While in the USA a friend/mentor of ours gave us the new book by Brother Yun. Many of you may have read his autobiography, The Heavenly Man (if not, why not?). His new book, called Living Water, is a compilation of some of his teachings. After a few months of carrying this book from country to country, I finally picked it up, and already have been challenged...
You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Revelation 3:17-18
When the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' for many are invited, but few are chosen.
Matthew 22:11-14
Brother Yun defines repentance not simply as confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness, but having our "whole lives, desires, motives and plans surrendered to God." God knows who's invited to the wedding feast, we must wear the clothes he tells us to, and not our own. "We must accept His Word and live by it, aligning our lifestyle and choices to match the commands of the King. This is repentance."
As a missionary it's easy to tell myself that I am surrendered to the Lord. After all, I've left my family, my home, my stuff, my comfort zone to live in the mission field and lead teams. However, am I truly surrendered? Often I find myself dreaming of moving back to North America: having my own house, working a 9-5 job, raising a family there...just having a 'normal' life. Sometimes I find myself like the Laodicean Christians in their lukewarmness. However, I can't live my life with one foot in this world, and one foot in God's Kingdom. The first command in the new testament is 'REPENT.' Have I repented? Have I fully surrendered my life, desires, motives and plans to God? Am I willing to go wherever, or do whatever, the Lord calls me to without questioning Him?
Just before we left America at the end of January, we received exciting news: in September we will be welcoming a third addition to the Best family!!!! Although we've already experienced our fears and nervousness at being first time parents and the safety aspect that I (Naomi) have to be aware of during pregnancy, we are already seeing God's hand in this!! Since we were first married, we laid the idea of having kids at the Lord's feet: that we would start a family in His timing, and under His control. When we first found out we were pregnant, instantly questions came to mind: How does this affect our immigration process to the US? Will I be safe overseas? Where will we have the child? However, God is constantly reminding us that He is in control and that He has been planning this for way longer than we have...
Since November, when our team got moved from India to Swaziland after the crisis in Mumbai, Matt and I have been wondering 'why not India?' Don't get us wrong, we are super excited to be in Swaziland, and have been praying that the Lord would bring us back to catch up on some relationships we have here. Just, why now? On our way to Swaziland, we stopped in India for a week to see the orphans and friends we have there. The Lord reminded us how dirty, unsanitary and polluted Delhi is, compared with the fresh air of Swazi, and the better health care we can get in South Africa. He knew in November, that if our team was still going to India when I was pregnant, that we just wouldn't be able to lead the trip. Even just a few days in India, we were paranoid about the pollution and open sewages...it's so nice to be in a safer, more comfortable country!!! He is good!!!
We are now in Swaziland for the next three months. I will not be able to do go to the care points, the hospitals or the squatter camp, so please pray for Matt as he's basically leading this team on his own.
As the New Year draws closer, I'm wondering if this year will be the
first year I've actually made a New Years resolution...the top of my
list will be: update supporters, friends and family on a much more
regular basis!!! So, I start this letter asking for forgiveness for the
lack of communication you've had with us over the past few months!! We
will be trying much harder!!!
The past few months have been an absolute blessing for us!!! We arrived
back in Ohio at the beginning of October, and have spent the last
little while visiting supporters, family and friends in Ohio, Chicago,
Georgia, Halifax and Cape Breton, being debriefed and planning for the
future at the AIM office, preparing for our trip in January, and
celebrating the Christmas season!!! It has been almost two years since
we have seen snow (or cold weather at all)...it's so beautiful here in
Cape Breton, I didn't even argue while shovelling the driveway, I was
just overwhelmed by how perfect the Lord had made it all!!!
We are currently in Cape Breton with my (Naomi) family. We were
initially hoping to leave Canada on December 27th, but I still have not
received my new passport. Please pray for us as we figure out what to
do...Matt's sister, Danielle, is back in Ohio from Jan. 1st to 10th.
This is the only time we'll have to see her. If my passport doesn't
arrive before New Years (which, I know, is in two days) then Matt is
going to have to drive back on his own, and I'll fly back to join him
when my passport arrives. This is a bittersweet thing: I could be
staying longer in Cape Breton, but it also means the added expense of a
plane ticket, time away from my husband, and not very much time with
Danielle. We called Passport Canada yesterday and they said that the
passport should be in the mail within the next few days. However, I am
praying that the Lord will SUPER SPEED it up and it will miraculously
arrive by Wednesday...please join me in this prayer!!
As the New Year arrives, Matt and I are preparing for our trip back to
Swaziland. For those of you who haven't heard, our trip to India was
relocated to Swaziland after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.
The Lord has been putting on our hearts the need to return to Swaziland
and visit with some of the friends and relationships we have there, so
this trip is perfect timing!!! We will be leading a group of 5
college-age students for three months...this is a big difference from
the trip of 21 we lead to India!!! Since we already have purchased
tickets to India, we will be heading there on January 19th for a little
over a week, and then from there to Swaziland. Please keep our travels
and team in your prayers during this preparation period!!!
We do pray that you all are having a wonderful time with family during the Christmas season!!
Support us?? For those of you who feel the Lord is leading you to
support us financially, thank you so much, the Lord will bless you in
your giving. The easiest way to give us support is through our blog, clicking 'support us' in the left hand column and
then fill out the credit card information. You can also support us by
sending a cheque (clearly indicating that it's for Matt and Naomi Best)
to:
Adventures In Missions
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
Please note that Canadian supporters can not receive tax reciepts, we are sorry for this.
Thank you so much, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!!
The title of this blog was Jesus' words to his disciples before He was arrested and killed. Now thousands of years later the Christians of India are seeing these words lived out against them. Tension between the Hindu majority and Christian minority in Orissa, India has long existed, but has never reached such a scale as it did last week. Orissa is one of twenty-eight states in India and is about a days train ride from Delhi. Orissa caught the attention of the international media in 1999 when an Australian missionary and his two sons where burnt alive after finishing a Christian fellowship meeting. After a Hindu religious leader was murdered last week by an unidentified man, violence broke out against Christians in misplaced anger. As of today, 558 homes and 17 churches have been burnt to the ground, and 16 pastors and church members killed. Another 12,000 people are relocated in relief camps where the government is offering protection, and a unknown number, estimated in the thousands, have fled into the jungle without food or water.
This type of persecution may only happen in what we think are far-off lives of pioneer Christians and missionaries, but it is the reality of many believers world wide. During an international conference a pastor of a Chinese home church was asked why there was so much persecution in China and not in America or Canada. He replied with a question, " Do you daily submit your life to God and boldly preach the gospel?".... where the gospel is being advanced there will ALWAYS be opposition. Persecution takes many forms, it is not all physical abuse, sometimes as westerners we fear the mockery and neglect of friends more than the physical abuse. Would we be willing to die for Jesus? Socially or physically?
Let us be united in prayer for our brothers and sister. Eph. 4: 3-6 "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit. Just as you were called by one hope, when you were called by one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Although one may be Indian, American, African, or Asian in God's eyes we are one body working for the same purpose. Pray for strength, encouragement, and perserverance as their faith is tested.
As most of you know, our team headed back to the US and Canada at the end of July. Leading the team was definitely a different experience for us. We have always been leaders for teams in Africa, but never the leader that lived with the students, bought the groceries, dealt with all the finances, counselled the students through tough situations they met in India, etc...It was such a rewarding two months as we saw all 17 students surrender so much to Christ, and allow Him to speak to them and lead them. India is such a different culture than America, Europe, even Africa...it is just crazy!!! These students didn't just step out of their comfort zones here in India, they leaped!!!
When Jesus gives us an example of prayer, He says, "YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (Matt 6:10)." This is our prayer!!! We desire/long to see the Lord's Kingdom come, not only in Heaven, but here on earth!!! That is our prayer, and the Lord has shown us that one of our rolls in bring His kingdom is through discipleship. The Lord then threw us face-first into discipleship with our team. Don't get me wrong, we didn't have time every week to spend an hour at a coffee shop with each student allowing them to vent their problems...but, then again, neither did Jesus. We just ate dinner together, ministered together at orphanages, leper colonies and slums, prayed together, worshipped together, laughed together, threw water balloons at each other, lay sweating on the roof together when the power went out, celebrated birthdays together... The Lord brought all 21 of us together for two months to experience true community, to seek his Kingdom!!
UPDATE:
Only a few days after our team left, we travelled to Thailand to spend a little time with each other and in intimacy with the Lord. We were definitly blessed during this time, and highly recommend a short trip to Thailand for anyone who lives close enough!!
Two days after our return from Thailand, Matt's dad arrived in India. He braved the heat and humidity (you have no idea!!!) for 7 days in order to visit the orphanages and some Delhi tourist sites with us!! It was so great to spend time with him, and show him our life and ministry here.
So, what are we doing now?? As most of you know, we head back to America/Canada in October for a three month sabbatical/support raising trip. The Lord is leading us back to India in January so we are in need of a slightly longer term visa, something we weren't able to get in Africa. We will be applying for these, as well as my (Naomi's) Canadian passport, visiting family, supporters and churches!! Until then, we are continuing to follow up with different relationships that our team members built while they were here (at the leper colonies and orphanages). There will be a three month team arriving at the end of September whom we will do set-up for and introduce them to the Indian culture, their ministry sites and relationships that they can continue while we are back in America.
What would it be like to really live without care of possessions, money, or status? I'm not really sure, but I know it is a beautiful thing.
It is almost painful to visit friends at the different leper colonies. Not because of deformaties, poverty, or the immense sorrow that 'should' exist in their lives, but because I know that they will be making me tea, and taking their last few Rupees to bye me a meal. How can I go into these places that in our mind need 'fixed,' and get served and treated better than I do in most Christian homes I visit?
In America we hold seminars and Wednesday night discussions on community living, and what it means or how we should incorporate it. However it goes no where! If we look over Acts 4: 32-37.... the early church felt that what they owned was not their own, and that they shared everything. No one among them was in need because they took care of each other. So, here we are 2,000 years later totally missing the concept, but having Hindu lepers living out Acts 4 community.
I have wrestled with these thoughts, and can not understand why I have not once been asked for money or food, but only served and been shown love! Why are we always so internally depressed and unhappy even though WE have the 'Love' of the eternal Father. Maybe we replace our reliance on the Love of the Father with possessions, money, and status. But who really should care about that? Timothy said, " We brought nothing into this world, and can not take anything out!" So, thankyou Lepers for teaching me simplicity, community, service, and love.
The team has been here for three weeks now. It has definitely been a different experience for us being the primary leaders of the team rather than just the set-up leaders (as we were in Swaziland). The Lord is really stretching our team members as they share in community living, a totally different culture, and orphan, leper and slum ministries. Our heart's cry is that the Lord will break out of the boxes that they've put Him in and build a love relationship with each of them. We desire to see His Kingdom come in the hearts of the participants and in the leper colonies and orphanages!!
Our team is split into three different ministry groups, going to three different orphanages, three different leper colonies and a slum. It is exciting for us as we get to spend time in the leper colony and orphanage, Asha house, where we'd initially built relationships.
Just last week we attended a wedding anniversary celebration for our friends, Valli and Vasu, at the leper colony. Valli grew up in a different leper colony, and then was married in an arranged marriage to Vasu, a leper. She was married four years ago, at the age of sixteen...phew!!! Although she only speaks a very little bit of English, I have been able to form a friendship with Valli. Every time we visit her, she brings us into their home, turns the fan directly on us, plays a Tamil (a language of Southern India, the language this leper colony speaks) movie, buys us snacks and chai. Despite the fact they don't have much, I'm learning that it is a blessing to them when they bless us.
Next Tuesday, we have been invited to a birthday party at the leper colony. Canapanch is our 'Indian Santa Claus' and will be turning 71. He is an Indian I enjoy teasing, and is very fun to visit. Every time we bring someone new to visit him he takes out all the photos he has been given by previous AIM participants. Just last week he showed Matt how to put on a traditional South Indian lungi, a piece of cloth wrapped around the lower body, and a head wrap. It was quite entertaining!!! It is amazing to experience the joy and laughter the Lord allows between people who aren't from the same culture, religion or language. We are learning to just trust Him even when we don't know how to communicate, or are confused by the conversation!!!
We have been in India for a month now, and God has been moving in huge ways. Much of our time has been spenting hanging out and loving the staff and children at the orphanage that AIM supports. We have also been spending a lot of time at a leper colony. God has completely broken my heart for this place, and taken my heart to depths of compassion it has not seen in some time. They are some of the most gracious, generous, humble people I have ever met...and no, they are not 'yet' believers. Please pray for us in this area: that language barriers would be broken, and the gospel recieved.
Right now, we are preparing for our teams arrival in two days (June 9th). There are 18 students who we will be leading in ministry and discipleship for two months. They will be serving Jesus at three different leper colonies, three orphanages and a slum here in Delhi. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as we lead this team.
This is Shibu and me at Emmanual Orphanage where our students will be teaching school. When we were in India in 2005, we spent two weeks at an orphanage about 7 hours (by train) from Delhi. Shibu and I became very good friends. It was a huge surprise when we arrived at the orphanage here in Delhi and found that he had moved and is now living so close to us!
Jitender is one of the oldest boys at Asha House. He is an amazing man of God, and has a desire to serve Him in the hard places!
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