Exloring Life Eternal

September 11, 2006

"You will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the path, walk in it.'" - Isaiah 30:21

PRAISE:
We rejoice in the very encouraging doctor’s report for the young child of a key tentmaking family in the AP*. They shared their concern with many of their Muslim friends who are also amazed at the care the Christians receive from God.

PETITION:
Please pray for a struggling local believer. He has many family problems but remains firm in his faith.

Pray that the many, many Jesus videos/DVDs and other Christian
literature collected by AP Arabs on holiday in Europe and Malaysia will get through the security check points in their countries and into their homes where hopefully many family members will watch/read the material.

Pray for the re-establishment of friendships after the summer holiday. Pray particularly for a single person who has become an intricate part of a group of seeking Muslims. Pray for wisdom, insight, keen ears and the right words at the right times.

Lift up the single MBB+ living in an apartment on her own for a short period. She has close relationship with many Arab Christian workers and is under their protection as she starts out in the everyday work world.

Pray for God’s comfort and grace for a long-term worker from the AP* as
he goes through some difficult medical treatment for cancer.

TESTIMONY:
Heidi is an expatriate living in one of the most restricted countries of the Arabian Peninsula. She, her husband and their children have lived in this country for about 4 years. They can speak some Arabic – enough to win an endearing smile from the local Muslims who enjoy hearing their precious language spoken by non-natives.

Heidi and the women in the worker group, spend a significant number of hours per week in prayer for their Muslim hosts. They pray for divine appointments – those rare but so special meetings that one just knows could only be orchestrated by God alone.

Just this past summer, when many of the local and expatriate families were out of the country on holiday (to escape the 50 C/123 F summer heat), Heidi was in a shopping center browsing for a blouse for her daughter. As she looked at the options in red, light blue, stripped pink and gentle orange, a woman approached her from the next aisle. This woman was a National Muslim woman. She was fully dressed in a black abaya with a tightly wrapped hijab around her head. She had glasses on and a veil that went from the top of her nose and hung gracefully below her chin. Heidi was guessing that she was middle aged like herself – perhaps a mother of 5 – 7 children, probably the first wife of her husband. In the few seconds that Heidi made her assessment about this mysterious woman who was approaching her, she sent up a quick prayer asking God to give her love and wisdom. The national woman asked Heidi if she would follow her to a secluded part of the large store. Once there, the woman asked directly ‘would you be my friend?’ She followed up her question with a brief explanation that she felt very lonely and wanted a friend that she could share and trust that the things she shared wouldn’t be cast about the extended family far and wide. Heidi met with her many times in the next few weeks. It didn’t take long for the conversation to involve spiritual things – most Muslims are very God conscious. Their conversations out God, life, children, marriage, eternity, sin, joy and sadness soon turned into a Bible study. In a matter of weeks, Heidi’s new friend was ready to begin a new life in Jesus. A few other tentmaking women have become key parts of Heidi’s friend’s life. She enjoys her times with the Christians and finds fulfillment in studying the Bible and subtly sharing the Good News with her children. Praise God for his work in her life! It is the prayers of the Christian church world wide that moves God’s hand to create divine appointments that change the face of eternity.

* AP = Arabian Peninsula
+ MBB = Muslim Backround Believer

<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Praying Thru the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
USA #: 800-376-5876 (Eastern Time)
Encouraging & equipping believers & churches everywhere to pray with a heart filled with the "Seed-of-Laughter" for those at the heart who
know "God-Hears" so that biblical church planting movements will spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond for the Lord's glory.

====
To learn how you can support this & other work in the Middle East,
visit:
http://www.srginc.org

Or write MertH.:
ptap@srginc.org

Or:
PTAP
c/o Strategic Resource Group
P.O. Box 1809
Easton, MD 21601
USA

August 21, 2006

"I asked him to grant me the favor of giving me letters for the governors ... instructing them to let me travel to Judah ... The emporer gave me all that I asked for, because God was with me." - Nehemiah 2:7-8 (TEV)

PRAISE:
Praise the Lord that the MBB worker received his permanent work visa allowing him to return to his country of service legally.

PETITION:
Pray for the Chinese in the Arabian Peninsula. Pray that God would continue to bless this ministry. Pray for those who have had to return home - that God would plant them in towns and cities and neighbourhoods where they can bear fruit, fellowship with other believers and draw other Chinese to Christ.

Pray for those who want to learn Arabic in order to reach out to people here. Praise for a possible teacher in our remote area. Pray that this would work out for those involved and that God would be with them and gift them in languages so that they can become proficient and able to share their faith with those around them.

Pray for the team situation in our country. The tentmakers had a disagreement in June that caused significant disruption to the work of both teams. Pray for God to raise up the right people to stand in the gap to mediate reconciliation.

Pray for the new tentmaking families in the region as they begin their ministry in the region. Pray for families making this big transition from their home countries.

Pray for the missions minded clergy who just moved into his country of service in the AP. God has prepared the way for them as they already have a number of significant National Muslim friends and contacts. Pray for wisdom and their children adapting to yet another new situation.

* AP = Arabian Peninsula
+ MBB = Muslim Backround Believer

<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Praying Thru the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
USA #: 800-376-5876 (Eastern Time)
Encouraging & equipping believers & churches everywhere to pray with a heart filled with the "Seed-of-Laughter" for those at the heart who know "God-Hears" so that biblical church planting movements will spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond for the Lord's glory.

====
To learn how you can support this & other work in the Middle East, visit:
http://www.srginc.org

Or write MertH.:
ptap@srginc.org

Or:
PTAP
c/o Strategic Resource Group
P.O. Box 1809
Easton, MD 21601
USA

Contains a quiver of tools to track commercial and private flights.

http://flightaware.com

This site's goal is a "free, complete, up-to-date and reliable guide" to worldwide travel.

http://wikitravel.org

Be the light of the world ... follow Jesus!

Peace,
Mert

Phi 4:11-13 I am not saying this because I am in any need, for I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in. I know how to be humble, and I know how to prosper. In each and every situation I have learned the secret of being full and of going hungry, of having too much and of having too little. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Dear Ones,

The Lord’s blessings continued as we met with G.’s family and shared in funeral proceedings. On our way home the Lord still blessed, and we began the perhaps most memorable trip that we had ever made- it definitely is one for the record books. Here goes with yet another G.&M. adventures with Jesus!

We ... left for Dullas airport in Washington DC where we had an 8:10 pm flight, the trip went well (uneventful) and we got there after 2 hours.

The check-in counter was not open yet, so we waited for a half an hour, and then checked in with no problems. We watched CNN and saw film of tornados in the center of the USA and soon heard our flight was delayed for an hour. Somehow we knew that things probably weren’t going to go well, but we were eager to see just what the Lord had planned for us.

The plane was not able to make up any of our delay and we reached Paris an hour late and since we had only had had 1 ½ hours to catch the next flight, we knew we were in trouble. But when we reached our bay where the plane by then should have been leaving. We found that it was delayed, a nationwide strike was in effect in France and the passengers had not yet begun to load the plane.

We flew on to DBX where we were surprised to find our luggage, figuring surely that the strike would have messed up the baggage. The time being Tuesday, midnight by then, bed was not calling, it was shouting. We slept for 6 hours then up on Wednesday morning to find out if and when the airline was flying. No one answered the phone at their office, so we were off to the airport to find out. Word was the plane was on the way and we would fly at 12:30. We "lined-up" with the rest in front of one desk at 8:30am ...

Picture the most crowded airport line that you can, now, take away all but one person at the service counter. Now, take away those dividers that make us form lines, and give each person 3-4 buggies PILED with baggage, suitcases, and boxes, to add flavor, give some people windshields for cars (4), add some cue sticks, and add tempers to the crowd and the one ticket agent as well ... and you have a picture of us!

We stood in that mess for 4 hours before we checked through-at 12:30. Surely the struggle was over now, and we passed through passport control to see that our flight had not yet been assigned a gate. After 2 more hours our flight received a gate assignment and we were checked through security, where we waited for another two hours, no drinks available, or bathrooms. After arguing with the guards the passengers were granted bathroom rights, one at a time.

4:30pm we all were herded to the bus and next to the plane we were surprised to see extra plane seats on the tarmac. We loaded the plane and saw several sections of seats had been removed so as to have room to pile more baggage. One passenger at least sat where the steward usually does, the steward squatted in a corner as we took off-that is after another half hour. We had loaded the plane in half an hour, so another hour had passed in the desert heat with no air conditioning and at - 5:30pm we took off.

The trip normally takes 3 hours, and after just over 3 hours, at 11pm local time we landed, not in our desired destination, but in the northern part of the country. Our destination was having a thunderstorm and our plane was too heavy to land safely on wet pavement.

We sat on the plane while rumors flew as to what we would/could do,
“deplane or not,”
“unload baggage or not”,
“the steps to fit our plane (Tajik Air's largest TU 154 – seating 135) had been lost,”
as the landing had been rough, that “we had damaged the plane and we would have to emergency exit”,
“that we could not deplane since we had no visas" -- that was protested since we are still in TJ, ”no, a new law had come in effect since we left...”

I did have opportunities to witness for the Lord, with my seat mates!

We did deplane, by then it was 11:45pm on Wednesday and we were now in an open vault of a room, with seats for most of us, and the promise is a 9:30am flight on Thursday ...

We elected to stay in the airport for the night.

1. Neither one of else felt easy about going to a motel
2. We definitely don't trust the airline to leave when they say they plan to.
3. We did finally manage to switch over to stateside time, just in time to leave-so we're not sleepy.

I was wondering how I was going to deal with the chill of the night, when a friend of ours from the USA appeared. She is trying to travel as well and her flight had been grounded for the night. Unlike us, she had possession of her luggage and made me a loan of a jacket.

I’m sitting here thinking: Remembering our travels of 2 weeks ago and thinking of unknown miracles that surround us. While in the USA I talked to a prayer intercessor of ours, and she told me that she had already put our travels on her church’s prayer line. I'm sure others of you do as well, but she happened to mention it. Then while in DBX I checked email and found friends in country also in prayer for us. Couple that with the information that our crew knew our plane was too heavily loaded to land during a thunderstorm. God is watching over us, ya'll. I can’t help but wonder what would have been, had not prayers been lifted? Bless you for your prayers. Don't ever say or think, “I can't do much, I can just pray”!

Thursday morning dawned clear and beautiful and we find out that all the rooms at the inn had been taken and those there spent the night in a common room on couches trying to sleep.

The flight to the capital only took an half an hour and we landed safely, though with a minor mishap to G. – he was seated behind the pile of baggage at the rear of the plane, and as we landed, a box with a microwave stove fell on his leg, bruising it. Now all we had to do was to get through passport control and retrieve our baggage. Bag after bag was unloaded but ours did not appear. After 2 hours a man came and told us that the rest of the bags were sent to another area. So we walked to the other building and we told to come back after lunch. G. went back after lunch as told and got a run around, “The man is not here yet who has the key; he’s having a late lunch, come back tomorrow.”

G. finally was befriended by a diplomat who also was hunting a lost bag. They joined forces and finally found the man in charge who told them that our luggage was still in the capital-there had not been enough room on the plane. We are not the only ones missing bags, a BUNCH of stuff was checked in and supposedly it’s down there waiting on next week’s flight. Well maybe, we know that some bags were unloaded in the other city during the night, because we saw them go out the door, but that didn’t happen we were told.

I’m trying not to remember the new clothes that replaced my ragged clothes that are in those bags… the Lord IS in control, not the airline, and He will provide.

Our Trip ended at noon on Thursday, G. was back from baggage hunting by 5. Now all we have to do is figure the best way to get to the Mountains.

We have decided since there have been some rainy days with no possibility of travel, that we will go ahead and wait for our luggage this week, and then take the road home, probably on Thursday. Your prayers will be thoroughly appreciated! We’ll be stopping and checking out projects on the way, so prayers for the Lord’s guidance to open hearts will be welcome as well.

Now as I close, I need to refer to the verses that I opened with. I don’t think that we, as Paul was able to, can say that we are content in every situation, but we are much further along the road than we used to be, we are learning, and trusting Him. When I look back on our trip, and I remember the peace that enfolded us throughout it all, I realize that yes, we have learned much! Also, I see how much your prayers have helped us.

Blessings,
G&M

Take part in a getaway for those in ministry.
See it at:
http://www.pastorsretreatnetwork.org/
Free meals, room, and more ... if you'll rest and enjoy life in a laid back sort of way. They want to take care of missionaries!

Here are some links to sites on various types of travel in Europe.
No endorsement is indicated by these or any other link on this blog.

===
U.K. CASTLES & OTHER HISTORIC BUILDINGS:

http://www.historic-uk.com
70+ castles. Search & reservations. Description of amenities.

http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk
180 listsings of restored buildings (some castles) available for those who will cater their own feasts.

http://www.celticcastles.com
45 U.K. castles. Clear descriptions.

http://www.discovernorthernireland.com
Castles & more.

http://www.castles.org/chatelaine
Scottish castles only, but easy to search.

http://www.nationaltrustcottages.co.uk
320 places to stay in the U.K., including 1 castle.

Cheapest castle stay:
http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/hostelpages/233.html
Reserve well in advance. It is a Norman castle with a moat.

Costliest castle stay:
http://www.carnegieclub.co.uk
Lots of activities for those with money to burn.

Castle Cluster tour:
http://www.specialgrouptours.com
Several packages to choose from.

Old saying: A man's home is his castle.
New truth: The Lord is our refuge & strength. (Psalm 46)

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EUROPEAN RIVER TOURS (esp. the Danube):

Highly recommended:
http://www.tauck.com

Others:
http://www.deilmann-cruises.com

http://www.vikingrivers.com

http://www.amadeuswaterways.com

http://www.worldwaterways.com

January was an exciting month in relation to the work in one country, and we are happy to report several praises to you throughout the month of February. Thank the Lord for the safe return of the group of friends who went into this land in January. We hope to share more with you soon about their trip. Pray that the seeds planted will take root in the hearts of people seeking God.

Please be in prayer this week for a group of friends who will be visiting within the next few days. Pray that they will be lights for Jesus and will be effective in sharing about the Hope we have in Him with nationals they meet. Ask the Lord to lead them to those whose hearts have been prepared by the Spirit to not only hear the Word but receive it as well. As follow-up is very important, please pray with us as well that we will have a way to maintain contact with those who make decisions. As always, pray for the Lord's protection of this special group of people as they travel, share and seek to make a difference for the Kingdom.