[Missions] This Week In East Timor: May 4, 2008
Dear Friends & Family,
The month of May is upon us again! This month East Timor will celebrate their Independence. It has been 6 long years with three changes of government and still there is unrest and uncertainty. The "state of siege" has been lifted but there are still many police and military to be seen on the streets. Our president is back and running the government. Yesterday we got word that two martial arts groups were fighting again. The latest group of rebels turned themselves in this week along with some weapons but they were treated like returning lost sons. Being interviewed on television and their pictures in the news papers. Very difficult to understand what is going on or to anticipate what might happen next. I guess what is happening here is just a small picture of what is going on around the world. On a more positive and hopeful note, God is still at work in our midst. Wira and family are back from "Home Assignment" and it is good to have them home. The youth in Dili and Lospalos are in the middle of planning youth camps for both places. This year will be the first time to separate the groups and have two different camps. I had asked you to pray for Abilio. Thanks so much for your prayers. He is standing strong behind his decision to choose what religious education class he will participate in. He is faithful to come to Bible study at the youth center and there are some other boys who are now asking Pastor Samuel if they can also come to Bible study at 'Nazarene'. Pastor Samuel had told me about a man that he had visited last week. His name is Jose. Jose had been sick for a long time. He has had blood in his urine for many months and had some kind of swelling on his side. (I would have guessed that he had a bad kidney problem.) When Jose found out that Samuel was a pastor he asked Samuel to pray for him to be healed. Samuel talked to him about the need to believe in the power of Christ only and not try to use evil power and also ask Christ to heal him. Then Samuel prayed for Jose. This week Samuel went to visit Jose again. Jose was not at home. His wife told Pastor Samuel that Jose was feeling so good that he decided to go work in the fields. Later Samuel heard the story from Jose. Jose said, "I have no more blood in my urine. The swelling is gone. I decided that I would test my body so I went to cut some bamboo to make beds for my family. I carried three pieces of bamboo and I am not tired." (some green bamboo is very heavy). It appears that something wonderful has happened to Jose's body!! Praise be to God. Now, Pastor Samuel is trying to get Jose to give his life to Christ. Please pray that he will do so soon. I have been working on translation this week. It sure is slow but I am encouraged. Janet is busy with her online studies and doing well. Today after church we are going to have a birthday party for Emily Sinclair. She is the oldest daughter of our MAF family neighbors. Emily is 6. I better get this sent and get to the kitchen to do some dishes before we go to church.
Have a great week.
Warren Neal
The month of May is upon us again! This month East Timor will celebrate their Independence. It has been 6 long years with three changes of government and still there is unrest and uncertainty. The "state of siege" has been lifted but there are still many police and military to be seen on the streets. Our president is back and running the government. Yesterday we got word that two martial arts groups were fighting again. The latest group of rebels turned themselves in this week along with some weapons but they were treated like returning lost sons. Being interviewed on television and their pictures in the news papers. Very difficult to understand what is going on or to anticipate what might happen next. I guess what is happening here is just a small picture of what is going on around the world. On a more positive and hopeful note, God is still at work in our midst. Wira and family are back from "Home Assignment" and it is good to have them home. The youth in Dili and Lospalos are in the middle of planning youth camps for both places. This year will be the first time to separate the groups and have two different camps. I had asked you to pray for Abilio. Thanks so much for your prayers. He is standing strong behind his decision to choose what religious education class he will participate in. He is faithful to come to Bible study at the youth center and there are some other boys who are now asking Pastor Samuel if they can also come to Bible study at 'Nazarene'. Pastor Samuel had told me about a man that he had visited last week. His name is Jose. Jose had been sick for a long time. He has had blood in his urine for many months and had some kind of swelling on his side. (I would have guessed that he had a bad kidney problem.) When Jose found out that Samuel was a pastor he asked Samuel to pray for him to be healed. Samuel talked to him about the need to believe in the power of Christ only and not try to use evil power and also ask Christ to heal him. Then Samuel prayed for Jose. This week Samuel went to visit Jose again. Jose was not at home. His wife told Pastor Samuel that Jose was feeling so good that he decided to go work in the fields. Later Samuel heard the story from Jose. Jose said, "I have no more blood in my urine. The swelling is gone. I decided that I would test my body so I went to cut some bamboo to make beds for my family. I carried three pieces of bamboo and I am not tired." (some green bamboo is very heavy). It appears that something wonderful has happened to Jose's body!! Praise be to God. Now, Pastor Samuel is trying to get Jose to give his life to Christ. Please pray that he will do so soon. I have been working on translation this week. It sure is slow but I am encouraged. Janet is busy with her online studies and doing well. Today after church we are going to have a birthday party for Emily Sinclair. She is the oldest daughter of our MAF family neighbors. Emily is 6. I better get this sent and get to the kitchen to do some dishes before we go to church.
Have a great week.
Warren Neal
posted by Marty at
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