Field Missionary

I find myself pretty emotional these days. Well, actually, I’m emotional most other times as well, but this is a different type of emotion. Currently, we are in the middle of the desert, figuratively speaking. Seven weeks without water in our house has left us relying on “bucket” living, meaning a constant stream of filling up buckets from a back faucet and carrying them inside our house. We “bucket” flush, we take “bucket” baths and the dishes get a “bucket” rinse. I’d like to think we are pros at “bucket” living now. Three days ago, we found ourselves without even the small trickle of water coming in our back faucet. “What are we going to do for water?” was my first thought. “Where are we going to get it from?” I’m reminded of a woman in the Bible. A Samaritan woman going to draw water at a well, Jacob’s well. I can picture the scene well in mind after seeing women draw water from wells here.  In John, chapter 4, we read about this Samaritan woman going to fill her “bucket” with water and meeting Jesus. He asks for a drink from her, breaking a Jewish law. Jews were not supposed to talk with Samaritans. And, being a man, he was not supposed to talk to a woman without her husband present. But, that day, that life-changing day for this woman, Jesus wasn’t concerned with the law. He was concerned with offering grace and a chance to know Him. This…
Source: Bucket Living from Fothergill – Africa

Each morning this week I was greeted by these smiling faces on the pediatric ward.  Many kids are scared of doctors and so they cry and scream when I get close to them, but thankfully, not this week. The most common reasons for admission are diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition.  Skin, muscle and bone infections are also quite common.  This week, I had a kid with an infection in his brain that our surgeons drained and he is now moving the left side of his body.  Another boy had a bad tooth infection that spread to his face.  Thankfully, Sheena, our dentist, was able to remove the tooth and the swelling and infection went down in just a few days.  It is a blessing to be able to help the kids get better and send them home to their families.
Source: Happy kids from Erin Meier – Asia Pacific

Once again we have been a bit behind the times with our blog writing.  As the chief writers for the Asia-Pacific Regional website and the seven social media channels that we manage on behalf of the Region, it seems that we are always writing, just not on our own blog!!!  I did want to get this urgent request for Work and Witness teams out to all of you so that you might be able to share it with your churches.  More to come…just as soon as I complete writing the quarterly activity and strategy reports for our ministry, and then proof the 70+ page strategy report for all ministries of the Region.  My eyes get tired 🙂
Source: Extreme Work and Witness Teams Needed in Saipan. from Aebischer – Asia Pacific