April greetings,

I have been doing some teaching these past two weeks at the Indonesian church that we attend here in town.  It’s great to be able to function comfortably in the Indonesian language and actually use the language to build into the church here.  “Mostly comfortable” I should say, I did have to take extra time this week to practice between the words kedelai and keledai, one meaning soybean and the other is donkey.  You can imagine how un-triumphant the entry becomes when Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a soybean instead of a donkey! 

The wonderful grace of God was shown to me afresh this past week as I studied 1 Corinthians 3.  This is where Paul, among other things reminds the believers that after death their lives will be judged by the Lord Jesus.  His personal longing is that the way he lives his life would result in eternal rewards.  As he reflects on this in 1 Cor 3 it’s clear he doesn’t see this as simply resulting form hard work and discipline.  Instead he boasts, “We are God’s fellow workers” and in verse 10 he confesses to God’s grace being the backdrop to his effort in ministry.  That God has made a way for our sin to be forgiven should leave us overflowing with thankfulness and praise, but along with that that Jesus has invited us to labor with Him resulting in fruit for the Father and eternal rewards for us His people.  This extravagance of grace leaves me laughing with Abraham.  How could life come from this dead body, yet the angel Gabriel’s words still ring true, “But nothing is impossible for God.” 

As many of you know we try to send out a weekly prayer email called, Breaking Strongholds.  We want to invite any of you who are not currently receiving this update to join us as we labor together in prayer.  I have been reading of the experiences of J.O. Fraser and his work among the Lisu tribe back in the early 1900s.  “our work among the Lisu is not going to be a bed of roses, spiritually.  I know enough about Satan to realize that he will have all his weapons ready for determined opposition.  He would be a missionary simpleton who expected plain sailing in any work of God.  I will not, by Gods grace, let anything deter me from going straight ahead in the path to which He leads, but I shall feel greatly strengthened if I know of a definite company of prayers holding me up.  I am confident that the Lord is going to do a work, sooner or later, among the Lisu here.”  We share Fraser’s sentiments, both his confidence in God and also the strength that comes through your prayers. 

Last weekend Andrea’s friend invited our family to watch her dancing team perform.  This is a new friend and we only knew she performs and teaches traditional Indonesian dance.  She invited us very last minute but we decided to go in hopes of strengthening our relationship with her.  Thanks to “rubber time”, meaning if you come when it “starts” you’ll probably be waiting awhile till it really begins.  Two hours later we were still waiting and finally things began.  First of all the location for the dance was at the equator mark here in our town.  When we arrived there were bands, and booths, and tv reporters all set up and it looked a bit fancy which made us nervous.  We weren’t sure what we were getting ourselves into.  And as you can imagine it was HOT.  Right on the equator at mid-day.  We hung in there and after some very important people of the city including the president of Brunai arrived the ceremony began.  It turns out they were celebrating the 3 days of the year where at 11am the sun is directly above the equator, leaving no shadow at all.  There were several neat dances and music and speeches.  We were asked a couple times to do an interview since we were the only white people in attendance.  We declined but then toward the end of the ceremony happened to see another white person.  In talking with him in turned out that he is from a town not far from our home town of Jacksonville Florida.  Small world!  Our Indonesian friend was thrilled that we could come and watch her perform and we pray that our interest in her life will open the door to having a voice to speak the good news.   She is a follower of the main religion here in Indonesia.

After His Glory,

Tim and Andrea, Dina, Abby