| I'm stuck in Georgetown... Sort of. Let me catch you up on some bits and pieces of what is happening. Yesterday I flew up from Region 9 with our bible worker so that he can go to Bolivia. We're sending him to Bolivia to professionally record him preaching some sermons in his native Wapishana dialect. The GMI team in Bolivia will shoot the footage on a special set that they are building just for him, and then will do post production so that it can be put on DVD's. Once we get these DVD's we plan to replicate them like the leaves of autumn, and distribute them throughout the villages. Those who don't have DVD players will get an audio version. Tomorrow I'll fuel up the airplane and fly back to Shea. The well diggers have finished the well in our front yard. They're only 14 feet down, but have 2 1/2 feet of water. This is a huge blessing because we've been without water for 3+ weeks and I've been hauling it in five gallon buckets three times a day. My arms could sure use a rest. Like they aren't long enough already! A couple days ago I went out visiting. I've determined that I need to turn up the intensity and start doing more house to house outreach. We've been doing all sorts of missionary related stuff, but I've determined that the key is is home visits. At the first house I went to I sat on the grass and just talked with them. I've taken a simple formula. 1. Talk to them - every day conversation. 2. Listen to them - Listen for felt needs. 3. Share the Word - Share bible texts that address their needs. 4. Pray for them - And allow the Holy Spirit to touch their hearts. As I was saying goodbye, and turning away to walk to the next house, the lady throws a bombshell my way. "Pastor, when are you going to come teach us the bible?" Wow! What a question... I looked thoughful for a moment and then asked, "When would you like me to come?" "Next Sunday" she replied. "I'd be glad to come and I'll bring a nice set of bible lessons for you to keep." She looked really pleased at the though. As I walked away, I couldn't help but wonder. "How long had she been asking herself this burning question, 'When is he going to come and teach me the bible?'" This question quickly sparked another thought - "I wonder how many more people in our village have this same question burning in their hearts?" There are thousands, yes millions of people around the world who look wistfully toward heaven longing for a better understanding of truth. We must go, because they rarely will come. Please pray, not just for us, but that God would guide you to someone that you can TALK-LISTEN-SHARE-PRAY with. God bless, JamesGuy James & Joy Ash 121 Durban Backlands Georgetown, Guyana 011-592-629-5141 http://guyanaaviationevangelism.blogspot.com/ 874 South McDonald SW McDonald, TN 37353 1 (423) 473-1841 or 1 (423) 473-1842 |
Monday, January 24, 2011
[Guyana-Mission-Report] Missionary Snippets
Friday, January 7, 2011
[Guyana-Mission-Report] Grave Top Ministry
| New Years was a sad day in Shea Village. A young man in his early thirties who had been partying all night, came home, beat up his wife and then took his hammock rope and hung himself on a cashew tree behind his house. This is the second suicide for the year, and 6-7 unsuccessful tries were made. The sad part is that the church which he belongs to was unwilling to help the family dig a grave. Everyone was recovering from the nights revelry and few people wanted to get out in the hot sun and pick out a proper hole. I was informed that a few elderly people dug a foot and a half down with a hoe and buried the body. I was alarmed when I heard this, envisioning some dogs digging up the remains. So I talked another church member into helping me give the guy a proper burial. At first we weren't quite sure what to do. We didn't want to dig the body back up after 36 hours. We had an extra bag of cement at the church that needed to be used up, and so we spent a couple hours and cast a 2 inch slab over the top of the body. Just enough to keep the dogs from exhuming the corpse. A bunch of kids and youth showed up to watch what was happening. After I finished troweling the top of the slab and inscribing the name and date with a nail, I took off my hat and we had a little grave side service. I looked them each in the eye and appealed to them that they never ever even consider the idea of taking their lives. It leaves so many hurting people behind. I also had prayer with the family who weren't at the grave side service. The father in law of the deceased man has opposed the building of the church, and has gone so far as to call our church members snakes. I hope and pray that this little gesture will help to break down prejudice and maybe open their hearts to the gospel. One of our church members also had a close call. He had been imbibing some alcohol, and came back to his house in the early morning and promptly got into an argument with his wife. I don't know all the details but he nearly choked his wife to death, and then in a complete reverse of emotion he tried unsuccessfully to drink poison and kill himself. Somehow the mother in law and wife were able to wrestle the bottle out of his hand and pour it on the ground. I paid a pastoral visit to him the next day when he was sober and we had some pretty straight words about what happened and the terrible effects of alcohol. When they drink their local Para Cari drink it makes them almost demonic in nature. There is good news! After catching our breath a little on the building project, we're hard at it again. This time we have both bible workers out in the field, cutting boards for the benches, doors, and pulpit. We'll need to get windows installed as well. It's now time to finish what we've begun. We're so thankful for everyone who has helped us with this project. We'll continue to send pictures as things progress. God bless, James James & Joy Ash 121 Durban Backlands Georgetown, Guyana 011-592-629-5141 http://guyanaaviationevangelism.blogspot.com/ 874 South McDonald SW McDonald, TN 37353 1 (423) 473-1841 or 1 (423) 473-1842 |
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