From Lorena's Newsletter December 10th...
One of the biggest questions we get is, "What do you actually do in Asia, Mozambique, and Ukraine?" Here's a story that illustrates what we do.
“Can you please pray for me?” Pueng asked almost 2 weeks ago. “I have a headache that won’t go away. I’ve had it for a month and the doctors and medications can’t get rid of it. I even got an MRI, but they said it doesn’t show anything wrong.” “Yes, of course” I responded. Pueng continued, “My stomach has been hurting for 3 years. I have a cyst on my right side, but the real problem is my left side. I have been to so many doctors, and they all give different diagnoses! Some of them say I have an infection in my bone. But no one is sure what’s really wrong with me. I have so much pain! I feel hopeless.” Grace, my translator, and I prayed for Pueng. Instantly, her headache went away! She felt God’s peace and hope began to rise up in her. Pueng was a new believer having just accepted Jesus into her heart three days prior.
Grace is on your right and Peung is on your left
I left town that afternoon and just saw her again 3 days ago. Again she asked me, “Can you pray for my stomach? It is still very painful.” We prayed again. This time all her pain went away! “Now I need prayer so I can sleep at night.” We prayed. Today, 3 days later, I saw Pueng again. “How has your sleep been since Friday?” I asked. “Good! I don’t have any more trouble sleeping!” “Wonderful! Thank you Jesus!” I replied. I decided to record Pueng’s testimony and found out that on her right side, she had a cyst. I asked if she could try to find it. She pressed in as deep as she could, but could no longer feel the cyst or any pain! Her right side was also still pain free. Attending the daily morning devotions and afternoon Bible classes, Peung is learning and growing in the Lord with great interest. (Please don't post this story or picture on social media. Thanks)
The three most common questions people ask about our discipleship ministry are 1) What material do you use? 2) How do I get your materials? 3) Are you going back to Mozambique or are you staying in Asia now?
1) What materials do you use? We primarily use the 7 simple discipleship booklets Brian wrote for Africa, teaching the foundations of our faith, marriage, and how to teach/preach Old and New Testament stories. We also use a series of 27 Bible stories produced by Kingdom Wings, which are recorded in many languages and simply illustrated - ideal for illiterates. 2) How do I get your materials? Since many have been asking for these materials written on a simple enough level for new believers to use, we're making them available on our website. We're currently updating some of the booklets, but they will all be on the website soon. 3) Are you going back to Mozambique or are you staying in Asia now? We don't plan to go back to Mozambique, but we are in daily communication with our lead pastors and seminar teachers there. We are living in Asia now because this is where God has clearly directed us to be. We currently have open doors in Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, but are still waiting for the Indonesian government to change the laws for the unvaccinated and length of tourist visas.
Here is what we are now doing to disciple and encourage the Body of Christ. We are editing, translating, and recording Brian's booklets into Thai for the thousands that are now coming to Christ in Thailand. Lorena is leading devotions with Brian's material for the rescued girls at Whispering Willow in Thailand each morning, and teaching them the Bible stories with the Kingdom Wings curriculum 2 afternoons a week. As the Lord opens doors, we accept invitations to speak in churches, Bible schools, evangelism schools, outreaches, children's programs, homegroups, refugees, etc. This is what we're doing now in the Philippines for the month of December, since Whispering Willow is taking a month break and we needed to leave the country for visa purposes. Our old friends and founders of Pastoral Training of Asia have asked us to stay at their base and minister in Dumaguete during this time. Besides teaching and preaching, we like to partner with the Holy Spirit in seeing people healed and delivered, and encouraging/teaching the church members to do the same. We value discipleship with both the Word and power/presence of the Holy Spirit.
To hear more about what is happening in our lives and ministry or how to donate, go to our blog spot at brianandlorena.blogspot.com
If you would like to get more frequent news spurts, short videos, and/or pictures, the easiest way for us to send those is through WhatsApp. It's a free app you can download. I would just need the phone number you attach to it. (If you change phone numbers, they give you the option of keeping your old number.)
Many Blessings,
Lorena (and Brian)
