(recent prayer letter received from a BBFI CAN missionary serving in South Asia)

Life and ministry in (our country) rarely move in straight lines. The past three months have brought both obstacles and breakthroughs, but in every circumstance God continues to prove Himself faithful.

Mission work here comes with more than preaching and teaching. Increasingly, it means paperwork and regulations. Over the past two years, new government requirements for churches have created an uphill battle to stay in the country. Because of this, many missionaries have lost their visas and have been forced to return home. Right now we are in the middle of re-registering our church trust with the authorities. It’s slow, complicated, and at times frustrating, but it’s also absolutely essential to be able to stay in (our country). Please pray with us that this process moves forward smoothly, so we can extend our visas in January without complications.

As if navigating all of this governmental red tape wasn’t enough, (our city) was battered by heavy rains this monsoon season. Within minutes city streets turned into rivers, and city blocks into lakes. Our property was not spared from damage; fallen trees, backed up sewage in our yard, damaged appliances, electrical failures, and worst of all our car was stranded in the floodwaters. Thankfully, after two weeks in the shop our car is back to working condition, and the damage to our property has mostly been repaired.

Amid the challenges, God has given us many reasons to rejoice. In July, our three-day Vacation Bible School overflowed with excitement with more than 250 children and nearly 150 volunteers taking part. In August, we took 40 of our taekwondo students to the beach, giving them not only a day of fun but also another glimpse of the love of Christ and the joy of Christian fellowship. In September, our Bible Institute resumed classes after the summer break, and enrollment is higher than ever. Lastly, both our Manna Centers continue to serve meals and share the gospel with the most needy in their communities.

Over the last quarter, perhaps the most encouraging sign of all has been our Sunday morning services. Week after week, more people gather to worship. So many, in fact, that our building can’t hold them all. We’ve changed our service schedule to accommodate more people. We’ve also renovated the auditorium and added retractable windows in preparation to add outdoor seating. However we still need to work on proper flooring, shade, and sound so everyone can hear the Word from just outside the auditorium. It’s a good problem to have.

Just when we were beginning to feel like it was too much to bear, God sent us encouragement through a friend. Last week, Pastor Gary Wilson from High Street Church came with suitcases full of gifts for our family, but more than that, he helped bring renewed perspective. Together, Gary and I traveled to a remote area to witness the dedication of a new Bible translation into a local tribal language that his church sponsored. Standing there, holding the Word of God in a language that never had it before, was a moment we won’t forget. For me personally it was also a reminder of why we have chosen to live here. Out of the over 240 million people in (our country), less than 1 percent have a personal relationship with Christ. The need remains vast The task remains urgent. The mission remains unfinished.

Your prayers, your generosity, your partnership, these are not small things to us. They are the reason we can keep going when the government makes things harder, and when the rains wear us down. Because of your support, we can also move boldly when the gospel opens doors we never thought possible.

With all our hearts, thank you.