Favorite Photos from Khulna

I've been home from Bangladesh for over a week, but then had to leave again for our annual IGSL retreat. Now, at last, the promised random favorite photos. With my random thoughts about the trip.

I loved traveling with Gerri, my friend and colleague. Some parts of our trip were exotic and elegant, some parts heavy and heart-breaking, but it was all good, learning together, widening our world.
.The time in Khulna with Hirak and Metali was the best part for me. Metali and I cried like babies when we had to say goodbye. She sent a text message a few days ago and said, "I miss you. Can you come again next year?" I don't even get to see my own children once a year! But I don't want to wait seven years again to visit this dear family.
.We loved going with them to their ministry sites and meeting those who have believed through their faithful witness.

The lady in the white sari (below) was a young bride 20 years ago, living in a big city and expecting her first child, when her husband demanded that she have an abortion. She refused, and ran away (something almost unheard of in her culture). She returned to her own village, gave birth to a son, and raised him alone, working hard to earn enough to care for him. Now that son has a wife and child of his own. This small family became the first believers in their village just a few months ago. Both ladies attended our women's conference, and they were delighted that we visited them in their home. The young man has been sharing his new faith with others in the village.

The girl in the photo below, second from the right with the pretty smile, was the first believer in a different village. I asked her (through a translator) why she decided to follow Jesus. She said, "He's the only one who can forgive me, and the only one I can trust."
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The rest of the people in the photo are not believers yet, but they attend the meetings and have been listening for several months. The kids sit in front and participate, with the moms behind them, while the dads sit in back or stand outside. But they are all hearing. And we know that faith comes from hearing! I look forward to visiting this village again on my next trip, whenever that might be.

The remaining photos are just sights around Khulna. I tried hard to take lots of photos this trip! Gerri took a lot too, so between the two of us we have a pretty good record of our experience. Tomorrow: favorite photos from Dhaka.

30 Unbelievable Years

We interrupt the posting of photos from Bangladesh to celebrate the fact that God has carried us through 30 incredible years in the Philippines! It was Valentine's Day, 1979, when James and I flew to Manila to begin a two-year term of service. We could never have imagined the adventures that God had in store for us then.

Many years ago James and I adopted Mark 10:29-30 as our own. ^ In that passage, Jesus told his disciples that no one who gives up relationships or possessions for the Gospel will fail to receive back a hundred times as much IN THIS PRESENT AGE.

It was a little scary, at the age of 23, to leave everything familiar and launch out into the unknown. But it was exciting too, because we believed in a great God. We have truly received back more than a hundred times anything we might have given up in this life. We are SO RICH! We can't even count the members of our precious hundred-fold family, and we watch miracles happen on a regular basis.

We hope we can serve our God for 30 more years!

Favorite Photos

Rather than try to edit and catalague all the photos I took, I decided to show you my favorites, a few at a time, in no particular order. This is a photo of my dear brother and sister Hirak and Metali, with their baby Ayon. I had not seen Hirak and Metali since they graduated from IGSL seven years ago. Spending time with them was definitely the highlight of my trip. I am so proud of their creative ministry and their willingness to suffer for our King. We were cared for perfectly by them during our twelve days there.

These are just a few of the 275 women who attended our first women's conference. They were a lively group of ladies, quick to respond and discuss the various issues we raised, and worshiping with their whole hearts. Gerri and I fell in love with the Bangla song "My Heart is Dancing in God's Love," because the ladies danced while they sang it.

This is a photo of me sharing with the church that meets in Hirak's home.

Ministry there is not easy for our graduates. They can stay safe if they don't rock the boat, but they believe God wants them to ROCK THAT BOAT and give every Bangladeshi a chance to hear the Gospel. Gerri and I were very proud of their courage and commitment, and grateful to have the privilege of encouraging them.