THE FOREIGN MISSION MONTHLY NEWS UPDATE FOR FEBRUARY 2018
Teams recently returned from South Africa and India. Our prayer is that the words spoken will go deep within their hearts.
South Africa
Frank Famiya, Bob Maki and Ansten Tretten were very busy each day in South Africa. Visiting townships, informal squatter camps, schools and homes in both rural and urban areas. Sharing the Word of the faith to children, students and eldelry.
Pastor Famiya and Maki teaching during seminars.
Pastor Tretten sharing at a home Bible Study.
India
There was a team in India for 3 weeks. We went to several different areas, and the ministry included Pastors Seminars, Church and outreach services, Medical Clinics, Sunday School, Womans Bible Studies, Home Visits, Ministry with leapers and so much more. The team worked in the city, small villages and mountain tribal areas. The rich, poor, healthy and sick, all need the saving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This family is soon to be baptized. They were Muslim but have Repented and believed by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Please pray they would continue to follow Jesus, The Way, The Truth, and The Life!
Pictured are Pastor David (in blue, left pic) and his wife and child! Pastor David you might remember, is the Pastor who had horrible trials for so many years. First his wife began to suffer from schizophrenia. Then he lost his church and home to a Typhoon. After this he lost two precious daughters to drowning. Again he lost his house and church to a Typhoon. Then his wife passed away. So much suffering in the life of this man. Still, he faithfully follows and serves his Lord.
God has now provided for David a new marriage to a wonderful helpmate who faithfully fulfills the things required of a Pastor's wife. God has also blessed them with a beautiful baby daughter! In addition, thanks to a generous donor family in the USA, we are here pictured dedicating the new Church building which has a small house attached! God is good! This is built in a safer area further from the ocean, and is built in a more solid fashion that the typhoons will have a harder time destroying!
O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 107:1
Upcoming Trips Update
A trip to West Africa is scheduled for March. Please pray for this time of ministry!
A special Pastors and Leaders seminar will be help in Guatemala starting March 1st. Pastors Steve Wauri and Bruce Estola are with Scott Niemitalo for this special time of being together with our Guatemalan friends.
There is a trip being planned in June to Guatemala. This will be for the annual Guatemala ALC Convention. Would you like to join us on this trip?CLICK HERE Planned dates for this convention are June 16-17.
Other trips are in the planning stages, and they will be announced when there is something more firmly arranged.
Please pray for all of these trips, that the Word will be preached, taught, and received in all Truth and purity!
MEET A FRIEND
(Through this section in each Monthly News, we hope you can feel better connected to some of your brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world.)
Meet Medisetti Satyavathi Here is her story as told through translation.
She first got leprosy after puberty at about the age of 13 or so. First sign was on her feet. Then boils began appearing on her hands and feet. She is 60 years. You can see her hands….
Since proclaimed to be a LEPER, she is rejected by most, and is in poverty. She lives at her brothers place in a small room on the porch so that she keeps away from his family.
Please be in prayer for her as she ages, so that she could feel love, and not suffer additionally. She and the other lepers in this general area have a pastor that does what he can for them, as best he can. His care for them is a surely a blessing. He has been serving in this way 15 years now. The pastor is also in poverty, so mostly what he does is pastoral type things, which of course we are grateful for.
We can only imagine how life is for lepers, and they need our prayers for sure!
*Thank you to the family in USA that donated a Bible for her*
(Here are just a few of the many notes received after the recent trips. We humbly accept their thanks, All Glory goes only to God) We love our friends around the world.
South Africa
The harvest continues to grow in South Africa, Ourvisitors never had time to rest since their arrival.
Each year something new is being born in South Africa, people grow in the grace and knowlege of the Word. Pastor Bob understood people here in South Africa even more that I do, Pastor Ansten even his first time in SA, was able to use his teaching talent to speak to the pastors. Pastor Frank who liked to share the Word and especially to unbelievers.
Its our prayerthat the Word richly reach hearts of many here in South Africa both believers and unbelievers.
May God bless you.
Humbly Bishop L. Mphahlele
India
God's Peace from India!
Warm Greetings to you.
It's a great pleasure and honour to have you all in INDIA during your February visit. Everyone was overwhelmed by the sermons by our beloved Pastor's. People felt the touch of God. ESPECIALLY the fellowship and the WORD OF GOD so powerfully presented by you. I SHOULD say that your texts and the exposition of the texts and the delivery of the sermons were wonderful and I feel that it's a special Grace that the Lord has bestowed upon you. I praise God for you.
Right from day one till the last day, I.e till 11th,February, they were joyous days. Traveling long distances and the interactions were really great.
The tribal area Pastor's were excited and exultant, now they wanted to have more days of seminars and meetings when you visit next time. Your love and the support made it to happen. Those neglected tribal community was rejuvenated by the your compassion. I thank you so much for you specially. The Spiritual and physical investments are very productive. The continuation will bring many more to the TRUTH.
Doctor Solomon
Beloved Pastor John Greetings of God's peace. Thank you for the message. So thankful for finding a sponsor for food for the old man. He is very thankful for that. Sister Robyn is very encouragement to all of us ... We are all praying for you all daily. ..please pray for us. Thank you for your visit to us...please convey our hearty regards to all the team visited us. Thank you Yours in His service Pastor K (India)
FROM PASTOR MP (India)
On the day you have preached, that is on 10th in Bhatlapalika night open service, many people in far places and in the village, listen the word of God, as the spirit of God lead you. Last week many of them who listen the word while you preached, came to me and they said that they were moved by the word and asked me "what can I do for washing our sins and get saved. I have asked them to read the word of GOD and believe in Jesus.
Next week I am going to give New Testaments to them. I and our congregations are praising and thanking GOD. We thank you for preaching the word with the power, as the spirit moved you. Please pray for those people and their families. To GOD be the Glory.
Other Highlights of the Month
> The last day of February is scheduled to be the first day of Bible Study using Google Hangouts. More on this later, as we hope to expand this work in the future.
> Bibles have been given out again in February! Many people received their first Bible ever this month. Money for Bibles was also sent to Rwanda, where in many congregations only about 5 percent of the people own a Bible.
> Time that was spent with the Lepers in India this month was so blessed. We were able to provide, rice, Bibles, and song books for these very poor and most often neglected people.
> Thankfully due to private donations, we were able to serve 572 people in medical camps in India this month. They came bearing all many of diseases. Many were not believers, but all were prayed for in the Name of Jesus.
The Foreign Mission fully understands that nothing can be accomplished except that God through His Holy Spirit would move His children to help in their individual capacity. We certainly give all Honor, Praise, and Glory to God. Items are put here only so you can see the various ways that you can help in the Lord's Vineyard, even if you cannot leave your home! Prayer is of top importance of course!
Upcoming Trips
Would you like to join us? Trips this year that have availability for you to join! Guatemala (June 2018)
> Thank you for your prayers for the trip to South Africa and India that was completed! Please see the upcoming Where He Leads for articles about these 2 trips.
> Please be in Prayer for the trips to West Africa and Guatemala mentioned above. We go trusting the Lord, and relying on your prayers!
> There are two Pastors we work with that really and truly need a motorbike to help in their work. They cost around $1200 should you want to help them out. As always you would get his name, story, and picture.
> One of our ALC USA churches has donated for church roofs! We are so thankful and already 2 churches have received metal sheets to complete the roof system of their church. It is best that the congregations put their own resources into the building and we only help finish it. This way they develop more of a feeling of ownership of their own church.
May God Bless Your Month!
Mailing address for DONATIONS: The Foreign Mission of the ALC 1601 NW 4th Avenue Battle Ground, WA 98604
Mailing address for CORRESPONDENCE: The Foreign Mission of the ALC 63 Poor Farm Road New Ipswich, NH 03071
visitors never had time to rest since their arrival. 
