Air Force Academy Prep School... In ya bid nis!

Andy got off last week to the Air Force Academy Prep School (AFAPS) Basic Military Training located in Colorado Springs, CO by God's grace. We got a call 5 days before he was scheduled to leave saying he had yet to pass his physical as he had high protein in his urine. We flushed him good and got a passsing test 24 hrs b4 he was scheduled to leave. We went and got his things by faith that everything would work out and the Lord blessed as we took him to the airport and sent him to begin his life in the big world.

Did you know that the AF Academy is one of the top 5 academic schools in the US? Sweet...

We have been connecting via the net to many parents with their kids in the school and what a blessing to find out so many are Christians. The Lord has his people in special places for his purposes for sure. Andy has written us 4 letters to date... he loves to write and from what we are gleaning he is doing well. Please pray for him as his world has been turned upside down for a season. He has 2.5 weeks of BMT then 2 a day football practices start... His 1st game is Aug 25th. He was in decent shape b4 he left but he said he lost 10# already and his arms are ripped from doing so many pushups. LOL...We love it yet we miss him... PTL! We ask your prayers as our family is dynamic is changing... it is a good thing. Sandy has cleaned his room out already and Mary is so happy not to have to share a bathroom with her nasty brother.

Ok go to run... headed to Panama next week. Pray for us as we go minister to the Acuna Indians off the Pacific Coast side. They live in the islands off the coast... this should be a real experience.

Daylight's Burning... he comes sooner than we all think. love ya Jesus!

No excuses!

I was reading some blogs today and got some fired up reading bout missions. I thought about our work and how God is allowing us to live a dream ministering in the nations of the world. I just sat reflecting and such a peace and joy from heaven started to fill my soul knowing this is what we all should be doing with our lives... reaching out to others. We are all on a mission... to see how many people we can bring to heaven with us. This is the only thing we will leave this earth with... the souls of men. May the Lord give us more grace to do more.

This picture is of my daughter Mary and partner in the gospel Johnny Purpera. Mary is 16 now as she celebrated her birthday in Paris. She has such a heart for the nations and yes I watch over her hello. Johnny Purpera recently was in Sri Lanka ministering with us... I mean he was getting it done @ 71. He and his side kick Terry Landry invested their vacation time and now JP's retirement days working in the nations. They have been to SL 3 times and trecked in Nepal. What an example of servitude for Christ... How refreshing for people like this sacrificing, giving and going. May we all make intentional decisions to reach out to others on the mission we have all been given to accomplish in this short time span we call life.

A Billion People in India alone...

India has over a billion people in population now and will soon pass China in growth... so many people, so many lost people. How will we reach them?

I got an email from a friend that had an encounter with a Hindu worshipper from India. Here is some of his note and my response. Let me know what you think..

His note...

I attended a training session in Arizona in early June. There was a guy there from India. I was not sure of his nationality but I had a strong urge to speak with him and discuss his beliefs. I could not quite get over the hurdle but he saw me praying each day over my food and he approached me. We had several discussions about our faiths. He was a Hindu. My question is, are the Hindu or the Budists the big threat to Christinanity in the area you serve? This guy had such a kind spirit I could not imagine violence. I left him with this thought concerning the state of the world today, where Jesus is freedom reigns.

My response...

Sri Lanka is a Buddhist nation and India is Hindu, China is Buddhist, Indonesia is Muslin, USA is Chritian, etc... We have found that whatever the predominant religion of the country, they are the persecutor no matter the religion. The blessing is people in general no matter the religion, i.e. “Christians” claim their religion no matter their lifestyle.
Most Muslims we know are not jihad extremists Muslims as most Hindus and Buddhist… most are moderate in their “faith” and are said worshipper in name only.
I have met some devout Hindu worshippers… like strict vegetarians and goes to the temple daily to worship. As we personally know devout Muslims that pray 3 times a day and fast during Ramadan… Buddhist that go to the temple to reach their kharma in anticipation of reaching a state of eternal peace. Catholicism and Judaism that draws people into religion but miss the mark. Most people clain the religion they are born into... sad to say I did too but oh when I met Jesus. Oh when I asked him if he was real and could he change my life. Oh how I Love Jesus!

Why? Thank you for asking… Jesus brings life and a personal relationship. Jesus is alive and not a statue or inert being in our mind.

How to minister to these people? Love man.. love them, serve them, enjoy their life as a friend. Jesus made friends everywhere he went and then he met their needs… sometimes this make take time but sometime it is instant. The best thing we can do is be kind and respectful, this will open doors into people’s hearts for you to share your life and your relationship with Jesus.