Tsunamis & Amazing Movements in the South

Remember the tsunami? No, not the one which just devastated Japan, but the one just over 5 years ago (Dec. 26, 2004) which swept into Sumatra, Thailand, and other Indian Ocean countries?

As we contemplate the destruction in Japan, as we marvel at the sheer force and power of earthquakes and water to alter the landscape of countless lives, it is hard not to question why God allows such things to happen. But as Ruthie and I have dealt with personal tragedy and asked the questions, "Why, why, why?", we've not always gotten the answers. But, we've come to peace by settling on this question instead: "What for?" What does God want to accomplish in us and in his Kingdom as we respond and grieve and grow?

For us, this is the important question for Japan right now, a question I know is much on the minds of our friends there. I believe that as God's people in Japan and elsewhere respond in love and care and hard work, amazing things are going to happen.

I saw this reality in the south of Thailand in January. I had an opportunity to travel with Curt Peterson and Kyle & Lyndsey Small, pastors and members of the World Mission Committee in the Covenant, as Jim Gustafson took us to visit the work of SDRF (Sustainable Development Research Foundation), the Thai organization of which he is a part.

Here's the story. Shortly after the tsunami hit, Jim and Nujon Singpila, the President of SDRF, felt God directing them to visit the communities in the south to see if there were some ways they could help with the recovery. SDRF, though the years, has gained much experience in fresh-water fisheries--spawning and raising tilapia fish as a way to generate income and liveihoods for communities in Northeast Thailand. Was there a way that this experience in fisheries could be used to help fishing communities in the south?

This was the question they felt God asking them. And they posed this question to the local fisheries department where they were visiting. "Yes, come and help us--you're welcome," is the answer they were given. "But don't just come for a short time and then leave. We want to know that you're committed to us long-term." So SDRF went into action buying fishing nets and material needed to re-build the livelihoods of fishing communities on the island of Koh Yaow, just across the bay from Thailand's famous Phuket resort.

Jim Gustafson showing some of the products MRI is working on as a source of income foor tsunami-affected communities.

Then, in a seemingly-unrelated development, two women, Toon and Srinuan, heard through a network of friends that Nujon was traveling in the south. They were suffering from HIV-Aids and knew many people in the same predicament. They virtually dared Nujon to care--and to pay a visit.

When Jim and Nujon did visit, they prayed for them and brainstormed about ways they could help. Toon and Srinuan came to faith. Nujon encouraged them to start attending meetings for government programs distributing anti retro-viral drugs, and through this they started to build relationships with many in this community. When Toon finally succumbed to the aids-related illnesses in her body, Srinuan took up the mantle of leadership and continued sharing her faith to the many people she was meeting.

Srinuan, the woman on the left, tells the story of how God has saved and changed her and her husband, and used them to reach out to many people in this extended network

One of those was a man whose health had wasted away, reducing him to nearly half his normal body weight. He had already made arrangements for his funeral and prepared the portrait that would sit in front of his casket. When the team prayed for him he took on new hope. He started gaining weight, his countenance changed. And within a few short weeks he was a totally different person! Eventually he married Srinuan!

As we sat and listened to these stories and heard of how God's grace has changed the lives of these leaders, I was amazed, again about the power of the gospel to transform us! Then, as we visited the Marine Research Institute on Koh Yaow island and saw some of the interesting projects SDRF hopes will be sources of income for fishing communities, I am thankful, again for the creative energy of God's faithful servants.

Curt Peterson and Jim Gustafson on the floating platforms of the Marine Research Institute, Koh Yaow

Here are a few things I took away from my visit to the South...

• We need to be opportunists for God! Jim and Nujon and SDRF saw a need and responded. They didn't sit around and debate the issues for weeks on end but got close to the situation, met the people, and came up with some practical plans that lay within the abilities they had as an organization.
• As they moved, God provided the resources. Many churches had a part, many people gave money and time.
• This effort was a true partnership of "outsiders" (Jim and Nujon)--and "insiders" (Toon & Srinuan and others in those communities).

A lot more could be said, but this is an on-going story. At present there are about 500 new believers; many of them have been baptized during several big gatherings. Many lives have been transformed through the power of the gospel. Amazing.

I'm just wondering what plans God has for the people of Japan!

AKBA 2011 -- Advancing Kingdom Business in Asia

Every year for more than 10 years a unique group of Jesus-followers have gathered for mutual encouragement. Many believe that it is not necessary to give up their culture in order to be a follower of Jesus. LIke the early church in Acts, they ask, "Is it necessary to become a Jew in order to be a follower of Christ?"

Or in today's terms, they ask, "Is it necessary to become culturally 'Christian' and give up one's identity as a Buddhist, a Muslim, a Shintoist? In many countries throughout Asia one's identity is closely tied to one of the major religions and to give that up often means cutting one's ties with family and community. The result, many would say, is that Christianity has made it "too difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God," (Acts 15:19) and has distorted the meaning of the gospel.

At the same time, because of the often restrictive environments in their countries, many of these friends have started businesses and are working to bless their communities by carrying on productive work. So, out of these meetings has come a consultation about how to advance kingdom businesses--those where relationships and socially-responsible economic activity are as important as profit and money-making.

This year I was asked to help organize this part of the gathering. Since this has been the focus of our lives for more than 10 years now, I welcomed the opportunity. Through my contacts and those of friends, we invited a wide variety of business-owners and entrepreneurs to tell their stories.

It was an excellent time of sharing and story-telling. The mutual lessons we learned, the best-practices, the challenges of truly being a Christ-follower while conducting a business--all of these were a tremendous encouragement. As this movement of serving Christ while carrying on socially responsible businesses continues to grow and deepen over the coming years, we expect we will need many more times like this to help us sort out the issues and sharpen our perspectives.

Vitamin fortification: sapping my energy!

Let me tell you about our little saga with Thailand's FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Since we returned to Thailand on February 7 we have been working to get permission from the FDA to import a vitamin and mineral fortification for the contract we won recently from a major international organization. Four times the documents have been rejected, four times they've been sent by overnight courier from the vitamin company in Germany.

When it comes to this kind of thing, every jot and tittle is important, apparently. The latest issue, requiring a re-do and re-send: we were told the product specification for Potassium Chloride needed to have the words "Test for Sodium...Negative Test". "Sodium...Passes Test" was not good enough! That's Thai bureaucracy. Then, the company in Germany, too has not been cooperative. They refused to change the wording. So we ended up with "Sodium...Negative Test."

Praise God. This morning they finally accepted all the documents and are waiting "for the big man upstairs" to sign... How long will that take? Normally it's 35 days. But we're praying for 3! This may seem like a small thing, but our whole food mill is lying quiet and still, waiting for the day it can begin to make food! Wessel and the team interviewed employees and got totally geared up a month ago. Then Pffttt the wind went out of our sails. Why is this happening this way? I'll let you know when I find out from the Man upstairs.

The Joy of the Lord? A meditation...

So, I read about joy this morning. Ezra called all the people together and read from the Book of the Law of Moses. And all the people rejoiced. They stood as one before him in the square; others stood around and explained the Law so that it was understood by the people. And their response after listening attentively was to praise God, fall down and weep--a great release of emotion. Then Nehemiah and Ezra told the people not to weep, but to rejoice, to celebrate, to enjoy choice food and drink--and to send some to those who didn't have them. He said not to mourn or grieve, but to rejoice--"for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

What is the "joy of the Lord?" It seems that this joy first of all, springs from a heart that is forgiven--a knowledge that my sin is "regarded no more." I remember my mother telling me that my sin would be removed, as far away as the east is from the west. And I tried hard to imagine it. I thought of those long plane rides, with overnights in Hong Kong or Honolulu, between Vietnam and California. Those rides have gotten shorter. But they're still far too long...

It seems too, that that Joy springs from a heart that knows who God is: how great and powerful and high and different he is from us. Knowing who God is, who I am in comparison--and that he still loves me--this is joy.

Finally, the joy of the Lord springs from a heart that takes comfort in God's law: in the limitations it places on us, in the way it guides us, in the way we discover a new determination to obey all that He has commanded, all that he has laid out for us.

This, I think, is the joy of the Lord. Help me to live in your joy today, Lord.

Good News from MVF!

On December 30th we received official word that our bid to produce Rice-Soy Blend for a major international customer was accepted. Thank God for this answer to months of prayer! Then, just this morning we received word that our team in Chiang Khong has cleared the final hurdle to HACCP certification--this is certification as a food factory that measures up to international standards. Wessel and our Thai team have been working long hours producing the documents, procedures, and tests that were needed. We are so thankful for the resources and prayers of so many of you which have made this possible. It is with hope and prayer and thanksgiving that we move into this new year. Pray that the food supplement we make will meet all standards and be a great source of nutrition for young children.

Incredible India

India was almost like returning home for me after all my years growing up in neighboring Pakistan. Ironically, my birthplace in the Punjab became an issue as we applied for a visa, but permission came through and we were able to visit three very different ministries-each reaching out to many Indians.

The passion of Truth-Seekers in New Delhi is to see the caste system truly eradicated from India. Like many westerners I was not aware of how deeply-rooted it still is. It was an eye-opening experience to see individuals from many different faiths gathering together in the unity of the One who claimed to be the way, the truth, the life.

Before that we visited the slums of Mumbai and Pune with social workers from the Hindustani Covenant Church. We saw thousands of children, gathered in cramped little rooms, given the opportunity to learn to read. The hope, we were told, was to persuade parents that education will pay out more in the long run than having their children pick through the dumps to recycle plastic and metal.

Then we visited the brothels. Many of the women had been sold by their own family members. The streets were dingy and squalid. I was humbled as I saw the love of the workers--one, herself a redeemed prostitute--seeking to rescue women from their miserable circumstances.

I was reminded how much I take the love of my family for granted. I was reminded that Jesus didn't shy away from the outcasts and prostitutes. Yes, the circumstances were depressing, but the compassion of the Hindustani Covenant church shone brightly.

As we ended our trip in southern India, I was delighted to learn that what I took for legend about St. Thomas and his days there is considered part of local history--including the hill where he was killed.

It was inspiring to see the dedication of the staff of India for Christ Ministries as they handle hundreds of children in multiple settings. We watched enthusiastic children play, sing and practice their English. Where in America would I ever see such respectful, enthusiastic kids singing their hearts out? Maybe we need to have our privileges taken away so we can learn a little gratitude?

A Small Language School with a Big Impact

I stood there and gave thanks. On our first visit to this Covenant-affiliated training center in a small Asian city, I was on the 4th floor of a vocational school looking at a map of the nation on a billboard. On it were pictures of scores of students. Each picture had an English name the student had taken when he or she entered this 2-year program. And each picture was linked to a different city or province. Equipped with English-language skills I had been told, these students were finding jobs in almost every province.

As the students have gone out, many of them have also taken with them new outlooks and values as a result of the unique educational environment they had experience. English immersion and small class sizes--two of this school's distinctives--have made it possible for many close friendships to develop between students and teachers. I thanked God for a core of visionary people who had opened this school and developed the programs to this point.

The impact of this school has been significant in every way. While some of the teachers expressed regret that they could not follow up on these students in a more intentional way, it became clear that many long-lasting friendships have been made between teachers and students, and many teachers have made efforts to stay in touch with students after they have left the school.

Much work has been done to develop a quality curriculum, systems, and structures to ensure that students gain a good grasp of English. Furthermore, much work has been done to enable North Americans to come for short periods of time, to teach, to live without undue stress in what could be an intimidating environment. Comfortable apartments, a well-organized program, and good orientation materials ease the transition of North Americans from many age brackets into life and work in this rural Asian city.


The testimony and return of many of these teachers for multiple periods is evidence that they have found the experience fulfilling and life-changing. One retired ethics professor from a school in the U.S. said to us: "I am almost embarrassed to admit to my peers back home how much fun my times at this school have been." He talks about what a joy it is to teach students who are motivated to learn and who treat him with respect and gratitude. While most of the team is considerably younger than this professor, they have a strong desire to continue to improve the program even while occasionally struggling with the challenges of living in a difficult environment. We praise God for the faithful service and commitment of this team.