Thursday, October 19, 2006

Nepal so far

well as i said the first few days were spent on getting to know our contacts and the team that that has been here for some time now, as well as getting the necessities for the trek we went on. Our goal for being in nepal is to find new, and improve ministries here, and gather info, so that the students can bring home a panphlet in order to come back with their own group from their church to serve these nations. Also, our goal is to be a refreshment for the ywam teams in these nations. We started our trek, and you could tell that alot fo the were worn out and ready to go home, and sick of being around the same people 24/7. So, the trek was very productive in terms of encourageing the team. Many of them said that they were very glad to see us and to talk with us, they said they really needed it. In terms of finding ministry, and doing ministry for nepal, the trek wasnt what we expected it to be. It was great to see to be able to reach the Anapurna Base Camp, but we wewre under the impression that we were going to be ministering to the viollages in the mountians, which we did not do. But going on the trek with teh maui team was not useless. Amy became a leader for the team since their leaders had to stay back on part of the trek since one of them thought she had appendicitise. So the team felt abandoned and without leaders, and was very glad that Amy was there - especially amy. So the trek was an incredible expereince, and God used us all throughout it.
So now were are back in Kathmandu and have one more week to gather info about the ministries in Nepal. we went to a Bible college a couple of days ago. This was very beneficial. We foud out ther needs and what furutre teams could do. We are going to visit an orphanage here in kathmandu tomarrow as well as the other ministries that our contact has planned for us.
Amy is alittle sick, but doing good. Jordan is also good. We are having a blast here. We have also been able to do some street evangalism. People are so open and willing to stop there day and talk to you. Its so different here in that aspect than in North America. It is much easier here. People are so interested and willing to listen. People want Bibles, and will read it.
Thankyou so much once again for your prayers and support. We need it, and appreciate it. i will update once more before we leave Nepal if i get the chance. Amy should be updateing pictures shortly.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Myanmar

First of i apologize for taking so long to update. we dont have much time here for interent as we did in thailand. myanmar was great. although i have never seen such poverty in my life. beyond words. its so hard to pass the beggars on the streets who look like they are barely staying alive. but we were told not to give any food or money since they purposely break their childrens limbs so that they can carry them around for sypathy, or the children who come up to you and pull on your shirt or hold your hand and ask for food, either are not in need of food at all, or have to give it to their parents or masters, or go and sell the food. it's too bad, cause i know jesus didnt ignore thos people, but i guess its different here and now.
we spent all of our time with a chruch plant in yangon and exploring their ministries. their focus is to reach the youth of myanmar. they are doing such and incredible job. what they are doing is completely illegal. and God continues to bless their minitry. they have many rpograms thorughuot the week that are stepping stones for their sunday services. their main ministry is waht they call english corner. here they teach them how to speak english, with heavy spiritual overtones. what makes this ministry so perfect for this country is that everyone wants to learn english. i went out with a bunch of 26 year olds and sat and talked with them beasue they wanted to practis their english. the youth here dont have any hope. it doesnt surprise me, i would'nt either if i were them and didnt have Christ. from brith they are are aised without happiness. it is a buddhism country which is a fear based religion. on top of all this they all are aware that they probably will never leave the country, and get a horrible job if they are lucky. this is why giving them quality teaching on english gives them a hope for a better job and life possibly within myanmar.
because of this mindset, our minsitry while we were here was to build relationships. this meant so much to them. playing a simple game of ping pong, or playing a song for them from canada, of simply asking questions about them, helped the church that we were with immensly. or job was to plant seeds, and they woudl water them, since we were there for such a short time.
our time spent here was very profitable for us as well as for them. it was sad to leave but we needed to head for nepal.
we have arrived safely in nepal now and these last few days we have spent preparing for the trek, and getting to know our contacts as well as the maui team that has been here for 5 weeks already. we are going with them on a 10 day trek through the Aneperna's. so once again i apologize for the length of time that i will not update for. i will update the chance i get. thankyo so much for your prayers God has been soo good to us, your prayers are working. its such a blessing. i will share more in detail after my trek. sorry for the typo's - its a bad keboard

love you all

REID