Hans and Micah in Uganda

The following story is from the Jore Family Blog called:  “Under the Mango Tree”.  Click here to view other posts.

Hans Tanner and Micah Berger, recent AFLBS graduates, have been with us since June 22nd. They are here as short-term assistants for a year to help out with the work and gain practical experience in missions. Their partnership in the work has been a great encouragement and I have really been refreshed by their fellowship.

They have been dividing their time between Jinja and the village. While in the village, they are immersed in village life as they live alongside the locals. They have been learning the local language, agriculture, and culture while building relationships. They also are involved in the Butagaya class and have been mentoring the Ugandan teacher of the class. While in town, they have been assisting me with teaching the Jinja class and building relationships with the students, as well as getting caught up on personal correspondence, and giving Rhoda and I the chance to go out on dates by baby sitting the kids.

They've even found the time to make our family a few delicious meals, build the kids a tree fort and step in as the boys' science teacher (thanks, Micah!). The kids have really loved having two "uncles" around. Hannah tells each of them at least 10 times a day, "I love you SO much!" We're blessed to have them around!

The Jore Family

Unreached People Groups in India

by Rev. Luther Dasari

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am very happy whenever I hear about the news from our pastors working among unreached groups.  Recently I too have participated in this work and encouraged our workers to go forward.  We are having good results in the Pileru area.  Each worker has been working among many villages in addition to their own congregations.

I have an opportunity to work with them for 10 days.  The door for Gospel is opened in this area  and we see are seeing good fruit in this ministry for unreached.  We did street preaching (see picture) and visited some Hindu houses who invited us.

Please continue to pray for this ministry for unreached people groups.

The Kingdom Belongs to Such as These

Here is October’s Missions Devotional written by Lyle Mattson:

“Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:13-14

I haven’t taught Sunday School full time for a couple of years. For some reason, after morning services in late August, I asked the Sunday School Leader if she needed any help. She said, “Yes, as a matter of fact, we need one more teacher.” I confidently told her to sign me up. She looked surprised and said, “Aren’t you going to ask which class—it’s second graders—4 boys.” Still confident, I replied that I was certified at all ages after 4 of my own. 

I have had them for 2 Sundays now—or should I say they have had me for 2 Sundays. 4 boys—all high octane—all loving life—all not too willing to sit down for more then 30 seconds at a time. Did I tell you that we’re going through the 10 Commandments. It dawned on me after the first lesson, that they probably didn’t have a plugged in knowledge as to the meaning of the term commandment—so I decided to make the lesson more basic. Last Sunday, I came from the aspect that we all live under laws and that these laws of nature, as we call them, are laws that we must, willingly or not, live by. I held up an eraser and asked the question, “What happens when I drop the eraser?” “Duh, it falls,” was the reply. (Second graders have that ability to make you feel so smart.) My next question was equally obvious, “What if you drop the eraser?” They took turns and wouldn’t you know it, every time the eraser hit the floor—until it started hitting the boy next in line. 

At that point, I asked them if they wanted to go outside. There had been a fierce wind storm 6 weeks earlier that had dropped several 40 foot poplar trees on the church property—I wanted to use them to illustrate the law of gravity. As we stepped out, the first thing they noticed was the swings. “Let’s swing!” all four called out in unison. They were on the swings in a moment, swinging with full
contentment—with the law of gravity bringing them routinely back to the pusher (me). After 5 minutes on the swings, we went back to the room and attacked the lesson on Moses bringing the Commandments down the mountain. What do these characters learn during that ½ hour class Sunday morning? I’m not sure; but to be certain, I am learning—my goal is to follow God’s leading—to bring them to Jesus and not to hinder that pathway. I come with a lesson plan every Sunday. I realize that with that plan, I need a pair of listening ears for if, as Jesus says, the kingdom
belongs to such as these, I need to listen as much as I teach.

News from the Coyles-October

Hello! We hope this finds you doing well and enjoying the beauty of autumn. We pray you are encouraged today as you seek the Lord and His strength (1 Chronicles 16:11). This verse from Colossians has been a blessing to me (Monica) lately and I hope that it is to you, too!

Col. 1:28-29, "He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

In Jesus' Love,
Andy & Monica, Moriah, Isaiah & Josiah

Editor’s note:  You can download the Coyle’s October newsletter here to see a list of their prayer requests.  You can also visit their blog here.

Thoughts on Eternity

Dear friends,
We've really enjoyed getting to visit with many friends and making new ones as we have traveled over these last few months sharing about the ministry in Mexico.  The two young girls whose mother recently died continue to be doing well for which we are so grateful to God.   This past week we were in North Dakota visiting several churches and hearing about all the changes in some of the cities in the western part of the state because of the oil rush.  We heard about the traffic congestion and lots of big trucks on the roads.  And then as we were heading back to Valley City on the highway between Jamestown and Minot  . . . all of a sudden we came upon a van on the side of the road that just burst into flames as we slowed down hard to a stop.  It couldn't have been more than 30 seconds before we drove up that there was a terrible head-on collision.  It was a desparately helpless feeling that Barb, Megan and I had along with a number of others who continued to stop as several men tried to get the unconscious driver in the burning van out to no avail.   The other minivan in the accident was badly damaged but the dear elderly lady in the passenger seat was amazingly alive.  I opened the door and held her hand while it rained lightly; and talked to her about the Prince of Peace and her family until First Responders arrived.  I don't believe her husband survived.

 
It's hard not to think about eternity and how, in the blink of an eye, our destinies are sealed and we either meet Christ or face a Christ-less eternity.  It was rather sobering to think of how close we ourselves came to being in the accident.  We're so grateful for God's travel mercies to us today and we are so thank for all those who continue to pray for us and our safety even as we travel during this time of deputation; so grateful for so many who have helped us over the years to take the life-giving Word of God to people in Mexico so they can face death with confidence and hope because of a Savior who conquered sin, death and the devil.   We continue to be prayerfully planning on going back to Mexico by next September and we would greatly appreciate your prayers for Mexico and her leaders as they battle the violence there.  Please continue to pray for our church in Jerez, that the Spirit of God would glorify His name during this time and cause them to grow in faith and unity in Christ.  And please pray with us for the families of the two who died today in the terrible accident and for God's healing of the one survivor; that their hearts would be comforted at the cross.

Todd and Barb Schierkolk
Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico

Family-A Gift from God

In the last year you have heard a lot about two precious babies with very difficult names (Altieres and Thavilidy). They came to the Miriam home, not because of many congenital health problems (premature, fetal alcohol syndrome, heart murmur) but because their mother’s drinking kept her from meeting even their most basic needs. The fact is they arrived barely alive.

From the time they arrived the twins won the hearts of everyone who met them, fist because of their zeal; with almost no strength, they held on and never gave up. They fought for the simplest things, like rolling over, sitting up and learning to walk. Though the babies had a slow start they have grown, developed and shown that they are bright, creative little ones. They are also joyful, loving babies, whose smiles and laughter captures every heart. It is easy to see why they brought joy to the hearts, not just of the adults that work with them but of every other child that came to the Miriam Home! These little ones remind the other children of their little brothers and sisters and gave them a real feeling of home.

One of our goals for Altieres and Thavilidy has been to see them in a godly family, who would be able to provide the special healthcare needs they have, and much more, meet their emotional and spiritual needs so that they can grow up to be the man and woman of God they are meant to be. For quite a time this goal was frustrated by the fact that their mother would not release them to be adopted, but did not make the life changes needed to allow the children to return to her (specifically, to stop drinking). The juvenile judge felt he couldn’t permanently remove them from their mother against her will without giving her one more chance and in May of this year he decided that the children’s health was strong enough that they should be returned to their mother to see if she could and would care for them. The attempt lasted less than a month. During this time the children (now nearly two years old) spent the day outside in a single crib (because there was no safe place in the house or yard for them to play), and at night slept on a mattress on the floor.

Read the exciting new for these beautiful twins here as well as read the rest of Jonni’s newsletter.