Today was just an ordinary Sunday. I was up early about 6:00 a.m. (5:00 a.m. old time) and had quiet time with the Lord and prayed for many things including the Bhutanese refugees I work with.   AT 8:15 a.m., I went to worship at my church. The sermon on the obedience of Abraham was compelling and convicting. After church I had to make copies for my presentation on prayer and evangelism at Asian American church, and buy snacks and birthday decoration items for a special day at Bhutanese/Nepalese church at 1:00 p.m.  I was very excited that the Bhutanese wanted to celebrate communion (the first since they started their church) so it was fun buying the grape juice for them and thinking of them taking their first communion together. 

About 2:00 p.m. I started teaching on prayer and evangelism.  My day seemed quite ordinary still.  Suddenly, Pastor Brad, left the room as I was about to finish what I had to say, so I just added a personal testimony of the effect of prayer on evangelism from my recent trip to New Zealand.  When Pastor Brad returned, he said that the Bhutanese/Nepalese church asked him to show them how to have communion but, he did something extra.  He asked if any of the group were ready to turn away from worshipping Hindu idols and turn to Jesus Christ.   Seven people stood up!

After church, I made a hospital visit to pray for a Bhutanese lady who is very ill. Then, I went to take two young Bhutanese children shopping for school clothes because school starts tomorrow for them.  On the way, I received a phone call from one of the church leaders asking if I could drive him to the same apartment complex where I was meeting the family for shopping.  It did not work out that he could go right then, so I just went shopping, and then later I picked him up and brought him to the apartments for his “important meeting”. 

I had no idea what kind of meeting he was talking about.  Later, he told me that this family wanted to receive Christ.  That truly was an important meeting because he wanted to talk to them and make sure that they knew the decision they were making.

As the church leader spoke I was forced to sit and pray because I did not understand the language.   But, because I was being still before the Lord, He impressed upon me to ask the family and the couple that also came to receive Christ if they experienced anything when they prayed for salvation. 

One man laughed.  He said that he had a dream about me and I was pushing him in a swing (I used to love to do that with my children and grandchildren), and I pushed him way up to heaven.   Today, his family needed to return a sewing machine they had purchased but the man told his wife, “no we must go to church today because of the dream I had”.  So, they put aside their plans to return the non- functioning sewing machine in order to come to church.  The church leader just “happened” to decide on Saturday night late to have communion today.  Pastor Brad just “happened” to be the one to teach him how to have communion, and Pastor Brad just “happened” to ask the question if anyone was ready to receive Christ.    The man just “happened” to put aside his agenda and come to church.  Something just “happened” to compel him to stand up with the rest and say “I want to follow Jesus”. I just “happened” to be there tonight and see the man and his entire family and another couple bow their heads and pray to have eternal life.

God still amazes me at how He chooses to answer prayers.  I was praying for Bhutanese people along with many others, the sister of one of the ladies that received Christ tonight had been praying for her sister (and family) and God answered in an amazing way! 

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

I quit my job on Dec. 12th to serve refugees coming to Houston Texas. My plan was to live on savings, a small government retirement check and a small early SS retirement check.  I have to admit it was fearful being out of the boat on the water, especially in a bad economy.  But God has been faithful to meet my every need as He moved on hearts to give either monthly support for me or money for refugee needs.  I did not talk about my needs, but God knew my “trudging” through doubt and insecurity.  He knew my “wilderness experience” as many thought I must be crazy to give up a job in such a bad economy. But, His timing is never our timing and His ways are not our ways.

God always blesses obedience and the ministry has been so blessed. Volunteers have stepped forward to assist with clothing, food, gift cards, playing with the children, hauling furniture to them, teaching ESL, etc.  They have all “heard the call” as well and have been a blessing.  The kindness shown to these new arrivals to America has opened a door for the Gospel, has helped in their cultural adjustment, has helped in times of depression or despair, and it has been a witness of Jesus’ love for all people of all religious backgrounds.  

Let me encourage you today that if you feel like you are trudging through a wilderness and that God has abandoned you, He has not.  You see His name is Immanuel (God with you).  He hears your prayers, He can bless the work of your hand, and He knows your circumstances (trudging).   He cares deeply about you,  He loves you, and He has been with you and will be with you.

Psalm 23 is one of my favorites:

vs. 1 “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall NOT want” Is He your Shepherd? Are you trusting Him to hear and answer your prayers? Is there anything blocking your prayer, any unforgiveness or secret sin?

vs. 4″Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me.  Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me”   The “valley of the shadow of death” means the darkest valley.  If you are in the darkest valley of your life right now, He is with you.  He will not abandon you.  A Good Shepherd never abandons the sheep.  Will you trust Him, trust His love for you?

If you are reading this, and do not have a personal relationship with the Good Shepherd, I would love to discuss that with you.

Blessings

Margie

But C did not give in because he  is determined to stay, and pray for revival in America.  Then, one day, he plans to go back to the Himalayans to tell the people there the Good News.  In his words, “many people go to the valleys, but few climb the mountains to bring the Good News”.    Today I found out why C has the burden that God has given him. 

In his words, C was much like Paul.  C beat up Christians because he thought they were weak.  Cs ancestors were monks and practiced Buddhism.  But, C did not like Buddhism, so he did not follow his ancestors and become a monk.  When Bhutan, began the ethnic cleansing of Nepalese speaking people, C was forced to flee to Nepal,  and he found himself in a refugee camp.

Life in the camp was hard and there were many gangs.  The gangs would torture him and beat up on him.  He did not want to be a part of the gangs, but did not know how to break free.  

An evangelist came to Nepal, and in a vision he saw C.  The evangelist knew he had to tell C the Good News, but he was afraid to approach C directly.  So, he went to C’s aunt and told her about the vision and asked her to speak to C and ask if he could visit.   C initially did not want to speak to the man, but C was desperate to be free of the gangs and torture.  So, C invited the evangelist in. 

The evangelist told C that he had been diagnosed with cancer and everyone had given up on him.  The doctors told the family to prepare for his death.  A nurse was dressing a wound on his body and told the evangelist about the One who could heal him if only he would confess the Name with his mouth and believe in his heart.  The evangelist was desperate so he did as the nurse instructed.   In a few months, the evangelist was cancer free.  

C listened to the story and wondered if this same Person, The Way, the Truth and the Life, could give him a new heart instead of the hard one he had, and deliver him from the gangs that tortured him.  So, in tears, C prayed and asked Jesus to forgive his sin.  C knew from that moment that something had changed in him.  He was able to break free from the gangs, and after a few months training, C began starting churches in Nepal.  

C knows what is it to get a new heart and a new spirit so C wants to tell others here in America, but most specifically in the region of the Himalyans.  

Please pray for C and his family to be able to adjust to life here, to have jobs to meet their needs, and to have many opportunities to share the reason for their hope, joy and peace.

Though we laborers have not been building a house of the Lord in Jerusalem, we have been allowing the Holy Spirit to build a house for the Lord in the hearts of the Bhutanese/Nepalese refugees. 

The greatest human need is love and no one can fill us with love and allow us to love another culture like Jesus.  “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (payment) for our sins.  beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another”. 1 John 4: 10-11 NKJV

There are no words to express the gratitude in my heart to those of you who have prayed, spoken words of encouragment, given sacrificially,  and physically helped the Bhutanese refugees.  Your prayers and acts of kindness have moved the hearts of the refugees and opened a door for the Message.  

Because you have given, prayed and served, many rerfugees are asking for Bible stories and interest in these has increased.   A Bhutanese/Nepalese  church was born three weeks ago because a local church allowed us to have a room to worship in and attendance is growing. 

Donations poured in so rapidly that a second warehouse had to be rented.  Already, four new families have received supplemental food, furniture, household items, toys for the children, and linens. Existing families have received supplemental clothing, food, and bicycles.  It is such a pleasure to see joy on their faces.  They, like most refugees, have suffered much 

 These Bhutanese have experienced cruelty that we cannot understand.  H was walking down the street in Bhutan at age 16, and he was arrested because the govenment was arresting males.   H spent 15 months in prison eating only rice (sometimes with maggots), sleeping on a concrete floor in the cold, and being forced to buid walls for the government.    

B worked for the government of Bhutan. He was imprisoned when he protested how the Bhutanese/Nepalese were being treated. 

A widow lost her husband when he was taken by the Nepalese government to fight in battle. He never returned to the refugee camp.  She is raising three sons.

Another man has a broken back from the beatings he endured in prison.  

All have spent from 17-18 years (depending on their current age) in a refugee camp consisting of houses  made of bamboo  with no electricity or running water.  Their meal consisted of the same five items each day.  

Our government brought them here legally and gave them work permits.  I am sure that when the process to bring them to the States began, jobs were more plentiful than they are now.  We, the church, will need to commit to pray for them and love them through these desperate times until they know the Lover of their soul and are anchored in Him.

February 14th, a day when American express their love to each other, is coming soon.  I will most probably be suffering with jet lag, so I wanted to write something to you and thank you for all you have done while I am coherent  .

Thank you from the depths of my heart for what you are doing to advance the Kingdom of God.

Margie

My full name means something like daisy, meadow, and water fall.  I love all of those things, but it is just not as enchanting as the name Moses.  My mind then went back to the sermon and I felt sad that I did not have a name that meant something special.

Today, I met with my Christian brother from Northern India.  He (not knowing my thought yesterday) said “Margie, do you know why the Bhutanese/Nepalese call you ‘mom’ ?”  ”No”, I said, but I had wondered about it. Was it my age? Gray hair? Secretly I hoped it was because they saw me as a “mom,” my favorite role.  My friend said it is because your name, MARGIE, means “mom.”  No way, I thought.  How could that be?  He said ma (pronounced mah) and hyphen ji (pronounced gee) means respected mother in Nepalese.  

Why is that important?  God has given me much favor with these refugees. Most of them are Hindus and I understand that in Nepal they were taught to hate Christians.  God put supernatural love in my heart for them and I love being called “mom.” But, I was deeply disturbed that they had needs that were not being met.

They arrived in America from living in a  refugee camp for eighteen years.  They fled ethnic cleansing in their homeland, Bhutan, and arrived in Nepal only to find they were not welcome there either.  They had no electricity or running water and their diet consisted of the same five items — for eighteen years! 

Their clothing upon arrvial was native Indian/Nepali and their shoes were sandals or flip flops.  That was fine until the weather got colder.  As they began to ask for help (i.e. warm blankets, clothing, sport shoes etc.),  God’s people gave and gave generously.  

When the mission department at Kingsland Baptist in Katy heard about the refugees, they purchased a huge sack of rice for them (that is the most important ingredient in their diet).  Later, when hurricane Ike hit, and the refugees were starting fires from tree limbs in order to cook, Kingsland purchased barbecue grills and charcoal.  

Individuals from Life Church, Asian American Church, Second Baptist, and First Baptist Katy have also given of their time and resources to help these refugees adapt to a new life in America.  Simple things that we take for granted, like setting a thermostat, are all new to them.  I took one lady shopping recently and she purchased a pair of earrings. She had been wanting some but had no idea how to purchase them.

All of the acts of love have helped to open a door for His message and Jim Morisey has been faithfully starting Bible Storying groups in the apartments where they live.  Yesterday I learned that many of the young adult refugees are ready to convert because they have found the freedom to do so in America.  Praise the Lord! He is ALWAYS at work.

From my heart, thank you for all  you have done to serve Him. 

Love you,
Margie  (mahgee) 

Pray | 1. Please pray that God give the refugees ears to hear and hearts to respond. 2. They are hard working people, here in this country legally, and they need employment.  Pray that they will be successful in their search for jobs and be able to care for their families.  3.  Pray that they will know the love of God and allow Him to heal their hurts.  

Matthew 25:37-41  “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the the least of these My brethern, you did it to Me.’“

Learn | Visit the Bhutanese Refugees website to learn more about these gentle people.