Dealing with Beggars
“We
had come up with a pretty good system for dealing with
the many beggars that hound us (especially when you
are about to eat a meal)." We're not giving money, but
you are welcome to sit and eat with us," was our
rehearsed line.
One
evening while we sitting down for our dinner a lady
came into the restaurant asking for money. We offered
her a bowl of noodle soup she readily accepted. The
more she talked the more we realized that she was not
all together mentally. The restaurant owner told her
to sit at another table. "No", we said, "she is our
guest." The owner told us that this lady was crazy and
should leave. Finally, very forcefully, I told him
that she was our guest and she would eat with us. I
said that because God loves us, we in turn love this
lady even though she had some problems. I could see
the owner's face soften as he told me to come back
again soon to eat. It was a real testimony to me again
of how God can use our actions and attitudes to show
His character - and we need to use but few words!
Praise the Lord, since I only know a few words!” – a
Mekong worker
Lao
Earlier
this year the governor, vice governor, and chief of
police in one province were sacked on a single
day. With no prior warning, members of the
central party came to the province and announced that
these men had just been replaced. Local citizens
were shocked; they knew about the excesses of their
leaders but no one believed that men with such power
would ever lose their positions of authority.
Since
that time amazing things have been happening in this
province. One ethnic group which previously had
no Christians has seen almost a whole village turn to
Christ. Another ethnic group has shown
tremendous interest in the gospel with many apparently
ready to believe. Meanwhile things at the
provincial administrative level have been in
turmoil. Many are wondering, “Will I lose my
position next? Does anyone know about my corrupt
ways? Who should I align myself with to keep my
job?” In the midst of this leadership vacuum one
of the men being considered for the vice governorship
is someone who has expressed keen interest in the
gospel before.
- Pray
for every follower of Jesus in Laos to know victory
over fear and to enjoy the joy of Jesus in the midst
of harsh circumstances.
- Pray
those who are holding back from following Jesus
because of their fear of the consequences. Pray they
will “taste and see” that Jesus is a powerful
Savior.
- Pray
for a movement of multiplying groups of Jesus’
followers resulting in a group of God’s children
within walking distance of every Lao citizen.
Muong
More
and more of the Muong people of Vietnam are coming to
know and follow Jesus! It is estimated that there are
now 500 Muong believers among the total Muong
population of 1.2 million people. There is harsh
persecution but as Jesus said, “The gates of hell
cannot hold back the advance of God’s
kingdom”.
- Please
pray for this small group of Muong believers
scattered in many places to grow as God’s children
in favor with God and with men.
- Pray
for many more Muong people to hear and respond to
the good news of Jesus!
- Pray
for materials to be developed and to be made
available in the Muong language – radio programs,
literature, tapes, VCDs, Bible portions.
