Participants:
Series Code: JFAN
Program Code: JFAN000124S
|
00:00 (soft music)
00:21 - Hello, and welcome to Jesus for Asia Now. 00:24 I'm Natalie Wood 00:25 and I have a special guest with me in the studio today. 00:28 Hello, Sharon. 00:29 - Hello, how are you? 00:30 - Now this is Sharon Williams. - Yes. 00:32 - And you are our office manager here 00:34 - Yes. 00:35 - But that's not why you're on the show today. 00:37 - No, cause that would not be very exciting. 00:39 - That's very true. 00:41 But we are talking about a country 00:42 that's become very dear to you today 00:44 - Yes. - Yes it has. 00:46 - [Natalie] And what country is that? 00:46 - That's Bangladesh. 00:47 - [Natalie] Okay. 00:48 Bangladesh. 00:49 And why is Bangladesh dear to your heart? 00:52 - Because I went there and met people and made friends 00:57 and got to see the need 00:59 and the people who are doing some of the work 01:02 and wanna get involved with it. 01:05 - Okay. 01:06 So how did you end up going to Bangladesh? 01:08 - It is a circuitous story. 01:11 Um, we have a, a, a colleague, Tim Saxton, 01:15 who is the new director, Asia director for AWR. 01:19 And he went to Bangladesh check out, 01:23 as part of his territory, 01:24 he was going to all the different countries under his, 01:27 under his purview, and he saw a lot of need 01:31 that didn't necessarily fit under AWR's marching orders. 01:35 So he thought of Jesus for Asia, 01:37 and said his would be perfect for them. 01:39 So he met with John and said, 01:42 "Hey, would you like to get involved?" 01:44 And John said yes. 01:45 And he said, 01:47 "Great, come to Bangladesh in December when I go back 01:49 and I'll show you around and introduce you to people." 01:52 But due to John's schedule, 01:53 the travel schedule of needing to be in Thailand 01:56 and in various places, he could not go. 01:58 So instead of letting the opportunity pass, 02:00 I volunteered and volunteered Hannah at the same time 02:04 saying that we would go in his place and he agreed. 02:07 And that's how we got there. 02:08 - So tell us a little bit about Bangladesh. 02:10 - Bangladesh is a small country. 02:13 It is in the northeast of India 02:16 and it is surrounded by India. 02:19 And it also has a border with Myanmar. 02:22 It is a newish country, it gained its independence in 1971 02:28 and they are very happy to be Bangladeshi. 02:30 They're very proud of their country, 02:32 so it's more of a hopeful country. 02:35 It is mostly Muslim, 89% Muslim with about 10% Hindu. 02:41 And then the last 1% is lumped together 02:43 as Christian and Buddhist. 02:46 So very few Christians in this country. 02:49 - Okay. 02:50 - The Adventist church there 02:51 divided Bangladesh into four missions. 02:53 There's the north, south, east and west. 02:56 And Hannah and I went to all four quadrants of the country. 03:00 So we spent a lot of time in vans and we flew a lot 03:03 going back and forth. 03:04 It's about an hour out of Dhaka 03:06 to everywhere in the country. - Okay. 03:08 - So it's not large, it's about the size of Iowa, 03:12 but it has 167 million people in it. 03:15 And Dhaka is the sixth most densely populated city 03:19 in the world. - Wow. 03:20 - And we have a video here of Hannah 03:23 standing on a street corner, just watching the traffic go by 03:26 so that you can see 03:28 just how close the traffic comes to the people. 03:32 - Okay. 03:33 And they all kind of, you've been in India, 03:35 you know what that is like, 03:37 and they drive the same way there. 03:38 - Okay. 03:39 (cars hooting) (bicycle bells ringing) 03:45 (indistinct chattering) 03:48 (cars hooting) (indistinct chattering) 04:07 - So while we were in Bangladesh, 04:09 we mostly stayed at the union mission, 04:12 the Bangladesh union mission office. 04:14 - Okay. 04:15 - And we went up to the top of the building 04:17 where we were staying and took a video, 04:19 a panoramic video of the city 04:21 which is showing at the moment. 04:23 And you can, all you can see is city, 04:25 as far as you go is just city. - Wow. 04:28 - It's very, very huge, they build up. 04:31 - Yeah, lots of tall buildings. 04:32 - Yeah. 04:33 They don't have the ability to, to go out 04:36 and they were doing laundry on top of a building. 04:38 That's what they do is, you'll see, they don't have dryers, 04:42 so they just hang their laundry everywhere that, 04:45 that they can go. 04:46 - Yeah. - Yeah. 04:47 - So I wanted to give a shout out 04:48 to the Bangladesh union mission leadership 04:50 because they took very good care of us while we were there 04:53 and they brought us food and gave us a place to stay. 04:58 And then Dr. Litten Holder was our, 05:01 the person that we connected with and he took us everywhere 05:05 and he was so kind and so nice to help us 05:08 that we would not have been able to accomplish 05:09 what we needed to do 05:10 if it wasn't for the leadership there who, 05:13 who stepped in and made sure we were okay. 05:15 So I just wanna say, hey. - Yeah. 05:17 You connected it really well with all the different missions 05:20 - Yes. 05:21 - Under the union mission as well. 05:22 - Yes, yes. 05:23 - And so we just really appreciate 05:25 the church leadership there. 05:26 - Yes. 05:27 - And, and they seem to, 05:28 we've met a few of them on zoom calls since then. 05:31 And they all have expressed a desire for more people 05:34 in their areas to know God. - Yes. 05:35 - And that's just so beautiful. 05:37 - Yeah. 05:38 The, the difficulty in, 05:41 in doing evangelism in the country 05:44 is that it's a Muslim majority country. 05:47 And the 05:49 evangelism is not allowed. 05:53 So if you want to have meetings in a building that you have, 05:57 that's great, 05:58 But you're not going to go into a village, pop up a tent, 06:02 do meetings and bring people in. 06:04 They, they will not allow that. 06:06 - And so, it's challenging 06:09 The, the leaders in Bangladesh have a challenge 06:12 to be able to spread the gospel and do it in a way 06:16 that will allow them to continue to do it 06:18 without having the government come in and shut them down. 06:21 And so it's, 06:23 they pray a lot and they do what they can 06:26 as best as they can 06:27 and we're thankful to be able to come alongside them 06:30 and give them support. 06:31 - Right. - [Sharon] Yeah. 06:32 - Wow, that's a challenge. - Yeah. 06:34 - And speaking of Muslims, - Yes 06:36 - we have a picture here. - Yes. 06:38 You will see a lot of the women 06:40 who, who are wearing the full outfit. 06:44 And they are not as prominent as the men. 06:48 When you're traveling around, you'll see men everywhere, 06:51 but not the women. 06:52 They are tend to be in the background 06:54 and reaching the women is probably the hardest thing to do 06:59 because you actually have to find them 07:01 and share the gospel with them. 07:03 - Right. 07:04 They're at home - They're at home 07:05 - Behind the scenes. - Right. 07:07 Exactly. 07:08 The men are the ones who normally do the shopping 07:11 and the women are home with the children. 07:14 And it's, they're a population that's even harder to reach, 07:18 than the men simply because they're not visible. 07:22 So we have to go and look for them. 07:24 - Hmm. - [Sharon] Yeah. 07:25 - That's a challenge too. 07:26 - [Sharon] It is. - Yeah. 07:27 - It's very much a challenge. 07:29 However, one thing that the government wants are schools. 07:34 They care about their children 07:37 and they want their children to raise up in life. 07:42 And we learned that, even though the statistics say that 07:46 the country is about 70% literate, 07:49 that means that 70% of the population can write their name. 07:53 - Hmm. 07:54 - And that's their level of literacy. 07:56 And so the schools are helping the children grow 08:01 and surpass their parents and, so that they can get jobs 08:05 and grow the economy. 08:07 And so schools are welcome even if open evangelism is not. 08:12 - Mm-hmm. 08:13 - So that's something that we can do. 08:14 - Okay. 08:15 So speaking of schools, we're gonna start out, 08:17 we've got a couple different ones we're gonna talk of 08:20 several different ones we're gonna talk about. 08:21 - And so the first one. 08:23 - Okay. 08:24 The first one is in the Cox's Bazar area. 08:28 We were able to go to one of the Rohingya camps. 08:33 - Okay. 08:34 - And that requires special permission in order to go in. 08:39 So the group we were with did all the application 08:42 and got the approval so that we could go. 08:44 And what you're seeing is a picture of the camp 08:49 that we were in. 08:50 And you'll notice that it's not high-rises, it's not luxury. 08:55 - [Natalie] It's not building. 08:56 - [Sharon] It's not, it's shacks. 08:58 - [Natalie] Yeah. - [Sharon] It's shacks. 08:59 - [Natalie] They're made from bamboo 09:01 - [Sharon] Yes, yes. 09:02 - [Natalie] Looks like an, tin and 09:03 - [Sharon] Right, yes. - [Natalie] Grass. 09:05 - [Sharon] Yes. 09:06 And the folks who are in the camp are not allowed 09:10 to leave the camp. - [Natalie] Mm. 09:11 - Nor are they allowed to go back to Myanmar. 09:15 - Mm. - So they're in this place, 09:18 and it's, it's a sad thing to know that 09:21 when you wake up in the morning, 09:22 that's where you're going to be all day 09:24 and then tomorrow all day and then the next day, all day. 09:26 - Mm. 09:27 - And while we were, 09:28 before we got to the, the Rohingya camp, 09:31 we were able to meet with one of the local chairman. 09:34 They, they divide their local governments up into 09:39 chairman of an area. 09:40 Something like we might consider a mayor or 09:45 a city councilman - [Natalie] A district. 09:46 - Yeah, district leaders. - Governor. 09:48 - something like that. Yes. 09:50 And he was over a large portion of 09:52 one of the Rohingya camps, about 800,000 Rohingya. 09:55 - [Natalie] Mm. 09:56 - And then around 30,000 of the Bangladeshi 09:59 that live outside the camp. - Mm. 10:01 - And when we met with him, 10:03 he asked us if we would bring a school into his area. 10:08 - Hmm. 10:10 - He was very concerned about the Bangladeshi 10:12 outside the camp walls. 10:15 Because, well, if you think about a neighborhood 10:18 and then a group of refugees come in 10:21 and your neighborhood land has, is divided 10:24 and the refugees get the land. 10:27 And then non-governmental organizations 10:30 from around the globe, come in and work with these people 10:35 because they're refugees. 10:37 People tend to forget that there were Bangladeshi living 10:41 every day in that neighborhood, 10:42 before the camp even started. 10:44 - Mm-hmm. 10:45 - And so the chairman asked us 10:47 if we would come and build a school for his people 10:51 who he felt were forgotten. - Mm. 10:55 - And we said to him, we'd be happy to do that 10:58 but we're Christians. 10:59 And he said, "I know." 11:01 And we're like, "It will be a Christian school." 11:03 He said, "I know, and that's fine. 11:06 I just want 11:07 our children to have the benefit of an education" 11:10 - Wow. 11:12 - And we said, "What size school do you want?" 11:14 He said, "Anywhere from elementary through college, 11:16 come, bring a school." 11:19 - Wow. 11:20 - And then - What an opportunity. 11:21 - [Sharon] I know. 11:22 And then, 11:23 and then we had the idea for a community radio station 11:26 that could be connected with the school 11:28 that could broadcast programming over the camp walls. 11:33 We can't go into the camp, 11:35 but maybe they could hear about Jesus in another way. 11:39 - So it's a very exciting prospect 11:41 and we've been invited to come. 11:42 So we are working with the local mission 11:46 to see if that's possible to be able to do. 11:49 - Right. - Sounds good. 11:51 - Okay. - That's one. 11:54 - One opportunity. 11:55 Okay. Let's talk about the next one. 11:57 - Number two. 11:58 Number two is in a Hindu village 12:00 that's north of Cox's Bazar. 12:02 And we were introduced to this village by a local man 12:06 who has a heart for mission and sharing the gospel, 12:12 and we'll call him Samson. 12:13 - Okay. 12:14 - And he connected with AWR and said, 12:17 "Would you please come and help me establish a mission 12:21 in this village." 12:23 He was all by himself and he couldn't do it alone. 12:25 So while we were there, 12:27 we had the opportunity to go visit this Hindu village. 12:31 - Mm. 12:32 - And we walked into, 12:34 it was a rabbit warren of little lanes, 12:38 and we were able to talk to the village elders. 12:42 So we were in the center of the village. 12:45 All the children came out, - [Natalie] Oh. 12:47 - [Sharon] all the women came out, everybody came out 12:50 and we had a conversation with the village elders 12:53 and the question was asked, 12:54 "What is your greatest need here?" 12:57 - And their greatest need was the school for their children. 13:01 Not money, not food, but school for the children. 13:07 - Hmm. 13:08 - They said, "We have a space, please bring in teachers." 13:14 - And so the picture that's on the screen right now is the, 13:16 the conversation with the village elders, 13:19 where they're explaining how they want the school 13:22 for their children. - Okay. 13:24 Now again, it's a Hindu village? 13:26 - [Sharon] It's a Hindu village, yes. 13:27 - And we're not Hindu? 13:28 - [Sharon] We're not Hindu. 13:29 And we told them that. 13:30 - [Natalie] So, what was their response? 13:31 - Their response was, "We know you're Christian, 13:34 we know it will be a Christian school, please come." 13:37 - Wow. - [Sharon] So, 13:39 - And they just want education for their children? 13:40 - [Sharon] They just want education for their children. 13:42 - [Natalie] Yeah. - And 13:43 - [Natalie] That makes such a difference. 13:44 - [Sharon] No, it does that. 13:46 And there are a lot of children in this village. 13:48 And it will be an exciting prospect. 13:52 We have connected with the local mission 13:54 who's already identified find a family to go in 13:58 and we haven't gotten the details, we just have been told. 14:02 We know, and that's, that's it. 14:05 So this one, it hopefully will be started soon 14:09 and we can start small. 14:12 And then just, - Yeah. 14:13 One or two grades maybe, and just keep growing. 14:16 - [Sharon] Yep. 14:16 But they were very happy, 14:18 they were so honored that foreigners came to their village. 14:22 So many of them had never seen a foreigner before. 14:27 - Did any babies cry? (Sharon chuckles) 14:28 You know, that's happened to us sometimes in India, 14:31 that babies start crying when they see the white person. 14:32 - But you know, we have a number, 14:35 Hannah and I have a number of photos 14:36 where the baby's eyes are like this brown 14:39 - saucers - saucers. 14:41 - cause they're like, I don't know you 14:43 but they didn't cry. 14:44 - That's good. - [Sharon] Yeah. 14:45 They didn't run, they were excited that people were there 14:48 and they were honored that we had honored them 14:51 by coming to their village. 14:53 And Samson had been doing work there. 14:56 Visiting, getting to know the elders, 14:58 establishing the relationship. 15:00 So he was able to introduce us as his friends 15:03 and as friends of the village. 15:05 And they welcomed us with open arms. 15:08 So that's - That's really nice. 15:09 - Opportunity two, 15:11 - Okay. (Sharon laughs) 15:13 - Now we have a third opportunity for a school 15:14 - Okay. - of a different kind. 15:17 - Okay. 15:18 - In the south of Dhaka, 15:21 there is a town called Rangpuri. 15:25 - Okay. 15:26 - And in this town, is a very large brothel village. 15:31 - Hmm. 15:32 - And there are around 1300 women 15:36 who work in that village, 15:39 along with their children. 15:41 They have kids and then the kids just kind of hang around, 15:48 there's not a lot that people want to do for the kids. 15:51 Not a lot that people wanna do for the women, 15:54 they're in a, in a, an occupation. 15:57 - [Natalie] Yeah. - You know. 15:58 - Distasteful occupation. - [Sharon] Yeah. 16:00 And, and people, and, and the majority of, of polite society 16:04 would like to ignore the fact that they're there. 16:06 - Right. - [Sharon] However 16:07 - And it's a never ending cycle. 16:09 - [Sharon] It is. 16:10 - You know, the girls who grow up in there 16:11 - usually end trapped - [ Sharon] Yes. 16:12 - in the same lifestyle. - [Sharon] Right. 16:14 And the boys - [ Natalie] Yeah. 16:15 - see how the women are treated and that's what they learn. 16:19 And so the cycle keeps repeating and repeating. 16:23 - [Natalie] That's really sad. - Yes. 16:24 So we were introduced to a man that we'll call Paul, 16:28 who has a lot of experience in working with NGOs 16:33 and doing development projects. 16:36 And he in his work had gotten to know the, 16:41 the Muslim relief agency that is prevalent 16:45 in the Rangpuri area 16:47 and is the one who coordinates all the relief work 16:49 in that area. - Okay. 16:51 - And so he introduced us to the chairman of, of that group 16:57 and we had a lovely time together, and he said to us, 17:00 "We have this space that has industrial sewing machines 17:05 that no one is using." 17:07 - Hmm. 17:08 - And if you want to take this on, 17:11 we will let you into this space 17:15 and you can run a sewing school 17:18 - [Natalie] Interesting. 17:19 - for the ladies in the brothel village, 17:21 as a way for them to learn something 17:24 to be able to put food on the table, 17:26 learn a different skill. 17:27 And you'll, 17:28 you know that Bangladesh is one of the world's leading 17:32 exporters of clothing. - Hmm 17:33 - If you go to stores and you check the label, 17:36 a lot of them will say made in Bangladesh. 17:38 - Mm-hmm. 17:39 - So, anyone who goes through this school 17:42 should be able to get a job with, 17:45 - [Natalie] In the garment industry. 17:46 - [Sharon] In the garment industry, yes 17:47 - Okay. Interesting. 17:48 - [Sharon] Yeah. 17:49 So in India we have our schools 17:52 - [Natalie] Mm-hmm. 17:53 and those are treadle machines - [Natalie] Mm-hmm. 17:55 - so that the women can set up a shop. 17:57 - [Natalie] Right. 17:58 - These are industrial sewing machines. 18:01 So we have a short video here that Hannah took 18:04 and it just pans through the room 18:08 to show the kind of machines that they have. 18:11 - [Natalie] Okay. 18:13 - [Sharon] And these machines require electricity 18:16 and it requires constant electricity 18:19 because if the electricity goes out, 18:21 then the class kind of stops. 18:23 - [Natalie] Right. 18:24 - [Sharon] And so there's 10 in this room 18:27 and we could do two cohorts, 18:30 one in the morning, one in the afternoon 18:31 and train around 20 women - [Natalie] Mm-hmm. 18:34 - [Sharon] during the course of a, of a study. 18:37 - [Natalie] Okay. Interesting. 18:39 - Yeah. 18:40 And the photo that's up now is interesting because 18:43 they don't sew with patterns 18:45 the way that we do here in the United States 18:47 - [Natalie] No. 18:48 - [Sharon] They put the pattern up on the wall. 18:50 - That's the first time I've ever seen a pattern actually 18:52 in all of my times going to India. 18:53 I haven't ever seen them put 'em up on the wall. 18:55 - Must be because it's a school. 18:57 - Right. And, and 18:58 - Because they don't, the, 18:59 this blouse was sewn without, without 19:02 - I know - a pattern. 19:03 - Yeah. - [Natalie] It's amazing. 19:04 - [Sharon] It's amazing that they 19:05 - They take your measurements - [Sharon] Yeah. 19:06 - and then they can stitch it without 19:09 - [Sharon] Right? - Yeah. 19:10 - Exactly. 19:11 But this is only one pattern. - Right. 19:14 - The room has patterns all around and that's what they use 19:18 to make the clothing, clothing with. 19:20 So we are exploring options with Paul to get a budget 19:25 and to, to figure out how we can move forward. 19:28 But we were requested again, to come in to teach the ladies. 19:32 And while we won't be able to overtly share the gospel, 19:37 we know from our time in India, with the sewing schools, 19:40 that there are ways that the teacher can share about Jesus 19:46 during the classes. 19:48 So, - Right. 19:49 Well, in, in India, in our sewing school, 19:52 at first, the first one, the, the lady, 19:56 the teacher was not an Adventist, 19:58 she was a Hindu herself. 19:59 - Oh yeah. That's funny. 20:00 - And she was witnessed too, 20:01 by the people she was working with. 20:04 - The Christians that she was working with 20:06 to run the school. - Right. 20:07 - And so that was, that was really a powerful testimony. 20:10 I mean, her daughter, her daughter, wasn't getting pregnant 20:14 and she asked the Christians to pray and they did, 20:17 and her daughter, daughter got pregnant and she's like, 20:19 - That's so cool. - This is because of your God. 20:21 - Right. - You know? 20:23 And so it's a neat testimony - [Sharon] Right. 20:24 - No matter, you know, what the circumstance, 20:27 it can be a neat testimony. - It can be 20:28 - To each person involved. - It can be. 20:30 And, and it, 20:32 my heart breaks for the women who are in this situation, 20:36 who are trapped. 20:38 Many of them are trafficked there when they're young 20:42 and that's where they grow up. 20:44 And they aren't going to get married, 20:47 they are not going to be allowed to get a job 20:51 without additional training 20:52 and they don't know how to do that. 20:54 - Right. 20:55 - So this will be able to hopefully connect women to Jesus 20:59 most importantly, 21:00 but also give them a skill so they can leave 21:02 and not have to participate in the activities of the village 21:06 in order to put food on the table. 21:08 - Right. 21:09 Yeah, that's such a blessing. 21:10 You know, that was the case in India. 21:12 Our, our school was particularly for widows. 21:14 - [Sharon] Yes. 21:16 - That were also trapped into that same lifestyle. 21:17 - [Sharon] Yes, yes. 21:18 - Because they had no other way to make a living. 21:20 And it was such a blessing for them. 21:22 [Sharon] Right. 21:23 - To have skills that they could, you know, 21:25 set up their own shop or get a job working for someone else. 21:28 - [Sharon] Right. 21:29 - It just, it can be such a blessing. 21:31 - Right. Yeah. It can be. 21:33 And it gives them hope. 21:34 And when they have hope, then their children have hope 21:36 and - [Natalie] Right. 21:37 - And it starts a cycle of hope 21:39 as opposed to a cycle of darkness and 21:41 - Which is what they have now. 21:43 - Yeah. - Yeah. 21:44 So we're, I I'm really excited about this because 21:46 I really enjoy the sewing schools in India. 21:48 - Mm-hmm. 21:50 - And this was really a blessing that they offered, 21:54 please come. - [Natalie] Yeah. 21:55 And they have the machines, - [Sharon] Yes. 21:57 - which is amazing. - [Sharon] Yes. 21:58 - I think we have to get 'em serviced or something. 22:00 - Cause they've been sitting for a while. 22:01 - They have. Yeah. 22:02 - Yeah. - [Sharon] They have. 22:03 - But anyway, 22:04 so there's some costs associated with 22:05 getting that set up and running 22:07 - Right. 22:08 - [Natalie] before even can start. 22:09 - Right - Having classes, but 22:10 - [Sharon] Absolutely. Right. 22:11 Yeah, it's such a blessing though that they have, you know, 22:13 have a place and they have machines that just need service. 22:16 - And so we're praying for teachers 22:19 that God would like to place there 22:21 so that they, the women, or the teacher 22:24 can be connected with the women. 22:27 I was assuming it was a woman teacher, 22:28 but it doesn't have to be - [Natalie] That's true. 22:30 - because it's, Bangladesh has the industry 22:33 and so both men and women, 22:35 so it's not a gender specific activity 22:39 - Yeah. 22:40 - in Bangladesh. 22:41 And, so the schools are one of the ways 22:43 that we can spread the gospel. 22:45 And in a companion show to this, 22:47 Hannah's going to be talking about Bible workers 22:50 and medical missionary workers. 22:53 So we're trying to cover as many areas in Bangladesh as we, 22:57 - [Natalie] Right. - As we, 22:58 - I know you were there for five weeks. 22:59 - [Sharon] Five weeks. - And so you saw a lot. 23:01 - [Sharon] We did. (Sharon laughs) 23:02 We saw a lot and we could go on and on, but 23:05 - [Natalie] Right. 23:06 - We don't have time in this episode, 23:07 but Hannah will pick up some of that and share 23:10 some of what we saw in her episode. 23:13 - Okay. 23:13 So, having been to Bangladesh 23:16 and you've been to India since you came to work here. 23:18 - Yes. 23:19 - And, I'm just wondering, 23:21 you used to work in the corporate world? 23:24 - Yes, I did. 23:26 - And very much like it was business, it was for profit, 23:28 it was for a paycheck 23:31 - Yes. - and all of that. 23:32 You came to work with Jesus for Asia, 23:34 can you share a little bit of why just really briefly? 23:37 I know you've got quite a story. 23:39 I think we've shared it on another show. 23:40 - Yes. I think so, yeah. 23:42 - But, 23:43 just briefly, why you came to work with Jesus for Asia 23:46 and what you see now in your life differently. 23:49 - Yes. 23:51 So I had wanted to be in missions for quite a while 23:57 and I would periodically look at the, the offerings, 24:02 like, like at Adventist volunteer services or AFM or you 24:09 wherever they would list, - [Natalie] Oh, the mission 24:10 - Calls - possibilities. 24:11 - That's what I would look 24:12 but nobody ever wanted 24:14 a secretary administrative project manager person. 24:18 So, I pretty much gave up the idea that 24:22 missions would be something that I would be able to do, 24:25 but the burden kept going. 24:27 And where I worked, it was an okay place to work. 24:30 It was trying to change lives for the positive, 24:34 but it wasn't a spiritual reason. 24:37 It was more of a social and health 24:43 way of helping people 24:44 - More of the humanitarian side. 24:45 - [Sharon] Yes, yes. 24:46 And so when the opportunity presented itself finally 24:53 (Natalie laughs) 24:54 to come, I said - Lots of history there. 24:56 - A lot of history in this story. 24:58 I I'm came, and it was, you know, reduction in pay, 25:04 it was leaving everything that I knew, 25:07 it was downsizing to a smaller place to live, 25:13 and yet 25:14 - And you lost your commute? - [Sharon] I did. 25:16 - I mean, that was the biggest thing. 25:17 - I lost my hour and a half commute twice a day. 25:20 - Each way. Yeah. 25:22 - But yeah, that was, I was happy to do that. 25:25 - I know. 25:26 - That's crazy, no one should 25:27 - It's just one of those different 25:28 - drive three hours a day just to go to work 25:29 But anyway, by being here, there, 25:33 I haven't lacked anything, 25:36 I have had the opportunity to connect with missionaries 25:39 around the world, 25:40 see God do amazing things on a daily basis. 25:45 And our, our, our trip, even to Bangladesh, 25:49 we had so many evidences of God stepping in 25:53 and helping or protecting or 25:57 any other thing that he would do. 25:59 We could see it, it it's real. 26:01 And that was something that I didn't have in, 26:05 in my corporate area work, 26:07 where you would go to work and you would do your emails 26:11 and you would do your projects and you would, 26:13 and then you go home. - Yeah. 26:15 - [Sharon] But here, seeing. - There was tasks and duties. 26:17 - Yes. Yeah. 26:18 But here it's like, what will God do today? 26:21 - Yeah. 26:22 - It's pretty much how you come in. 26:24 - Yeah. 26:25 - You, you just don't know. 26:26 He is amazing, he cares about his people, 26:30 the very people that I was wondering 26:32 who was gonna go and tell them about the gospel. 26:36 He knows them, and he cares about them. 26:39 And I believe that he is working out way for them to hear. 26:44 - Yeah. 26:45 - [Sharon] Because that's the kind of God he is. 26:46 - Right. - So, yeah. 26:47 - And that's what his word says. 26:48 - Yeah. It's true. 26:49 - Every nation. 26:50 - Every nation, kindred, tribe, tongue, and people. 26:53 - Yeah. 26:54 - But yeah, it's a whole different mindset. 26:56 We, you work in an environment where a need comes up 27:00 and everyone stops and prays. 27:01 - Mm-hmm. 27:02 - We lift each other up in prayer, 27:04 we support our missionaries in prayer 27:07 that did not happen in the corporate world, so 27:10 - Yeah. 27:11 - It's a big shift, but big it's a good one. 27:14 So yeah, no regrets. 27:15 - All right. 27:16 Well, praise the Lord. 27:17 Thank you so much, Sharon. - [Sharon] You're welcome. 27:18 for coming and sharing with us your burdens 27:20 for the people of Bangladesh today. 27:22 - Thank you. 27:23 - And I would like to invite you 27:24 to help with the projects in Bangladesh. 27:26 First of all, by prayer because 27:28 these are opportunities we're sharing with you today. 27:30 We have not been able to start them yet. 27:33 There's need for connections, 27:34 there's need for God to open the way 27:36 some of the places we have locations, some of them we don't. 27:40 So there's a lot of details to be worked out, 27:42 besides the funding that is needed. 27:45 So if you would like to help, you can contact us at 27:47 Jesus for Asia PO Box 1221 Collegedale, Tennessee 37315. 27:55 Call us at (423) 413-7321, 27:59 or visit our website @jesus4asia.org 28:03 Make God richly bless you, 28:05 until we see you next time, on Jesus for Asia Now. 28:08 (soft music) |
Revised 2022-02-16