Well home at last after one month away. As I flew out of Auckland for Hawkes Bay I was amazed once again with the beauty of our land, just as I had been as I flew out of Napier on 5 September. I looked across the Hauraki Gulf and saw the many Islands and identified Ponui Island where the Lord opened my heart and enabled me to repent of my sin and confess Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord coming up 38 years ago. It was a poignant moment for me to see the place of my birth in Christ as I reflected on the commitment of many Christians that I have met over the last month.
It is very comfortable to be at home, to enjoy all the blessings of this land of abundance that we live in. As I thought about this, I thought about heaven. Nothing will ever compare to the beauty and glory that is stored up for us in the future. We can hold on to the things of this life too firmly. Whether we live in a land of green beauty or the arid conditions of Zambia as the dry season cranks up and the earth cries out for rain - the challenge is the same - only what is done for Jesus will last! Storing up treasure in heaven must be our chief end, seeking the glory of God’s name.
I cannot begin to tell you the personal challenges that have been on my heart as God has exposed me to servants of Christ that are putting everything on the line in their service of Jesus. The call of the gospel is so urgent in this needy world. To minister the love of Christ is what every one of us is to do. Not everyone is called or gifted to be a full time missionary or pastor, but every one of us is called to represent God, to live more for Him and less for self.
So does mission end as I return home? No way - it continues and intensifies. Jesus is coming back and we have a mission to see people saved and growing to be like Him. I would love you to come on a team next year and be exposed to God working in other places - it changes your perspective of life here and now!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Singapore Photos
Donald & Soon Yong in the Singapore Flyer
Dinner with the elders family & Soon Yong and Aileen
Samuel posing for the camera
Singapore & Home
I come near to the end of one month away from family and church friends - but as I think one month is nothing compared to missionaries that have gone before or even missionaries I have meet in these last week’s who have dedicated their lives to the work of the gospel around the world.
My time here in Singapore has been wonderful (despite some ongoing stomach issues). The Fishermen of Christ Fellowship is quite a large church with a Mandarin congregation and an English congregation. I had the joy of teaching the English church on Sunday. That evening I went to dinner with one of the elders and his family as well as with Soon Yong & Aileen. It was a precious time to speak of church ministry life and to encourage these people in their work and the process of change that they are walking through. This year their long serving Senior Pastor was promoted to glory and the church faces significant challenges as it navigates towards future ministry and work.
Soon Yong & Aileen have been wonderful hosts and I am so encouraged by their work here and what God is doing through them as a family. They have two boys, Nathan 8 years and Samuel 20 months - Samuel has been especially happy to have another man around the home.
I trust that I have been able to encourage them as a family - it is a very necessary thing for people in pastoral ministry to have others that come alongside at times where you can each share the issues of pastoral life. It can be a lonely place, a place of discouragement and challenge. People who understand the pressures of such life are able to be a major blessing. The ability to bounce ideas around or seek advice and counsel is very important and our time together has been mutually beneficial!
Well thank you for your prayers - I am on the flight tomorrow and look forward to being home Wednesday afternoon - how ever will I communicate all that the Lord has been teaching me and the challenges of ministry in Zambia and indeed the world!!?
My time here in Singapore has been wonderful (despite some ongoing stomach issues). The Fishermen of Christ Fellowship is quite a large church with a Mandarin congregation and an English congregation. I had the joy of teaching the English church on Sunday. That evening I went to dinner with one of the elders and his family as well as with Soon Yong & Aileen. It was a precious time to speak of church ministry life and to encourage these people in their work and the process of change that they are walking through. This year their long serving Senior Pastor was promoted to glory and the church faces significant challenges as it navigates towards future ministry and work.
Soon Yong & Aileen have been wonderful hosts and I am so encouraged by their work here and what God is doing through them as a family. They have two boys, Nathan 8 years and Samuel 20 months - Samuel has been especially happy to have another man around the home.
I trust that I have been able to encourage them as a family - it is a very necessary thing for people in pastoral ministry to have others that come alongside at times where you can each share the issues of pastoral life. It can be a lonely place, a place of discouragement and challenge. People who understand the pressures of such life are able to be a major blessing. The ability to bounce ideas around or seek advice and counsel is very important and our time together has been mutually beneficial!
Well thank you for your prayers - I am on the flight tomorrow and look forward to being home Wednesday afternoon - how ever will I communicate all that the Lord has been teaching me and the challenges of ministry in Zambia and indeed the world!!?
Saturday, October 1, 2011
More Pics
Tania & Alan Pyatt with Melanie (left). Melanie is a young women in traiining and heading to a remote area, She is a gifted linguist who will be working on lesson developemnt/translation and discipleship with women.
Entry to NTM sight with coconut trees in background
Anyone for a dog dinner?
Manado, Markets & Ministry
Greetings from a hot humid Manado. I have just returned from the local market where we purchased a number of food items including all sorts of fantastic tropical fruits. We managed to avoid purchasing any dog meat, bats, rats or cats - all good local fare!!
My time here has been a real blessing as I have learned about the ministry to the tribal areas here in Indonesia. With a population of 240 million the needs are endless! New Tribes Mission has a very well established system of training and operating in this land. Amazingly there are around 90 missionary families operating here, often in very remote areas and in difficult circumstances. The training ministry here is focused on training local missionaries who sometimes work alongside the western team members with a view to being able to continue the work in the years ahead. Others go directly in teams to tribal places with a focus on learning the local dialect and then beginning teaching from a chronological sequence of Biblical history.
The Pyatt’s are so at home here and are doing a wonderful work in training, with Simon having supervision responsibility over what is going on in remote areas which requires him to travel around quite frequently. Annie home schools the children and they are well equipped with computers and internet to make the most of the online capacity. Last night we enjoyed a movie night in the carport and about 40 people came to enjoy the night with much laughing at the later scenes in Toy World 2.
The previous evening I had the opportunity to address the whole student body of around 50 plus staff families. They wanted to hear about Zambia - there are many similarities to village living, but also many differences in such a tropical country. What a blessing to hear of the places these people come from, the huge needs and the heart for the gospel. Interestingly many students come and in their first year are converted! The training goes over 4 years, is very deliberate and is excellent in preparation for ministry and translation work.
I have come to appreciate this ministry so much more being able to visit and see it firsthand. It provides much encouragement about what we are supporting in Zambia and ideas for future work. I head to Singapore in a few hours so will update you from my time with Soon - Yong.
My time here has been a real blessing as I have learned about the ministry to the tribal areas here in Indonesia. With a population of 240 million the needs are endless! New Tribes Mission has a very well established system of training and operating in this land. Amazingly there are around 90 missionary families operating here, often in very remote areas and in difficult circumstances. The training ministry here is focused on training local missionaries who sometimes work alongside the western team members with a view to being able to continue the work in the years ahead. Others go directly in teams to tribal places with a focus on learning the local dialect and then beginning teaching from a chronological sequence of Biblical history.
The Pyatt’s are so at home here and are doing a wonderful work in training, with Simon having supervision responsibility over what is going on in remote areas which requires him to travel around quite frequently. Annie home schools the children and they are well equipped with computers and internet to make the most of the online capacity. Last night we enjoyed a movie night in the carport and about 40 people came to enjoy the night with much laughing at the later scenes in Toy World 2.
The previous evening I had the opportunity to address the whole student body of around 50 plus staff families. They wanted to hear about Zambia - there are many similarities to village living, but also many differences in such a tropical country. What a blessing to hear of the places these people come from, the huge needs and the heart for the gospel. Interestingly many students come and in their first year are converted! The training goes over 4 years, is very deliberate and is excellent in preparation for ministry and translation work.
I have come to appreciate this ministry so much more being able to visit and see it firsthand. It provides much encouragement about what we are supporting in Zambia and ideas for future work. I head to Singapore in a few hours so will update you from my time with Soon - Yong.
Manado, Markets & Ministry
Greetings from a hot humid Manado. I have just returned from the local market where we purchased a number of food items including all sorts of fantastic tropical fruits. We managed to avoid purchasing any dog meat, bats, rats or cats - all good local fare!!
My time here has been a real blessing as I have learned about the ministry to the tribal areas here in Indonesia. With a population of 240 million the needs are endless! New Tribes Mission has a very well established system of training and operating in this land. Amazingly there are around 90 missionary families operating here, often in very remote areas and in difficult circumstances. The training ministry here is focused on training local missionaries who sometimes work alongside the western team members with a view to being able to continue the work in the years ahead. Others go directly in teams to tribal places with a focus on learning the local dialect and then beginning teaching from a chronological sequence of Biblical history.
The Pyatt’s are so at home here and are doing a wonderful work in training, with Simon having supervision responsibility over what is going on in remote areas which requires him to travel around quite frequently. Annie home schools the children and they are well equipped with computers and internet to make the most of the online capacity. Last night we enjoyed a movie night in the carport and about 40 people came to enjoy the night with much laughing at the later scenes in Toy World 2.
The previous evening I had the opportunity to address the whole student body of around 50 plus staff families. They wanted to hear about Zambia - there are many similarities to village living, but also many differences in such a tropical country. What a blessing to hear of the places these people come from, the huge needs and the heart for the gospel. Interestingly many students come and in their first year are converted! The training goes over 4 years, is very deliberate and is excellent in preparation for ministry and translation work.
I have come to appreciate this ministry so much more being able to visit and see it firsthand. It provides much encouragement about what we are supporting in Zambia and ideas for future work. I head to Singapore in a few hours so will update you from my time with Soon - Yong.
My time here has been a real blessing as I have learned about the ministry to the tribal areas here in Indonesia. With a population of 240 million the needs are endless! New Tribes Mission has a very well established system of training and operating in this land. Amazingly there are around 90 missionary families operating here, often in very remote areas and in difficult circumstances. The training ministry here is focused on training local missionaries who sometimes work alongside the western team members with a view to being able to continue the work in the years ahead. Others go directly in teams to tribal places with a focus on learning the local dialect and then beginning teaching from a chronological sequence of Biblical history.
The Pyatt’s are so at home here and are doing a wonderful work in training, with Simon having supervision responsibility over what is going on in remote areas which requires him to travel around quite frequently. Annie home schools the children and they are well equipped with computers and internet to make the most of the online capacity. Last night we enjoyed a movie night in the carport and about 40 people came to enjoy the night with much laughing at the later scenes in Toy World 2.
The previous evening I had the opportunity to address the whole student body of around 50 plus staff families. They wanted to hear about Zambia - there are many similarities to village living, but also many differences in such a tropical country. What a blessing to hear of the places these people come from, the huge needs and the heart for the gospel. Interestingly many students come and in their first year are converted! The training goes over 4 years, is very deliberate and is excellent in preparation for ministry and translation work.
I have come to appreciate this ministry so much more being able to visit and see it firsthand. It provides much encouragement about what we are supporting in Zambia and ideas for future work. I head to Singapore in a few hours so will update you from my time with Soon - Yong.
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