APFMMA Executive Committee Meeting

        Once a year we have AFPMMA Executive Committee Meeting. It is held in different places. This time it was in Mumbai, India. We were happy to meet together to discuss and plan. The committee members came from different countries. We all had the opportunities to speak English or some had a member to do the translation for them. It was not just business but also fellowship and partnership in the meetings.   

Mission Congress in India, August

It has been more than a month since I came back from India for the Mission Congress held in mid August.  But memories are still lingering in my mind. 

Four speakers cannot come

Just about a week before the Mission Congress, four overseas speakers could not come because of visa problem, health condition of family member.  How can we find four speakers within a week?  Praise the Lord, and thankful for friends who were willing to help in such a short time notice.  They slept very little in order to prepare for the workshops and sermon.  And all the participants were inspired by these speakers.

Problems - Jesus handled perfectly

Seven participants emailed to me that they were still waiting for the visa to India.  Finally they all showed up on the first day of the Mission Congress.

Six overseas participants had diarrhea, and one had fever was taken to the hospital. 

On our way back one of the team members could not find his wallet in the bag.  He remembered that he might have dropped it when he was in the airplane.  We reported to the Airline Company.  Praise the Lord that the wallet was found under the seat in the airplane!

First Fruit

One of the Japanese pastors shared his testimony.  He was the first fruit of the first Missions Congress in 1992, where he was revived and dedicated himself to the Lord.  And now he is serving the Lord as a pastor faithfully.  We all rejoiced and clapped hands for this pastor. 

August 15 is the Independence Day of India. There was flag raising ceremony in the camp ground. In the evening we raised our hands to pray for India. We could feel the fellowship and love in Christ. May Jesus revive and save India, especially in these months in some parts of India where the Christians are facing terrible persecution but are still stand firm in their faith, even unto death for Christ. 

Do not be foolish

Recently I had done a very foolish deed which really did not glorify Jesus Christ.  My mind was so restless and no peace at all.  I was really so shameful and cried and prayed.  But there was still no peace of mind.  I knew that I had to share with a lady pastor friend and confessed this foolish deed to her.  She prayed for me.  Jesus is so good and in His mercy, He pardons me and saves me.

In our daily life, a thought and a decision may slip in quietly: "Many people do it the same way.  If you do not do that way, you will be very foolish."  It is so easy to fall into the pattern of this evil world, which may not be a big sin, but not proper for a Christian.  I should have thought of this Bible verse at that moment when I made the foolish decision: "But among you there must not be any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people." (Eph. 5:3)  

I am so thankful to our Savior Jesus Christ saves me and protect me.

I am so thankful that He gives me a spiritual lady pastor friend to listen to me and pray for me.

This is the core of the "holy club" of John Wesley. We have to restore this "holy club", and help one another to live a holy life and glorify Jesus, and witness to the non-Christians.

How to invest

Good things happened in August and September - the success of the Olympic Games and the astronauts in China.  But more sad things happened - five funerals of good people and one was a Godly young lady, two typhoons which caused so much damages, the tainted milk which damages so many lives of little children, the "world's economy tsunami".  

People try their best to make money, even in an improper way.  On the other hand, the whole world is worrying for their investment of their money and the whole world's economy situation. 

Here are some suggestions: invest in "life building ministries" :

• l A missionary couple candidate in Philippines has been waiting for two years to come to Cambodia because they are still raising fund
• l Six young people in Cambodia are praying for tuition fee to study in the university.

Itinerary

In the first three weeks of October, I will help in a missionary training camp in Macau as resident advisor.  Though I will speak in some sessions, most of the time I sit in the training sessions and enjoy. It is a time for work, but also rest and revision.

In the first two weeks of November, I will lead a medical team to Cambodia.  Now in Hong Kong and Cambodia we are busy in the preparation.  We still in need of two more doctors and nurses.

Memories

In October, "Chung Yang Festival" in the Chinese calendar is the time to go to cemetery to pay respect to the dead.  My father has passed away for three months. Events in everyday life and things in the house sometimes remind me of my father.  Sometimes I feel regretful of not having more time with my father, or talking more with him, or being more gentle and patient with him. 

Sometimes I feel a kind of "emptiness" in the house because now nobody sitting in the rocking chair in the sitting room; and no more words of complaints, reminders and requests ......

Many times, we do not treasure a person or a thing until we have lost them.

Honor your parents, talk to them gently and patiently, and find time to be with them when they are still healthy.  Also treasure your spouse, children, brothers and sisters, friends and colleagues......

Yesterday's influence, Today's meanings, Tomorrow's reunion.

Let us live a glorious life for Our Savior and Lord.

Polly