Sunday, October 26, 2008, More pics and News:
Here in Pakistan, I am among a very poor people. Many work long and hard for very little money. It is a hand-to-mouth existence. Yet I am so greatly honored among them, that they bring flowers, gifts, and unending greetings of appreciation, often taking my hand and kissing it. My host and hostess, Maqbool and Amber Bashir are so full of love and appreciation! They have given me their large bed, and insist that they are comfortable sleeping on make-shift cots. I have a hard time knowing how to feel, honored or guilty for receiving their honor.
One night, after exhausting ministry that went very late, I simply want to collapse on the bed. Next thing I know, there are five men who are massaging my feet, my back, my head. I now understand that this is the Punjabi way of encouraging one another. Ah, but it’s wonderful! (Punjab is the state of Pakistan where I am ministering here in Faisalabad.)
The bed where I sleep is also our dining table. Shortly after I’m up and dressed, all the men gather in the room; sitting cross-legged on the bed or in one of the two chairs. The table (bed) is covered with a cloth, then all kinds of Pakistani foods. They are most kind to quickly point out the ones with hot spices so I can avoid them. Most of the food is foreign to me. Japati is a bread, but there are four very similar types, roti, nan, etc. There is nearly always rice and other interesting mixtures of foods; really quite tasty.
Three days, so far, our eating table, (my bed) also becomes the teaching venue. Three to six sit together cross-legged on the bed while I sit in a chair to share as the Spirit leads. Maqbool usually interprets for me, but some of the others know enough English to grasp what I’m saying too. They love the testimonies. At night, because of “power sharing” black-outs from 1 to 3 hours, I often teach by flashlight. The adventure never ends. Praise God.
The Intelligence Bureau of Pakistan insists that I have an armed bodyguard 24 hours a day, everywhere I go. (Thus, I really don’t go anywhere except to preach and teach.) My main bodyguard showed me his licence to bear arms. It gives his occupation, title as “Gun Man.” I know I’m supposed to feel more secure because of these men and the guns, but quite honestly my greatest concern has to do with their lack of gun safety. Many times when I see they have set a gun down, I check to see if there is live ammo in the chamber… if so, I would empty it.
The ministry of the Word of God has been very rewarding. They have a great hunger and delight with every opportunity to receive teaching. Everyday there is some sign following the Word. The first day here, I met the aunt, of our young apostle, Maqbool, who lost a son to cancer a couple years ago. From the time of his death, she lost her ability to speak clearly. But after I greeted her and prayed, she began to speak plainly! She comes from next door everyday to greet me afresh, speaking plainly (in the Urdu language, which of course is an unknown tongue to me.)
The wife of one of the elders was wonderfully healed of are and shoulder pain. Today she came to testify to me about her healing, but was still suffering some headaches. I prayed briefly and she was set free. Hallelujah! (That word is being used a lot here these days.) A Muslim man came and God touched his back to set him free of pain, in the evening he comes to hear the Word of Jesus preached. It was a joy to see him respond to the love of Jesus.
Travel in a car to and from church meetings is quite an adventure. The driver seems new at the business of using (or not using) the clutch and gear shift. Next to him sits my bodyguard, gun across his lap. In the back seat Maqbool and his wife, Amber, sit on either side of me (she will also be holding one of their three small children. I am in the middle for protection, as people are not so likely to see me, an American in Islamic Pakistan. The roads near their house are very narrow, with buildings on either side, they are dirt roads with potholes… really bad roads in this part of town! Then they are crowded with pedestrians, bicycles, motorbikes, rickshaws, and donkey carts. Sometimes we open the windows for fresh air, then close them quickly to keep out the stench of filth everywhere.
Another time, I will tell you of my visits to their Adult Education Centers, and their classes to teach young ladies sewing and other things. I’m really impressed with the accomplishments of these folks with so very little resources.
Thank you for praying. Thank you for giving.
Love in Jesus,
Bruce
