Ethiopia vs. Somalia Soccer Match in Dadaab, Kenya at refugee camps

When you talk of Somalis and Ethiopians the next thing that comes in mind are enemies that cant see eye to eye. This is worsened by the recent war that was in Mogadishu (capital of Somali) in which the Ethiopian troops helped to remove Islamic courts that had ruled Somali for a number of months. Around that time, we had a lot of influx of Somali refugees to daddaab refugee camp.

I have trained quite a number of Ethiopians on how to do evangelism and discipleship. We needed something that would bridge the gap between these refugees who are neighbors and yet enemies. Having talked with a refugee from Ethiopia who is taking care of the church in the camp, we decided that a match between these groups was going to be the bridge to use to share the love of God to them.

We hade two categories of matches: under 15 years and Adults.

Saturday 10th match: Ethiopians under 15 beat Somalis two goals to nil. We had about 1,200 Refugees watch the match.

Sunday 11th: It was a match of the adults between Somalis and Ethiopians. At the end of the 90 minutes they had equal goal aggregates two versus two on each side. They went on penalty and both scored three more goals. It became dark and a deal was made for the match to continue the following day. About 1,500 Refugees watched the game.

Monday 12th: They decided to have full match again. Somalis emerged the winners having beat Ethiopians two goals to nil—it was real celebration time for the mammoth of Somali supporters who had cheered their team all through. About 1,600 refugees watched the match.

As I think about it, I realize that adopting relevant strategies in reaching out to the hurting world is going to go along way in bringing people to the Master —sharing HIS Love in multifaceted ways is something we need to boldly do.

Giving smiles and joy to faces of some of those people who have seen death so close is something I would not trade with anything.

Here are a few photos so you can have a taste of what happened:

Look at that—Somali players (in red) with Ethiopian Players (light blue)

Ethiopians holding the two cups that were being “fought” for & Ken holding the cups before giving the leaders

N/B: most Ethiopians who played are from Gambela region—they are called Anywak—they are river-Lake nilotes. We also have other Cushitic Ethiopians in the camp (I have trained quite a number of them) only that it was tricky involving them also. Thanks for being apart of this !

Myanmar update

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for the in-depth and encouraging update on what is happening with you guys and the church. My apologies for not responding sooner. I was in the States for ten days of meetings and my inbox is very full (still 75 messages to go!).

Let me say that your continued partnership in Thailand and Myanmar are making a difference and bearing fruit. I am in regular contact with P (talked to him last night) and the ministry there is mushrooming in every direction (its now up to 58 church and doors opening all over). Our big challenge now is to help them get some buildings up! The evangelism is going great but the government and economic situation are very tough and they need our help. I will be there in two weeks for a graduation of the students who have now finished their course work since the Bible School was closed. P is using the church to continue the training and we are looking at finding a way to reopen the Bible School as a vocational training center.

Another need is additional room for the orphans. As they get older, it is essential to separate the boys and girls and they are looking for a way to build a dormitory that will allow for this. The church property is pretty maxed out but P manages to find a way!

You may have heard about increased persecution from the government. Six churches have been closed in Mandalay and officials have been cutting the crosses off of church buildings in the Golden Triangle. So far, none of our ministries have been impacted but the situation is tense.

One thing I have discovered is that places where we have missionaries get a lot more attention and help than the places that do not. That is one reason I pound the drum for Burma a lot. Our involvement with some very solid and proven ministries will greatly multiply the fruit and I have a strong sense that it is God's time for breakthrough in this nation. I have been north to Chin State where the revival started in the 70's and south to Moulmein where Adoniram Judson began a ministry that has left a lasting legacy. In Yangon, Mandalay and the Golden Triangle, a young generation of leaders is rising.

Please convey my thanks and those of the Pastor Philip Ahone, P and the leaders in Myanmar for what you and the Pullman Foursquare Church has done.

Philip and Mie Mie Ahone are in the Seattle area now. Their daughter Charis will be graduation from Seattle Pacific U. in May. I would encourage you to contact them. Philip is the founder and leader of Foursquare Myanmar and I would love for you to be able to spend some time with him. They have a daughter in Portland, Glory.

Thanks again Bruce. I will be happy to work with you and the 20 something's who what to come to SE Asia! Sounds like a great trip. I would love to spend some time with you and this group. Let me know dates, etc and I will help you set this up.

God bless you,

George Butron

Cornelius in Burma

BREAKTHROUGH IN BURMA

The news out of Myanmar (Burma) is often negative but God has a way of getting redemptive work done even when things are looking bad. After hearing about increased opposition to Christianity in some parts of the country, I paid a visit this once prosperous SE Asia nation which is still known as, "The Beautiful Land." After visiting several ministries that are growing under difficult conditions (the economy is weak, the spiritual atmosphere is heavy and the Buddhist religion and world view is pervasive), a unique opportunity came to meet with a highly placed government official.

While not a believer, this man is like Cornelius from the book of Acts chapter 10. He is a man of peace who fears God and genuinely wants to help people. He has a greburden and spoke with compassion of needs in his nation regarding health care, orphan care and other areas where development and transformation are needed. The health care system faces huge shortages of medicine and supplies with increasing spread of diseases. Regarding orphans, he stated that when poor children and orphans are taken to the Buddhist temple to be raised by the monks it dooms them to a life of poverty and begging with no education or future advancement.

After hearing about Foursquare orphan care, medical teams and development projects in Cambodia and other places, he was genuinely interested to see these things happen in his nation. He said they need the help, offered his assistance and said that many of these projects could be run through local churches--a most unusual opportunity.

After all the negative news--there are powerful players who are actively opposing Christianity-- this was certainly a positive and unexpected conversation! God has a way of arranging divine appointments and opening doors. He is also putting a burden for this nation on the hearts of many people who are banding together for a breakthrough in Burma!

Help is needed and if you are interested in being a part of this project, please contact me at:
fmisea at singnet.com.sg

Thanks!

George Butron
Foursquare Missions International SE Asia

News from Myanmar

I've found several news articles on this, but it difficult to know the accuracy.
http://english.gospelherald.com/article/asia/959/section/more/1.htm
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/95502.aspx
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2005/003/1.42.html
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/9490


Dear Friends,

The News from Myanmar recently has been a mixture of both good and bad. On the good side, churches are growing like never before and three is every indication that God is doing something unusual and wonderful in this impoverished nation. The bad news is that there are indications of a severe campaign against Christians that has already resulted in the destruction of several church buildings and caused believers to flee for their lives. According to an official document that was recently published in London, there is a “Program to destroy the Christian religion in Burma,” (Charles Colson, Breakpoint Commentary 1/31/2007).

I travel to Myanmar on Monday Feb 5th and return on Saturday the 11th. Some strong prayer support, intercession and warfare would be much appreciated.

Thanks for caring!

George Butron
Singapore

Garissa/Dadaab Ministry Update from Ken Ochieng

Hi Scott
Greetings from a hot and meatless Garissa. Meatless because we have had an animal disease outbreak called Rift valley fever. Mosquitoes transmit the same disease to Human beings. The government slapped a ban on eating meat in this place (the locals love to eat meat). We have learnt to be vegetarians—I think I am enjoying it.

The year is getting busy and you can join me in praying that more laborers will come here and join us in reaching the Muslims with the gospel.

The exciting news to report is that God enabled our school to top 83 other schools in our district in the 2006 national exams whose results came a month ago. This being our fifth consecutive time to top the district has made many parents flock our school to bring their children (majority are Muslims). We decided to increase the number of streams (classes). The school now has >400 students. Continue praying that they will see the light of the Lord.

The year started in a very tough way—what of with the conflict in Somali and the Rift Valley fever. Garissa not being very far from Kenya-Somali border is seen by many people as not a very safe place to live in. many people expected us to leave the place when things were tough in Somali. We thank God that now things are much better.

Somali is one country in the world that has very few missionaries reaching them. Because of lacking a government for the past one and a half year, the place is so unsafe to missionaries that many decide to keep off the place yet the God I serve whose ways are not our ways has opened a great door here in garissa and daddab for me to mobilize believers to reach out to them. Somali people are more open to the gospel when here in Kenya as opposed to when they are in Mogadishu. I am planning to organize a football match between Somali and Ethiopia soon in daddab refugee camp. As you are aware, people are so idle in the camp such that they prefer to play football every time the temperatures go down. We have over 150,000 refugees in the camp and many are coming in. I have tried to equip believers especially from Ethiopia and Sudan with skills on how to reach out to there Somali colleagues (they freely mingle in the camp). Pray that the football match I am organizing will be successful and that the believers will use that to connect with Somalis and plant the word of God.

Through out this week, I have been teaching the word of God to our workers—two of them are Muslim. The study is such that even the non believers can attend. These studies are laying foundations that are going to help these two Muslim colleagues know the Lord—in fact one of them came to me asking me to spend more time with him explaining to him some things that are not clear—please, pray that the Lord may bring them to the knowledge of truth.

People that were affected by floods are still in camps although many of there places are dry. We continue to help them with medications and clean water. The government has come to appreciate our work the more through our intervention in this situation. It is true that everything works for good to those that love the lord and are called according to his purpose.
I plan to run training on evangelism and discipleship starting this match here in garissa. We believe many will be equipped. One of the things I will train on is how to do Muslim evangelism.
Keep praying that God will fulfill his purpose in this place through our lives.

We thank God that you are helping us lay foundation of the word of God here where deception has reigned for long. I am looking forward to seeing you in US this April so we can strategize further on how to accelerate the process of reaching out to our friends here.

Blessings

Urgent prayer items from Ken in Garissa, Kenya

Other than the impact of the flood that is still with us, there are two urgent prayer items:
1) The fight in Somali is causing a lot of influx of refugees here (we are not very far from the border). Pray that Christians will share the love of God with them. Pray for a lasting solution in the conflict in somali
2) The outbreak of "Rift valley fever" is causing many deaths here. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes from Animals to people. Victims die after 48 hours--signs are fever, bleeding etc. Pray for God's intervention.
Thanks for standing in the gap
Regards to Hillary, the children and the church

Highlights of 2006 from Ken in Garissa, Kenya

Ken, Eunice, Tim, and Anna
















Life Frontier School
















Ken training teachers














Flooding














Anna
















Tim




















OUR PRAYER FOR YOU IN 2007 IS THAT:
You will walk with God --- you will not loose strength
You will continually talk to God –you will not loose breath
You will wait on God—you will loose no time
You will Trust in God—you loose no faith
WISHING YOU LIFE GUIDED BY ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE IN 2007

N/B---We are having ‘Pamoja Africa” conference at Kabarak University where University + other tertiary students from all over Africa are gathering (We expect over 3, 000). Ken will speak on two topics: Building prayer movements and reaching least reached people groups. PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL RAISE A NEW BREED OF LEADERS FOR AFRICA AFTER THIS CONFERENCE

More pictures & update from Ken in Garissa

So far five people are dead because of the flood—thank God because many more lives would have been lost.

There are thousands of people marooned in an island---I have learnt that ten elephants and a number of Lions are also in the island and as the flooding continues, the animals are getting closer to the people and this is a great threat.

Not far from our place, crocodiles and hippopotamus are freely moving around enjoying the blessings of rain.

We have all moved from our house—I initially remained but finally decided to move out after our house was surrounded by water.

It is really hard for our children Tim and Anna who don’t understand what is happening—being away from there familiar house is also complicating the issue.

We have to move to a better house which means more money which we don’t have. We purpose not to complain or ask questions why this is happening. If anything, we are now helping out people who are in more serious situation than ours(At least we have a place to lay our heads).
We thank God for giving us opportunity to go through this kind of things—they cannot compare with the eternal weight of glory awaiting us and all those that are living for him. Greater love has no one than this, that one should die for his friends--Amen


Tana River Overflowing














Flooded House















Eunice outside their house

People fleeing the flooding

Flooded Ministry

URGENT: Tana River Causes Mass Flooding in Garissa, Kenya (Update from Ken Ochieng)

So here we are in a serous situation. I have heard of tsunami, Katrina etc but never thought it would be that close to us. We have serious disaster of flood caused by the overflowing river bank of tana river. I evacuated my wife and children on Thursday and remained in the house hoping that things will become better—it has not. Below is our house











Things are bocoming worse—about 25,000 people are affected. Much as we are victims, we are trying to see how we can show the love of God in this. Below is a muslim friend helping to shift our furnitures











People are in great crisis here and buildings including churches are submerged. I was suppose to preach in a church today but could not because the church is under water and besides, I had to be rescued.




Please Pray

Update from Kennedy Ochieng in Garissa, Kenya

Greetings in the matchless name of our Lord. Below are photos of our standard eight students who are did their national exams last week---please, pray that they will glorify God with good results














We had music festival for our school—it was amazing seeing muslim children dancing Christian songs. Pray that they will embrace the truth \ Lots of love from us

Update from Ken Ochieng in Garissa, Kenya

Scott
Greetings in the matchless name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I trust that it is well with your soul. we thank God for you and pullman foursquare church because of keeping us in the mission field through your faithful giving and prayers.

As you are aware, this has been the month of ramadhan when muslim pray and fast--this is one of the five pillars of islam. About fifty christians joined in fourty days of prayer and fasting asking God to save the descendants of Ishmael. Eunice has been the one giving leadership to this group. Many chose to survive on breakfast only or lunch only and only eternity will reveal what has been happeneing in the spiritual raealms.

We have been praying that people will become disatisfied with what Islam has to offer and that they will meet with Jesus who only can satisfy the thirst of our souls as he did to the samaritan woman. We have seen the answer to this prayer as many young muslim people have not been faithfull in the fasting. They also prefer to watch English premiership matches in the television than go to Mosque.

Last sunday evening, a sheikh(equivalent to a pastor) came into the church where our team was screening "jesus film" and actually stayed there for quite sometime--we believe that God will convict him to come to the way, the truth, the life.

We are at the moment very busy preparing our standard eight students for National exams that will be taking place early november--please pray that we will glorify God with good results.

I ministered at the teachers training college last week. After the meeting,a young man who was a muslim until last month was brought to me so i can disciple him--please pray that i will have time to help establish this man in the faith.

In early November,I will be speaking at the only Medical training college in the province. Pray for God to use me.

Pray for God to send more missionaries as the number that is here isnt enough although i also know that God doesn't depend on numbers
Lots of Love from us

Kaarin Swanson in Australia

Whoa.
So, here I am, in Australia. The flight went well, so much better than i expected. On the LAX - Sydney flight, in the morning, they handed me a hot washcloth with tweezers... I pretended I knew what to do with it, but not before laughing at the confusion. It's not hot, just warm, like an early summer day and the geckos are pretty cool and make this chirping sound. There are some stowed away in this computer room whom were chirping last night and we thought it was a bat and even identified a peice of wood as that bat. But we were corrected and told that the bats won't come around until about april and they have a wing span of about two feet. HA.

There are two schools going on at the base right now, a Frontier's DTS and my MAD DTS. The Frontiers focus on underdeveloped countries and reaching those who havn't heard the gospel, so while my school is practicing music/art/dance they will be learning about medicine and stuff. They're leaving for the weekend to stay at a cabin but my school is staying here and we have some classes and are going to go into the city. My school (the Art part) leader was talking to me this morning about some photographers she's been looking into and art events around the city that we'll go to... there are only 4-5 of us art students which is AMAZING. I'm so glad there arn't many of us.

We have breakfast and morning tea, lunch and dinner and there's always a bin full of bread if we get hungry inbetween. So that's good, I'm glad it's bread and not something unsatisfying and lame! :)

I just wanted to drop a note and let you all know what's going on and that I REALLY appriciate your prayers!

Where the money goes - Myanmar

Brother Bruce Heimbigner

Praisethelord !

Thank you very much for your letter and I receive all the money safely today. This is our difficult time. I will buy Rice, oil, Exercises book {for school}, Pencil, slipper, ....Ect. God will give Many blessing to you and all the brothers and sisters in your church. Every mornning and Evenning we are strongly pray for your team will coming safely in our church. I am so joyful in my heart. Today I arrive form Mainsat mission field today.

In christ
Rev.P

Church building update in Fang - and recent events

Just a short note to let you know that we have received the funds. Thank you very much and we greatly appriciate it.

The church building is up and we are still waiting for any one who want to help us complete the building. Its has now wall stage rooms but the roof and ths drop ceiling is not up yet. They are the most expensive. As of now we have to stop working as we are waiting for more donations.

Attach are some of the latest picture of what happens last week. Rivival are taking place in the North Thailand KEEP PRAYING FOR US. You might want to share the picture around.

Thank you so much again .

I God Blessings
Timothy

From Bruce:

Here are photos one of the Largest Churches in North Thailand. We broke ground on it in March 2006, and with the help of other churches it continues to be built.



















Orphanage, revival meetings, and our friends:

Update from Fang, Thailand

From Pastor Timothy, Fang, Thailand.
Hi Bruce,Laurie.

Greeting to you in the Mighty name of Jesus.

Just a short note.
We will be praying for you all.

This week have been very busy as the team from Georgia is here since early this week and we have been doind Pastor conference and night crisade as well. Some how did not expect is that we have so murch rain and yet people still come to the rally.

This afternoon we will be heading to Mae-sai to do another Pastor confrernce with Pastor P for two days and than to Chiangrai Pastor confrernce/Revival at the YMCA.
We will be very busy till the end of the month. i WILL NEED YOUR PRAYER.
By the Grace of God , we might see 600 soul added to His Kingdom and one new church planted.

Update from Myanmar

{Since the pastor in Myanmar has been arrested and beaten and had his bible college closed for a year we don't list his name or town on our web page.]

Brother Bruce Heimbigner:

Thank you very much for your letter and you love in our ministary. By the grace of God, all the kids is have a good healths but eatting is very poor. This time is very difficult all in T {his town}. The rain is very havey and some part of T is many water and stop school one week already. Please pray for our orphanage Kids in this difficult time. All the goods is very high {expensive} then Thailand. Because all the goods is form {from} Thailand. Many water and rainning everyday then all the way of T and M {a neighboring town} can not cross.

I am very welcome you and all your team. How many days all the team can use their time in our church? We are free time when they coming in T. What I need to preparation for the team? We are ready for Leadership trainning, bible seminor, Childern ministary and teaching orphanage kids.

When your team coming I will call in bible college and see 740 books over I receive form Timothy and put already in our libarary. All this books is form you and all the team bring when they coming early{er} this year. All the staff and me, we need to say heartlity Thanks to you and all the team. God will give many blessing to you and all the team. This is our prayer. We are still hope bring more books for our libarary. All the christian books is very useful in our land. Christian books is very very few books in {this area}. So please bring more books , When the team is coming in T.

I need to write long letter but my poor English is not enough write letter. Please read slowly my letter.

Pastor P.

Ken in Garissa, Kenya - Sept. 19th

Hi Scott,

God is helping us do exploit for his Kingdom. Yesterday, 6 military officers who took several months going through training on evangelism and discipleship graduated at the Garissa military camp. It is good to have this people equiped because thay can take the gospel even in dangerous places---they have been helping us show Jesus film even in hostile places. Once in a while we make use of their helicopter in taking the film to remote places of the province . We were blessed to have the seniormost officers in the region grace the graduation. The 1st attached photo are the graduates and myself, the 2nd attachment are the graduates, officers (including military chaplain) and myself.

On another note, Yesterday,I was privillaged to have Attended a wedding of muslim couple. I had recieved an invitaion by an influencial local leader to attend the wedding of his son---this was a purely muslim affair but Eunice and I were there. Attached photo is the bridegroom, myself, the father and best man.It is amazing what God can do

Update from Ken in Garissa, Kenya - Sept. 19th

Hi Scott,

God is helping us do exploit for his Kingdom. Yesterday, 6 military officers who took several months going through training on evangelism and discipleship graduated at the Garissa military camp. It is good to have this people equiped because thay can take the gospel even in dangerous places---they have been helping us show Jesus film even in hostile places. Once in a while we make use of their helicopter in taking the film to remote places of the province . We were blessed to have the seniormost officers in the region grace the graduation. The 1st attached photo are the graduates and myself, the 2nd attachment are the graduates, officers (including military chaplain) and myself.

On another note, Yesterday,I was privillaged to have Attended a wedding of muslim couple. I had recieved an invitaion by an influencial local leader to attend the wedding of his son---this was a purely muslim affair but Eunice and I were there. Attached photo is the bridegroom, myself, the father and best man.It is amazing what God can do

Update from Ken in Dadaab / Garissa, Kenya

Greetings in the matchless name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hope you are fine. God is moving in unprecedented manner here.

The graduation of the evangelism and discipleship class on saturday at dadaab refugee camp was great. 113 people graduated from a course that we took them through.Through their efforts, 101 people came to the Lord and are in discipleship groups. Before the graduation ,i had told them to bear fruit by investing their time in evangelism and discipleship. This result is amazing.

There are certain somalis( from Mogadishu) who have been won to the Lord by the same people that we trained---one of them is standing next to me giving testimony when i was preaching in the attached photo.

The story of Ogut (refugee from Gambela--Etrhiopia) is a moving story.I had been given one of the refugee rooms to sleep in next to his room and he was attending the training. He developed some problems that Doctors could not tell since tests had to be done in Nairobi ( i suspected kidney problem because of the swelling legs). While the issue of tests was still being pursued, he died. When his pocket was being checked after his death, the witnessing material we gave him was found in his pocket---he was ready to witness even at the point of death--he died a soldier in the army of the Lord.

Quite a number of people who have given their lives to Christ had opportunity to share about their new found faith during the graduation. God bless you for being apart of what is happening here. We thank God for pullman foursquare church
Attached are pictures that were taken at the camp

Update from Ken in Dadaab, Kenya

These are photos from a recent evangelism training at United Nations refugee camps in Dadaab, Kenya. It's truly incredible that Ken has access to these camps and is able to teach nearly 100 refugees about evangelism!

Ken also taught about water supply safety and agricultural techniques.

DADDAB REFUGEE CAMP UPDATE (Ken in Garissa, Kenya)

DADDAB REFUGEE CAMP UPDATE
I did training on evangelism and discipleship last year at Ifo camp and over fifty refugees graduated at that time. Since that time the refugees have been making Telephone calls asking to be taken on Training of trainer level. They also mobilized other members that had not taken the training to do so. This kind of training is a very expensive venture and as you might know I am a Man of faith who doesn’t have material endowment and have to trust God on everything. The good thing is that My God doesn’t disappoint. So on 7th August, I set out to Daddab together with other six trainers to go and run the evangelism and discipleship programme. These programme is normally suppose to take three to six months depending on the amount of time you take daily. The refugees decided that they wanted to do the training in about ten days and that meant we had to start our lesson from morning to evening—thank God we had carried a generator. It was a tight programme but the refugees have gone through so much and they can cope with anything.

I decided to divide us in three groups---I was handling training of trainer. Three trainers (Cheres, Keith, Ambija) were taking new class in IFO camp while three others (Peter, Lawrence and Cecilia) were taking new class in DAGAHALE camp. The two camps are about ten kilometers apart. We were almost overwhelmed by the number that came for the training----33 for TOT and 80 in the new class. We however made sure that Quality was not compromised—this meant we had to spend extra ours coaching some that needed help.

One great thing about this training is that it was a training for the trainers I went with. I had insisted that we were going to eat the same food the refugees were taking and sleep in their houses. They were initially scared but later confessed to have liked it. Now, in refugee camp we just have beds made of mud---raised like a half a meter from the ground. Those are wonderful beds that kept our back straight—I guess it is a good thing for those with back problems. Many trainers I went with tasted some of the foods the refugees provided for the first time. It was strange hearing foodstuffs like Injera, shirowat, alichawat.

I am so excited that from the previous training, 19 refugees were won to the Lord and are actively involved in small group bible study. This time round, I am expecting much more. The “Jesus film’ was also screened at Dagahaale camp on Friday and two refugees received the Lord!

The generosity of the refugees is something that amazed all of us—it is a classic example reminding us of the church in Macedonia that gave so much out of its poverty. These people took care of all the meals we took while there.

The refugees kept giving me even a higher challenge—to take the training to their brothers and sisters back at home. We had a representation of different countries in the training: Sudan, Ethiopia, Congo (formerly Zaire), and Eritrea. By the way, according to a friend of mine who works with organization that help persecuted believers, they say that Eritrea has one of the highest persecution index and things are becoming worse with time.

One disappointment was that A (Somali believer) never attended TOT (training of trainer). He was one of the best students in the previous class—in fact during the last graduation he brought in another Somali he had won to the Lord during the training. This time round, he is changing camps because he is concerned about his security—Pease pray for him.

We will be having graduation ceremony on 9th September 2006. I hope to send lots of pictures then. Blessings

UPDATE THAILAND from the Hilderbrand's

NEEDED:
Native English speakers willing to be trained as language teachers.
Website address: http://www.worldbasethailand.org/

SET BACKS AND PRAISE REPORTS

We also have been hit with a large number of illnesses. Almost half of our staff has been in the hospital for various illnesses this past month, including pastor Dton who fainted. The staff has been working so hard, night and day doing outreaches and has not been getting enough rest.

On a positive note, Good News Church is growing! In July we had over 200 college freshman attend our annual “Freshy Camp.” Teams from New Hope Montana and Florence Avenue Foursquare in California came to help. They were a big blessing. Several made a commitment to Christ and we will be baptizing seven of these new believers in a couple of weeks.

We are also looking at starting another Burmese church by the end of the year. Pastor Tommy has started a group across town in an industrial area. The factories in that area employ around 50,000 Burmese workers under harsh conditions and for a very low wage. At present there is no Burmese language church any where near this area. We are still looking for funding to make this happen.

BUILDING
We still have not broken ground for the building. There has been one problem after another to work out, zoning problems, access to electricity and water. But all indications are that we should be granted permission to build very soon. We are still short about $200,000 needed to finish the project.

THE SOUTH
The whole family traveled to the south of Thailand the first weekend in August to celebrate the second anniversary of one of the largest Foursquare churches in Thailand. Pastor Borvorn is a strong pastor raised in the south and the southern people love him. That Sunday we witnessed 26 people being baptized. We traveled by overnight train to arrive early Sunday morning in the city of Had Yai, a southern city with a strong Chinese influence. Just to the south of Had Yai, Muslim separatists have been fighting to form their own country apart from Thailand. There have been many terrorist attacks and a neighbor of ours was injured in a bomb blast there about one year ago, but generally Had Yai is quiet.

One of the girls being baptized was recently healed during a Friday night prayer service. She had pain on the right side of her body for many years. But one day, members of the church went to her neighborhood to talk about Jesus. They talked about how Jesus has the power to save and heal us. So the young girl traveled to the church on a Friday night. She sat in the church from 4:00 p.m. until the service started at 7:00 p.m., but nobody asked her why she came so early. Finally, someone asked her if she needed prayer. She explained her condition and the whole church prayed for her. She is now completely healed and out of pain. Because of her healing many of her family are also now coming to church.

TEACHERS
New teachers are coming to help, but we are still short. Pray about joining us.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray for several new English teachers to come soon. The school has grown to serve over 800 students in two locations.

Please pray that the government will approve our application for a Foursquare Foundation very, very, very soon. We need to foundation to legally own property and to carry out our various charity activities (orphanages, schools, tsunami relief) under the Foursquare name.

We have applied for a building permit to begin construction on our new facility. Please pray that the application will be approved. We still need to raise $550,000 to build a seven story facility that will house two churches, WorldBase, Language school and several social ministries and offices.

Please pray for our language teachers by name: Anna, Evan, Gary, Josh, Michel-lyn, Norma, Paula, Ty, Kelly, and Angie. Pray that our teachers would develop friendships quickly and be effective in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray that these “seekers” and new believers can be discipled in the Thai church.

Please pray for the upcoming Eastern Conference of Foursquare Churches Convention held in Bangkok this November, 2006. Our church is helping the ECFC Committee in organizing this international conference which is open to everyone. The cost is $150, which includes hotel, food, and seminars. Dr. Jack Hayford is the main speaker. Please pray that God would give us wisdom and discernment in all matters. For more information, please see our website.

Pray for the Ram 2 church.

Continue to pray for everyone’s health. Also pray for our continued protection, especially as we travel.

Let us know how we can pray for you.

Update from Evangelism Training in Dadaab, Kenya

Greetings in that great and mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are doing fine as a family and ministry and experiencing the love of our God.

I came from daddab refugee camp to Garissa to get more training materials. The training is great---we are having about a hundred refugees attending in three different venues. The third venue is actually training of trainers (about thirty five of them). They are already applying the principles of the training and are winning fellow refugees to the Lord.

Pray for the remaining topics and that this explosion will be sustained untill all refugees have had opportunity to say Yes to Jesus. I will be going back on sunday--pray for safety and protection. Hope to update you once i am back. Blessings

[Ken Ochieng]

Update from Ken in Garissa, Kenya at a refugee evangelism training

Just left daddab today briefly to come and collect materials needed for training. It is already wonderfull--over a hundred refugees are attending the training and they are busy evangelising as part of their practicals. I will be back on sunday. Many of them still remember you and Tyler.
Blessings

Update from Ken in Garissa, Kenya

Scott
I have been in Mombasa (second biggest city in Kenya after Nairobi) speaking in a church that invited me.I have spoken in four services within the three days i have been around. It has been nice only that The journey from Garissa to Mombasa took more than twelve hours and that was exhaustive. Starting next week , i will be running three trainings on Evangelism and discipleship at the different camps of
Daddab refugee camp--Pray for fruitfullnes.I will basaically be passing the same principles that you taught here on bringing people to the Lord, discipling, mentoring and sending them to be spiritual multipliers. I am following the modell of pullman foursquare church. There are about a hundred refugees that want to attend the training that will be running from morning to evening for ten days. I will be accompanied by others that i have taken through the training--Pray that they will adapt to the live of staying in the houses of the refugees and eating the same food for those days. I am hoping that after the training, the refugees will be on fire reaching out to their colleagues with the
gospel. Thank you for praying.

Blessings

July update from Ken Ochieng in Garissa, Kenya

We hope that you are safe in the hands of the master. It is unusually cold in this place. It is amazing that people can use blankets here—under normal circumstances we don’t cover ourselves.

We had a successful time on sunday as I taught at Garissa Teachers College. My subject was on obedience and I am thankful to God that many confessed they were blessed by the message. It is time to submit fully to the will of the master. It is time to cross the line---no more waffling and wavering.

We intend to distribute fifty-four water pumps this week. We will also distribute seeds—maize, beans. We desire to inculcate in the people a culture of working hard with their hands rather than waiting for handout.

I am looking forward this week to taking people through appropriate agricultural practices this week. I used to wonder why God took me to the University to learn about Agriculture only for me to be called as a missionary—now I know that he is a God of purpose. He doesn’t let anything go to waste (twelve baskets of bread from a miracle was never thrown away}.
Pray for the mission to Daddaab refugee camp this August—I will be going there to train the refugees on how they can become spiritual multipliers everywhere they go—I need seventy two hours for classes and a few days of practical if the training is to be succeful.

We thank God that you have accepted him to use you to be a blessing in this part of the world. May the Lord continue to increase pullman four square church as they reach out to people they may never meet this side of eternity.

Update Phil & Family in Antwerp, Belgium

Hello friends and supporters,

Well July has finally arrived. Besides some very hot days here we have people crazy about the World Cup Football being kicked out in Germany and the Tour de France beginning today. I'm considering catching some of the Tour along the way but not sure I can keep up!!!
Angela and the children have been in the States for 2 weeks now and its very quiet around here without them. I been involved in teaching as a chaplain at a Belgian Airbase every week and I enjoy this. I also have had opportunities to preach at local churches recently which is awesome.

Thanks for your prayers for Luc. He is scheduled for another surgury in the week ahead. Please pray that he would be open to learn more about Christ and living for him from the Word. His hope level has been low because of this health battle. I want him to let the body of Christ come alongside him to battle on the spiritual front (those unseen elements) and to show him he's not alone. I have also met a neighbor who is practicing Dutch/Vlaams with me every week. He's a really friendly guy who is also a dad and needs the Lord. His name is Ludwig.

Please pray for our Hoop Kerk group. This week we will have Pastor David from the mother church in Holland coming down to share. We are seeking to establish some leadership roles that everyone from the Antwerp church can both work with and come behind. This requires wisdom and sensitivity to the Lord's leading, as well as faith to move forward in this leading. Please pray for this Tuesday night and the road ahead.

Those of us internationals are feeling good about what were seeing with the group. It seems this time is the closest we have ever gotten to standing on our own feet and seeing each other not simply as a group but a body- a church! Pray that we keep going forward in our trust and love for both Christ and for each other.

Thanks so much for standing with us in pray and support. Please keep us in mind even as vacation time hits.
We need and appreciate you!!!

Rest in Him,
Phil

Update Thailand from Kelly Hilderbrand

Just added 6/28/06 Update Myanmar from George Butron http://seareport.blogspot.com/
Update Thailand June 2006 Newsletter from the Hilderbrand's

NEEDED:
Native English speakers willing to be trained as language teachers.
Website address: http://www.worldbasethailand.org/

TEACHERS: Many wonderful things are happening in Thailand, but before we get to the good news…. We are still critically short of English teachers. We have had lots of people contact us and say they are interested in coming, but we need teachers by August or September to keep our students at the current level.

TEN YEARS IN MYANMAR
In December 1997, Kelly led a team from Hope Chapel Honolulu to the G*ld*n Triangle region of Burma. There he met a young man named Pastor P. He had just arrived from Yangon the year before to begin planting churches in the region. Permission was obtained from the local drug lords and Pastor P. began his first church in the town of T along the border with Thailand. Kelly attended one of the early services there. The service was in the house of a man from the Shan tribe.

This month, Kelly attended the 10th anniversary of our church planting movement there. Fifty one churches have been started along with an orphanage and a Bible School. However, the Bible School was closed recently by the Burmese government and Pastor P. was arrested and beaten for two weeks. The government was afraid of his growing influence in the region and wanted to make sure that he never used his influence to oppose the government. Fortunately, that situation is over for now and Pastor P. is again able to preach and plant churches.

After Kelly crossed the border and arrived at the celebration, the Shan man from Pastor P.'s first church approached Kelly. The Shan people are racially related to the Thai and their language is similar. This particular man also speaks Thai. He took Kelly to meet two people. One young man had been mute for a long time. Pastor P. had approached the family and asked for permission to pray for the man. A demon was cast out and now he appears to be perfectly healthy. Another young woman was afflicted with a spirit that caused her to run around town like the demoniac in the bible. She was prayed for and delivered. They were both at the celebration.

THE FANG DISTRICT OF CHURCHES
After the two day celebration was over. Kelly traveled to the district of Fang to visit Pastor Timothy. Pastor Timothy and his wife were awarded a grant from the Foursquare Foundation to plant churches among the Hill tribe’s people of the north. In one year, 14 churches and 16 meeting places have been started. Before that, we only had four churches in the area. All we needed were the funds to get things going.

In addition to all the churches, Pastor Timothy has begun taking care of orphans. He now provides for 15 orphans. Many more have applied to come, but there are no funds to take care of all of them. People have given funds to help build an orphan home, but the Pastor and his wife feed and provide for the orphans out of their own resources.

Two young girls recently joined the group. They were found sleeping in a chicken coop covered with sores and rashes. Several of the children have been abandoned. No one knows if they have parents or where they might be. Some have been brutally abused by relatives. But now the children look happy and healthy. They have a one hour worship service every evening and help in the church and have their chores at the orphanage. These will be the next generation of pastors and leaders in the north.

MISSIONS ENCOUNTER 2006
Every year we host a two week training course for people considering missions in Thailand. This year we had 22 people come for the training in Bangkok.

BUILDING
Please continue to pray for our building. All the paper work is done, but the government has not yet given us permission to start. We are only waiting for the paperwork to go through the bureaucracy. We now have a $350,000 loan to begin building, but we still need to raise about $200,000 more to complete the building.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray for several new English teachers to come soon. The school has grown to serve almost 800 students and our second Bangkok branch is also growing and in need of more teachers.

Please pray that the government will approve our application for a Foursquare Foundation very, very, very soon.

We have applied for a building permit to begin construction on our new facility. Please pray that the application will be approved. We still need to raise $550,000 to build a seven story facility that will house two churches, WorldBase, Language school and several social ministries and offices.

Please pray for our language teachers by name: Anna, Evan, Gary, Josh, Michel-lyn, Paula, Ty, Kelly, and Angie. Pray that our teachers would develop friendships quickly and be effective in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray that these “seekers” and new believers can be discipled in the Thai church.

Please pray for the upcoming Eastern Conference of Foursquare Churches Convention held in Bangkok this November, 2006. Our church is organizing this international conference which is open to everyone. The cost is $150, which includes hotel, food, and seminars. Dr. Jack Hayford is the main speaker. Please pray that God would give us wisdom and discernment in all matters. For more information, please see our website.

Pray for the new Ram 2 church and its pastor, Max.

Continue to pray for our health and continued protection, especially as we travel.

Let us know how we can pray for you.

Update from Ken in Garissa, Kenya

There is nothing as great as being in Love with the Lord. He loved us first even while we yet sinners. Our prayer is that you will experience more of Jesus. May we seek to decrease as he increases in our lives.

We thank God that finally we are feeling more secure after threats to burn our office. I had to release the extra guard we had because things seems to be much better and also because we can’t afford paying him. From the independent investigations we did, the cause of the threats was that there was a debate between Muslim and Christian scholars here in Garissa and the Muslims lost the argument so badly that they lost their emotions and started throwing stones. The place turned chaotic and had it not been that the Police were there in large numbers things would have been worse. Apparently Police had realized possibility of Trouble. After this Skirmishes, the fundamentalist figured out who could have been the sponsors of these event and guess What? Yes, your guess is as good as mine-we were found to be the architect of the debate. We are privileged to take all the blame on all things that go wrong for Muslims here. For the debate itself, my opinion as always been that there is no need of cutting somebody’s nose and then you give him or her rose flower to smell--aaah. I fully subscribe to 1 Peter 3:15,16:But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect----(Good news version). I enjoy Christian apologetics but only when I know it is likely to bear fruit.

Food distribution went well and the locals are really excited about what we are doing. We also don’t want to give them Fish all the time. Giving them fish net is better and so in July we will supply people with seeds to plant. We want them to engage in economic activities rather that wait for food relief.

About our family, it is such a joy for both Eunice and I to watch Tim able to read stories. He turned four just the other day and he is Nursery. He is one of the youngest in his class but is doing very well. Ann is making every one happy with songs that only she understands.

We thank God for what he is doing through pullman foursquare church. Blessings

Update from Ken in Garissa, Kenya

PASTOR SCOTT
Hope you are doing fine. I pray that the Lord may give you the grace to handle the many responsibilty you have

We had great time yesterday as the whole church in garissa gathered to pray. Eunice has been organising prayer events and We are happy that something is happening in the spiritual realm. Thank God for the good attendance.

We have some relief food that we need to distribute in the next one week or so--pray that God will give us wisdom so that only the needy will benefit from these efforts. Pray also for protection as we enter deep in the villages during distribution. Blessings

Update from Ken in Garissa, Kenya

Scott
Greetings!. Some people went to our office on friday and threatened our night watchman that they will come to burn our office. I am not quite sure about their intention. This case is being handled by Police. I intend to see the OCS (officer in charge of the station tommorow). We have had to boost security in our office because we dont want to take things for granted especially after what happened at hope FM(the same station where you spoke was bombed). Our watchman was too scared and so we have added another one with a gun. Pray for God's protection upon the team.
Barissa--a malakote (muslim) who works with us lost the dad yesterday and the people accepted our people to participate in things like getting him out of the mortuary and even the digging of the grave!--they addly allow 'kafir' in this.
Pray as i speak to the MTC (medical training college) students tommorow.
Pray for the vision conference that will take place next week here--we are trusting that over thirty leaders (pastors and elders) will come to be equiped.
Pray that we will continue to impact the people

Update and prayer request from Ken in Garissa, Kenya

Some muslim fundamentalist came and threatened our watchman last night that they will come and burn our office--he is now too afraid. We have taken the matter to the police--Please pray

Thailand needs native English speakers

UPDATE THAILAND April 2006 Newsletter from the Hilderbrand's
NEEDED BY SUMMER:

Please pray about coming to help us. We really need native English speakers willing to be trained as language teachers. Next term we will be short teachers.

Website address: www.worldbasethailand.org

HAWAII

At the end of March, Kelly traveled to Hawaii to recruit teachers and raise money for our new building. It was great to see old friends and make new ones. Every day was filled with meetings, lunches and dinners. Kelly gained 3 pounds. Kelly also preached at Hope Chapel West Oahu one Sunday, was interviews by Ralph Moore at a Friday night service at Hope Chapel Kaneohe Bay and then preached at Hope Central the next Sunday. Many thanks to all the people who have given so generously to the ministry here in Thailand.

Support can still be sent to:
Foursquare Missions International
P.O. Box 26902
Los Angeles, CA 90026-0176
Designate checks to WorldBase Thailand ministries.

EASTER SUNDAY

Most people go to church on Easter Sunday, eat lunch with family and friends and enjoy the warming spring weather. Easter in Thailand this year was a little different. At church most members of Good News Church were dressed in black and then after a quick lunch we gathered in cars to travel 1 ½ hours outside of Bangkok to a temple deep in the midst of the rice fields of central Thailand.

Poppy’s father had died. Poppy is the daughter of a second wife and throughout her life she was beaten by her father. The beatings were often and vicious. Sometimes Poppy’s father would use large wooden boards to beat Poppy until she was almost unconscious. She finally left home to go to college and live with a friend. Her friend brought her to Good News Foursquare Church. There Poppy found Jesus and the healing that He brings. Poppy began bringing her mother to church and Poppy’s mother became a Christian.

Poppy then began to pray for her father. While most of us might hate a father like Poppy’s, Poppy wanted so much for her father to come to church and be saved. She prayed for him and kept inviting him to church. One day, he walked in and sat in the back. He left early, but he came. Off and on, Poppy’s dad would come to church. Poppy and others sat down with him to explain to him about repentance, forgiveness and the love of Jesus.

Shortly, before Kelly left for Hawaii, Poppy’s dad prayed to receive Jesus. Then shortly before Kelly returned from Hawaii, Poppy’s father died of a heart attack. God’s timing is perfect.

Thai funerals are seven days long. The last day is the cremation. While Poppy’s father prayed to receive Jesus, the rest of the family set up a traditional Buddhist funeral in the home village of Poppy’s mom. Easter Sunday was the last day of the funeral and the cremation was set for 3:00 p.m. Half the people present were from Good News Church. We had prepared a small pamphlet to hand out at the funeral. We included a biography of Poppy’s father, and a message about how he had received Jesus and how others could also.

The monks chanted. The family carried the casket three times around the crematorium. Once the casket was placed in the crematorium, people passed-by placing paper flowers near the casket. Then the casket was opened and coconut milk was poured over the face. The casket was again sealed and placed in the fire.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray for four new English teachers by May 1. The school has grown to serve almost 800 students and our second Bangkok branch is also growing and in need of more teachers.

Please pray that the government will approve our application for a Foursquare Foundation.

We have applied for a building permit to begin construction on our new facility. Please pray that the application will be approved. We still need to raise $500,000 to build a seven story facility that will house two churches, WorldBase, Language school and several social ministries and offices.

Please pray for our language teachers by name: Anna, Evan, Gary, Josh, Maureen, Mui, Michelle, Nave, Paula, Simon, Sucharn, Kelly, and Angie. Pray that our teachers would develop friendships quickly and be effective in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pray for the new Ram 2 church and its pastor, Max.
Continue to pray for our health and continued protection, especially as we travel.

Latest update from Fong, Thailand

Here is latest update from Timothy in Fong, Thailand:

Hi Bruce, Laurie,and all the Pullman team.
Enclose are some of the photos of ths New Church Building as of this morning.
It will be able to accommodate 4 to 5 hundreds people with room for future expansions on both side of the building. Especially if we need more class room. We are so thankful to for all your prayers, we know that God is behind putting it all together.
The whole building will cost @$20,000 and $5000 for workmanship .All total which is about 1.2 million baht.@ $25,0000.

Thank you Pullman Foursquare Church youth has donated $3000.to help us with the Church foundation. Beside that we have not heard from any body. By 11 April we need to pay 20,000 to the builder, Please pray with us. We are putting our faith forward believing that God will keep bringing in the finances to help us finished the projects.

Thank you again Bruce and the Pullman youth team.
Please keep praying for us.
Thank you all again.Peace be with you all.
Thailand for Jesus.
Timothy & Fong Fung.

Donors from Pullman offered to buy landscaping now so that plants could grow and be the same as the plants at the childrens center"

Kenya Update for April '06

We greet you in Jesus name. The words in 1 Corinthians 15:58: So then, my dear brothers and sisters stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord’s service is ever useless. We always thank God for your partneship. Life has been busy, exciting and many times challenging. We have had to learn to wait for along time to see results and this is not easy. We were privileged to distribute relief to thousands of people in this place. The whole exercise was successful as we gave them maize, rice, beans and cooking oil. Many locals have come to appreciate the role we are playing.

It is now one month since I took over leadership of Life ministry garissa. Jaco and Helleen are now in South Africa raising support and will come back to concentrate on school and farming. We enjoy great working relationship with them.

Life ministry garissa has four missionaries and about fifty workers and this needs the grace of God to lead. We also have about four hundred children in our school. We believe that it is easy to reach out to people when they are still in their formative stages and that is why this is a great priority to us. Pray that our teachers (about twenty of them) will be fruitful in taking care of this young people Our Jesus film has been working tireless to screen the film in some very unsafe places—thank God for the protection he has granted and continue praying for them. As a family we are doing fine. Tim became four years three days ago and is doing very well in nursery school. Anna is two and a half and is talking a lot. We are happy that they make the house warm.




The picture below is not a true representation of us now because it was taken about one and a half years ago—I have since lost lots of hair on my head—aah aah and every one of us has added weight! We cherish you and are praying that you may experience more of God in your life. Blessings!