God’s people often find things work out in unexpected ways when they pray! For the past 3 weeks we hosted a guest from Australia. Sometime in 2014 he visited Java. While passing through the Jakarta airport he prayed, as is his custom, for some God-ordained meetings. Later he struck up a conversation with a man named Bill from Ambon. They spoke for some time. Ted, our Australian friend, mentioned he has friends in Ambon. He gave Bill my contact information, but we never met. Ted prayed from “down under” that our team would be able to share with Bill.
During his time in Ambon, Speedy asked Ted to go with him to the local park where he planned to meet some of the local men he is sharing with. When they walked up, Bill, who is prominent in the group, recognized Ted. Bill has been hearing the good news from Speedy for some time. He says that his wife is joining him in reading from the Gospels.
This is a reminder that we should never underestimate what God may do with our prayers beyond our knowledge and out of our sight. Ted’s chance meeting with Bill far from Ambon and his continuing prayers for him have undoubtedly played a significant role in the opportunity Speedy has in sharing the Gospel with Bill, his cronies, and indirectly with his wife.
As you pray for Speedy and Bill, you join that team. Your prayers may bring Bill closer and closer to the Kingdom of God.
Other ways to impact God’s Kingdom in Ambon through prayer:
1. For the participants in the Biblical principles of parenting seminar led by Ted on February 6th. May biblical truth and insight help form Godly Christian families.
2. For Speedy and family who will leave Ambon on February 12th. They will be out of the country a month or so. They must acquire a new cultural studies visa while their work visa is in process. Pray for smooth processing and reentry.
3. After months of working with various government offices in Ambon we have almost completed the paperwork for the work visa application for Speedy and family. We hope to have this in the hands of the paper expediter in Java for processing in Jakarta before the end of February. Pray for the remaining processes to go smoothly and for the work plan and work visa to be approved in a timely manner.
4. Bethany is working hard to plan for the next school year and hopefully much expansion of the Fast Start pre-school and kindergarten. Pray for all the details.
5. We continue to seek God’s direction and provision for a permanent ministry center location for the school, Operation Opportunity offices, and the Oke mini mart. Please ask God to guide, direct and provide in His timing.
6. Pray for Michael, Welly and Sunarto as they share with kids in our reading corner and tutorials. Ask God to give us contact with people who are open to spiritual discussions.
7. Pray for Sunarto as he works to build a toy making business which he can use to help instruct school dropouts and to provide income for his family.
ONE MORE SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST:
Bethany would love to have native English speakers who enjoy and are skilled at working with sm
all children to come to Fast Start pre-school and kindergarten as interns. Such people should plan on at least 60 days. Interns may be young people or energetic retirees. They must be flexible; capable of a good deal of independence; and not easily intimidated by new circumstances. We ask that each person spend at least 5 hours per week in formal study of the Indonesian language (this will be the basis for the visa) and about 30 hours per week helping with classroom instruction in English. Interns would need to raise their support {we can provide a suggested budget} We would be happy to talk with anyone who might be interested. This would be a great opportunity to experience cross-cultural living, bless Indonesian families, and to build bridges for the gospel. We will seek in-community housing so that interns may be immersed in the language and culture, living among the local community. If you or any one you know would be interested in this opportunity, please contact bnanulaitta(at)gmail.com
or lynnis70(at)gmail.com
. It would be a pleasure to work with you through the decision process.
Thank you for your faithful partnership in prayer!
