January 5, 2005
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year!
Praise items
- Praise for good news about the house we have rented for six
years. It was sold in October to a family who wanted to move
in by April 1. They changed their mind about moving in and will
continue to rent to us!
- Praise that 16 keen young men returned to finish their Bible
courses this month. The one absentee was replaced by a new student,
Beejal, who came unexpectedly but worked hard to catch up to
the others. He is not yet a believer but is very close to making
a personal decision. Pray he will do so as he studies further.
- Praise that Jani and Paru, father and son (both strong believers
but not on speaking terms), were willing to publicly forgive
one another. We feared it was a superficial reconciliation.
Then Paru’s wife’s old grandmother died. Immediately
Jani and his wife joined the mourners and did what they could
to be helpful. In this way their relationship was truly restored.
God has amazing ways of working!
- Praise for healing Rani, wife of Sakundar, for whom we asked
prayer. Her spine was injured by too rough massaging after the
birth of her fifth child. She now is free of pain and able to
walk again. Her long stay with her parents and extended family
while convalescing opened the door for us to have two worship
services there. Her family has always been resistant to the
gospel, but now are welcoming and urged us to return regularly
for worship. Rani’s cheerful spirit and sincere faith
have made a deep impact on them.
- Praise that daughter Sara and husband David Treece have found
a small flat in a rural town in Central Asia. They are the first
foreigners to be allowed to live in that rural area. Pray they
will be led to some community development projects that will
benefit people in that area and lead to new friendships.
- Chandra had an extremely painful boil on a finger that didn’t
clear up for three weeks. He couldn’t sleep because of
the pain. Suddenly the thought came, “Why not ask the
Christian literacy teacher, Daniel, to pray for me?” In
spite of the fact that Chandra had often made fun of his faith,
Daniel was willing to pray. Suddenly the boil burst, the wound
came clean and cleared up almost immediately. A changed and
grateful man returned to his home to witness to the power of
Jesus to heal. Daniel too was delighted.
- Praise for a good Christmas tour of several villages. December
23rd night we were with three daughters of the first Meghwal
believer. Their teen-aged children had prepared a Christmas
drama that was not a polished performance but still thoroughly
enjoyed by all. They made the oldest couple in the family Joseph
and Mary—not bothered by their gray hair. The angel raced
on and off the darkened stage shining a flashlight on the person
he was sent to. The star was attached to a wire so it could
move and guide the wisemen to the baby Jesus. Herod was very
dramatic and sat on his throne in the middle of the stage through
all the scenes!
- Christmas Eve we planned to stay in a village in the desert
that has been desperate for water. The canals have been dry
for months and they were unable to plant or harvest cotton.
Now suddenly water has come in time for them to plant wheat—a
great blessing and answer to prayer! But our problem was that
most of the water courses were overflowing onto the dirt roads
we needed to take to get to the village. We tried three different
routes, got stuck in the mud, and had to be pulled out by a
tractor. Finally after dark we managed to drive up to our literacy
center, half an acre from the home we were aiming for. We left
the car there and picked our way by flashlight through the flooded
fields to that home, where we were received enthusiastically.
- They fed us supper, joined in our worship service and then
watched Christian films until well past midnight.
- Praise for a cold but refreshing time at Karachi beach with
son Paul and family to start 2005. Our hearts went out constantly
to the victims of the devastating tsunami which thankfully did
not affect Pakistan.
Prayer items
Continue to pray for the following health problems among our
workers:
- Daud, who hopes to have surgery soon for a urinary blockage
that is severely hindering his ministry now.
- Lazar and Daniel—workers who have quite severe chest
pains at times, for no apparent cause.
- Hussu and his wife Khatu who are slowly responding to a new
treatment for asthma and allergies.
- Nainu, mother of Guman, whose charms slid down her back. In
spite of diagnosed throat cancer, which prevents her from eating
solids, she cheerfully witnesses to her new-found faith in Christ
and is very changed.
- Shafe, McBane’s long-time cook, whose weakened heart
prevents him from serving tirelessly as before.
Pray for the following programs planned for January:
- January 6-8 - Final exams for the eight literacy
centers now finishing their first-year course. Pray for good
results and wisdom for the teachers as they choose two centers
each in which to start the course anew.
- January 10-13 - Refresher Course for the
literacy teachers before starting their new classes.
- January 16-19 - Prayer seminary in Karachi
led by John Robb of Colorado Springs to teach and inspire many
to pray for Pakistan. The McBanes are organizing this for Pakistani
leaders around the country. We will be attending.
- January 24-27 - Leadership training for
village lay leaders. Starting a two-part course on Christian
family life.
- January 31 to February 2 – Workers’
meeting to plan for February programs. Pray for fellowship and
creative ideas.
May 2005 be a year in which we all learn to walk with Jesus
more closely. In Him,
The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
112 |
