As we wrapped up the month of May, we were able to gain further insight into two missionary lives and hear how COVID-19 has affected them. Here is what they had to say:
Dr. Emmanuel in India - the Emmanuel’s are Indian nationals who share the Gospel through church ministries and orphanages in their own country. Dr. Emmanuel’s wife passed away last year.
“Things have gone completely crazy because of the Pandemic COVID all over the World and In India, we were on complete lockdown for more than two months. I was pretty much confined to myself in my home. This is a small part of the write up my daughter wrote in memory of my wife. “As I approach this June 7th, 2020, I find it hard to parse my feelings, I feel bad, sad, low, grateful, deprived, lost, strong, vulnerable, humble, and hundred other things all at the same time.”Please give my regards to all at the church and let them know we are praying for them and the whole of America in a special way. May Our Father in Heaven grant us the peace that passeth all understanding and the strength and courage to face these tough times.”
Phyllis Oblander in the Philippines - Phyllis was saved while she was an Albion College student. She received her medical training at Ohio State University and has ministered to Muslims on Mindanao as a medical missionary for many years. In recent years, she has been seeing a nucleus of believers growing in Jesus. We are her sending church.
“In the crucible of locked-down discipleship, these last weeks have been some of the sweetest times the ministry here has ever had! We've had 4 steady weeks of precious weekly worship times with mostly Jim and Roxie (believers and leaders in the village) leading the study time and the young people leading worship, and memorizing passages to recite! Plus we've had 3-4 times a week of Scripture study, nightly prayer, and are finding victory over some sin areas and unity "bumps-in-the-road.
But of course the enemy is not happy! So he's using his usual tactics of fear and disunity! Jim…against advice of mine and the municipal mayor's secretary, chose to travel the 11 hours round trip to fetch his kids. The trip was successful, but several steps were in direct violation of quarantine laws. The Spirit is nudging him toward asking forgiveness, and to continue from here with more careful quarantine measures for this family, but the "will to be willing" well... is not quite there yet. So right now he is running from interaction with us or community authority. So please lift this dear brother up to the Lord, for a softening heart!
After we all retired to bed, I found this sweet note left by the computers, translated: "This heavy problem will pass with God's help! From: the kids and young ladies". All this is particularly hard for Okay, feeling in the middle, and just in the throes of post-chemo side effects from Thursday. In her restless state, she slipped and fell on her knee this afternoon so is in bed with an ice pack.
Thanks so much for asking the Father to continue to work in our hearts toward restored relationships.”
