Dear Co-laborers in Christ,
We trust that all is well with you. Although we are still in the rainy season and we get some rain almost everyday, it is still hot. There are a lot of mosquitoes in the evenings and in the nights. With the dry season approaching in August, it will be hotter but with no mosquitoes. In the month of July, we have been busy with several activities.
A Day of Fellowship
First of July was "Keti-Koti" (cutting of the chain) in Suriname. It commemorates the abolition of slavery in Suriname in 1863. Several of the Guyanese churches came together for a day of fun and fellowship. The group had a time of worship together and I brought a challenge from the Word of God on Our Liberty in Christ. There were several sports activities for the different age groups. The children as well as the adults had a wonderful time together. It was encouraging to see believers from the different churches sharing and getting to know one another better. We are hoping to have several of these get together in the near future.
Father’s Day Celebration
We joined the Guyanese believers on Father’s Day for a time of celebration. On Mother’s Day, the men prepared and served the ladies a delicious meal. It was neat to see the men planning and working together to get the job done. Likewise on Father’s Day, the ladies got together and fixed a meal for the men. The children sang, recited poems, and gave gifts to the fathers. We need to see more men being faithful and fulfilling their God given roles in the homes and in the churches.
Short-Term Team: Extend Global
On July 10-19, a group of six from St. Louis, Missouri came to partner with us in a week of ministry among the Javanese and Hindustani. The flight was delayed and the team arrived about 3:00 a.m. with one team member’s bag missing. We had a time of orientation with the team, going through the schedule, and eating a meal together. They were involved in several areas of ministry. They had a workshop on training teachers to work with the children and another on training youth workers. There were five churches that participated in the training. In the evenings, the team ministered to Javanese and Hindustani men and women in several communities. The team also went out in groups to visit several Javanese homes. During the house visit on Monday, Eddy (ca. 48yr) prayed to receive the Lord while his wife Nancy was at the Ladies group and his 9 year old daughter was visiting the children’s club. The family lives in a small house with 5 children. Pray that the rest of the family will come to know Christ as Lord and Savior.
On Sunday afternoon, three of the men came and shared at the Hindustani House Church in Jarikaba. John Tucker, the team leader, brought a very encouraging message on "Our Inheritance in Christ." On Thursday evening a mixed group of about 50 men came together for a seminar on Marriage and Communication. The men appreciated the time together.
Vacation in Guyana
Last Saturday, we were planning to leave for Guyana for a week of vacation but all of us came down with the flu. Hopefully in a few days all of us will be healthy again and ready to travel. We are thinking of traveling on July 28 and returning on August 3. My last visit to Guyana was in 2006 when my mother passed away. We are looking forward to encourage family members who are Christians and share the love of Christ with those who have not yet trusted in Christ.
Prayer Requests
Pray that we will be able to develop a practical curriculum for the Portable Bible School to develop leaders in the tribal churches.
Pray that the Lord will protect us during our travel to Guyana and that He will give us a time of rest & meaningful fellowship with family members.
Thank you for your continual prayers and support as we partner to make Christ known to those who still need to hear the Gospel. May the Lord bless you and bountifully supply all of your needs. In Him, Gurudatt, Nadira, & Nathan
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Ministry Update April 2009
Dear Co-laborers in Christ,
We are thankful once again for the opportunity to share with you what the Lord has been doing through our united efforts to make disciples and establish churches among those that need to know Christ. God has opened doors for us to partner with others and to invest in those that are capable of making disciples.
Coaching for the Kingdom
My coaching time with Hamid continues as he seeks to establish a church among the Bush Negroes. During our time together, I use four questions to guide our discussion. What do you want? What is happening? What could you do? What will you do? The order of the questions varies according to the needs at hand. I find it very interesting to begin by listening to what is happening in Hamid’s life and ministry and then take it from there. This time is very essential in encouraging, motivating, and guiding him toward fulfilling his goals. Once each month I visit the young church and share the gospel with the people.
On April 2nd I had the opportunity to lead a relative of Hamid to the Lord. Nalini was a Hindu from Guyana who came to attend a funeral. She has been married to a Hindu man who has a problem with alcohol and he has been very abusive to her. She heard the gospel when she was a child and went to church occasionally as an adult but she never trusted the Lord. After I explained to her how she can receive the gift of eternal life, Nalini prayed to receive the Lord. We gave her some discipleship materials and encouraged her to attend a local church in Guyana.
We are thankful once again for the opportunity to share with you what the Lord has been doing through our united efforts to make disciples and establish churches among those that need to know Christ. God has opened doors for us to partner with others and to invest in those that are capable of making disciples.
Coaching for the Kingdom
My coaching time with Hamid continues as he seeks to establish a church among the Bush Negroes. During our time together, I use four questions to guide our discussion. What do you want? What is happening? What could you do? What will you do? The order of the questions varies according to the needs at hand. I find it very interesting to begin by listening to what is happening in Hamid’s life and ministry and then take it from there. This time is very essential in encouraging, motivating, and guiding him toward fulfilling his goals. Once each month I visit the young church and share the gospel with the people.
On April 2nd I had the opportunity to lead a relative of Hamid to the Lord. Nalini was a Hindu from Guyana who came to attend a funeral. She has been married to a Hindu man who has a problem with alcohol and he has been very abusive to her. She heard the gospel when she was a child and went to church occasionally as an adult but she never trusted the Lord. After I explained to her how she can receive the gift of eternal life, Nalini prayed to receive the Lord. We gave her some discipleship materials and encouraged her to attend a local church in Guyana.
Marriage Seminar
On April 4th, three men from Extend Global, a short-term missions’ organization from Missouri, came to Suriname for the first time to look at the possibility of forming a partnership with us in the Hindustani work. During their visit, they ministered to the Hindustani men though a seminar on communication in marriage. We have been challenging the Hindustani men to be capable leaders in their homes and in the churches. Presently Extend Global is recruiting a short-term team to come to Suriname on July 10-18.
On April 4th, three men from Extend Global, a short-term missions’ organization from Missouri, came to Suriname for the first time to look at the possibility of forming a partnership with us in the Hindustani work. During their visit, they ministered to the Hindustani men though a seminar on communication in marriage. We have been challenging the Hindustani men to be capable leaders in their homes and in the churches. Presently Extend Global is recruiting a short-term team to come to Suriname on July 10-18.
Growing Together in Christ
I have begun to teach a series on forgiveness to our Hindustani believers in one of the house churches. For the Christian community to experience growth, freedom, joy, and God’s blessing, they need to reflect the forgiving heart of our Lord. I am planning also to teach the series in the Guyanese church.
Twice monthly on Tuesdays at 3:00 pm est., I have joined a learning community of World Team leaders in the Americas through Skype conferencing. The purpose of this community is to promote mutual fellowship and encourage-ment and to bond as growing disciples and mentors. We have been going through a series on Spiritual Growth. We have already had two sessions and I find it very encouraging and edifying. It is wonderful to connect with other missionaries to learn together and to pray for one another.
I have begun to teach a series on forgiveness to our Hindustani believers in one of the house churches. For the Christian community to experience growth, freedom, joy, and God’s blessing, they need to reflect the forgiving heart of our Lord. I am planning also to teach the series in the Guyanese church.
Twice monthly on Tuesdays at 3:00 pm est., I have joined a learning community of World Team leaders in the Americas through Skype conferencing. The purpose of this community is to promote mutual fellowship and encourage-ment and to bond as growing disciples and mentors. We have been going through a series on Spiritual Growth. We have already had two sessions and I find it very encouraging and edifying. It is wonderful to connect with other missionaries to learn together and to pray for one another.
Prayer Requests
· Pray that God will enable us to help Hamid to develop his gifts and to encourage him to be all that he could be for the Lord.
· Pray that Nalini will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and that she will find a good Bible believing church and become a part of it.
· Pray that we will develop a good partnership with Extend Global that will lead to the propagation of the gospel.
· Pray that the Hindustani men will take their God-given role as leaders in their homes seriously and become servant-leaders.
· Pray that God will empower us do what He has called us to do and to be faithful in serving Him.
· Pray for Roy & Margaret Lytle as they make plans to return to Suriname on May 8th to resume their ministry among the tribes.
· Pray that God will enable us to help Hamid to develop his gifts and to encourage him to be all that he could be for the Lord.
· Pray that Nalini will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and that she will find a good Bible believing church and become a part of it.
· Pray that we will develop a good partnership with Extend Global that will lead to the propagation of the gospel.
· Pray that the Hindustani men will take their God-given role as leaders in their homes seriously and become servant-leaders.
· Pray that God will empower us do what He has called us to do and to be faithful in serving Him.
· Pray for Roy & Margaret Lytle as they make plans to return to Suriname on May 8th to resume their ministry among the tribes.
We appreciate your prayers and support very much as we seek to bring people into the kingdom of God. May God bless you and meet all of your needs.
In Him,
Gurudatt, Nadira, & Nathan
In Him,
Gurudatt, Nadira, & Nathan
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