eeting with World Team Mission representatives regarding possible future cooperation.
-Visiting one of the hundred of squatters camps on the outskirts of Manila. The filth and poverty of these places are unbelievable. IN supports a number of children from the camp I went to, providing food and education. If you want to sponsor one of these kids for about $30.00 a month, let me know and I can connect you with IN.
-Discussing the possible cooperation with U.S. business people in creating labor intensive business in the Philippines, that would give work to the squatters. The Philippines is rich in labor and raw materials. The U.S. is rich in capitol and know-how. We also spoke of securing microloans for Filipino entrepreneurs. If you are interested in anything like this, let me know.
- Unfortunately, another highlight during this time was the visitation of a violent intestinal ailment, which lasted the next 14 days -- the rest of the trip.
Thailand
It was with conflicting emotions that I entered Thailand. Clean air and streets were welcomed with relief -- love of Thai food was translated into disappointment as all I could eat, due to illness, was rice cakes and bananas.
I was met in Bangkok by Greg Beech, a pastor friend from Australia, and a worship team form his church. We conducted seminars on the transforming power of grace, workshops on related subjects, and preached in various churches.
In Chaing Mai, in Northern Thailand, we repeated the Grace Transformations seminar for 100 Theological students and local pastors. We had to rent the hall for the seminar and pay for the food for all the participants. It was a good use of our funds, as we were able to impart this Grace message to immerging leaders in a country where only 3% are Christians.
Malaysia
Our final week was spent in Kuala Lumpur. We conducted seminars and workshops, which were attended mostly by students. The Gospel of Grace was recieved with joy and legalism lost some of its hold -- pray for the pastors, as it is very difficult for them to imagine how it would be possible to accomplish anything in their churches, if everyone is free.
Interpreters were used for most of our meetings, but on one occasion I was able to 'pull out all the stops' as I spoke to a group of educated Chinese who understood English. I've enclosed a tape of that talk. I hope you enjoy it.
San Diego
I arrived home on July 3rd, exhausted from travel, non-stop speaking, and intestinal trauma. Looking back on the trip, I can tell that I was at the right place, doing the right thing everywhere that I went. I felt and continue to feel that we are very much in the middle of God's leading for our family. Thank you for helping me bring the good news to the poor in Southeast Asia.
Prayer requests:
- That the gatekeepers of churches and nations will open their doors and allow good news to reach the poor.
- That travel would be efficient and non-eventful.
- That my family will prosper in my absence
- That the need for funds will not limit the ministry.
- That when I am home, work on my current project - a book on grace - will continue with ease.
When I'm not on the road, I'll be working on my book and playing with my kids. Thank you for helping in this work and for enabling me to take the good news to the poor.
Peace and all good,
Ken
Southeast Asia
June 12 through July4, 2001
The Philippines
-- Stepping out of the aircraft into Manila, was like stepping into a steam bath, 100 degrees and 98% humidity. It is a Third World city of 17 million. The poorest people in America live better than the middle class of Manila. The poor Manila live in cardboard hovels, on dirt floors - or just out on the streets. The air of Manila is a toxic mix of diesel exhaust and burning garbage. The garbage is piled up on sidewalks and then periodically set on fire. It is reminiscent of the Wild West in many ways. Every bank has 4 armed guards at the door. Most restaurants have armed guards. Many ordinary citizens openly carry firearms.
I was met by Nestor Flores, the director of International Needs, Philippines. IN has offices in several countries around the world. Their ministries include evangelism, church planting, education/training in trades, and a variety of mercy outreaches. I slept that first night in the IN office.
The next morning I met the women who come to the headquarters to learn sewing as a trade. One of these women brought her daughter, Shelia. Shelia is 8 years old and appears to have two noses. The second nose, protruding from her right cheek, is actually the right frontal lobe of her brain. Shelia has no sinus cavity bones, so her brain simply settled under the skin of her cheek. A relatively simple operation will correct this problem. The surgeon will perform the surgery gratis, they only need money for the operating theater. I was able to give some cash to help with this need.
Later that day, I flew to Mindanao, the southern island. I worked for several days in the area where the Abus Sayyaf rebels were kidnapping and beheading missionaries. People constantly asked if I was afraid to be there.
Highlights of this time include:
- Conducting a 'healing service' and having to pray for the 200 who came forward on my own because no one wanted to help me pray.
- Being taken into the hills of Prayer Mountain and preaching and praying for 7 hours.
- Teaching a leadership seminar for 25 young church planters, focusing primarily on servant leadership (quite the contrast to their experience of leaders, whether political or religious being autocratic bosses).
- Preaching the Gospel to a Muslim village and offering to pray for their sick -- most seemed bored by what I said, but one woman with scoliosis came forward to be prayed for. The Holy Spirit moved on her and she began to weep, shake, and straighten up. After that, everyone lined up to receive prayer. Most had active TB.
- Preaching on Sunday, at 4 church services in 4 different towns. Some of the church planters from the leadership seminar followed along - I took this as a good sign that they were interested in what God was doing through me.
- Discussing the possibility of teaching a two week course at the Asia Pacific Theological Seminary, located north of Manila.
- Preaching the Grace of God, as a tropical storm blew through, knocked out the lights, and left me standing in the dark. At the end of the sermon, I left time for questions. The first question that arose out of the darkness was, "This church teaches that if we don't tithe God will curse us. What do you think?" Always ready with a tactful reply, I answered, "This church then teaches what Paul refers to as doctrines of demons." I wondered at the time if that was, in fact, the smartest answer I could have given, considering the vulnerable position I was in -- standing alone, in the darkness, of the very church that 'preached the doctrine of demons'. As it turned out, it appeared that the Spirit was able to work through my bluntness and a great debate ensued with what sounded like total participation. At the end, the pastor's wife said that if grace sets us free, then she's ready for it.