Monday, January 30, 2012

One-liners from India



Ansten: Love the people! Lord save India!


Tom: Màs curry chicken!


Jean-Mary: The team is extraordinary!

John: So many people...so little time!

Dr Kumar: Thankful that we can worship the Lord freely in India!

Ariann: Love the kids...they're all so beautiful!

Leona: I could live on masala chai!

Rajahmundry road blocks!

It is wonderful to be back in India again, however, it has been an eventful few days since we arrived last Wednesday! On our trip back from the airport, we were stopped for a few minutes by protesters. Our hosts here in India informed us that there are protests going on between the upper and lower castes. The lower caste people are protesting the lack of freedom and the need for social reform. Many of the shops have been closed, the schools were out for a day, and the roads have been blocked frequently.

We didn't think it was going to be much of an issue...but that was before we headed out Thursday morning in two different directions: John Ruotsala, Tom Lappi, and Ansten Tretten to the pastors training and Ariann Somero and Leona Matson to teach the children and meet with the women. We had traveled for only a few minutes when the traffic came to a halt: more protests. Unfortunately, it wasn't only a few minutes this time! The guys were stuck for three hours...luckily us girls were in a smaller car and we were able to sneak through the traffic, creeping between trucks with less than an inch clearance on each side. Eventually, though, we too were stopped--about 100 yards from our turnoff! After waiting for about 40 minutes, our hosts decided we could walk out--which we promptly did. Since we walked out we were only about an hour and a half late--but we still were able to have a wonderful time with the children and the women!

Yesterday the protests were supposed to be over. However, as soon as the guys hit the main highway, they were stopped--just three cars from where the protesters sat! After about 15 minutes, they decided it was time to pray--before the prayer was even over the protesters got up and they were able to continue! Praise God!

The devil, however, doesn't rest. We woke up this morning to the news that the protesters are out again. The roads are blocked, the shops are closed, and people are marching once again. We know, however, that God is in control and we will arrive where we need to arrive. However, please pray not only for our speedy transport but also for justice and freedom for the people of India!

Note: there aren't many pictures because the connection is so slow right now that they won't upload.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

HOLA DE GUATEMALA!!


What can I say? Exciting? Inspiring? Breathtaking? I think I've used up all of those words before. Guatemala - which just happens to be the 40th country I have been to in my life - is truly a world of it's own. One of the first things that struck me when I arrived here last Tuesday, January 10, was the exhilaration of the mountains - everywhere! I love mountains. I am like the Psalmist who often lifted his eyes unto the hills (mountains) and contemplated where his help came from. "My help cometh from the Lord!" Truer words were never spoken.


The view from my bedroom window in 'Casa Paul Somero', where he has graciously invited me to stay, in his absence, of course, underscores what I am talking about. You are never far from the mountains here. Yes, even before I got to this house we drove four hours directly from the airport in Guatemala City eastward to the village of Juan Ponce. There I went straight from the car to the pulpit and preached on one wonderful verse that God had given me in Leviticus 26:12. "And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people!" What a powerful theme for my two month stay here in this breathtaking (there, I did it again!) country.

Stopping for a view in the mountains with Scott and Karen Niemitalo. They flew all the way down from North Carolina to give me the warmest of welcomes to this mission field. Scott is the man in charge of Guatemala for the Foreign Mission. They stayed for just three days, but long enough to make me feel most welcome and at home.


One man who knows the mountains like the back of his hand is our dear brother in faith, Solomon, who is son-in-law of the revered Salgiero who has long since gone on. On the second day he took us way up into the mountains to the village of Tajaral - it seemed like we drove straight up for an hour and a half. When we had driven as far as possible we continued on foot to the local homes perched on the slopes to bring prayer and encouragement. Here Solomon is resting with his son after teaching us fascinating things about the flora and fauna along our way. Cutting a cactus to use it's juice to treat a dog bite that Lynn Wirkkala got as we entered one yard and showing us how one plant quickly shut it's leaves when tapped, among many other things. Lynn has been living here as a missionary for about four years now. It's good that the dog bit her and not me. If you know me and dogs I might never have come back :-) !!

In one home we met a sage old man in his eighties and shared the Word with him. Here with Scott Niemitalo and Denis Garcia. Denis has been back in Guatemala after his studies in the States for about a year and a half now. He is one of my most important Spanish teachers here. At this occasion I even read John 3:16 for the first time in Spanish.

This sign, at the entrance to the village means "Tajaral for Christ" indicating the spiritual foundation of the lives of many who live in this high mountain village.

But it isn't just the mountain vistas that take your breath away as you travel the roads of Guatemala, but it is the Wild West nature of the country. Every day we pass the shell of a school bus in which the driver was ambushed and killed in front of the children and his own daughters as some kind of retribution. People drive pretty much how they want to at the speeds they choose and park wherever they wish. In towns the formidable speed bumps keep the speeds down but it is hair-raising to see the chances drivers take on the highways. Police, military personnel and guards all with automatic rifles are virtually everywhere, but so is lawlessness. The other day we passed a big, almost new complex beside the road which Ryan used to visit regularly to get gas, shop at the shop or have a bite to eat at the cafe. Today it sits empty and abandoned, riddled with bullet holes and pocked with shattered glass windows. Someone obviously didn't like the owner.


In sharp contrast to the lawlessness is the way the law and grace through the Word of God are being spread here. Ryan Ruotsala is the fulltime missionary serving the three congregations here. In this picture very competently leading the singing with two ladies of the congregation of Piedras Azules last Saturday. Many of the songs sung are tunes familiar to us. Ryan has even presented me with my very own songbook in which I can write the English names of songs I recognize. The guitar makes it easier for me to sing in harmony with many of these tunes.

Like I said Piedras Azules is one of the three active congregations here, albeit probably the smallest. Here some of the women and children relax outside the church after the service. This church, like the other two, in Zacapa and Juan Ponce, are the result of many contributions and much hard work on the part of numerous people and visiting missionary groups visiting from our churches in the U.S.

Just two days ago Pastor Giovanni, who lives in Zacapa but serves all three of these churches, took me on a prayer walk through the village of Juan Ponce. This man is a pastor who is a Guatemalan national and has served these congregations now for past two years. He has been such a blessing to them since there was a real "pastoral vacuum" in this area for several years. The Foreign Mission always focuses on raising up indigenous pastors who both know the living Gospel and their own people and can serve in the long term.

We went from home to home, listening, encouraging, exhorting from the Word and praying with the villagers. Pastor Giovanni especially chose homes where family members, for instance the husband, were not attending church regularly or at all. Strong men in the church, with the exception of a few pastors and church workers, are a rarity here. Something I have seen to be sadly true in many other countries. And so we said a special prayer for the father in this family, as well as for the other members of course.


Prayers for the children. Here you see Jonathan, the little grandson of one of our church members, who suffers from uncontrolled eye muscles. He often holds his hand over his left eye, either to ease the pain or to be able to focus. He has never been seen by a doctor and badly needs that, but the family cannot afford it. LITTLE JONATHAN NEEDS HELP. Anybody out there?

Then we visited Sarah - who made us fresh tortillas in a manner that I am sure they have been made for eons. Very tasty. In each home we prayed with people and invited them to church. In another home a rather young man named Julio seemed to be touched by the Gospel. His wife and little son are church members and regularly attend but he had never been to church, earlier suffering from an alcohol problem. As we left his home Julio followed us carrying his axe over his shoulder. In the yard of another home I finally asked him if he wanted me to pray for him and his contrite heart. He consented. I felt the Holy Spirit come down upon us. His heart was touched to tears as I proclaimed for him the blessed Gospel of liberty to the captives that Christ himself had bought for us with His own blood on Calvary. How often Jesus had proclaimed this and how often He encouraged us to do likewise.


After our long walk in the heat of the day we were invited to one village home for a most "delicioso" meal. The hammock on the veranda looked so inviting after dinner so I did my "horizontal" thing and enjoyed myself thoroughly. In the lovely warmth of the afternoon my thoughts wandered. Imagine how I had been brought to this country that I never dreamed I would visit since "everyone else had already been here". But mostly I was thinking about our village prayer walk that day and how God had led us. Would the Holy Spirit bring those people to church the next night? It was an exciting thought!


The next evening (yesterday) I was back on the steps of the just completed Juan Ponce church watching a blazing sunset over the mountains disappear into a final intense wash of light. I could really only think of one thing, "Would God bless our prayer walk of the day before and "bring the wandering ones to Jesus"? The service was scheduled to begin at 6:30. At 6:20 just two people were there. At 6:30 maybe four more including Julio's wife and child had arrived. About twelve people had been there at the last service we had held there. My heart was about to sink, so I went in as Pastor Giovanni started the service with great enthusiasm, leading many beautiful and even familiar spiritual songs. I decided to concentrate on my sermon text for that evening, Luke 4:14-21, where Jesus read the master plan for his ministry on earth from the book of the prophet Isaiah (61).

The anthems raised. Suddenly I looked around. The church was filling with people and THERE WAS JULIO!! I went back to hug him, a big lump in my throat and a "Gloria" in my heart. And others just kept coming. By the time I got up to open my sermon (with several lines in Spanish, of course!) there wasn't a free chair in the sanctuary. And then I read, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring the gospel to the poor......" and the Holy Spirit took over.

If you made it reading this far - and I hope some of you did - you can go ahead and rejoice with me! God is good. His mission here in Guatemala is living and viable and now He has even allowed me to be a part of it!

May God's wondrous love and peace be with you all!

Dennis

Wednesday, January 18, 2012


Endeavoring to obey the Word of our Lord...Go ye into all the lands and preach the Gospel to every creature.
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From the field:

Dear Sir,
   When we were reading your email of the information of sending me the funds US$ 2000 to print the Bible, tears were falling from our eyes as we were so glad, a very good news for us. As we are working to print the Bibles, they will be ready the Bibles, when the team comes to us. Thank you very much, you are so good to us for the Lord's work for Mnmar.
   I will be praying for the increase funding for the month too.
In Christ,
Pastor Van (Mnmar)

Special projects

NOTE: These projects are not funded by the FM general fund. They are only funded if earmarked funds are received.
> Motorbike for a pastor in Kenya $1075
> Generator
for a church in Togo $800


Regular support options

> Foreign Mission General Fund (any amount welcomed!)
> 12 Month Pledge Program
($10+/month)
> Indigenous Pastor support
($30/month)
> Full-time Missionary support
for Dennis Hilman ($200/quarter)
> Orphan and children support
in ALC Home in India ($30/month)
> Bible and other book purchases
($30 min.)
> Bicycles for pastors
($80 each)
> Memorial Funds
> Endowment Funds
> Mission Hospital in India
*Pictures and other feedback supplied, if desired.

A 2011 review and a 2012 preview! 

First off, we want to thank all of you for your financial support in 2011 and  most especially for your prayers! In 2011, we made trips to India, Philippines, Vtnam, South Africa, Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Kenya, Guatemala, and Russia; we helped support local work in all of the above countries as well as Pkstan, Mnmar and Sr Lnka; and every week people from over 40 countries received our weekly spiritual articles! One new development last year was the addition of Leona Matson as the FM youth leader. We are also blessed by the ongoing work of our full-time missionaries, Dennis Hilman and Ryan Ruotsala, and the hard work done by the Foreign Mission Board members. The board keeps in touch with weekly updates and holds meetings as needed. We earnestly pray that God will continue to use us as we strive to follow His commandment to preach the gospel to the world.

Besides continuing our work in the above countries and our ongoing correspondance with 30+ other countries, we also have a few
new plans for 2012. We are prayerfully considering a trip to Chna and ask that you would pray for us to use wisdom in that decision. We are also hoping that more of you would be called to join us on one of the many trips we will be taking in 2012. Check out the Monthly News below for more information!

Monthly News

> There will be a group heading to India later this month and a trip going to Russia in February. Please pray for God's guidance and direction!

> Dennis Hilman is currently in
Guatemala and Scott and Karen Niematelo have just returned from there. Updates will be posted in the news blog soon.

> Lord willing, we will be visiting over a dozen countries this year! Click here for a list of
upcoming trips. We'd love to have you along!

> Do you have used
digital cameras, laptops, or mp3 players that you'd consider donating for distribution overseas?

>
Church visits from the FM Administrator will continue throughout 2012.

> There will be a trip to
Pkstan, Mnmar, and Sr Lnka in mid-February! Are you interested? We'd love to have you along! NOTE: The spelling errors are delibrate; email if you'd like more information.

> We are so thankful that Chad Koivenen's
test results came back "non-cancerous." Thank you all for your prayers.

> Last week's Foreign Mission
board meeting was blessed. Praise God!

> The
Mnmar Bible project has now been fully funded! (See note in From the field in the left-hand column.)

> We are hoping to
inform more people about our work. Do you know anyone who would be interested in receiving this? If so, hit forward to a friend on the top left of this email!

Have you considered a tithe of your time?

The Foreign Mission would love to have you join us on a trip overseas at any time. However, if that is not viable right now but you'd still like to help out, we would still love to use you! Are you computer savvy? Are you good with video-editing? Do you like to organize fund-raising events? Are you a people person? Can you write? Can you edit writing? Do you have great ideas? Do you have spare time? If you'd like to help, we'd love to hear from you! Email the FM Administrator at foreignmission@comcast.net.
Mailing address for DONATIONS:
The Foreign Mission
1601 NW 4th Avenue
Battle Ground, Washington 98604



Mailing address for CORRESPONDANCE:
The Foreign Mission of the ALC
63 Poor Farm Road
New Ipswich, NH 03071

FM Administrator: foreignmission@comcast.net
Copyright © 2012 The Foreign Mission, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you have professed interest in the work of the Foreign Mission.







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Friday, January 13, 2012

Is God calling you to Asia?

We have just confirmed that there WILL be a mission trip to Pkstan, Mnmar, and Sr Lnka in February/March. This trip will be about three weeks long and will include services, a Bible school graduation, teaching at a seminary, etc.

If God is calling you to share his love in these beautiful countries, please respond NOW as you will need to start your visa process immediately.

We also fervently ask for your prayers! Please pray for preparations now and for God's protection and guidance during the trip. We are very excited to be visiting these three countries again after such a long time!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

December Foreign Mission Monthly News

Endeavoring to obey the Word of our Lord...Go ye into all the lands and preach the Gospel to every creature.
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From the field:

Hi,
 How do you do? I guess you reached home safely. I'm doing fine  through God 's grace and i was so happy for your short visit and thank you a lot for all what we shared. May the Almighty God bless you in all that you do.  Thanks and be blessed.
Elias (Kenya)
 Elias was a young man we met when the taxi driver needed directions last year. Since then we have kept in touch and become good friends.

Donations

Special support options
NOTE: These projects are only funded if earmarked funds are sent
> Orphan support in Kenya (Kisii Highlands) (money needed for food, education, clothing, etc.)
> Motorbike for a pastor in Kenya $1075
> Generator for a church in Togo
$800
> Bibles for Myanmar

Regular support options are plentiful

Email or click on the Donate link below for more information!

Showers of blessings!

I loved waking up in the early mornings, snuggling down under the blankets and looking up at the morning light sneaking into my little room through the chinks in the window shutter. Blinking my eyes open, I'd stare up at the ceiling through the mosquito netting covering my bed and listen to the rain drumming down on the tin roof. Outside, despite the rain, I could hear sounds of breakfast preparation as well as women singing in the other huts. It was another day of services and seminars in Upper Guccha, Kenya!

The rains were unseasonal and did cause problems. Many people weren't able to attend, and those of us who did had sticky mud to deal with as soon as we stepped outside. The rain and the wind also proved difficult since the services took place under tents outside. However, despite the adverse weather, the time we had was truly filled with God's showers of blessings! To read more about the trip to Kenya, click on this link!

May God richly bless you as well this holiday season with his peace, grace, and love! Merry Christmas

Leona Matson

Monthly News

> The missionaries who went to Kenya are all safely home. Click here to read updates in the news blog.

> Still need Christmas presents? Why not make a donation in someone's name or check out the Foreign MIssion Store

> There will be a trip to India at the end of January (please sign up soon, deadline is near)!

> Donations have been low in the last few months. Please consider making a tax-deductable gift this season.

 

Would you like to join a mission trip now or in the future? 

If so, please email foreignmission@comcast.net or visit www.themissionsite.com for more information. It is always better to have teams organized in advance so that everyone can complete the training program and we can meet together--even if just via phone calls or email--to pray and discuss the trip. In 2012, we have trips planned for India (January), Guatemala (April), the Philippines and Vietnam (May). Planning for trips to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Ghana, Togo, South Africa, and Kenya are also underway. Please pray that the trips will go forward with God's direction and in His time!
Mailing address for DONATIONS:
The Foreign Mission
1601 NW 4th Avenue
Battle Ground, Washington 98604

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Mailing address for CORRESPONDANCE:
The Foreign Mission of the ALC
63 Poor Farm Road
New Ipswich, NH 03071
Copyright © 2011 The Foreign Mission, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you have professed interest in the work of the Foreign Mission.