February 3, 2012

In mid December, Pastor Scott Miller, an MSI Board member, and I were half way around the world.  We traveled there for the purpose of meeting with and encouraging our MSI “front-line” missionary team.  While there, Scott was also the principal speaker for an MSI Leadership Conference which brought together over 30 of our mission site leaders from across the region.

During those days, Scott and I were blessed to get a first hand glimpse of the Kingdom-building impact our missionaries and indigenous ministry partners are having in that far away corner of God’s creation.  Church planting and evangelism in remote jungle areas, inner-city youth centers, Christian schools in the midst of very difficult and sometimes hostile circumstances and Christ-like care of orphaned and abandoned children are just some of the many ministries sponsored by MSI. What a joy it was to be with like-minded believers of various nationalities, to see their witness, sweet spirit, and the commitments of individuals God has called to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the uttermost parts of the world.

As we begin 2012, please stand with us through your prayers and financial support of MSI as we reach out, in the Name of Christ, to those in need of a Savior. May we all seek Him and be about His business…may we continue to encourage and strengthen one another in faith, love and obedience to Christ.

In the precious name of Jesus,

His Name is Ahmed…

As the young boy was squatted next to a trash receptacle for a long time, I watched and wondered – was he eating?  When he finally stood, he walked to the next trash container.  I continued to watch as he crisscrossed the street going through each trash can…looking for what?  Once in a while he would pull something out of the garbage and stuff it in the long plastic bag he was carrying.

In the days to come, I often saw this young boy following a similar routine early in the mornings and many afternoons.  Why was he not in school?  Several weeks ago I saw him drenched and huddled across the street under a tree.  He was caught in a sudden downpour.  I motioned for him to come in out of the rain and he came running.  I couldn’t actually carry on a conversation with him because of my language limitations.

Fortunately, a neighbor and friend became my translator.  I learned that his name was Ahmed and that he was 13, the same age as my grandson.  In rooting through trash containers, he was attempting to help his mother by retrieving items to sell…plastic bottles, tin cans and such.

My friend went with me to meet his mother.  I wanted to ask her permission to help Ahmed with his school work.  Upon seeing their living conditions, my thought was how does she do it?  How does this mother pay rent and provide for her family?

Ahmed’s mother gave me her permission and now Ahmed visits me to study after the completion of his daily rounds.  Later he brought several of his friends.  What an opportunity the Lord has laid at my doorstep…to show the love and compassion of Christ to these children and their families.  May our actions daily demonstrate to the least and the lost the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Recently written by a member of MSI’s Southeast Asia Team, for security reasons, her name is not given.