Missionary-Blogs 8

Photos of the week: Trip to Croatia

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:08:37 -0800

I have just come back from 3 great days in Croatia where we were presenting the Jesus Revolution Groups project. The response has been overwhelming, and it feels like we are walking in prepared deeds! Here are some photos:

With my friend Florian

All the missionaries - representing thousands of people saved!

The hotel where we were staying

Youth Life Student Center (UBC Manila)

Kevin in Manila — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:06:00 -0800

A life-changing book

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan and Heather Murphy) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:35:00 -0800

Every few years I'll come across a book that shakes up the way I look at the world. As a teenager, it was Thoreau's Walden; his thoughts on spirituality and nature became mine. Having fully rejected the Christian faith, More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell forced me to reevaluate the historical accuracy of the Bible. Of course, the Bible is the best book ever written, so I can't leave that one off my list. (Pretty good author there. Maybe you've heard of him? God!) Then in college, Abba's Child by Brennan Manning taught me so much about God's unconditional love for broken people. As a young man, Wild at Heart by John Eldredge showed me what it means to be a man and gave me permission to live dangerously for God.

I think I've come across another book like this--Heaven by Randy Alcorn. I'm going to give you some of my favorite thoughts and quotes from it until you're fully convinced of its awesomeness and you go out and read it.

Idea #1: The idea of paradise when used in reference to heaven is closely reminiscent of the Garden of Eden. Alister McGrath said, "The idea of a walled garden...was the most powerful symbol of paradise available to the human imagination, mingling the images of the beauty of nature with the orderliness of human construction."

This is shocking to me because I never figured that human beings had anything to do with participating in either the Garden of Eden or heaven. But God has allowed us to participate with him in his work on earth, so why wouldn't he also make heaven a place where we contribute as well? Everything we do (on earth or later in heaven) comes from the abilities God gave us, but the result is something that has both our fingerprints on it as well as his. Paradise will be beautiful for its natural beauty and God's children's creativity.

Zach

four_kennys — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:27:00 -0800

On Saturday, our new friend Zach Rowley arrived in Nairobi from a short trip to Kisumu. Zach has been volunteering here in Kenya for the past six weeks. This week he is staying with our family and helping out with the Iftin programs in Eastleigh. We've enjoyed getting to know Zach and hanging out together in the evenings popping corn and watching Christmas movies with the kids.

Today, Zach worked with all three of our morning literacy classes and then, after a trip into Garissa Lodge for lunch, he visited two of the newly formed Iftin women's self help groups. This is a busy week for the girls as they prepare for their final exams on Thursday. Please keep them in prayer as many of the students are balancing family responsibilities, work, and studies. We also hold Zach in our prayers as he makes the most of his last few weeks in Kenya -- he'll be returning to Toronto on December 9th.

Villamor Evangelical Church

Kevin in Manila — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:11:00 -0800

A Daily Drama

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:50:05 -0800

There was a great article about the continuing flood of migrants coming into Greece in last week’s New York Times. Read it HERE – it’s well worth the five minutes!

“Stop the boat! Stop the boat now!” the captain of the Greek Coast Guard patrol vessel yelled over the bullhorn, turning a spotlight on the flimsy dinghy as it chugged toward this island in the Aegean Sea.

As the dinghy sputtered to a halt, a crowd of frightened faces squinted up into the light. Squeezed onto the 6-meter, or 20-foot, vessel were 30 Afghan migrants — men, women, children including babies — and their smugglers: two Turkish boys.

The interception occurred one Saturday night earlier this month. But the migrants, the smugglers and the coast guard officers are protagonists in a daily drama played out in this seven-kilometer-wide strait separating the island of Lesbos from the Turkish coast, one of the narrowest sea crossings between the two countries and a favored route for smuggling.

As I read this short account, I can’t help but picture some of the families that I now know and love – their desperation, their hope, their struggle… a father’s fervent prayers, a mother’s tired eyes, the resilient laughter of children.

There is no sign of the influx ebbing. According to Frontex, 14,000 migrants were intercepted at sea between Greece and Turkey in the first six months of this year, up 47 percent from the 9,500 stopped in the first half of 2008. In contrast, arrivals by undocumented migrants to Italy and Spain, also considered external E.U. border states, dropped by 70 percent.

The needs are overwhelming. More than anything, we need your prayers, as do our refugee friends! Pray for the governments of Greece and Turkey. As Paul reminds us, our struggle is not against men, but against systems and powers of darkness. Pray for our ministry team – for courage, endurance, and grace. Pray for the migrants and refugees – that they might know Hope, Peace, and Love.

Willow Creek International Leadership Summit

Rod — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:36:00 -0800

This past weekend the plan was to attend both days of Willow Creek's International Leadership Summit, at Torre Fuerte Bible Church, in Puebla. The kids, however, had a mini-olympics at their school, so I went (kicking and screaming after a really sweet guilt trip from my wife!). But I was able to go on Saturday, and sat beside friend Toño Muñoz most the time, including a trip to Tony's Tacos for a semita and taco lunch...hmm.

The conference included videoed sessions from Tim Keller and a black preached from Detroit (Harvey I think). Very encouraging...a reminder of the importance of...well, a whole lot of things.

On the way back, in our little 1.0 liter Atos, alone, it was a veritable worship experience, as the sun set over the two volcanoes that stretch out, snow-covered, between Mexico City and Puebla..

Tune in, Davao! Basta LoveLife is Coming!

Kevin in Manila — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:27:00 -0800

Efren Penaflorida is CNN's Hero of the Year!

Kevin in Manila — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:54:00 -0800

Trip

Brock, Heather, and the boys — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:56:00 -0800

Hi,

Just wanted to let you know that Brock and I (and the kids) are in Texas right now on our way to Alabama. We got a call from Brock’s family last night about his Granddad’s heath. He is not doing so well. We really felt like we should push up our Christmas trip and make it a point to be with his family during this time.

Please pray for us as we continue our trip. Also pray for Brock’s family to have the strength that they need in the days to come. We are not positive what our plans will be over the next few days or weeks but we are just going to take it a day at a time.

We are praising the Lord that we were able to wrap up everything down in Mexico within a matter of 12 hours for us to be away for a few weeks. Our co-workers have been very supportive and encouraging during this time. We are truly blessed to be working with such great people. We also praise Him for providing great people like you to pray for us!

Thanks for your prayers and have a great Thanksgiving praising our Lord for all the great things that He has done for us.

-Heather

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Brock, Heather, Tucker, Silas, Ruben, and Annie Hower

www.howerhighlights.blogspot.com

www.caminternational.org