Archive for the ‘Cultural Interest’ Category
“Our Pastor ~ On Loan to Africa”
Between sessions at the annual Seminar
Hello, everyone in Morning Star Fellowship and beyond ~ James has been in Sakila, Tanzania for two weeks now. His computer time has been either in International Evangelism Centre’s busy office (IEC) or in Arusha town where “the clock is running.” Consequently, James has asked me to construct an update from his emails and our phone conversations.
The annual Seminar took place from Sunday, June 20 – June 27. Thousands of believers and Bible School graduates from the surrounding nations of Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Malawi took buses, cars, and just plain walked to gather in Jesus’ Name for prayer, singing, and preaching of the Word of God. For most of those in attendance the Seminar is the highlight of their year. In the twenty-seven years since teh Bible School’s inception, the number of churches begun by IEC trained pastors has well topped the fourteen hundred mark. Although not all pastors and church leaders were able to travel to the conference, all churches were represented by the twenty-two regional leaders.
This is a good place to declare IEC’s banner scripture for the year 2010: “May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17 BTW, this happens to be the same scripture that Tiala Ao & family pray for their work in Mokokchung, Nagaland.
Eliudi Issangya and his son, Godwin Selembo, discussing request
The thousands who come to the Seminar spend the week in Sakila sleeping everywhere and anywhere. And, listen to this, Eliudi and staff feed everyone three times a day. I think the Lord’s miracle of the loaves and fishes happens there in Sakila on a daily basis! This is just not talk but action in trusting God to do the impossible.
James knows that the people come hungry for anointed preaching of God’s Word ~ the kind of preaching that will impart renewal of purpose and vision to “forcefully advance the Kingdom of God”. They know and James knows that MBELE! ~ moving forward ~ will probably demand perseverance despite challenges such as no food, no water, and no money. Encouraging these Christian kingdom-builders is a serious responsibility and James seriously asks the Lord for HIS guidance as he ministers to his beloved African brethren. I ask too.
Leaving Seminar Hall
With great interest I asked James this morning, “What did you preach at the Seminar?” Some of you will be very interested in hearing that James chose the Parable of the Good Shepherd as recorded in John chapter ten. For his listeners, James applied Jesus’ teaching in four ways: 1) He protects us; 2) He leads us; 3) He feeds us; 4) He laid His life down for us. As a church we have prayed for the Lord’s blessing upon James and his times of preaching. Well, the Lord has answered our prayers! He deserves the glory and thanks.
Many tribes are represented at Seminar.
On Tuesday, June 29th James wrote, “We spent most of the afternoon with Helen’s family up in her village. Both of her parents are alive and there is quite an extended family. Her village is much more primitive than Sakila and very beautiful on the slopes of Mt. Meru.” On the previous day James wrote, “My Swahili is getting better each day; I can even do greetings in Meru (Eliudi & Mama Helen’s tribe) which makes me a big hit with Eliudi’s mom and the older ladies.”
Matthew and fallen tree limb
Before I end this update, one “life at home” story needs to be told to illustrate the Lord’s care for me as my Good Shepherd while James is so far away on another continent. On Thursday, June 24th, our youngest son, Matt, stopped by our home after work to visit and check in on me. Minutes after Matt’s arrival a sudden and violent storm brought a torrent of rain and strong winds upon our property. The fury ended just before we said our goodbye and as Matt headed out the back deck door. Seconds later I heard Matt yell, “Mom, come here!” A thirty foot tree limb had been knocked down and was completely blocking the top of our driveway. If you click on this image you will see the enlarged version. Because of the size and weight I could not have moved it by myself. But ~ my Lord’s care was there for me through the timing of Matt’s visit. I praised God for His all-knowing and all-loving care for me that day and today and everyday that James will be gone.
People ask me. “How do I do it?” ~ that is, allow James to travel to Africa. First, I know the Lord has comissioned him to go to Africa. Second, I know the gift that he is to Africa ~ a gift from the Lord to them ~ a gift from Morning Star to them ~ and a gift from me and our family to them. How could I ever say “no”.
In His grace,
Sarah
In Memory of Helen Issangya
Mama Helen with one of her daughters Rogathe and one of her grandchildren, Shirley.
The first time I went to Africa was in 1993; that seems like two lifetimes ago. Since 1993 I have been back to Africa well over twenty times (thank you MSCF!). Most of these times I have stayed in the home of my dear friends Eliudi and Helen Issangya, in Sakila, Tanzania.
The first time I rode from the Kilimanjaro Airport to the village of Sakila I felt as if I had travelled to some foreign planet, or possibly the moon, that’s how strange it was to me (and also to my good friend, Mike Wood). Now when I go to Sakila it is truly my “second home.” Other than my own house I feel most at home when I am in Sakila. Much of that credit goes to Mama Helen Issangya who saw to it that I was welcomed and cared for over the last seventeen and a half years. This dear woman, wife of my great friend Eliudi Issangya, and mother to six children, has now passed on to her eternal home, a greater home. A land that will never grow old.
This blog is a small attempt to show her the honor and respect that is due to her for taking care of me and the many other people who showed up at her home in need of care. Mama Helen was always there for me. She made sure that I had the food that I needed, the clean water that was necessary, and she showed great compassion towards me as I went through everything from malaria (1996) to a heart attack that caused me to be hospitalized and have surgery in Amsterdam in 2007. She had suffered so much with her illness that she knew how to care for those who were in pain or distress.
Helen treated me with such respect. I hope that I sincerely returned that respect back to her. Thank you Mama Helen for giving yourself to all of us for all these years. I, and many others, African and Americans, will never forget all that you did for us, and the “Mama” that you were to us. Be at rest, Be at Peace, Mama Helen.
Helen Issangya went to her eternal home on February 2, 2010.
James R. Smith
“How Far Will God Travel?”
“How far will God
travel…to bring
refreshment and
His love?
This was the question I asked over and over again to myself and Sarah Jane B. I asked it to friends and audiences during conversations and public presentations while in Coventry, Bangalore, Delhi, Gurgaon, Mokokchung, Kohima, Dimapur, and Enkoping, Sweden.
An ancient Hebrew Proverb reads, ”Like a cold glass of water to a weary soul, is good news from a distant land.” The theme of this, my second, trip to India and Nagaland and Europe was this proverb. Early on in Coventry, England as we, Sarah Jane and I, said our “first” of many goodbyes to our many hosts we were told, “Your visit refreshed us!” My reflection upon our effort and extent of travel caused me to meditate upon God’s effort expended in reaching human beings with His love. After all, “God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son to give us everlasting life.” If there ever was a long distance traversed to refresh the souls of mankind it was Christ’s first missionary journey from heaven’s throne to earth’s soil.
God’s love produced the desire within me to refresh friends and strangers alike in the nations that we would visit. My timeline would extend across 41 days and 41 nights, over 24,000 miles on 11 different air flights. I slept in 7 different beds, ate 7 different cuisines, and drank from 7 local water sources (after boiling, of course!). My carry-on and two luggage pieces were filled with clothing for 3 different cultures and 3 different climates. During travel slots within my itinerary I experienced several 24 hour periods with absolutley no sleep. One of the gifts given to me by the Lord were ”prayer nights”, all mentioned in my journal, during which 2 or 3 hours of sweet sleep met my need and the rest of the night was spent in intercessory prayer and worship. These nights I loved especially!
“Health is Number One!” – Ask Sarah Jane how often I declared this. When travelling in a developing nation staying healthy has to be on the top of the list. Despite my lack of sleep and the arduous & rigorous schedule, excellent health was mine from start to finish! Your prayers for me were effective, my dear Morning Star family! “Beyond my human ability!” was a frequent thought and statement from my lips.
With regard to bringing refreshment, my target audiences were three: 1) Morning Star Mission partners in Mokokchung, Nagaland, India and specifically Tiala Ao, Moa & Sentila Jamir, and the administrators, staff, and students at the Nagaland Bible College and the Nagaland Children’s Residential School; 2) both current and prospective HOPE FOR CHANGE (www.H4Cinternational.org) partners; 3) those Indian and South Asia Christians who have experienced or who are experiencing human rights discrimination and suffering for living the Gospel message.
In 7 different locations I was given opportunity to speak about The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) to those who were previously unaware of such a day and such a global prayer event. On seven different occasions my listeners were held in rapt attention as I explained the breadth of modern-day religious persecution in fifty-five nations affecting 800 million Christian believers. Each one pledged to pray on Sunday, November 8, 2009 and to observe IDOP in coming years.
On IDOP Sunday I was in a church service in Enkoping, Sweden and given “as much time as I needed” to teach about IDOP, share a personal experience, and lead the congregation in prayer for persecuted Christians. In my absence, Cynthia Peters graciously agreed to lead Morning Star’s annual observance during MSCF’s Sunday morning meeting. I thank Cindy for her heart and committment to this message and that, together, we both serve International Christian Concern (ICC) as volunteer representatives. In every location I left ICC’s literature and web site address (www.persecution.org).
I did not have to think long about which of the numerous personal testimonies to share with the Enkoping congregation. While at the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Bangalore base on Tuesday night, October 13th, my last night there, a young woman named Mercy sat at my table during my last supper there. I had seen her earlier in the day as she was cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms in the YWAM Hospitality Suite. I noted that she had done a superb job and the whole place was immaculate.
Mercy poured her heart out to me and told me that her father’s life had been threatened twice, her family had to flee their home, and that her home was ransacked in their absence. Mercy was giving me a first-hand account of the horrific violence that broke out in Orissa State during late August and continued during all of September, 2008. During last year’s visit to India I had met a pastor and Christian brother who told me their own compelling personal tragedies.
Mercy’s faith was shaken, her mind filled with anxiety and stress, and she told me that she repeatedly asked the Lord, “Why was He allowing this persecution to come to her people?” and “Since You are allowing it, why are You not helping my people?”
One week later I was in Gurgaon in Haryana District outside of Delhi. It had been a week since checking my email. When I saw my incoming mail, there was an email from Mercy…MercyOrissa to be exact. She told me that my words to her had answered her two questions which had plagued her for thirteen months. My words were,”On November 8, 2009 Christians in thousands of American congregations would be praying for Indian Christians, that India was on top of my list for IDOP 2009, that audiences all the world over were learning about persecution because of what happened in Orissa State, and that the courage of the Indian Christians was an inspiration to all of us.”
This part of her email read, “You are such a blessing sis for me. After talking to you I feel so relaxed in my mind and in my body. Because from a long time I been filled with sadness and pain. But when I meet you my heart filled with joy. Because the whole (Christian) world is praying for me. Thank you for telling me that on november you people are praying for Orissa. Your sis MercyOrissa”
“Like a cold glass of water to a weary soul, is good news from a distant land.” Proverbs 25:25
How far will God travel to bring His love, His refreshment, His peace? The answer that I have experienced is…as far as it takes.
In His grace always,
Sarah Anne Smith
OVERVIEW OF WEEK IN BANGALORE
Well, if one picture is worth a thousand words, then I have just sent you eight thousand words and I must say with great effort Ask James about using other’s computers while depending upon multiple servers across the globe and Internet capabilities in developing nations. In fact, James, you may have to straighten this blog article up a bit!!!
Our week in Bangalore included the teaching sessions with the DTS students (PICTURED BELOW), a visit to LIVING FOUNTIAN GATES CHURCH on Sunday, lunch with Jojou (YWAM STAFFER) at THE EMPIRE BUFFET, and attendance at YWAM’s South India Annual Conference. That is not all we did since there were spontaneous discussions, prayer gatherings of the 2/3 sort and enthusiastic fellowship interactions over tea. Judging from the enormous amount of feedback directed to me everyone was refreshed by our visit and by the ministry of the WORD OF GOD through the PARABLES OF JESUS. The REMA WORD to many was Galatians 6:9 – DON’T GIVE UP! Many took the time and effort to thank me with tears in their eyes and deep gratitude. The honor was mine.
Please take time to read my blog on MBELE! REGARDING OUR CHANGE OF PLANS. Our Lord Jesus moved with swiftness to protect us and supply unplanned lodging for ten days here in Gurgoan, India. A day or two is needed to publish the story on he Internet.
I am thinking of all of you and praying for your strength and comfort during this time of loss of dear brother, Frank Amodeo. I send my deepest condolences to Pris, Neil & Lisa and their families, and Marie.
Your prayers for me are being answered. His peace, security, health & provision, and purpose are being manifested. You are my spiritual family!
Finally, to the man I admire the most & love, James, and to our three sons and their families, I send my deepest affection and admiration.
In HIS GRACE always,
Sarah
“Watergate, Mohu, and Mrs. Graham”
Go to www.Mbele.org to read entire article ~ a bit of Smith History! (;>0