March 3, 2005

Praise items

• PRAISE for the 10-day visit with us in Pakistan by Sara and David Treece with son Joshua (13 months). Eight of the days were spent with Paul, Pat, and their four children also.
• Paul arranged for David and Sara to see several community development projects being carried out in his area by a Christian NGO headed by Ashraf Mall.
  • We all learned hands-on how to build an inexpensive filter that makes canal water safe to drink using simple materials. Helpful bacteria found in ordinary sand eat up harmful bacteria.
  • A woman demonstrated how to build a smokeless stove out of mud. It saves fuel by using just enough wood for one burner but heating two.
  • We learned the many benefits of the leaves, seeds and oil from the neem tree (related to mahogany). Soap, mosquito repellent, skin lotion, medicines for stomach troubles and fertilizer are all made from various parts of this tree. These are both cheap and effective
  • Simple savings and loan schemes enable village women to buy a young kid and sell the full-grown goat at good profit at the annual Muslim Feast of Sacrifice.
• Pray Treeces will be able to use some of these projects in their area of Central Asia. Pray for Fred too as he hopes to introduce some of them to the Meghwal villagers here.
• Praise for another team of seven men from the United States who came to pray. They had prepared themselves well for attacking the evil spiritual forces here and had a strong prayer backing. A few Pakistani prayer warriors met with them to pray for various needs and problems in Pakistan. Praise for a deepening concern among Christians here to pray for their nation. New small prayer groups are springing up with this purpose in mind.
• One day they visited the village of our literacy teacher, Daniel. A steady stream of his relatives have become believers in the last few years. However, Daniel’s father Lachman has continued resistant. He was the local “witchdoctor” in the area. But as two sons and their wives, a number of near relatives and even his mother have become believers he has shown increased interest. But he feared public opinion and whenever he tried to get rid of his charms and amulets he felt he was being attacked by the evil spirits he had served so long. Finally he allowed the prayer team to pray for him and break the power of evil spirits over his life. As they did so his expression was transformed and he was given new freedom and joy.

• Praise that the prayer team also had special prayer for Khatu, who has been struggling with severe asthma and has not been visibly helped by the special asthma treatment she has had for three months. She now believes she has been healed through prayer and is free of asthma symptoms—a wonderful answer to prayer!
• Praise for a good leadership seminar on Christian family life and visible spiritual growth in many of these village leaders. Aziz, who used to run from home for months when his wife neared delivery time, now is a steady worker, a loving father to his two small girls, and gaining courage to share his faith openly.
• Prem, though scarcely literate, has dedicated each Sunday to going to other villages to lead worship. He and his family are easily recognized by their wide smiles.
• Praise for a retreat for all PC(USA_ personnel working in South and Southeast Asia to be held in Indonesia March 10th through 15th. We look forward to fellowship, fun, and opportunities to learn from each other. As usual God gives extra treats. For us it will be six days spent with Margie’s sister Pat Vander Mark in Central Java. We will return to Pakistan just in time for Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Prayer items

Nicky, Esther (16), Luke (13) and her brother Symen are still awaiting the promised visas to join the staff of Murree Christian School in Murree, Pakistan. Pray for God’s right timing. If the visas are granted in March, Nicky and Luke will come but Esther will remain in Erie to finish 10th grade, as the course in MCS would be too different. If the visas don’t come until later, they will all wait until the next school year starts in August. Praise for financial support coming in.

Evangelist Daud postponed his operation for urinary blockage because he wanted to join the prayer teams. His health has deteriorated visibly but he hopes to have the operation March 7th or soon after. Pray for a complete recovery.

Guman’s mother Nainu is in the hospital four hours’ drive from Rahim. A biopsy was done to discover whether the growth blocking her esophagus is cancerous. Results are due March 5th. If the growth is benign they will try to remove it. She continues strong in faith and full of thanksgiving. The parable of Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham brought her new comfort. “If Jesus does not heal me, I will still go to be with Him, won’t I?” she said with new-found peace. Pray her son Kaisu and daughter Tulsi will also come to faith.

Keep praying for Raisham, the young wife with a defective heart who was warned that becoming pregnant could be fatal. She threatened miscarriage this month but recovered. Her husband, Daniel, has felt cheated at having a sickly wife but is learning compassion and is even willing to help her with cooking! Pray their relationship will grow deeper.

Pray for the new literacy classes, which have had a slow start due to many weddings. Pray they will make good progress this month before students have to take part in the coming harvest.

Pray for the following programs planned for March:

• March14 - 18 - Lazar, Rattan, Keval, and Narsinga are taking part in their 3rd LEAD seminar, which is taught by staff from the United States and gives them practical training in Bible study and pastoral ministry.
• March 25 - 27 - McBanes will join Hussu for Good Friday and Daud for Easter. We will be with Lazar.
• Pray that this Easter season will be truly meaningful to Meghwal villagers.
• March 28 – 31 - Workers’ meeting to plan for April programs.

Thanks for your prayers!

In Christ,

The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 112