August newsletter

I really don’t like computer games, but friends got me hooked on one. Gives me the chance to chat with lots of folks that I don’t know, and introduce them to ‘Kazakhstan’ (just 2 *stans north of Afghanistan), sometimes answering all kinds of questions about what life is like here. Sometimes I have the opportunity to share about my ministry and what God is doing in Central Asia. Responses vary, but I saved my favorite, “Interesting – v v v cool. U rock – rock on.” Through this one avenue I have been pleased to add more prayer partners, all around the world – Australia, the Philippines, Afghanistan, Iraq, North Carolina, Indiana, California, Canada, Alaska, and more. What fun!

Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in
answer to the prayers of many.
--- 2 Corinthians 1:11

But life isn’t always about fun. And it isn’t always about having our plans turn out the way we thought.

Angela called from the airport, “We’re having a little trouble, something about our flight information being invalid or something. We’re kind of having trouble going home.” From the beginning to the end their trip has been one of “nothing going according to plan.” Nothing. Except that someone came. That much was planned. What changed? Only the group coming, the location, the in-country travel, the projects to be done, their arrival and departure dates, and more. I’m really glad that they came. As it turned out, Angela, who was adopted from Almaty, was able to meet with her sister and a number of friends and renew relationships with them. Amanda and Angela led an English club twice a day, three days a week, for three weeks. Wow! They built friendships with a number of people, shared contact information and Christ’s love. These relationships are likely to continue. Through it all Amanda and Angela learned things about God’s ways and His care. They both learned things about God, themselves, their church and what is happening in the world. When everything seems to be ungrounded around us, all we can do is hang tightly to God’s hand. It seems that His plan all along was to draw us to prayer.
And it’s not just ‘outsiders’ who have their plans changed.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call
upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and
find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares
the LORD.
--- Jeremiah 29:11-14

Elmira was sharing with me about Nurbahit and her husband Saiman. When Nurbahit came to Christ, Elmira discipled her and made sure she was comfortable in her group. Then as Nurbahit matured, it was time for her to have her own group. So Elmira went to her apartment and helped lead a group. The plan was for Nurbahit to meet her new neighbors, invite them for tea, get to know them, invite them to group, and all that began to happen. And of course, for Nurbahit to grow so she could lead her own ladies’ group. But then a change of plans – the family moved into military housing because of Saiman’s role in the military. And in his work he must be non-religious. Absolutely. And now that they are in military housing, surrounded by military who know he must be non-religious, it is clear they cannot just invite people to hear about Jesus. A new plan. Pray. Pray. Pray. So they have been praying, Nurbahit, Saiman and Elmira. Now they’ve noticed a neighbor who might be interested in spiritual things, and they are working through how to share that with him. So they continue to pray. Praying is always part of God’s plan.

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’S purpose that
prevails.
--- Proverbs 19:21

Vision and plans help to focus our energies and attention. They help us to know what to do next. Presently our team has reworked our vision. And to be sure it is bold. Extreme. How very like our Father! And each person is being challenged to work through their own personal visions, seeing how they align with the overall vision, seeing what if anything needs to change about who, what, where, when, how or why. Good challenges. Good opportunity to re-align, to make adjustments, to move out. We’re seeing more and more of our team move out “on location” where they believe God wants them to be. That means more challenges in communications. And that’s my nickel – communications. So that means I will also be going out on location to get the stories first-hand, to offer encouragement from an old hand to those now branching out, to guide others toward praising God in all things and all places.

Refocus the Vision:
ONE LORD FOR ALL CENTRAL ASIAN NATIONS
Within our life-time to see Central Asian nations recognized as Christian nations
(no longer as Muslim nations).

Please pray for our team as they are going out more and more “remote”, pray they would not feel alone, disconnected or discouraged, pray they would be able to accomplish all God has planned for them without being distracted by establishing new routines and life-styles. Please pray each one of our folks will be in tune with the Holy Spirit such that they would be able to respond in immediate obedience to His prompting.

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his
steps.
--- Proverbs 16:9

Pray for me as I plan to be traveling a great deal this year, visiting each of our team on location. Pray that I will have the stamina, energy and health to keep up with all that I need. Pray I will have wisdom and knowledge to communicate with people in each area and deal with whatever may come.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel
you and watch over you. --- Psalm 32:8

And pray for me, as I trust God with the details of my life. Pray for my relationships and that God would multiply my efforts here. And please continue to pray that I could speak the Kazakh language.

Thank you for partnering in this ministry.
Take care and God bless,
-- Linda B.
2 Cor.1:10-11

I guess I was not specific enough

Sharing prayer requests with a friend, or maybe more just grumbling about our imperfect children, my friend said, “I sure wish that God would change my children’s hearts.” So I was praying, “God, do whatever it takes in these children’s lives that they may fully follow you.” My friend panicked, “Oh, no. I will never give God carte blanche like that again. I prayed that for someone once, and now he’s an invalid. No, I need to be more specific with God.” Now I don’t know all the details about that situation, but her comment got me thinking. Sometimes I don’t really trust an omniscient, omnipotent God, nor do I trust his benevolence. He is good. He is trustworthy. Why can’t I trust him more?
Just this week I was wrestling with one problem, and needed some resolution quickly. So I begged Jesus to intervene. And, he did. But along with the resolution came a secondary result that I did not like. I actually said out loud, “Well, Jesus, I guess I was not specific enough.” And, wham, it hit me. Who am I to think that I needed to tell Jesus step-by-step how to act. I may need to be specific with my 6-year-old granddaughter, because she doesn’t yet know something. I may need to be specific with my sons, because they don’t understand just what I am thinking. But I certainly don’t need to be specific with God. After all, He created me! He knows what is best for me, and he desires what is best for me. He isn’t a foolish giant that needs direction.
No. He knows the plans he has for me. Plans for good and not evil. Plans to prosper and not harm. And he is the one who will give more than I could ever think or ask.
Yes, God resolved my problem his way. And his way kept me in prayer longer than my desired path would have. His way challenged me in the areas of discipline and submission. And I am certain that is best for me. He is one smart cookie, isn’t he?
One of my friends from Uzbekistan came to me for prayer and encouragement. The persecution there had his pastor and another leader facing trial and most likely imprisonment, and most everyone in the church was afraid to mention their faith. He was frustrated that their prayers for protection and safety were not being answered. These men had been beaten. Others had been mistreated, some losing their jobs. “We asked God to show himself strong and to protect us from the police. Now people have been arrested, our church scattered, our people fearful.”
That was “then.” Now in hindsight he has a different perspective. The leader was sent to prison, and now he has a powerful prison ministry he could not have had before. The pastor did go to trial, but during the court case the pastor made his defense making a bold defense of his faith so that everyone in court clearly heard the gospel. And a surprise to everyone, he was declared not guilty and released. Yes, God knows the plans he has for us. My friends in Uzbekistan are awed by God’s resolution. They have quit praying for protection from persecution, but are praying that God would show himself strong no matter what may come. It is a bold prayer to be sure.

Zharkinai, Anara and Akbota

I met with Zharkinai yesterday. She has so many struggles in her life and she has been so downcast, so much so that the lights seem to dim when she shows up. Her pastor rightly assumed that she was considering leaving the church, and was tempted to ask her to leave already as her negative presence was hard for everyone. Finally Zharkinai shared her heart. I listened, and as she allowed, offered counsel. She told me, “I just don’t feel God’s love or presence. I don’t belong in the church anymore.” “Now that is not the right approach, you know God loves you and will never let you go. You know that gravity exists and you usually don’t feel that, but that does not mean gravity went away. How much more so God. And when you are feeling the farthest from God is when you need to be with his people the most.” “Why hasn’t God allowed me to have a husband? Now that I am caring for my sister’s son I feel trapped in my work. How can I raise him without him having a father? What can I do?” “First remember that God is father to the fatherless. No man you can find will be a better father for Azamat than God himself. Rest in that. But that also is another reason you need to remain in your church, where the men of the church can help you deal with the masculine issues in his life.” And then she got down to the real issues. “Why did my sister Omsanai have to die? Why didn’t God save her out of that situation?” “Well, think about it. God did save her out of that situation. She no longer suffers or fears. She trusted Jesus Christ as her savior, so when she died Jesus took her to be with him immediately. She is safely in God’s arms right now. And she is watching you from there. What do you want her to see?” Zharkinai allowed herself to release her sister into God’s care, she poured her heart out to God and left her worries in His hands (at least for the time being). Zharkinai chose to trust God with her life situation. She found new peace and, yes, even joy.
I just spoke with Anara and Akbota who had questions about meeting “Mr. Right” and how to pursue that relationship. Culturally many here will meet someone and marry within weeks, without knowing the person, let alone knowing how they really get along. Often committing to marriage only after they have proven they can produce offspring together. So they were already fighting the culture wanting to marry a believer, thinking that pre-marital counseling would be appropriate, and committing to stay pure until marriage. Anara is concerned that her father will keep his promise to arrange her marriage without her involvement, as she knows her father wants her to marry a Muslim. She has been submissively appealing to her dad regarding the need to marry someone who is also a believer in Jesus. Her father seems to be listening, but she is still worried.

Please pray for Anara, Akbota, Zharkinai and others like them as they wrestle with serious issues that demand a trust in God. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters throughout Central Asia who continually face persecution – they are praying to see God show himself mighty, and that their faith would be true and strong. Pray for boldness and calmness, and deep roots of faith that cannot be shaken. Pray that the people of Central Asia will become more open to the gospel, that the believers of Central Asia will be ever active in sharing their faith, and that the church of Central Asia will take root and grow.
And pray for me, as I trust God with the details of my life. Pray for my relationships and that God would multiply my efforts here. And please continue to pray that I could speak the Kazakh language.

Being There, in times of change

In times of change and uncertainty, like the current economic situation worldwide, it is good to know we are anchored on a rock, The Rock.

My personal role in ministry continues to change. Personally, I don’t like “swirl” and am dead-set against “chasing after the wind.” But change makes space for me – the more chaos, the more room for me to make my own kind of order. But I do like some stability. Presently each day is different, and I just make the most of each situation. For example, just today …

Donna (20 months) joined Mayme and I around the breakfast table. She asked me to read from the Bible and seemed to be saying (in her active baby talk) that the stories there are real important. (Or maybe she just said she knows them all.) So as Mayme had breakfast before going off to kindergarten, I read to both girls. “In the beginning, God …” Everyone left in a good mood today. You know that made my day. My role? Grandmother, spiritual guide, reader, and short-order cook.

One ministry leader stopped me on the way to the office. “Linda, it looks like we are having a problem with our bookkeeper. Things like paying herself twice, signing off on bank documents as though she is the director. Of course we confronted her on these things and strengthened accountability. But then she did it again. And I just found out that she had done some goofy things with money before I was in this position. What should we do now?” Thanks to my experience in personnel management I could truly contribute. My role? Personnel coach, advisor, counselor and encourager.

Elmira stopped by, “Linda, how can I know if God wants me to succeed at being a real estate agent? I’m just helping me friends sell their home and now all the potential buyers are referring me to their friends. Is this God’s way of providing? Or Satan’s way of interrupting my life? How can I know for sure it is from God?” My role? Speaking truth, praying, career counseling, encouraging, asking the obvious questions and loving.

One of our church leaders stopped by to ask, “Linda, you know Ainur at church, right? She seems to be spiritual, but she said she needs help growing and doesn’t have any ministry. What do you think about her hosting a small group in her home? Surely that is something that she could do. What other options are there for her right now?” My role? Teacher, advisor, counselor and maybe mentor to someone new.

Leonid came in late. “We have just been to see the doctors. My wife’s heart is pretty much blown out, it seems all four of values aren’t closing. No wonder she is always tired, she just never gets enough oxygen in her system. But she does not want to miss work and rest. Tomorrow more tests, and then probably she will be going in the hospital. But she would rather just work. How do I get her to take care of herself?” My role? Praying, praying, praying, and offering friendly words of advice like, ‘Why don’t you just go home and be with her right now and play checkers?’

Mimi called, “Linda, my teacher said it would be a good idea for you to be part of my Kazak lessons – maybe help us both. And you know I would like to have a small group of ladies, the not-so-young set, to meet with – both to practice my Kazak and also as outreach. And, well, my mission has told me I need a local accountability partner since I’m alone here. Will you be my accountability partner? And can you help me with my small group?” My role? Well, now I’m committed to helping with another group and being an accountability partner for Mimi, asking the hard questions, asking the easy questions, and mostly just being there for her.

And that is probably my biggest role right now in this time of change – just being there. I’m no rock to be compared with Jesus. But I can be there, adding some stability amidst the uncertain times, being an encouraging presence when stress surrounds others. And more than just a bump on a log, I can pray, teach, offer advice, encourage, walk with someone, or sit and listen. I can ask questions, and ever so occasionally even provide answers. More than anything, I can point people to Jesus, Our Rock.

And what will tomorrow bring? Maybe more of the same. Maybe it will be a quiet day when I can focus on e-mail, newsletters or our blogs.

Please pray for the people here in Central Asia. The financial crisis here is much the same as you see stateside, except that here people remember the complete financial failure surrounding the time of independence from the Soviet Union just 17 years ago and are a bit more paranoid. Maybe with good cause. And in parallel is the withdrawal of financial support from many ministry organizations, as organizations wrestle with issues of creating dependency. Pray that those affected will find the types of work they need and not feel defeated by the situation. And pray for those who are asking for my counsel, that they would hear truth and see answers from Jesus.

Please pray for our brothers and sisters in the closed countries of Central Asia who are under the constant stress of persecution. Pray for boldness and calmness, and deep roots of faith that cannot be shaken. Pray that the people of Central Asia will become more open to the gospel, that the believers of Central Asia will be active in sharing their faith, and that the church of Central Asia will take root and grow.

And pray for me, that I would be bold and proclaim the truth of the gospel fearlessly. And that I would be patient and understanding in the process. And please continue to pray that I could speak the Kazakh language.

Once upon a time, a long time ago, in a far away land …

Every night as my granddaughter and I go to bed, she asks for a bedtime story. Well, at least one. And usually as many as I allow or until she simply goes to sleep. She gets all kinds of bedtime stories. Some are traditional fairy tales, Cinderella, Snow White, etc. Some are simply tales that I make up. Some are stories from my life – which I will always end with the line “and this is a true story about my life.” And some are Bible stories – which I will always end with the line “and this is a true story from the Bible.”

So she is learning about my life, and about God. And Mayme wants you to know that she believes in Jesus. She enjoys the story of creation, but wrestles with questions such as, “Just how did God make each flower so beautiful and different?” Or “When he made man from the dust of the ground was it like he sat down with playdo and shaped him? What do God’s fingers look like that he could do that?” The Bible doesn’t offer all the details. And, of course, Maymezhan wants all the details, in order, exact. Sometimes stories don’t particularly help her go to sleep.

So how do you answer those questions?

“Are all the stories in the Bible really true?” she asks. “My friend Valeria says that some of it is just like fairy tales so that the Bible is more interesting, like Jesus walking on the water. She says no one could walk on the water.”

“So Mayme, what do you think?” I ask her. “You know the story about Jesus walking on the water and Peter joining him on the water, what do you think?”

“It must be true, since Jesus is God and can do anything he wants. I haven’t walked on water yet, Kazakhstan doesn’t have much water. Valeria says she believes in God, just not the Bible. So how can I tell her it is true so that she listens? Especially when I don’t have all the answers?”

So how do you answer those questions?

Once upon a time, a long time ago,

That is sometimes how I start telling my testimony here. Like a fairy tale.

Starting back with my grandparents, who were disciplers and church planters; going through my uncles and my father’s testimony; then my own salvation and that of my brothers; then sharing of God in my life through the ages and stages of everything that has happened so far. Sometimes it is a very good approach – making it a bigger picture than just me, making it a multi-generational drama. Often this is helpful in this extended-family, story-telling culture. And I can encourage young, new believers with the power of their faith in the lives of their children and grandchildren.

Sometimes, this is not the best approach. Like when addressing Muslims who are hesitant to leave the faith of their fathers. Obviously I would follow in my parents and grandparents’ footsteps – one should maintain the faith of their fathers. At least that is their view. When I am in this situation, instead of sharing a full heritage history, I share about the personal decision that I have made to follow Christ and how God has worked that out in my life. Maybe, over time, as they are open to the idea, then I am able to share about a personal decision that my father made, and his father, and how each singular decision, in each life, is something that blessed their lives and influenced mine. But only when they are ready for that part, of course.

My friend Sergey was told me about the lady at the bank. I don’t know her name, so lets just call her ‘Gulzhan’ for the moment. Anyway, Gulzhan was a firmly avowed atheist. But over time, she allowed Sergey to share his testimony and she began to investigate spiritual things. She was just beginning to show real interest in Christianity. Then her father died. Her father, as everyone else in her extended family, considered himself a Muslim. And even Gulzhan, back in her atheist days, depending on the question would have said she was Muslim, as her whole family. Now, as the family entered grief, Gulzhan was challenged by the family to firmly embrace the faith of her father. Normally around the death of a loved one, all the Muslims get a lot more serious in their faith, at least for a while. Now Gulzhan has fully embraced the Muslim faith. She prays five times a day, attends mosque, wears full coverage clothing. Yet she is still hungry spiritually.

Gulzhan just recently asked Sergey for more of an explanation of his faith. He was so excited for the opportunity to share, but also very concerned that he would say something that would drive her farther from the truth. When Gulzhan said she wanted to talk, Sergey wracked his brain for ideas to share but came up empty. By the time they finally sat down to talk, Gulzhan’s questions had changed ever so slightly. And as she asked her questions, the Holy Spirit gave Sergey the answers. Gulzhan has not embraced Christ yet, but she is still seeking and becoming open again.

• Please pray for “Gulzhan” so that she, and others like her, may find and embrace the truth of Jesus Christ. Pray for all of our staff as they share the gospel with the people around them in their lives.


• Pray for 6-year-old Mayme as she learns more of the truth of the gospel and wrestles with how to communicate those truths to her friends.


• And pray for me, that I would be bold and proclaim the truth of the gospel fearlessly. And that I would be patient and understanding in the process.


• And please continue to pray that I could speak the Kazakh language.

Movies

Movies tell stories, motivate, entertain. Of late, a couple have captured my heart-strings.

The Alamo. Starring Billy Bob Thorton as Davy Crockett. I finally got to watch it in English, and it is better in English! Now what Texan doesn’t have their national pride stirred up with simply the retelling of the Alamo. Though the US story is more impressive, you just can’t tell the birthing of the US quite as succinctly. So, for us Texans, the Alamo gets our patriotic juices flowing. I’m proud to be a Texan. I’m proud to be an American. And I’m proudest to be serving God within the inheritance he has given me in Central Asia.

The Keys to the Kingdom. Rereleased on DVD in 2006, Gregory Peck (in his younger years) depicts a Catholic missionary to China in the 1800’s. Father Chisholm is determined, patient, and considers his ministry full of ineffectual strivings of little consequence. There are failures, miraculous answers to prayer, setbacks, gifts beyond his wildest imagination, personal loss, challenges, and struggles with the home office. Hmmm, sounds too familiar. Little by little he sees growth in his congregation and his congregants, and we see growth in his character and commitment. I have watched the movie a dozen times and cry every time – and I’m not a crier.

Nonetheless, these movies have gotten me thinking. I am an American, a Texan, all where God placed me, yet I know my call to Central Asia is for life. What are the long-term implications? That is not yet clear, but I am open to the possibilities. But for all my national pride, for all my arrogant pride as a Texan, that is nothing compared to the pride I have in my God. I am pumped by the telling of the cross, by the remembrance of Gethsemane or the crossing of the Red Sea. And just like our nationalism sometimes suffers from complacency until reminded once again, I can become routine, almost complacent, with the majesty of my God.