Another Hero...of the Cross

Holding our Rope and Pulling         04.02.2017    A three-times a month publication from Don and Kathy Williams Your Free Methodist Missionaries Serving in Asia Another Hero... ...of the Cross Lumbang, Myanmar...out of a remote mountainous, northwestern village came a beautiful story of redemption for a people loved by God.  Standing in the middle of the muddy road beside the sign pictured to the right, we took one of many pit stops on our way back to Kalay a couple weeks ago.  It was here that PaKep told the following story:  Many years ago a villager was the first to come to know Christ in Lumbang.  After sharing his testimony the village headman said, "If you believe in Jesus we will throw you in the lake."  He went on to say, "You said Jesus died on a cross."  So the headman put the first convert on a cross and threw him into a lake.   The villagers and headman returned the next day expecting to see the Christian dead.  Instead he was still alive.  The village headman said to the Christian, "Your God is alive so we will believe in your Jesus."  On that day most of the village came to Christ.   We learned PaKep's father-in-law was the headmaster at the high school in Lumbang before retiring (building on the hill pictured to the left).  From this village many people became highly educated going on to be respected and influential Christian leaders in Myanmar.  Many graduated with degrees in engineering, education, and are involved in government today.  Over 50 people who grew up in the village now live in the USA.   PaKep's father-in-law wrote a book in the Chin language telling about this event in the village.  It's entitled, "The Hero of the Cross". Riding through the mountains in northern Myanmar reminded us of the many people still sitting in darkness.   The Light and Love of God through Jesus has yet to come to them through modern-day heros of faith. Would you join us in praying for the church planting efforts of the FMC in Myanmar?  Their Church Planting and Development (CPD) budget is woefully lacking funding though there is a clear vision and readiness to plant five churches in each of the next six years.    Please pray the CPD of Myanmar will be fully funded in 2017 with commitments from churches and individuals who have a heart for the lost in Myanmar so the church planting efforts may proceed.  If you want to make a commitment and contribute to Myanmar's CPD please check out the link here:  CPD of Myanmar.  If you just want to learn more about the FMC in Myanmar check out the link here:  FMC in Myanmar. The vastness of the countryside and opportunity in Northern Myanmar Chin State Please be in prayer for PaKep's father-in-law who was admitted to the hospital in Yangon a month ago on the day we began our journey to Hakha.  He still has serious and life-threatening health issues.  Also pray for the family as this situation is taxing their resources already stretched thin. Gratefully, Don and Kathy Your Ms to Asia

The Secret...to Others Seeing Jesus in You

Holding our Rope and Pulling         03.24.2017    A three-times a month publication from Don and Kathy Williams Your Free Methodist Missionaries Serving in Asia The Secret ... ...to Others Seeing Jesus in You Imitate God Doing Everything Filled with Love, Living Life Serving Others, Following Christ's Example. Hakha, Myanmar...parting was such sweet sorrow especially when saying goodbye to 88 year-old LyNawl (pictured to the left). Parting was sweet as we thought about the next time we would see each other.   Our hope was that it would be in Myanmar someday but if not, we look forward to our reunion in heaven. Our cold early morning departure from Hakha had us once again gathered 'round the warm portable hearth at Pakep's childhood home (picture below).  Many leaders came by in the morning to say goodbye with gracious words of appreciation and blessing.  None was more special than the heart rendering one offered by LyNawl.  His words were recorded and are shared here: "Missionary Carson (the first missionary to the Hakha area) gave his life for the Chin people.  Like him - you give your time through many people.  We are very blessed by you.  We pray.  Now you can come.  We can see you.  We feel like this is seeing Jesus Christ.  May the Lord lead you always.  As the children respect and love their parents we Chin people love and respect your works and you. As you see our place and our condition we are very blessed from you.  May God continue to bless you and use you more and more." LyNawl's words echo Ephesians 5:1-2, when he celebrated what he saw in the lives of five missionaries who traveled and ministered in the hometown of Hakha two weeks ago (two of the five pictured below with him).  He saw "imitators of God".  He witnessed lives: filled with love, being offered in service for others, who were following Christ's example. "Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.  Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.  He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God."  Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT) Our prayer for you and the one we would ask you to pray for us is that we would all imitate God, doing everything filled with love, live life serving others, following Christ's example so that we may all hear and experience LyNawl's words, "when I see you I see Jesus". From His dear children - to you, His dear child(ren), Don and Kathy Your Ms to Asia

15th Annual Mission District Conference...of the FMC in Cambodia

Holding our Rope and Pulling         03.19.2017    A three-times a month publication from Don and Kathy Williams Your Free Methodist Missionaries Serving in Asia The 15th Annual Mission District Conference ... ...of the FMC in Cambodia Phnom Penh, Cambodia...Sok Em, was instrumental in 1992 in starting the first FM Church.  He now lives half of the year in Toronto, Canada and the other half in Cambodia continuing to connect and encourage the work he started so many years ago.  He was able to attend and participate in the 15th annual celebration of the FM Church in Cambodia this past week.   What a blessing it was to be able to welcome him back to Cambodia. The highlights of the week for us included the recognition and approval of six Conference Ministerial Candidates (CMCs), fifteen church planters, and honoring and appreciating the partnership between the Cambodian Church and the Hong Kong FMC.  Six Ministerial Candidates The Cambodia FMC Mission District is on it's way to becoming a provisional annual conference next year.  We will return to Cambodia over the coming months to assist the leadership of the conference in the development of their Strategic Plan.  They will identify several initiatives through the process. 12 Church Planters and Pastor 2 Church Planters and Pastor Church Planter and Pastor Please join us in praying for the church in Cambodia.  Pray for the church planters who have a heart to see God's kingdom come and his will done throughout their land.  Be in prayer as well for the Strategic Planning that will come up in the coming months.  We will be sharing more details about this in future.  Pray for the continuing development of the Heads, Hands, and Hearts of the six CMC leaders in the conference.    We are excited to be returning to Chiang Mai tomorrow afternoon after two weeks of being on the road in both Myanmar and Cambodia.  Please pray for travel mercies for the Spanglers and the Williams as we head home.  Your Ms in Asia, Don and Kathy

Your Prayers...Make a Difference

Holding our Rope and Pulling         02.26.2017    A three-times a month publication from Don and Kathy Williams Your Free Methodist Missionaries Serving in Asia Your Prayers... ...Make a Difference Chiang Mai, Thailand...thanks for praying for Don's meetings in Cambodia, for his consultation with a missionary in transition and his consult with Thai and Myanmar leaders this past week. Also for your prayers for Kathy's Bible studies and her ministry trip this last week.   Kathy's trip to the Lahu Youth Hostel went really well.  The 9 adults who joined her in ministering to the children had a glorious time. We'll let the pictures communicate 1000 words. The leadership development activity with national church leaders in Cambodia were productive and impactful.  You may wonder, "What does a leadership development activity look like?"  Last week's consultation was sharing a resource called, SmartSheets.  It is a software platform designed to help teams facilitate, manage, and automate their team work.  All the tasks, a part of a big upcoming project, like the one described in the paragraph below can be placed into a SmartSheet, tracked, and updated enhancing operational visibility and accelerate execution of the national leadership's work.       Coming alongside and supporting the leadership team, in their history making efforts, planning and getting ready for Cambodia's first ever Annual Conference Celebration organized and pulled off almost entirely by national leadership was extremely rewarding.  They are a remarkable team of teachable and humble leaders who have stepped in providing leadership until a first ever national superintendent is in place. The celebration in March will mark the ordination of 5-6 pastors and appointment of several Conference Ministerial Candidates.  Please pray for the interim national leaders: Daniel, Thyvenn, Phillip, and Pastor Lem (pictured below from left to right) who are working together as a team on all the event details besides carrying on with all their other very full-time responsibilities.  Pray the Lord would use this event in the history of the FMC in Cambodia aligning it with the trajectory He has planned for His church.      The meeting with national and international leadership from both Myanmar and Thailand was also fruitful.  More clarity is being gained as leaders from both countries consider how they might partner together to build God's Church near borders of neighboring Asian countries.  The picture below captured Kathy, Chansouk, and me who made a 9 hour road trip to spend three hours talking about considering t he heart of God for those who have yet to hear in this part of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos with Superintendent PaKemp, Pastor Stephen, and others who are expressing a desire to partner with Free Methodists in planting churches in and around the Golden Triangle (the place where Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar all touch. Your Ms to Asia, Don and Kathy