friends over origami frogs and cranes after the service. Veronica is happier hanging out with her godfather... but hopefully I'll be able to spend more time with them both next time I visit!

It's always fun to hang out with kids! This is me playing with the kids in Gargarka. These kids come from difficult homes. Most are dirt poor and, statistically, many of these boys will be in prison before they are out of their teens. Many of the girls will be pregnant. Many, if not all, will be alcoholics. Please pray that God will touch their lives, give them a living hope, and raise them out of the poverty they live in today.




Our group in Rzhev with Maxim. Maxim first heard about living faith when Pastor Valery (the local pastor of the Lutheran church there) spoke at his school when he was thirteen. He was the first one to come to faith, followed by his mother, Olga. They both attend church now as well as Maxim's little two-year-old brother, Jacob.

I'm going to stop now! Lots more stories and pictures can be found on the foreign mission blog: www.foreignmissionnewsblog.blogspot.com.

I'm in New Hampshire now, but I'll be on my way to South Africa next week. Prayers always welcome!