South Asia Update - May 2011

Dear Friends and Family,

At the beginning of this month we asked you to pray as we went to the local FRO. Here is what we wrote:

"We ask you to pray for God's favor tomorrow as we plan to go to the local FRO (Foreign Registration Office) in the hopes of being able to register. If we manage to get registered, we will then be allowed to stay beyond the standard 180 days without leaving the country (Yes, by grace, we've been here together almost 6 months now!)."

The next day we were able to write with great thanksgiving that we are registered and will be able to stay here until September without leaving the country. PRAISE THE LORD!

But WHY stay? As we look over this last month we see one main reason. To see Christ glorified here in River City. We desire to see Him made much of and lifted high for all to see as glorious. As we interact with our local friends and acquaintances here, we see how the god of this world has blinded eyes from seeing the person and work of Christ in all his (its) fullness. Christ is believed to be simply a good prophet, not the infinite, divine, Son of God, who took on fully humanity. This last month has been a month of hearing and seeing this over and over again. Our hearts break for those around us.

It has been an exciting month of meeting with numerous different groups of people in different neighborhoods around the city. As Ch@d headed to one meeting with a more radical individual we both took time to pray not only for wisdom, winsomeness, and the Holy Spirit's guidance but also for safety. We both had felt a sense of greater need in this situation. When Ch@d arrived to visit this one man, he found that more and more men appeared and began asking inflammatory questions. Ch@d's friend had passed the New Testament around to each of them and they wanted to know what Ch@d was all about. Before he had even finished his chai they pressed him to leave the house and come with them to "somewhere else to meet a friend with a cast on his leg." Ch@d did not know what awaited at the end of their walk through this new neighborhood. He felt peace that even if it was a mob that the Lord would give wisdom. They arrived at another home of a religious leader and there Ch@d was taken into a back room and asked more questions. God in his kindness gave Ch@d a sense of peace and of wisdom so that he was able to answer with grace and truth! The second question the religious leader asked was, "Is Jesus a prophet or is he God?" This is just one example of more and more questions Ch@d is being asked and finding that those around are hungry to hear an answer. Pray that his words of truth about Jesus will fall like rain.

Since our last update, Ch@d had the privilege to witness "Ivan" get "dunked" in the river. This was an exciting day as Ivan took this step of obedience and faith. Praise the Lord with us as we see evidences of faith in this man's life. Please do pray for his family situation. He has a wife and daughter. Neither they nor his parents or siblings are yet aware (apart from changes they may have seen in his life) of the grace he has received.

This month has not only been a month of speaking the truth of Jesus Christ but also visiting many in the hospital. Two families we are close to have had family members in the hospital. Praise the Lord with us that our friend's sister's little baby is growing (born under 4 lbs) and continuing to get stronger. Praise the Lord that we were able to not only be of support in a critical time but that were also able to pray and speak of Christ's love and salvation.

Back to the question of WHY STAY? Recently a huge storm hit the city, drenching the streets, ripping tin roofs off of homes, flooding homes and blowing over things we prayed that God would likewise rain down His Spirit on this city and that many would see Jesus and have life. We were thankful for the reminder that He alone can do this work and we were also thankful for the relatively cool refreshing day. What a blessing.

This morning we head up to the hills for language and to wait for the birth of our child. Please continue to pray for a safe, natural, full-term delivery. Pray also for Ch@rity that she will have motivation and joy in learning a new language. During this time Ch@d will be working specifically on team building related documents, increasing his own language skills, sharpening his tools (and hopefully adding a few new tools) for EV-ism, apologetics, and discipleship. Praise the Lord with us for this season and for all that it will bring.

Thank you for partnering with us to see Christ glorified among the M.s of River City. To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen!

Ch@d and Ch@rity