Battle Log

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Providence on Display in Redcliffe

In Psalm 37:23, we are told that the steps of a righteous / good man are ordered by the Lord. Today, I saw a very practical outworking of that biblical truth; the Lord’s providence was clearly displayed in Redcliffe.

We arrived a little earlier than usual this morning, and after having a time of fellowship we set up our literature table and began our outreach. Before too long, we had people taking tracts and stopping to chat about the Lord Jesus.

The first person I spoke to this morning was a man who identified himself as a deist. He believed that God existed, but that we can discover God on our own and without the special revelation of God’s Word. He also told me that he didn’t like Christians, since all the Christians he knew were hypocrites. This objection of hypocrisy is a common claim, so I spent a little time addressing it. I stressed to this man that the standard we need to test everything by is not what people do, but rather by the Bible. If someone says they are a Christian, but don’t follow the example of the Lord Jesus, then we have grounds to question if they are really a Christian or not.

This line of reasoning seemed to strike a note with him, so he asked me to explain more about how someone actually becomes a Christian (I was more than happy to do so!). We chatted about how all of us don’t follow God’s standards, so we all need a saviour. The man told me that if everyone just loved each other, then the world would be a better place. This gave me a perfect opening to talk about personal sin. Using the command of Jesus to love one another in John 15:17, I asked if this man had always loved people in the way that Christ commanded. He admitted he hadn’t. I then asked, if he had loved God perfectly throughout his life; again, he admitted he hadn’t. I was then able to explain to him that none of us follow God’s commands, but Jesus loves sinners. This man listened as I shared about the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. He also listened attentively as I shared with him the command of God to repent and believe in Jesus. At the end of our conversation, he shook my hand, said he had much to think about, then headed off down the street. 

I went back to handing out tracts after this, but I noticed Col was engaged in a discussion with a Muslim man who worked at the kebab shop next to where we were evangelising. I listened into the conversation, which by now was about the veracity of the Scripture. The Muslim man believed that the Bible had been corrupted, and that only the Quran was correct. When I heard this I was reminded of an apologetic booklet I had placed in my bag, it was written to address such claims. At this stage I joined the conversation; I greeted the Muslim man and began chatting to him. I have spent time studying Islam, so I really enjoy talking to Muslims. This man was friendly, but was using the common arguments against Christianity. I addressed his claims about the corruption of the Bible, then I offered him the booklet as a gift. He very graciously received the gift and thanked me for being prepared to talk to him. Col and I were also able to share the gospel with this friendly Muslim worker. After our chat, he went back to the kebab shop, and we went back to witnessing.

Since it was quite a hot day, I thought it would be wise to take a break and go buy a cold drink. This is where I saw God’s Providence on display. I walked passed the kebab shop, to a little cafe which sells a Scottish drink I really like. I went to purchase it, but they said they couldn’t accept my card. So, I placed the drink back in the fridge, and walked down to a bakery to purchase a drink from them. Upon arrival at the bakery, I noticed a line of people out the door. I wouldn’t have time to get a drink from there, so I started to head back to the outreach. As I walked back, I decided just to buy a drink from the kebab shop, even though it wasn’t the type of drink I wanted, it was hot, so I needed something to cool me down.

When I walked into the kebab shop, the Muslim man I had spoken to earlier greeted me. He then had to rush off to do something. I took my drink from the fridge, then went to the counter to pay. A lady was standing at the counter, and when I put my drink down she said, “I’m glad you are here; perhaps you can help me in a debate. Myself and the other worker have been debating about if the Bible is true or not, and if Muhammad is mentioned in the Bible.” This was not the conversation I was expecting!

Since there were no other customers in the shop, I was able to explain the gospel throughly to her. I also happened to have a booklet in my bag that addressed the question of if Muhammad is mentioned in the Bible. This whole experience reminded me that the Lord orders our steps, as I had no intention of buying a drink from that shop, yet, the Lord wanted me to be there to proclaim Christ to the worker behind the counter. God’s Providence is a wonderful thing!

By now our outreach was beginning to draw to a close. I had a brief conversation with a pagan who said she was nothingness and that God indwells here. She wasn’t overly friendly towards us. I was also able to hand out a number of tracts. It was also during this time that we saw children come and take copies of a free Bible colouring book that we were giving away. We rejoice that God’s Word keeps spreading!

The team from Operation 513 and OAC Ministries did a great job today. Please pray for all those we encountered.

SDG!

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It was good to be back at the Northlands and Eastgate bus stops, on Thursday afternoon, after a few weeks away due to the Myanmar mission.  Although, having gotten used to being able to have long conversations, I struggled to readjusting to the fact the buses would come and suddenly end conversations!  In spite of this, many good Gospel conversations were had - including some good follow ups.  I even had an opportunity to follow up with some high school kids I had apparently had a long Gospel conversation with at the Sparks in the Park outreach way back in February.

In Myanmar, you often get taxi or bus drivers stopping, and wanting a Gospel tract from you.  Well, I was very surprised to have a bus driver at Northlands move his bus up, and open his doors wanting to know what I was giving away, and indicating that he wanted one.  It was my pleasure to step aboard and hand him one, with a brief explanation of what it was.  He looked very interested, so I decided to caution him: “please read it, but not while you are driving”.  He laughed!

On Friday it was wonderful to be able to unfurl our new banner, outside Christchurch hospital, that read: “Thinking of suppressing the TRUTH about abortion?  Please chat with us, we care about you both.”  It was very encouraging to have a team of seven involved with this morning Gospel outreach.  And we had some wonderful opportunities to chat.  One young man, who had previously been involved with the JWs, heard the Gospel of grace.  He gladly received a Life is Precious Gospel tract, and wanted to know about the churches we were involved with (three were represented).  He was encouraged to get in touch, and told he would be welcome.  After he had left, one of the team reported that he had tears in his eyes!  Oh that those tears would be in understanding of the serious nature of sin, and the amazing grace of Jesus.  Praying that he indeed gets in touch.

In the afternoon, there was a climate change protest in the central city.  But before that got started, Andy had a wonderful opportunity to open air preach with the support of the heckling of the Wizard (pictured).  There was a good crowd around who got to hear the exchange, and also the good news of Jesus!

The protest provided a very busy afternoon of constant Gospel conversations for a team of four.  I was very encouraged to have a number of follow up conversations too.  After a long conversation with two guys who didn’t know each other but were wearing the same t-shirt - I offered a follow up tract to one of them, and I was very encouraged to hear him say, “no I’ve already got one - someone gave it to me at Eastgate”!  I also had a wonderful conversation with two girls where I was able to use all of the analogies I had learned on the Myanmar mission.  They both clearly understood the Gospel, but when I challenged them on what was stopping them from trusting in Jesus to pay for their sin, they sadly answered with: “because I want to live my life my way”!  This led to a wonderful follow up discussion about that, and they also asked me about what my thoughts were on homosexuality.  They never denied the truth I was speaking - they knowingly rejected it.  Don’t be like them!  The pleasures of sin in this life are not worth an eternity of just punishment in hell.  Trust in Christ. 

PS, the odd selfie is of me and one of our hecklers Adam.  He likes to try to unsettle you by getting into your personal space.  I again had the opportunity to share the law and the Gospel with him - and to tell him I care for him, and that I'm praying for him!  
 

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I’m back in Christchurch already.  The Myanmar mission was so busy and felt like it went so fast, that my brain can barely sequence the events of the trip!  And with re-adjusting my timezone, I’ve found these first few days quite difficult, esp. as I re-establish my routines!

I arrived home Saturday night, and managed to have a really good sleep, enabling me to get back on the streets in Christchurch on Sunday afternoon.

And my very first conversation was a follow up, on my way to Cashel Mall, with a guy I’ve talked to more than once before.  He had a friend with him, and they were heading to a bus stop where they were meeting more friends.  I was invited along, and had a short opportunity to talk with the whole group - before the bus came.

I finally made it to Cashel Mall, and I was very surprised to see someone, I’ve never met before, offer me a million dollar Gospel tract!  It turns out he was there with one of the newer outreach guys that I have recently met.  They had come to join me, which was very encouraging.

But having just been in Yangon, where there were scores of people willing to stop and talk about the things of God, I was surprised to remember how much fewer people there are in Christchurch, and how much more resistant they are to stop and chat.  Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of resistance in Yangon - but Christchurch is another level!  I got into a conversation with one man who was staring at the buildings about him - it turns out he hadn’t been in Christchurch since before the earthquakes and he couldn’t believe how different things are now.  But as soon as I tried to swing the conversation from the natural to the spiritual, he immediately switched off with “I used to be a Christian”, and he purposely walked away from me before putting his bag down so he could continue staring at the new Christchurch skyline.

I’m pretty sure I had at least one full Gospel conversation on Sunday, but on Tuesday I went to Riccarton mall for an earlier than usual outreach due to forecast rain - and for only the second time since starting with Operation 513 nearly a year ago, I went through a whole two hour outreach without being able to have a single Gospel conversation!  I got quite a few started, but people just weren’t interested.  I was able to hand out some tracts.  But other than that, I take solace in the fact that the outreach was successful in the sense that God was glorified in my being able to obey Him and go!

Wednesday (today), I was in Cathedral Square and outside Ara - again earlier than usual due to forecast rain.

In Cathedral Square I was able to set up right in front of the broken Cathedral (pictured), and I was able to get conversations started with various people, but I was finding it difficult to get people engaged enough for me to be able to share the Gospel.  I ended up switching to “walk up”, and managed to get a good conversation going with a lady from Melbourne.

Ara ended up being a great location for outreach.  I was there at lunch time, and there were a lot more people around - and they were willing to talk!  I had a wonderful Gospel opportunity with two young trainee chefs.  I was able to use the new flip chart from the Myanmar mission.  Both young men ended up saying they were already trusting in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins (which was interesting, as some things they had mentioned did not line up with this).  After discussing the cost of following Christ with them more, I left them with tracts, and a request for them to get in touch if they had further questions.

After this, I had a conversation with a group of six (pictured walking away after the chat).  I was nervous about approaching such a large group of young people.  But my opening line, seemed to work out, and we were very quickly discussing the important questions of life.  Sadly, they had to go back to class before I could get to the Gospel.  All but one (the atheist) took a tract.

One thing I’ve learned from Myanmar is how to slow down to take the time to labour with people so they can understand the Gospel.  Sadly, as much as I’ve wanted to do this since I’ve returned, people just don’t seem to be as interested here to be able to do that.  Praying that God would have mercy on our city and nation, and allow us to have solid Gospel conversations leading to a change of heart.  God, have mercy?
 

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Toowong Village 24/9/2019

This was a day of the test of faith for me. At one point in time, all other members notified me that they could not come on various ad hoc engagement including Johnny who came back just last Saturday that he needed to accompany his wife for an operation this morning. An idea just flashed through my mind if I should still go by myself without a teamwork back up and spiritual coverage by Prayers. But when Johnny texted me just the same question, the Spirit used him to convict me that I should still go despite of circumstance and external factors because it is Jesus promise that Go Make Disciple of all Nations and He will be will us till the end of the world. God's grace was really sufficient for those who love and trust in Him. Before I set off, Johnny sudden called that he could now go with me as the operation of her wife was canceled and has been rescheduled to next Tuesday. So we still can work as a team to serve Him as the light and salt of the world. We went together to my usual spot under the foot path bridge. And God had granted us enough conversations to have almost fully occupied the full 1.5 hours course of our street evangelism session. We all had our chance intermittently so that we could manage to take photo for each other which are recap as follows in sequence of happening.

1) Johnny: An Aussie young man on the bicycle was stopped right away by Johnny as soon as we arrived at the mission spot. It was a very good and fruitful chat. The young man was a fall back Christian but was moved by Johnny to re-commit himself to Christ and promise to go back to church.
2) Hung: Beth, an Aussie Christian old lady who stopped out of courtesy but not for no reason. Our conversation helped her to fully understand that her heavenly citizenship was not gained by any of the merit of her good work but Christ's grace alone. As a result she has regained full assurance of salvation by Christ alone.
3) Hung: Cath-Sandra, an local Aussie claimed herself a spiritual woman but without committing to any faith. She stopped willing to chat and responded positively to the gospel message agreeing every one need salvation including herself. She promised to reassess her position as a sinner and the way to guarantee herself an eternal position by reading the tract in dept. Pray for her decision to turn to Christ from trusting empty spirituality that makes herself feel good only but leading to hell if without Christ.
4) Johnny: A matured young man of Middle East origin stopped to chat with Johnny despite hand holding two heavy shopping bags. He claimed himself as an atheist but found gospel message sensible. Pray for God's follow up work.
5) Hung: Sam, a local Aussie Environmentalist, who initially declined my invitation to chat. But God miraculously stopped him to check out a yellow scooter left on the street. He found interest to chat with me on some social justice issue like those happening in Hong Kong. However, I was able to switch back the conversation to gospel and the need of salvation of all human who are all imperfect with sin to be accountable for. The interruption by Rodeos I shared below added plus points to move Sam to see the oneness of brotherhood in Christ. We chatted for almost 20 to 30 minutes and we parted eventually with him taking a tract home to read. Trust God to keep touching his heart.
6) Hung: Rodeos from Venezuela, on 13 th August, I escorted him to the medical centre on the 3rd level of the Toowong Shopping Centre as soon as I found out he sat by the road side pale in face and short in breath. He came back to thanks me for the 2nd time. He tried to thanks me two weeks ago when I was busy in talking to some one and Kenneth just helped him to catch the bus. So this time, I could not but stopped my conversation with Sam to give him a hug and took an over due photo to leave for each other a fond memory of brother in Christ loving and helping each other.
7) Johnny: He was drawn to check out someone handing out tract near the bus stop 50 metre away from me, but found out it was just tract for promotion of work out. Anyhow, it ended up chatting with a Chinese student who found it hard to accept himself a sinner, not to mention to accept Jesus as his Savior. We anyway believe God must have a special plan for him even though he seems to be beyond redemption at the moment.
8) Hung: Onor a young UQ girl from South Africa who has never heard of Gospel stopped to let me share the full gospel with her. She appeared very positive and receptive and promise to read in detailed the tract and hopefully will turn to Christ in His time.
9) Johnny: He caught up with another Asia looking young guys but encountered very fierce objection to gospel. Nevertheless, God is sovereign and has a plan for this die hard person.

 

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The September 2019 mission to Myanmar is complete!  I am writing this while waiting to board my flight home (and completed it after I arrived safely back to NZ).

The Aussie team had a half day of outreach on Thursday, before heading to the airport.  And the NZ team had a full day of outreach on Thursday, then a half day on Friday, before heading to the airport!

The NZ team were at a shopping center & Judson University - Thursday, and Kan Thar Yar Park on Friday.

But I’m reflecting on the whole mission.  What a whirlwind of tiring activity - but oh so worth it!  A team of 26: 20 from Aussie, 6 from NZ.  6 hours a day of outreach, mainly with a focus on conversations rather tract distribution.  An equal number of local Christian translators were involved.

Here are some stats of how many conversations were had:  One member of the team had 56 conversations over the mission.  If we be conservative, and round that down to 50 per team member: that would be 1300 people reached with Gospel conversations over the period of the mission!

And yet, there are millions of people in Yangon and beyond who are yet to be reached with the Gospel in our generation!  Be encouraged to be a herald of the amazing good news of Jesus - where you are today, but also - are you able to join a future mission?

Reflecting now on some of the conversations from those last few days, here are some highlights:

On Thursday, at Judson University, Andy was able to share with a Botany lecturer.  And separately, I had an opportunity to talk with a Zoology lecturer!

Also, outside the university library, my translator got into a long conversation with a local while I was trying to get a conversation started with two mathematics students in English - which didn’t work out.  But while I was waiting for him, I managed to get into a wonderful conversation with another three students via English.  Their faces went from very friendly to very serious as they understood the nature of sin and the exclusivity of the Gospel of Jesus.

On Friday morning at Kan Thar Yar Park the harvest was very ripe!  My first conversation started by someone approaching me rather than the other way around!  He spoke good English, and so I didn’t require a translator.  The Gospel was clearly explained, and his questions showed that he was understanding it - and yet rejecting it (at this time, anyway).  I had other conversations like this through the morning.

But one conversation ended with a young man understanding the Gospel and stating that he wanted to trust in Christ for the forgiveness of his sin - even after he had considered and counted the cost of doing so.  He is pictured exchanging contact details with my translator.

We praise God for all the opportunities we had to share of His love in Yangon, Myanmar.  We pray for the many Christians we worked with over the two weeks.  We leave the results in God’s hands: that many disciples would be made for his glory!

Funnily enough, one of the best conversations I had was on my final flight home: from Auckland to Christchurch.  God had sovereignly saw fit to sit me next to an older lady who was a Christian, and a warm conversation started very naturally.  We were able to talk about many important theological issues that we disagree on, and yet I was able to encourage her in the area of evangelism.  Before getting on the flight, her brother gave her some money.  She declined it, saying she didn’t need it - but he insisted she take it for someone who did.  And during our conversation she knew exactly who needed the money.  She gave it to me, and said that it was to be used for Bibles in Myanmar.  This was incredibly encouraging for me!  I will make sure the money is used for this very purpose.  As she lives in Christchurch, I hope I see this lady again.

Till the nets are full, or the next mission starts...
 

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We were handing out the "Everything happens for a reason" tract and one lady who took one passed me again and said that her car was the other way. I said that she was meant to get the tract and Everything happens for a reason she agreed with me and laugh.

Today was a day where lots of people were responding positively and many taking tracts. We had a couple of good conversations.

One lady approached the us and was interested in the Bible table.  We asked her if she would like to go through the flip chart. At first she was saying living God's ways would get her to heaven but after going through the flip chart she was agreeing in the message of where we all stand as guilty of breaking God's law's and no work we can do will erase our sins. The good news was shared and this lady was visibly showing gratitude for Jesus. We know only God brings this understanding to anyone. She shared how she taught scripture to children many years ago and she had gone away from the teaching and wants to come back. We encouraged her how much we need to be in His Word as that is how God communicates with us. She said she had in the past studied the Bible with JW's and disagreed with them on the trinity and she believes they are wrong. God has protected her.

She was not seeking Christian fellowship as she has experienced  bad things in the past but we encouraged her that we need to seek out a good teaching church if possible to attend. We gave her a card with contact to a local church we would recommend. We also told her she had blessed us today to be able to talk with her. So it's all up to God how He will care for her as He does for His chosen ones. She took some tracts and was very thankful to be challenged to trust in Jesus for her Eternal salvation.

Another conversation with a man who was receptive has in his later years been involved in help in a country overseas where it is not a rich place but they are happy people who are rich in other ways. We can have too many material possessions and it may not be good for us. We can get spoiled and may not appreciate the blessings we do have as much as we should. Salvation is the greatest blessing and let's pray this man may receive God's gracious gift.

He was taken through the law and agreed that he was guilty. The Gospel was shared and we leave it to God to do a work in his heart. We pray he will be saved and be used by our Lord to share the Gospel with what he does for others.

We have a conference this weekend so will miss our regular outreach this Friday. But we are looking to be better equipped to share the message that 10 out of 10 of us need so desperately.

The good and great news of our saviour Jesus. All glory to God!!!

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  We had quite an eventful afternoon here at Bribie.  It was raining earlier in the day, so we weren’t sure how many people would be at the Bongaree Jetty, but when we arrived, the beach had come alive with people.  A boat club was having an event, drawing quite a crowd, and many families had come to enjoy the warm weather and beautiful water.  It was the busiest we have seen the jetty since Australia Day.  A good few hundred tracts went out, and we had some meaningful conversations.

  One man refused a Gospel tract in January, saying he didn’t believe in God and that “All religions are bad!”  Again today, he refused a tract, but another team member offered him an ‘Are you a good Aussie’ tract, encouraging him to read it and share which parts he disagreed with.  This opened up to a conversation regarding his own beliefs.  He is an evolutionist, atheist, and hardened ex-Catholic.  Although he says he gives his own children freedom to choose what to believe, his early years as a good altar-boy, being forced into an empty religion has made him bitter and skeptical.  His idea of Christianity was based solely on what he saw in the Catholic church as a child, immoral, hypocritical, and greedy.  Because of the inconsistencies he had seen, he refused to accept the Bible as valid or true.  He did stay for a lengthy conversation and took the tract with him when he left.

  A foreign lady came and asked for an English Bible.  She seemed to be a Christian, but was led again through the Gospel, and she took a Bible, Gospel tract, and Christian book.  Another lady asked for a Bible, as did a young man and his friend who seemed very attentive to the Gospel.

  One elderly lady was asked what she thought happened after life.  She said she believed in God, heaven, and a sort of justice, but she firmly rejected the Bible as God’s Word.  The heartbreaking thing was that, although ignorant of the Gospel, Christ’s work, and grace, she was sure she was heaven-bound because she had gone forward at a Billy Graham conference in 1956.  She didn’t want to discuss further, and she did not want a tract.  It was sad to see her misguided, hardened to the Good News, and yet sure she was going to heaven.  Her final words were, “I hope my actions speak louder than words.”  Pray for her lost soul!

  Nearing the end of the afternoon, the owner of one of the boats was engaged in a conversation.  Being a science teacher, he was an evolutionist, firmly opposed to the idea of God and the Bible.  Various objections were raised against the theory, but he would not listen.  He stood firm on his belief that there is no God, and his moral standards were shaky, standing solely on what society decrees as “right.”  He was reluctant to make any concessions, saying that IF there’s a God, and IF on judgment day he stood before Him, he would be totally innocent, having only told little white lies and stolen little things.  He didn’t believe in even a historical Jesus, so his anger was not murder in the heart.  Although the conversation was moving toward the Gospel, he had to hurry off, and he returned his tract.  He was not visually questioning, but we pray that a stone has been put in shoe, and doubts in his mind.  May God bring him to the truth.

  Two young people received tracts and were given the Gospel.  They asked a few questions and seemed very interested.  Then they were open for our team member to pray for them.  It was a very positive discussion.  Please pray that this seed will take root in their lives.

  A major trait we saw in those we encountered today was a skepticism of the Word of God.  Many have turned from belief in God and have embraced evolution as a substitute.  Pray for a revival of the fear of God in this land.

  A pastor from Logan encouraged us in our work and took a few tracts to pass on.  Others also thanked us for what we are doing, and we will continue to share the Gospel and invite other Christians to join us.  All we can do now is pray that God’s Word will bring forth fruit.  Pray for those who heard the Gospel, and for those families who received tracts.  May souls be saved, and God’s name glorified.

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Thursday 19/9/2019 Sunnybank

While many regular team members are still away in Myanmar (due to be back on 20/9/19), we had 5 turning up today at Sunnybank with Andrew and Martin coming at 1pm, Hung and Carol joining them at 2pm and finally Ann came at 3pm. Though a smaller team, but God still portioned many divine appointment opportunities to me and Carol that we worked as a team on the East side. Carol had around 10 and I had 15 chats as recap below which were mostly short but still reflecting God's works in those encounters.

1) Beverley an Aussie old lady possibly of Catholic background who has no assurance. Because she is half deaf that made the communication very difficult but I still managed to explain and correct her understanding.

2) An middle aged man Mr Zheng from Heilongjiang, China黑龍江，張, he obviously has not religion and in a hurry, but God still stopped him long enough to let me finish the core gospel message so that he was made aware he is a sinner though a good man but still need the redemptive grace of Jesus. He promised to read the tract sincerely at home.

3) Julie is a Christian Girl from Taiwan, she reconnected with me and told me she has listened to us to keep attending CCCB Coopers Plains to continue on with her Christian sanctification journey.

4) Ann a Vietnamese Griffith student who has no religion but appeared very receptive to the gospel. I recommend her to look for power to change once God moved her to receive Christ.

5) Johnson , whom we chatted few weeks ago, came along to catch up.

6) Brendan an ABC from Taiwan, who does not speak Chinese yet was patient enough to here the full gospel with good response. He is also a Griffith student so I recommended him as well to get in touch with Power to Change.

7) Kevin an office worker from shanghai China who claimed himself a Buddhist. He was in a hurry but still open for discussion and thought there is a lot of similarity between Buddhism and Christianity which of course is false. Pray that the tract will shed new light on him and we may meet again in future.

8) Mongo a Srilanka lady that have never heard of the Gospel. I was just given enough time to share the core message to her before the bus came.

9) William and Sophie is a Korean couples who are attending CCCB St Lucia. Praise and thanks God they profess pure faith and understanding of salvation.

10) A Hongkonger father and son took the tract and rush away for class leaving me very little time to share. But I did shingle out the need to address sin.

11) Two African Christian boys whom we met before answered my faith diagnosis questions correctly.

12) Noor a Griffith student from Bangladesh, India. She was in a rush but again God stopped her to listen to my full gospel and appeared convinced. Pray for God's unfinished work on her.

13) Loclene , an Australian born Vietnamese boy, he listened the gospel with a solemn face. He promised to consider receiving Christ and will catch up with his Christian friends at Griffith.

14) Jane and Jane both from China, they did not want to stop, but somehow, God stopped them for me and listened initially half heartedly . but at the end turned more receptive. Pray for God's unfinished work on them.

15) A Primary student from China waiting for parents heard the full gospel as a seed sowing move by the Spirit.

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On Monday morning, the team took a much needed rest before splitting into two teams to meet practical and spiritual needs in the slums in the afternoon.  Jason is pictured presenting the Gospel with translation by David Ling.

On Tuesday we moved back to our six hour a day routine in our smaller teams to spread out across Yangon to share the Gospel.  My team was at Yangon University.

We were short a few translators, so I was in search of someone who could speak English that I could share with.  Sure enough, God brought along David.  He was an atheist - which is unusual for Myanmar, so I started by explaining how he knew God exists (see Romans 1:19-20) and then moved into a presentation of the law.  When I made it to the seventh commandment: adultery, I asked him if he had lusted for a woman - he said no.  So I asked him if he had lusted for a man - he said yes.  So he was homosexual.  But I didn’t bat an eyelid and continued with the discussion.  I was able to share the Gospel - which he was resistant to.  I then spent time answering some very good questions that he had.  We parted ways on good terms, shaking hands.

Soon after, a translator was able to join me, and we headed off the the university library, where we were able to have some good Gospel chats in the garden outside.

At lunch time, we headed back to Judson church to meet with the rest of the team, when I had some interesting news from Col.  He said that he had been talking with his translator about where to find a place to buy water when David turned up with a pack of six bottles of water for the whole team!  I’ve got no way of knowing what his motivation was for doing that - but it was very appreciated.  May he come to know Christ.

After lunch, the conversation that stands out was with a teen girl who understood the law and the Gospel, and expressed a desire to trust in Christ.  I explained the cost that would be involved with doing that, including the fact that she would have to let go of Buddhism.  She instantly said she wanted both!  I continued to explain, and it was clear she was understanding me - her eyes became very distant as she contemplated the paradox that the gift would cost her everything!

Today (Wednesday), my team was at the Dagon Centre.  I had a good run of Gospel conversations with people in the morning, but sadly most of them were resistant to the Gospel (at this stage anyway).  The last one was very good in that the couple I was talking to, via my translator Joshua, became very engaged (they initially granted me 5 minutes to share, but the conversation ended up going well into lunch time) and asked some very good questions that I was able to address.

The afternoon was very hot, and the team headed to a nearby amusement park for outreach.

Only half a day of outreach for the Aussie team to go, and a day and a half for the NZ team.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers!  Much appreciated.
 

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Saturday saw my team at Sule park again.  I found a spot with busy foot traffic and started to distribute tracts with the intention of starting as many Gospel conversations as I could with English speakers, as I didn’t have a translator.  My technique worked a treat, and I was quickly in a conversation with a Muslim girl who was on her way to watch a movie and so had the time to talk.  I then had a conversation with another Muslim - this time a man from Egypt.

Soon after that conversation had finished, a translator was able to join me in tract distribution, and we were soon into a long Gospel conversation where most of the time was spent in getting the man to realise that salvation was by faith alone, and not by works.  I really took the time to labour with this man, constantly asking checking questions and tracking back to re-explain.  It was so wonderful to watch understanding of the Gospel come to him.  In the end, he had to leave, but he was very interested in talking further, and so took the contact details of the translator (pictured).

My last conversation of the morning was more pastoral in nature.  It was with a young man who had grown up in a Christian home, but who hadn’t really been able to fully think through everything for himself.  I clearly explained the Gospel to him, and then answered the many questions that he had.  I pointed him to his Bible and the local church to continue to wrestle with his very important questions.

The afternoon started with a wonderful conversation with a lovely lady who seemed genuinely encouraged and challenged by the Gospel.  I then moved into a conversation with four young men who quickly bailed from the conversation after understanding the serious nature of sin via the law - they didn’t stay to hear the good news.  But an elderly man had been listening and so engaged me in conversation via a translator.  He was extremely resistant to the simple message I was giving.  Suddenly, he switched from Burmese into English and was trying to distract himself by saying it was “complicated”.  I wouldn’t let him do it, showing him that the Gospel was clear and simple and he was simply looking for excuses to deny it.  May he submit to the lordship of Christ.

Sunday saw the team spread out to various local churches for fellowship.  Some of the team had the privilege of preaching.  And in the afternoon, we ran kids programs at two orphanages, where we were able to preach the Gospel, sing songs, play games, and bless them with gifts! 
 

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