This is Joel's Old Blog

words of wisdom from winter

A man who has shaped much of the global mission movement of the church in recent decades is a missiologist Ralph Winter -He has directed the church to go to regions of the world where no Christians live -  He is former Fuller prof and started the US Center for World Mission -  He has impacted my thinking and direction on many levels -- His recent editorial he writes of the need to

"...form teams to fight pervassive social, medical, and spiritual evil.  To deel with roots of nationwide (globally) gangs, crime, defeat malaria and disease ..We tend to flee evil, to seek security, safety, ease, sweetness, and even "holy lives". Spreading hope is basic. Personal integrity is essential, but it is not enough. Can't we deliberately find, face, and fight evil, and in the name of Christ?"

Read entire editorial here

Zayd's prayers

There is a text in Isaiah that says,

"My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD. --Isa 59:21

Zayd is taking the efforts to pray at our meal times more and more. He has listened to our prayers for almost 4 years now -  It is so beautiful to listen to him as he prays from his heart and what has touched him the past months of his life in Asia -. He tends not just pray for what he hears mommy and daddy pray but really what is in his heart -  His perspective from his own eyes was that many people were either "broken" or had "broken" things -  His prayer always are praying for

• People with broken house (houses he saw in numerous places that were either under construction or very poor)
• People with broken arms - A man in Raxaul, India that he saw with just 1 arm that really got his attention and he asked for the rest of the day why he had this "broken" arm and could not understand
• Kids with Broken toys - The children that he saw that had little or no toys and he was so concerned about that 

His short and sincere prayers are always for those with broken house, broken arms, broken toys- He reminds me that our prayers should be of thanksgiving to God for how he has provided for us and our prayers for those who have little to nothing and that we can act as an instrument of justice and compassion for the most least on our planet-  May God continue to teach me through the prayers of Zayd and other children   

zayd and daya's first concert!

Two amazing women on our team, Shannon Taylor and Ellen Bender, working with us sang a few songs at a send off party for us all in Thailand and Zayd and Daya rushed the stage - They were seeking autographs afterwords..

LAX landing

"I don't want everyone to look at me here in America and smile at me, Daddy"   Zayd said to me as we landed in Los Angeles -   Indeed, his little blue eyes and blonde hair was loved all over Asia and both kids were the constant admiration everywhere we went.  We are back in the states  and sleep is in major chaotic mode - I have been up since 1 am today - it is 9:30 am now - -  Been in LA for 2 days and in route to Indy today -- 

God is good all the times

 

Tanks in Bangkok -

Yes, we are in Thailand on the eve of the military coup that is seeking political change - we are about 1 hour flight south, phuket - and not bangkok-   compared to our previous gov't fiasco in nepal, this should be quiet - atleast that is our prayers and the desire of the thai people -   The Thai baht has recorded a 4 year record fall (not good) 

We were scheduled to go to Bangkok tomorrow to enjoy the city and stay 3 nights before our departure back to the states on Sunday - For some reason, we sensed we should stay in Phuket and fly up on Saturday,stay at the airport --   We are now glad we did and believe God was leading us -

Bangkok Post news

Kofi Anan response to Thailand

photo at servlife land in india

All of us seeing the completion of the wall in north india

family in ocean photos

Thanks Jason Foster for the photos of our family during our photo shoot a few days agao - Elise hired a profesional photographer to take many photos of our family  --

                                        

                                          

Goat Sacrifice --Indrajatra Hindu Festival in Nepal

When recently in Kathmandu, I came across this goat sacrifice in the middle of a public square and surrounded by Hindu Temples, including where Kumari lives (a young girl believed to be a reincarnation of Kali)     The power of blood - The meaning of blood - The symbolism of blood -  I could not help sing the song to myself, "Only the blood of Jesus can wash away my sin.."

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses, washes us from the guilt,misery, sin - It is ours. Free. No charge. All may come. Recieve.  His Love. His life sacrificed for God's Glory and our good.

                                                      MORE ON INDRAJATRA::

A Tale of 2 sisters in Nepal

Rescued is a word Devaki and Lila Katuwal have never heard. But at just five years old and seventeen months respectively, abandonment is a concept these sisters understand. So is the joy of being found and taken in.  “We were praying for God to bring us more orphaned children,” says Udaya Bhatta, director of ServLife’s children’s home in Kathmandu. “Not long after, we learned of these little girls who had been abandoned at the Bishnu Devi Temple.”

read the rest of the story