From:
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 5:10 AM
To:
Subject: Prayer Update 9/30/05 A Test of Focus
Friday, September 30th, 2005
Dear Family
and Friends,
Several
days ago I was talking with a missionary that works in the countryside,
a nine hour drive by 4WD vehicle. He had come into the city to gather
supplies for the next few months of work in a remote town West of Ulaanbaatar.
Relating
some of his recent experiences with the local people, he shared about a
Mongolian man that I will call George. Living in the Mongolian
countryside, this man was just trying to get enough income to meet basic
needs.
A few
months ago, George came to Christ. It was shortly after this decision that
his race horse suddenly started winning championships. He went on to sell
this prized horse for the equivalent of two years worth of income!
Talking
with the missionary about it, George said "The Lord has really
blessed me as a Christian!" It would be hard to disagree, but my
missionary friend was a little concerned. God does sometimes choose to bless
His children with material possessions, but this is not always the case.
It would be
very easy for George to stand on the hillside, looking over his new
flocks of sheep, cattle and horses, and think back on his decision
to trust Christ with the feeling that it was probably the best decision he
ever made.
When God
chooses to bless a Christian in this way, there is the danger that he will
become distracted by the gift, and forget the Giver.
The thing that began as such a blessing can become the very distraction that
leads him away from a close relationship with the Lord.
In the book
of Deuteronomy, God warned the Israelites that there would be a day coming when
they would be experiencing the blessing and enjoyment of the Promised Land, but
unless they were careful to maintain a right focus, they would be turned away
to other gods, and would surely perish. (See Deuteronomy 8)
In some
ways I almost feel like George as I look at the opportunities that God has
opened up before us. Some missionaries in
In
contrast, we are sharing the gospel message with people almost weekly, and
hearing many reports of people coming to Christ. Every few days it seems that
we have the opportunity to counsel and encourage local Christians, or visit
with missionaries.
Finishing
our first month of regular character classes at the
Gathering
several friends in the cafeteria a little later, he asked David to share more
about the Gospel message. He is reading the Bible, and wants to talk further
when they get the chance. Pray for Ogii. He is not
far from the
We are
currently teaching all 250 of the freshmen and sophomore students at MIU, but
others have been asking if they can join the class. Some of the older students
asked if we are going to teach the juniors and seniors in the upcoming
semester.
Just last
week a second World Vision Area Development Project Leader came to ask us if we
could do regular character trainings for her staff. Teaching bi-weekly
character training lessons to 50 law students at one of the most noted law
schools in the nation has further expanded our regular teaching schedule.
Several
churches and Christian groups have also asked if we can begin teaching on
the Commands of Christ and character with a Christian emphasis. While
originally intended for the encouragement of local missionaries, our bi-monthly
Family Nights of Christian teaching and fellowship have expanded to over 40
adults and 25 children.
With so
many things to be busy doing,
it is easy to forget being who
God wants us to be. The account
of Job is a good example of how quickly material things can change,
and one does not have to think very hard to realize how quickly opportunities
and ministry can change.
Returning
from an exciting tour of ministry, Jesus' disciples exclaimed "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us
through thy name." While He rejoiced with them in their
reports, He gently turned the focus back to the more important issue. "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the
spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are
written in heaven." (Luke 10:17-20)
If our joy
is fixed on our relationship with the Lord, then we have a joy that no man can
take from us. When we have open doors and ministry opportunities before us, let
us go forward, but let us never forget that vital relationship that keeps us
strong for the race before us.
Praise
Points:
- Puja and
Erdenee's wedding was a powerful testimony of a dedicated Christian couple
that waited on God's timing and the blessing of their parents for their
courtship and marriage. Puja's parents came to the
Lord last year, and they have had some good discussions with Erdenee's family
in the past few weeks.
- One of
the great joys that I have had in working in
Prayer
Requests:
- In the
process of applying for work permits and visas, we seem to have generated some
misunderstandings with one of the Labor Office staff. Ziyaa
was planning to visit our office for the past couple weeks but has not
been able to come yet. We are actually glad for the opportunity to show her who
we are, and what we are involved in. Pray that we would have a good
meeting with her, and that she would have a clear understanding of our purposes
and activities in
- For the
past several weeks, I have been wanting to move
forward on the Mongolian Bible software project. Up to this point I have not
had much time to work on it. Pray that the Lord would give grace and favor as I
meet with the Mongolian Union Bible Society to discuss copyright and
distribution. I am really hoping that we can have permission to freely
distribute this Bible software in
Pictures:
For David's
birthday, we enjoyed a family hike up a nearby mountain. Here Isaac and Matthew
enjoy some peaches and trail mix on a nice soft rock.
The view
from the top was quite spectacular. Here David, Dad and Rachelle look out over
the city of
The Waller
family poses for a picture with the new couple. Puja is wearing a traditional
Mongolian dell (the white garment), while some of the men wore a cowboy type
hat.
I took this
picture a few minutes ago from the balcony of my apartment. There are many of
new buildings being built in
Mom and the
younger ones have begun school for the year. Today I was invited to be the
special guest instructor for the computer history chapter of their workbook.
A summer day in
Thank
you so much for praying for each of us!
In Christ,
- Adam
P.S.
Thank you
for your prayers for our team last month! We faced a great deluge of unexpected
difficulties and challenges, but the Lord poured out His grace and we are going
strong.
"And
let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint
not." - Galatians 6:9