Part of the work: Adrielle

A passage that has stood out to me recently was Isaiah 42:5-8. It's incredible that the God who created everything and has dominion over all of it, allows me to be a a part of His work in spreading the Good News to the ends of the earth. He could definitely do it all on His own if He wanted, but He chooses to let us be a part of it so that He gets all the glory. 

I love the image of Him holding my hand. I know that He is always with me and will never leave or forsake me. He doesn't just send us out and say, "Good luck!" He sticks with us & guides us though every step. that is so encouraging!

-Adrielle

NT365 participant, Asia Pacific Rim

Utilizing the gifts

During my current semester deployment, I have been able to see & experience many aspects of the organization we are serving with. One really cool thing I've noticed is how they find a way to use everyone's gifts & talents. Anyone who has a heart to serve & obey our Father can be used in a way that utilizes the gifts they have been given.

Please pray for my field supervisors to continue to abide deeply in their relationship with the Lord.

Pray for spiritual fruit in their lives as they walk in obedience with the Father.

-Grace

NT365 participant, Asia Pacific Rim

Changes in normal life: Camille

Ministry has looked quite different during Ramadan. During the day, hardly anyone will be in the restaurants or shops. As you walk along the street, many places are closed. It's hard to do life as normal during the day.

Part of our ministry is following up with people that we've met, continuing to develop relationships. But that is so much harder during this time. The colleges are out of session & its just harder to spend time with people. No one is looking to hang out in the local coffee shop.

Where we live has more of a "night culture" anyway... and this is on another level during Ramadan as that's when they are "breaking their fast"... it's almost a party atmosphere. 

Pray for missionaries in our city. 

Pray for divine conversations during this days of Ramadan as many seem more open to spitirual things.

-Camille

NT365 participant, Asia Pacific Rim

God is good: Camille

The Lord has been growing my love for the city where I am & it's people. He has helped me be more faithful in praying for the city. He has helped me seek Him in prayer more & abide in Him through prayer. An ongoing prayer request of mine has been my prayer life... that is would be stronger. God is answering that prayer.

He's also been reminding me to praise His name. I have been filled with more joy lately because of praying and meditating through worship music that is full of praising Jesus. 

God is so good & may be be magnified & lifted high! Praise God for His word and the gift it is to praise Him, know Him, and have a relationship with Him!

-Camille
NT365 participant, Asia Pacific Rim

Breaking the Fast: Cambree

Being in this Muslim-majority country during Ramadan has been an experience. I was shocked to go out during the first day & find the whole city looking like a ghost town. Everyone was either working or sleeping to pass the time. At night thought... the party starts! Shops start opening around 3PM. We walk around & smell a billion different types of food all around us. There are huge buckets of drinks, lots of barbeque, fruit, and lots of interesting looking meat things.

Around 5PM, everyone starts ordering food & carrying it around with them until 6:30... then it's time for breaking fast... everyone eats & it's like the happiness is restored to the city. Everyone is smiling & yelling & talking... amazing to watch!

At the end of Ramadan is the Hari Raya celebration. We're looking forward to that. We've been invited to celebrate with one of our friends & her family.

Please pray for us as we spend time with our friend's family. 

Pray for opportunities to share spiritual truths during this time while they are seeking spiritual insight.

-Cambree

NT365 participant, Asia Pacific Rim 

Endurance for Cambree

My personal time with the Lord lately has left me with one word in mind: endurance. It seems like every scripture I read talks about making it through hard time and for this I am so grateful. This season has been tough but the Lord has been so kind to teach me how to remain steadfast through it all.

One particular verse has stayed with me: Hebrews 12:2. 

My first thought was "Okay... keep your eyes on Jesus!" My second thought was "hmmmm... for the joy that lay before Him..." I have thought about this a lot. 

What was the joy laid before Him? 

What was the thing that got Jesus through the hard times & gave Him endurance?  

I truly, truly believe that WE are the joy that lay before Him. It is no secret that Jesus came to Earth to save us, but this verse puts it in a whole new perspective! Thinking about knowing us personally & saving us brought Jesus enough joy to make it through the worst death in the world. He just loves us so much. This is so sweet and encouraging to my heart. If Jesus can endure hard things for me, surely I can for Him, right??!!

I am determined to fix my eyes on Jesus and not on whatever trial I am facing. I will focus on the joy of being able to share His name with the people here... That is definitely worth every hard moment. And if I have any strength to serve, or any strength to ensure, it is from the strength that God provides. May He be glorified in everything. (I Peter 4:11)

-Cambree

NT365 participant, Asia Pacific Rim

Month of Fasting

As you may know, during this month, close to 25% of the world population has come together for a time of fasting called Ramadan. This is a fast all Muslims are required to participate in, lasting the entire month of March. Starting at sunrise & going til sunset, Muslims will not drink or eat anything... this includes water. 

I recently had the opportunity to "brea fast" with one of my friends who celebrates this time. We went to the Ramadan Bazaar, a large area with dozens of food trucks. Everyone gets their food & finds a place to sit where they can break fast with their friends & family. As we were looking for a place to sit, we noticed it was about to rain. this led to our friend bringing us right outside the mosque. As we walked through the gate, we quickly doned a headscarf & sat down to prepare to break fast. Being right by the mosque provided an amazing way to experience the culture & religion of the people we are living among during this semester.

Pray for our friends as they participate in this celebration. 

Pray for eyes & hearts to be opened that only Jesus is the true Bread of Life.

-Grace

NT365 participant, Asia Pacific Rim

Friendships in ministry: Jules & Em

Our ministry is focused on partnering with local churches and university ministry. We are praying for friendships with unbelievers that will lead to their salvation! We have been blessed with an apartment that is a great place for hosting & inviting people in. We're hoping that we can become closer with a lot of the students. We are also so thankful for our whole team here. We have already received so much wisdom & encouragement from them! We are also so grateful to be here together and the Lord has been truly evident in our friendship. 

Continued prayers for the relationships we're building and the local churches we're serving would be so appreciated.

-Jules & Em

He is good & He is working: Julia

God has been teaching me patience over this past month. The country I am living in has strong Buddhist & Taoist beliefs. People are reserved & it takes time to build relationships. I struggled with this our first few weeks in country. We were meeting new people & not growing close as quickly as I hoped. 

I thought I was failing. God was not failing, in fact, He is always working. Regardless of what I counted as success. 

Through my quiet times, God has reminded me that He is good & He is working in people's hearts. I surrendered my definition of success to God. 

I decided to jump in where I saw God working... and wouldn't you know?? We have met people ready to hear the Gospel! Whether it's walking down the street, seeing a regular worker at a tea shop or youth at church. We have been so blessed to begin building relationships where people are open to the Gospel. As we continue to steadily build out friendships, I pray for continued patience and an ear to hear God's voice.

-Julia