September, 2008

Greetings from Brunswick,

It is a beautiful day here in South Georgia, and I am thanking God for a safe trip home after a very fruitful mission to a number of the Asian Nations.  The spiritual warfare two weeks prior to the trip was enough to tell me that Abba was going to do some awesome things there, and He certainly did.  Praise His Holy Name!

I had to be at the Jacksonville Airport at 4:00 AM for an early departure, so I spent the night in Jacksonville which would give me a little more time to sleep.  As I was checking in at the Holiday Inn, they asked where I was going with such an early departure time.  I shared that I was headed first to Beijing and then to a number of surrounding nations as well. 

The gentleman on the desk understood that it was a mission trip and said that he would pray for all of us as we gathered together in Asia for Abba’s holy purposes.  After he had me checked in, he came from behind the desk to help me with my bags and led me to a room that would be quiet so that I could get some sleep early.  I was so grateful for his care and concern, and I told him so.  He went on to say that he loves to bless those who will go in Abba’s Name to reach out to others less fortunate. 

Once I had my bags in the room, I left again to go in to the dining room to have dinner before turning in for a short night.  As I came out of the dining room,  walking past the check-in counter to return to my room, a young girl called to me and asked if she could talk to me for a minute.  I recognized her as the one who was standing to the side as I checked in earlier and was talking with the manager.

Bless her heart, she told me that one of her parents was from China and one from the Philippines, and she shared how she has longed to make the trip to both countries to learn more about her heritage.  She asked what all I would be doing in China and as I began to share with her, I noticed that she was teary eyed.  It was also obvious that she didn’t know the Lord.  Then suddenly, as only God can do, she asked the right question and He opened her heart to receive Him.

 As I left her to go back to my room I told her that I would be praying for her that the dear Lord would make the way for her to visit both countries.  She was so grateful that all she could do was weep, and I knew why I was staying overnight in Jacksonville.           

 The following morning at the airport, I met a woman at the gate who was also headed for Chicago.  When she asked where I was going from Chicago, I told her I was headed for China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Hong Kong. She became extremely interested.  We chatted for about twenty minutes and she asked several questions about missions.  Just as we were preparing to board the plane the Lord told me to tell her that He had been speaking to her about missions, and He was waiting for her response. Immediately she acknowledged that that was true and thanked me for the confirmation.  She told me that fear had been a factor and that I had put some of those fears to rest as I answered her questions about missions.  Is Abba good or what? 

We boarded the plane and left the gate on time, however as we were headed for the runway, the Captain spoke telling us that Chicago would not allow them to proceed so we would be turning back to the gate until such time as they could give us clearance to leave Jacksonville.

It was almost two hours later when we were given clearance to leave Jacksonville.  In the meantime the amount of time that I had between flights had very quickly disappeared.  I honestly was not sure that I would make the flight out of Chicago.  If not, I would not be flying out of Chicago until the following day. 

The man who was sitting with me began to share his heart about the airline situation in America.  He shared that just two days prior he had been eight hours on a plane trying to get from Atlanta, GA to Savannah, GA.  Most of that time was spent sitting in an airplane, after it had left the gate, but before it had gotten to the runway, with no air-conditioning. He said that the water was running off the people and several became ill from being enclosed in the extreme heat.  He shared with me the unbelievable antics of those in charge through it all. It was disgusting! 

We truly are at the mercy of the Airline Industry anymore.  I’ll spend an extra day or two on the road in order to drive when I can.  I only fly when it is absolutely necessary to do so.  The hassles of flying are so frustrating and unpredictable.  I have people tell me that I must lead a glamorous life because I travel so much.  Trust me, brothers and sisters, travel anymore is anything but glamorous or enjoyable!

Finally we arrived in Chicago and as we waited in line to be released from the airplane, I had 13 minutes before my connecting flight departed for Beijing. Once inside the terminal I ran straight to a counter and asked what gate my connecting flight was going out of.  The man working there told me I would not make it for they were ready to close the door and the gate was at the other end of the terminal. I thanked him and kept on running. Bless his heart, he apparently called the gate because as I ran up one person stepped out and took my carry-on bag and the other person took my hand and led me on to the plane straight to my seat, which was an aisle seat. One of the flight attendants brought me a glass of water and then they closed the door.  It was that close!

About half an hour after we were airborne, a young girl came from the middle section of the airplane and sat down in the window seat beside me. She said, “I keep feeling like I am supposed to come and sit with you.”  I invited her to do just that figuring that Abba was up to something again, and sure enough He was.

It turned out that she was just one of eighteen family members who were on their way to the Olympics because they had a son who was going to be swimming, and they also knew the swimmer who later took down eight gold medals for America.

We talked for several hours and then both of us took a nap.  Later on we talked some more and before it was all over I was able to share the Lord with her and she in turn introduced me to the rest of the family and asked me to share with them as well.  They were all people of faith, but none of them knew Yeshua.

I also had a young foreign exchange law student, who is now studying in Beijing, introduce himself to me shortly before we departed the plane in China. He had overheard our conversations and asked some really good questions about Yeshua. He, too, was a person of faith who did not know Yeshua. I could see the Holy Spirit ministering to him, and when the lights came on for him his whole countenance changed. All in all it was a great flight from Chicago to Beijing. 

Beijing

They have a brand new airport, which is quite impressive, since my last trips to China. Once I was outside, Tony and one of the Pastors stepped out of the crowd to meet me. The Pastor wanted me to see the new Olympic Stadium so we drove around it and then went off to have dinner and a bit of sweet fellowship. After that we went to our hotel for the night.

 The following morning Tony and I were to leave for the orphanage at Lanzhou and the Pastor was going to drive us to the airport.  Before we left the hotel lobby, the Pastor asked me to pray for him, and bless his heart he kneeled right down in the lobby and turned his hands up as he drew in to the Lord, oblivious to anyone or anything going on around him. So precious and so humble in spirit!

This dear brother has not been out of jail very long and is so burdened because his wife has been taken captive by a wicked cult group known as Eastern Lightning. While he is searching for her, his mother-in-law is helping him with their two small children.  You could tell that his heart is breaking over the whole situation. Please pray for him, his wife (wherever she is being held) and their children, ages two and four.  It will take divine intervention!

Eastern Lightning

I will share a lot more with you concerning this wicked cult, which also has tentacles here in the United States, at a later time.  For now just know that it is one of the most evil and wicked of Satanic cults to ever rise up in China.  They attack Yeshua, twist and defraud the Bible, destroy families and lives, causing great hurt and destruction to believers who have been bought by the precious blood of Yeshua. 

They deny the deity of Yeshua and say that He is a created being and that all words spoken by Him are useless. They believe the Trinity or Triune God is an ancient falsehood. They also believe that the Messiah has already come and is a female. Only those who worship her can be saved.

They target House Church leaders.  They are devils dressed as ministers of light, workers of Satan and false prophets after the ways of Balaam.  They kidnap, torture, maim and kill. 

One Pastor said, “Please tell Christians around the world to pray for us and to pray against the powerful demonic forces behind the Eastern Lightning that threatens to decimate us.  In the past many of us suffered torture and great hardship in prison at the hands of the authorities, but we survived with our faith intact.” 

Some leaders have said that the threat of Eastern Lightning is worse than anything the Communists can do to them.  I will give you additional information on this cult in the next newsletter and also prayer points.

Orphanage at Lanzhou

When we arrived in Lanzhou we were taken to the home of Ralph and Judy who are directors at the orphanage.  We had dinner with them and a sweet time of fellowship as well. 

The following morning we all went to the orphanage to spend time with the children and those who are the caregivers. All of the children are severely handicapped but oh so precious!  So full of joy!   To hear two of the little boys pray before their meals just blessed my heart! 

One little four year old with a leg brace on was playing on the floor when we walked in, and he held out his hand to me.  Then he patted the floor wanting me to sit down with him, which I did.  He was a delight!

When I think of the children and begin to pray for them, I always hear Tony say, “And to think they were just going to be thrown away!”  I thank God for “A Helping Hand Adoption Agency” which he founded in order to help place orphans in Christian families, and also for “Orphan Voice” which he founded in order to care for orphans in the nations and raise them up in a Christian environment.     

On To Saigon

Our flight out of Lanzhou was two and a half hours late leaving which caused us to miss our connecting flight in Guanzhou so we were held over there for an extra day.  The following day we were able to go on to Saigon where we had another team member join us.  From Saigon we headed for the mountains of Vietnam. That was the mother of all road trips.  Our hearts were in our mouths all the way.  It was something that you simply must experience to be able to believe.

It was in the mountains of Vietnam where Abba tucked us away in a safe place to gather together with the Underground Church leaders of Vietnam. God bless them, they came in to the room like gang busters and sat in row after row, shoulder to shoulder with their legs under them Indian style and notebook in hand ready for the Word of God.  I would give anything to see that kind of hunger for the Word of the Lord here in America.

 We had three sessions a day, two to three hours per session for five days and it was awesome! The dear Lord gave us an “Open Heaven” and He watched over His Word as we spoke it, ready to perform it.  And perform it He did.  I don’t know of anyone who was not touched, again and again, in a very special way.  They were healed, set free and refreshed.  Eight who did not really have personal relationships with the Lord   surrendered to Him after the Lord asked me to share my testimony.  One by one they came to tell me that they did not know Yeshua in a personal way as I did, and they asked me to pray with them.  He met them right where they were! Hallelu Yah!

Pastor Duc worked tirelessly with us doing most all of the translation for us.  There was another sister who helped with the translation, especially when the Holy Spirit was moving through us to bring healing or deliverance and we each needed a translator to work right with us.   

Pastor Hahn was there as worship leader.  He is a David if I ever saw one.  He is such a gifted individual and just blessed everyone’s heart.  They do love to worship when they are in a place that allows them the freedom to do so. 

The head Pastor was a precious man whose heart is for the sheep. He wants for them everything the dear Lord has for them. He is a very humble but alert watchman who lovingly disciplines when discipline is needed.  I felt a tremendous respect for him and he seemed to have the same for me.  These were all very precious brothers and sisters who literally came alive right before our very eyes!

As I left Vietnam, the Lord said, “Mark your pathway well for you will return!”

Cambodia

We found the very same hunger among the Pastors gathered together in Cambodia, and the dear Lord once again gave us an Open Heaven. We spoke the Word and He watched over it to perform it.  Once again there was a lot of worship, healing and deliverance. Most all of their problems had been plaguing them for years, but God instantly set them free, and they knew they were free! How they rejoiced and we rejoiced right with them.

Our question and answer times were good, and they shared some of their testimonies with us.  Most all of them have been terribly persecuted and it was good for us to hear just what they have been through.  We prayed for each of them concerning the troubled times ahead for them, and they prayed for us, thanking God for having sent to them a Mother and Father in the faith.  Then out came the cameras and they began taking pictures.  It was a great finale, if you will.  The love and joy of the Lord was enveloping us all and yes, once again, there were tears as we all said good bye.  Just as they had done in Vietnam, we were asked  to please come again next year and Lord willing, we certainly will.

Short Term Missions

May I ask you all to begin to lay a good foundation of prayer under Madelyn Maine’s mission, as she will be going in to India in October.

Also, please know that we are most grateful for all of your prayers and financial support which enables us to be about Abba’s business, traveling with Him as we do.  The fields truly are ripe for harvest!

To be continued next time, shalom and blessings to you,  Myrna