July 8 -July 16

As Sarah told you in the last update, Pastor K, a champion for the persecuted church, passed away on Saturday night. He was 47 years old. Many of our friends here traveled with him from the hospital in Ubon back to his country so he could die with his family there. Before he went to be with Jesus, everyone gathered around him and Chansamone read the last chapters of the book of Revelation. Then they prayed together and Pastor K waved goodbye and went to his eternal home. And in that moment what was read to him became reality. It was a very sad week here but in the sadness is joy. Joy in knowing that after all Pastor K’s hardship and imprisonments for the name of Jesus he finally saw the face of his Savior. Pastor K was a major spiritual leader in the Christian community in his country. Over 700 people attended him funeral. Each of them representing a life touched by Jesus through Pastor K. Please continue to pray for the persecuted church and the furthering of the Gospel despite the oppression.

On Sunday morning, John and I taught a class at Mekong Church Posai. We had a great time and the Lord definitely blessed our time there. Its hard to believe that considering John and I’s past that anyone would let us get up in front of a group and say anything much less actually talk about Jesus. It was such a privilege to teach others what God has taught us. On Monday I got pink eye and it was pretty difficult to find someone to take me to the doctor because all of the English speakers had gone to Lao. I first got taken to a temple to see someone that they told me was a doctor but I don’t think she was because there was a dog running around in there. But I did finally get to a real doctor and I’m using some drops but its now spread to the other eye. The rest of the week we continued teaching at school and John did some construction. It was a slow week but it gave of plenty of time to spend with the Lord. On Saturday, we all went to Ubon with Suay to do some shopping. It was a much needed reconnection with civilization! We got to eat at KFC for lunch and it was great! On Sunday, John attended Mekong Church Natan and Sarah and I went to Mekong Church Nonprassert. As I sat there I just looked around the room at all the faces of God’s children. I love worshiping with them. I usually have no idea what anyone is saying but I know whom they are singing to and speaking about. On Monday, a friend of ours went to the hospital to have her baby. We were able to visit with her before she delivered and to pray for her. While we were there we met a 13-year-old girl who had been raped and was in labor. Please pray for her and her salvation. She is giving away her daughter so please pray that the baby will be adopted into a Christian home.

As we begin our last week serving in Nonprassert, I don’t think that its really hit me that we are leaving yet. The time of ministry that I’ve had here has been great and I have learned so much. It’s gone much farther than the two week mission trip. We’ve learned what its like to be missionaries. Not every situation has been ideal or glamorous but its been real. We’ve seen the daily hardships of these people and we have seen their faith in action. We’ve seen them trust God when they don’t know how they are going to pay the bills. We’ve seen them display the comfort and peace that their Savior gives during the loss of a dear friend. We’ve seen them confident of God’s call and commission of their lives in the face of their oppressors. The Lord has shown me that its great to go a remote place and sacrifice my time and comfort for two weeks or even two months, but He’s shown me that he requires much more of me than this. The Lord has used us here but what can really be accomplished in two months? What will really impact eternity? It’s a life used by God. Not just two weeks or two months of my life, but the whole thing. Please continue to pray for the persecuted church and for the family of Pastor K. Please pray that God would continue to reveal himself to the nations.