Author Archive

I am happy to inform you of what the Lord has done for us at the Salvation Camp. We had four days of salvation camp in the mission field (April 1-4). We invited some non-Christian friends who have never heard the Gospel clearly, We had twenty non-Christian friends join us at the camp.

On the first two days, I explained the holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, and the hopelessness of man without Jesus Christ. On the third day, we explained the Gospel — the salvation of God through Jesus Christ. On the last day, I shared about the basic foundation of a Christian life.

The Gospel was well received. Four men were baptized on the last day. There are others who have received Jesus but are not yet ready for baptism due to the danger of persecution from their families, relatives, and communities. — Rev. Khawl Ro Kima

Back in the mid 2000′s, Cambodia experienced a number of years of drought. Many farmers borrowed money to plant rice only to see poor harvests and failed crops several years in a row. With no way to repay their creditors, many lost their fields and homes and were forced to live on city streets. Even with good rains, only one crop of rice can be grown safely each year, and many are out of funds and rice months before the harvest. Thanks to a generous gift from the Cornerstone Sunday School Class at Grace Bible Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, OH, the Christians in two villages in Takeo province of Cambodia have a greater hope for the future. The Church in Kpbaom and preaching point in Prey Pdao both received irrigation pumps to protect them from drought and allow them a second rice crop each year. A pump is needed for a second rice crop as the rains are only consistent enough to grow rice for about one-third of the year. A second crop will allow them some extra funds to care for their families, their churches, and move the churches down the road towards self sufficiency. – Rev. Mark Baldwin

From March 25 to April 13th, Dr. Pine returned to Australia and Singapore for ministry opportunities and to visit our missionaries, Rev. and Mrs. Ed Paauwe in Perth, Western Australia. This year the entire family was blessed by the generosity of the Covenant B-P Church, as well as many Singapore B-P churches with an opportunity to join Dr. Pine. Beginning in Singapore, Dr. Pine had the privilege of preaching at Life B-P, Maranatha B-P, and Sharon B-P, as well as conducting two seminars, “The Christian Perspective on Suffering and Bereavement” and “Growing the Covenant Family in the Fear of God.” Karen joined in both seminars, offering her personal testimony regarding cancer, as well as the role and perspective of a mother. Rev. Mark Baldwin was able to join the Pines in Singapore. It was a great time of encouragement and making of new friends and contacts for all. The Pines and Rev. Baldwin also enjoyed true Singaporean hospitality, as they sampled local cuisine and saw the beautiful city and sites. Dr. Pine’s also spoke to a mission’s class taught by Rev. Jack Sin; Rev. Baldwin shared his ministry with the class, and Karen described the type of work she does at PMU.

While Rev. Baldwin returned to Cambodia, the Pines continued to Perth, Western Australia, for ministry at the Covenant B-P Church.. While there, the Pines were blessed by many families in the church who opened their homes to them. Dr. Pine’s ministry included preaching at Covenant B-P Church as well as the Free Presbyterian Church. He also presented a seminar entitled, “Principles for Music Selection in the Church,” and joined other church members in a Christian concert. Karen, Chelsea, and Eli were given the opportunity to lead the Holiday Bible Club at Covenant B-P which was blessed with over 50 children attending. The theme for the three days was God’s power in the context of Paul’s missionary journeys. The classes looked at God’s power over opposition, in human hearts, and over Satan, demons, and false gods. Karen taught the older children, and Chelsea taught the younger. Eli helped with games and crafts. Each day also included a missionary presentation by Karen on the works of Miriam, Rev. Baldwin, and the Kims. Rev. Paauwe taught the daily Bible memory verses, and the young adults from the church led the singing. Ministering together in these various ways was a huge blessing to the Pines. They are extremely thankful for this incredible opportunity.

Although Myanmar is thousands of miles from the US, a partnership exists between the ministry of Rev. Kim and our Bible Presbyterian denomination. We thank the Lord for these opportunities.

In January, the Grand Island Bible Presbyterian Church gifted the Bible Presbyterian Church of Myanmar with a boat that will serve as “church bus” for the Inle Lake region under the leadership of Brother Pazar. Since the center of ministry is a village on stilts in the middle of the lake, such transportation is vital to spread the gospel and build up the saints.

Last October, Dr. and Mrs. Len Pine traveled to Myanmar for training purposes. While Dr. Pine taught hermeneutics to the men who are training for ordination, Mrs. Pine held a seminar with the ladies on the woman’s role in the church and home. While Rev. Kim continues training efforts for the men in vital areas, the ladies of the church have begun to train other women in biblical truth. In December, two missionary wives, Mawite and Thangte, taught the ladies of the BP churches of the Shan State on the matter of biblical roles of women. Such multiplication of teaching is a common occurrence in Myanmar. Both Khawl and Mawite Kim have a burden to train the people in God’s Word in appropriate ways.

The next opportunity for partnership, Lord willing, will be this coming summer when Dr. and Mrs. Kevin Backus travel to Myanmar for more training. Dr. Backus will continue the seminary training of those seeking ordination, focusing on theology. Mrs. Sharon Backus will be raising funds to join him in this partnership ministry. Her focus will be teacher’s training for the women. Her years of experience training adults in the art of teaching, as well as her experience as a children’s teacher will be extremely valuable to the women of Myanmar.

While Rev. Kim continues to follow his calling to reach Myanmar in a myriad of ways, we here in the US are blessed to partner with him. Would you partner with Rev. Kim in reaching Myanmar for Christ? Without leaving your home, you can pray for this ministry. Please also consider supporting this work. PMU’s monthly support to Myanmar partially supports Rev. Kim personally; however, the largest portion is sent to support the ministry itself. Ministries such as the orphanage, pre-school, and all the missions stations and missionaries are supported through PMU. PMU is also presently helping with famine relief in the Chin State.

For your prayer time, we leave you with some requests from Rev. Kim. Thank you for partnering with us and Rev. Kim for the sake of the Gospel in Myanmar.

• Salvation camp is to be conducted in March 25-28 in the Shan State
• Pray for the orphanage children that God may continue supply the needs of their daily living. Pray that God may give them individual sponsors.
• Pray that the Lord may provide us a permanent place for the church meeting and worship.
• Pray that the Lord may provide us one house for the orphanage center. The orphanage children are living in a rented house now.
• Continue to pray also for the missionaries/church planters in the Shan State
• Pray for the BP church at Thinglei as they are praying to build a sanctuary in this year.
• Pray for the churches in the Southern Chin State as they are suffering badly from the rat infiltration (worse than last year).

January was a joyous month at the BPC in La Paz, Bolivia. The new building continues to receive finishing touches, and Rev. Quisbert was thrilled when a Korean pastor friend called David to let him know that he wanted to donate some pulpit furniture for the Church. So, David traveled to Iquique, Chile, to make arrangements to transport it back to Bolivia, as well as to shop for a new gas water heater for the showers at the church. (In Bolivia the cost is high and the quality low.) He found all that he needed, hired the truck, and returned in time for the start of the church’s VBS program.

The church held its VBS January 18 – 23 from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm. They started with thirty-seven children and finished with sixty-one in attendance. Some of the days were rainy, and they thought it would be a difficult for the classes, but kids were faithfully waiting at home and others arrived early for the VBS. Every day they opened the VBS by praying and singing many songs. Memory verses were Psalm 96:3, John 8:32; John 14:6, and the theme hymn was “I Love to Tell the Story.”

On Saturday the 23^rd they rented a bus and went to the “La Florida” park. When they arrived at the park they had a little rain, but as they started to sing and teach the Bible lesson, the rain suddenly stopped. Thank you for your prayers. Twenty-one children accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Pastor Quisbert says, “We praise the Lord because we testified about the Gospel with the VBS program.”

PMU is pleased to be able to field a team of young people and adults to go to the fourth largest city in the world. In a week’s time they will seek to reach many of the 22 million people from every conceivable ethnic background that live there. The dates are August 14-21, 2010. The team members are:

• Courtney Amacher, Grand Island, New York
• Alexander Bean, Lakeland, Florida
• Nathan Blizzard, Cape Canaveral, Florida
• Benjamin Couch, Lakeland, Florida
• Kai Donaldson, Scappoose, Oregon
• Rachel McMillan, Cape Canaveral, Florida
• Richard McMillan, Cape Canaveral, Florida
• Rita McMillan, Cape Canaveral, Florida
• Eli Pine, Grand Island, New York
• Bethany Williams, Grand Island, New York
• Dr. Len Pine, Grand Island, New York (Leader)

The team will receive hands-on training in street evangelism to people of many different cultures, and then put that training to immediate use daily on the streets and in the parks of New York City. This ministry is being conducted in cooperation with the New York Gospel Mission, an independent, Reformed missionary agency founded in 1895 to reach the Jewish community in NYC. The mission is continuing to bear witness for the Lord Jesus Christ to the Jews and to the various ethnic groups in the East Village as well as the greater New York area. (On the web: http://www.nygm.org.) The team will also take part in the worship services of the mission church, Tompkins Square Gospel Fellowship, and see firsthand what an inner city, multi-ethnic congregation is all about. Please pray for the team members as they continue to raise the funds they need for the trip (about $615 plus the cost of getting to NYC), and by all means give if you are able.

By Rev. Mark Baldwin, PMU Missionary to Cambodia

Missions in the past meant such things as a three month journey around the horn of Africa, squalid living conditions, contaminated food, disease, adversity, deadly opposition, poor health care, being out of contact with everyone you know, and being totally dependent upon God alone — knowing that help from home was not even a possibility. It wasn’t for everyone. Thankfully much has changed in missions in the last 100 years. While we are, as we have always been, truly dependent on God alone, God does indeed work through means.

In missions there is sometimes the perception that only time actually working in and on a “productive” foreign field is valuable, so the question is asked, “Do we really need a ‘home office’?” Today, as 100 years ago, the means God uses to accomplish the Great Commission and to build up His Church include the home office and its staff. They have always served as the support, the champion, the organizer, the planner, the fund raiser, and the ultimate enabler of missions. Now, with high speed communications, they also serve another critical function. They are part of the mission team in every field even though they’re half a world away. Hardly a plan is made, or crisis, issue, or concern resolved in which the office isn’t involved in some valuable way. On a daily basis, I regard them as my valued fellow workers here in my field. Won’t you support us missionaries by supporting them?

[Photo, L to R: Karen, Chelsea, Len, and Eli]

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

These are the words of our Lord and King Jesus Christ. As you all know 3,000,000 fellow human beings have been tragically affected by an earthquake in Haiti. Our Lord is giving us a great opportunity to show our love for Him by helping those who cannot help themselves. Please take the opportunity to help Haiti. There are two things you can do right now. The first and most powerful is pray for the Haitians. Pray that our God will rescue the entire country with the Gospel. The second is give money. There are few ways to do that. The one that I would like you to consider is this: our brethren in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church are organizing relief operations through several missionaries they have in Haiti and will be able to send every dollar you give to those in need. Donations can be sent to the OPC address in Willow Grove:

Disaster Relief
Orthodox Presbyterian Church
607 N. Easton Rd., Bldg. E
Willow Grove, PA 19090-0920

Clearly indicate the gift is for CDM / Haiti earthquake. May our Lord say of us, “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

[This article was prepared by Rev. Tito Lyro (BPC of Olympia, Olympia, WA) for the use of his own congregation. Used by permission, and edited for content for our broader readership.]

Oswald J. Smith once said, “The mission of the Church is missions.” Presbyterian Missionary Union was established in January of 1985 to help the Bible Presbyterian Church, General Synod, fulfill its mission. Throughout its history, the work of PMU has been focused upon advancing the testimony of Christ through the BPC. In recent years, PMU has enjoyed a growth in the number of “boots on the ground” on various mission fields around the world, for which we are grateful. Also, we have been serving as the “front door” for many folks as they explore what it means to be a Bible Presbyterian, or how to start a church.

In order to accomplish these ancillary ministries, PMU depends upon the gifts of God’s people. We especially look to local congregations of the Bible Presbyterian Church as the primary source for underwriting the work. We are also very thankful for the loving and faithful gifts of those from other branches of the Body of Christ who take part in regular giving or special projects.

The expansion of PMU’s testimony in the world has been costly, and God has been generous through his people. The work has progressed over twenty-five years to the point that now new vigor in financial and prayer support is needed to maintain the home and foreign missions efforts that have developed so well over the past few years. Still, the question begs to be asked: “Why should I support PMU?” Perhaps the best way to answer this question is through some typical stories from the fields on which we serve.

Compassion

Love for the Lost

Before coming to Christ and responding to the Lord’s call to the gospel ministry, Rev. Mark Baldwin was a successful engineer and systems analyst at GE. He left his lucrative salary and nearly all of his worldly possessions behind to travel to Cambodia in 2004 to serve some of the poorest people in the region. And he does not serve them at arm’s length from an ivory tower, but rather in their midst adopting their customs, learning their language, enjoying their food, and assisting them in their necessity in ways that encourage their dependence upon God and not men. His love for them is palpable, and it demonstrates itself in the fervor with which he applies himself to the “3-D” ministry of the gospel among them.

Love for the Church

In 2004, PMU began working with Rev. Khawlrokima to assist him in his burden to reach his native land of Myanmar with the gospel of Jesus Christ, particularly people groups that were largely passed over by other churches in the country. Starting with a house church in Yangon, the ministry has now grown in a few short years to twelve mission stations, two orphanage centers, and two preschool ministries spread across three of Myanmar’s states. The Yangon body is now a particular church with its own well-qualified elders and is actively working to evangelize the city as well as providing oversight for the mission stations. We share Kima’s passion to develop biblically qualified leadership, and regularly send professors to assist him in providing a seminary level education for the future pastors of the Bible Presbyterian Church of Myanmar.

Care

Of Resources

The world is full of incredible opportunities to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of people. Multiple requests for assistance from around the world are the norm here in the office. In many cases, it is not question of the worthiness of the project being promoted: we could spend our budget three times over and still not meet all the requests that we receive throughout any given year. But we recognize that our donors give to this agency because they entrust us to be careful in how the funds are used. Designated funds go to the designated account; every dime that is given for any particular missionary goes to that missionary’s account; great caution is taken to make sure that General Fund dollars are not squandered on items and services that do not advance PMU’s mission; accountability practices are stringently followed to maintain our financial integrity. And, we use what we have to strengthen current fields first before adding other projects, however worthy additional projects might be. When great needs arise from among our brethren in sister churches around the world, we require accountability for the use of those funds. Occasionally, some on those foreign fields take exception to our insistence of accountability; when that happens, the funds cease to go there. We will not compromise on good stewardship of the Lord’s money which is given through faithful donors.

Of Personnel

Staying aware of changing political and social “climates” in foreign lands and home mission fields is a challenge, but we take this duty seriously. Of course, the personal needs of our missionaries and church planters often shift in response to those changes. For example, on our largest field in Asia, Miriam has found that the only constant thing in that culture is change. Through the years as various crises have occurred in employment, government policy reversals, and opposition to her work, Miriam’s calls for help have been answered by changing policies to decrease Council response time, providing clearer parameters for independent action on the part of field personnel, increasing salary when necessary to meet a sudden need, simplifying reimbursements, defending her against brethren (true and false) who would undermine her labor, and making sure that connections back home stay strong. All of this along with doing what is necessary to keep bank accounts healthy enough to not only keep her on the field, but to help her thrive on the field. Caring for God’s servants is a top priority.

Commitment

To Presbyterian Government and Doctrine

In a day when church government grows increasingly congregational, PMU’s missionaries are standing firmly for the propagation of biblical church government regardless of the cost. In Western Australia, Ed Paauwe’s firm stand on Reformed faith and practice has led to the formation of a new church when his former congregation decided to follow congregational and non-Reformed practice and doctrine contrary to the church constitution. It was a painful time, but the Paauwes and the majority of the Session held firm in their commitment. Today a thriving new congregation has been established in the area and is already active in supporting missions efforts of like character in the region. We praise the Lord for their faithfulness!

Here at home, PMU is committed to operating in a functionally subordinate role to the denomination as a whole. All Council members, and all full-time missionaries, are members of the BPC General Synod as a matter of policy. We do not begin to discuss bringing a missionary or church planter on board unless they are first approved by a church Session or a regional Presbytery. We honor the discipline of the Church and will not subvert it by elevating our own goals above the courts of the Church. We work closely with our Presbyteries and local churches to identify potential church planting locations, recruit qualified workers, and provide such resources as may be useful in the pursuit of the mission of the local church. We are first and foremost a Bible Presbyterian entity that exists to aid the Synod in its appointed task of disciple-making and church planting.

To Like-minded Brethren

While it is not always possible to supply regular support for new mission fields at present, we are delighted to be able to serve the Church at large in occasional ministries that aim at edifying brethren who seek us out for training, counsel, and encouragement. For example, Dr. Pine, working with other members of the PMU Missions Council, has had the privilege of providing training in India on church government and biblical connectionalism as an aid to planting churches with a wonderful group of brethren who are the spiritual progeny of BP missions years ago. That training established a relationship of mutual help and encouragement that may eventually result in more concrete ties in the years ahead as the Lord directs. Whether it does or not, PMU has played a vital part in assisting these brethren in furthering their testimony in northern India, and for that we are thankful. Dr. Pine and other Council members have done similar work in Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bolivia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Peru.

Occasionally we also have the privilege of serving the larger Church among brethren in other Bible-believing bodies here in North America, and we count it a privilege to do so. Ministry visits, concerts, conference participation, and being a general resource on a broader scale is also part of fulfilling our purpose for existence.

To Vibrant, Biblical Christianity

At PMU we do not believe that it is enough to have a presence in a community without actually impacting that community. Our missionary to Bolivia, Rev. David Quisbert, demonstrates his passion for a vital and visible Church in everything that he does. His days are full of evangelism through personal contact, tract distribution, radio ministry, web presence, and youth outreach. He takes advantage of opportunities to minister to the homeless and destitute in Jesus’ name, testify of Christ to national leaders in public and private, train others to plant churches around the country, encourage like-minded brethren in their work in various parts of the city and nation without jealousy, and participate in regional ministries that bring faithful believers together from all over South America for a united testimony to the power of the gospel to save souls. All of this work is in addition to the regular pastoral care that he gives to his congregation through the various ministry efforts of the local church in La Paz.

Watching David preach Christ to the president of the country one day, and kneeling down beside a homeless beggar the next day with a plate of food and a tender urging to Christ, we are reminded of the Scriptural admonitions to be ready to boldly give account in the highest echelons of society, and to live out true and undefiled religion in ministering to the poor. In reality, we have now come full circle: this is living out compassion for the lost in ways that are tangible and genuine. We are thankful for such missionaries as these who serve in our ranks.

How Can I Help?

And so our initial question has found an answer. Compassion, care, and commitment add up to an agency that by God’s grace is endeavoring to faithfully do God’s work in the portion of the vineyard known as the Bible Presbyterian Church and its faithful “neighbors.” We are here to help you fulfill your mission. But we need your help in return.

Previous sources of income upon which we built our current efforts were, in the providence of God, unexpectedly terminated in the past year. We have cut extra expenses, trimmed back everywhere that we can while still keeping essential operations going, made regular pleas for additional funds, and still find ourselves coming up critically short. We will soon be tapping limited emergency funds just to keep current efforts going. We find ourselves in the frustrating position of being unable to expand our efforts to meet additional needs that come to our attention. So, the Lord is making it possible for us to see his wonderful provision through his people once again.

Will you be part of that provision through committing to regular contributions, especially to PMU’s General Fund and the account of our Field Director, Dr. Pine? If you already do so, either individually or through your local church, would you please consider increasing the amount that you give? Naturally, pray with us as well:

· That the Lord will provide the necessary resources;

· That he will call people to himself who love the faith “once delivered unto the saints” and want to start churches;

· That he will raise up pastors and missionaries to answer the call to serve;

· That he will preserve us through all challenges to the work.

The work of PMU is vital for the ongoing testimony of Christ through the BPC in this country and abroad. There are many organizations pleading for funds, we know. Presbyterian Missionary Union walks in a unique and committed relationship to the BPC, and in doing so makes itself useful to the larger body of Christ as well. Partnering with you in the gospel ministry is the reason we exist: may God grant that our partnership will be fruitful for Christ for the next twenty-five years. Thanks for your prayerful support.

“What is Christmas like in C-n-a?” The best answer, really, is “a lot like Valentine’s Day.” And while this might seem like an odd answer, I shall attempt to make it clear. Both the holidays are “borrowed” from other countries, with no long history here. Neither, therefore, is associated with family or tradition, and neither is recognized as an official holiday. So without any time off and without any traditions, they have become days for co-workers and friends, particularly boy- and girl-friends, to go out for sumptuous meals and give one another very small gifts. Restaurants around town plan special Christmas menus, and if you’ve ever fancied singing carols round the fire over a spicy, calf-brain hot pot, this is the place for you. Frightening Santa heads leer at you from every door, paper maché Saint Nicks hang above as you shop and six-foot dancing Kris Kringles gyrate nauseatingly to obnoxious songs only distantly related to Christmas.

My own apartment complex is an excellent example of the preferred local style of Christmas decoration. Paper Santa heads, three times life-size, are pasted on every doorway. Although the intended effect is jollity, these Santas have sort of a leering look that makes you glance back nervously over your shoulder. All the bushes and trees are swathed in lights: some white, some colored and some all blue. Some are twisted around trees, and some merely extend in a straight, taut line from the tree top straight to the plug in the ground. Others are thrown on top of bushes at random, sometimes in clumps and sometimes in sinuous twists. When turned on they show a marvelous independence, each one blinking at a different rate and in a different style from its neighbor, and some not at all. The overall effect is as if a few bitter, unemployed elves came down from the North Pole to wreak revenge upon the merry.

Several Christmas trees will usually be placed at random throughout the complex. Usually three feet or shorter (one poor specimen lost it’s top somewhere), they have lights thrown around them at random, sometimes with a vague suggestion of being wound around, and sometimes simply thrown in a heap on one side. The garland, which can be red, green, blue, silver, purple, pink, or orange, and often a combo of all, is often clumped in one area, or pulled straight in one line from the top to the bottom of the tree. It is not uncommon to see all the decorations hanging on just one side of the tree, and not necessarily the side most seen. One little shop in my complex last year had somehow acquired a blue Christmas ball that was the size of a soccer ball. It was made of styrofoam or something like it, and when they placed it on the tree, it pulled down the poor, tiny thing. So, to balance it, they put all the remaining balls and other ornaments on the opposite side of the tree, with nothing in the middle.

In the midst of this artistic chaos, I like to think of my apartment as a refuge for the deco-weary. And this somewhat accounts for its popularity as a Christmas destination. There are really three major uses for my home at this festive time of year. The first is for missionaries. A number of them enjoy having a traditionally decorated place to which they can come (and bring their children), to rest for a few hours from the maelstrom without. Part of the draw, in fact, is being able to take their children to a place where they can “see” Christmas much as their parents remember it from their own childhood. It’s also a chance to sing carols and other hymns in a group, in their own language, which for many of us is a rare and eagerly anticipated event. So our home is, we trust, a favorite gathering place for those who labor here, at that time of year most suited for waxing nostalgic about tradition.

The second group that often appear within the Christmas Palace (as my home is often denominated during the winter months), are those of our local Christian friends who hope to reach out to their friends, family and co-workers. The believers here often have a difficult life, being made to feel that they are utterly alone. Their coworkers despise them for being so weak as to fall for the “opiate of the masses,” while their families harangue them for departing from tradition or following a foreigner’s religion. But at Christmas, people who would normally not listen to anything about the Bible or Jesus Christ are suddenly willing to at least sit and listen, provided such discussions are held within the context of explaining the origins and traditions of Christmas. They are especially willing to do so if they can go to a foreigner’s home and see some of the traditions associated with the holiday. They are often stunned when they arrive at my home, to find that Santa does not play the slightest part in the decorations, and that there are plenty of places where Christmas is celebrated without him. (Of course, to be fair, they are also usually stunned to find that pink is not a traditional Christmas color, but that’s another story.) My home then, often plays host to such people. Sometimes I invite them and sometimes local Christians bring along those they hope to reach with the gospel. I often invite other local Christians to join us. This is to counter the common idea that Christianity is for foreigners only. Seeing a number of local Christians, hearing them witness of grace of the Lord, is often a stunning experience for a native person. Many believers here consider Christmas their most important witnessing opportunity of the year, and a number of people have come to know the Lord they were first introduced to as part of a strange and foreign custom.

The final group involved in our Christmas holidays are single believers of all nationalities. On Christmas Day, anyone without believing family is welcome here. In the morning, our home is usually filled with foreigners only. This is because Christmas is not recognized as a holiday, and no native person would have this day off. Most working contracts for foreigners, however, specify one day off for Christmas. Normally, we serve brunch to anywhere from three to ten guests and then gather around the tree, where we sing, pray together, read a variety of Christmas sermons by various authors (usually long passed away) and sometimes exchange gifts. The main meal comes around four, and we are joined by a number of local friends who want to celebrate, but have no one with whom they can unless they want to go to a big meal and watch their coworkers get drunk. There is a lot of eating, more singing, chocolate, plenty of laughter, and when it is time to go home in the evening it’s hard to imagine where all the day could have gone.

So for us, Christmas is an essential time for outreach, as well as for fellowship. We all appreciate your prayers each year as this time rolls around again: prayers for us as we prepare, prayers for those who visit with us and open hearts for them. – Miriam