News from August
Hi there!
Sorry.. I wrote this email about a week and a half ago.. and am finally sending it now.. it’s late. But I hope you’ll still enjoy it!
Last month I wrote about one of my dreams for my city coming true.. well .. guess what? Another dream of mine became a reality this month!! For over a year I have wanted to preach the gospel in the village “Ujung Teranâ€.. but because it is “the†Muslim village .. even the training centre for our area it has been difficult to get in. I remember the 1st time I went there.. It was like stepping into a different world, and one that didn’t welcome us well. But just 2 days ago I stood in the centre of this village telling all the people about what Jesus or ‘Isa’ (the Muslim name for Jesus) had done for them! We had called the night “Pesta Mujizat†(A Miracle Party)! And that’s what happened! It was a real celebration of what Jesus has done of for us.. and how we can receive it! At first the people were scared to be prayed for.. only 2 sick people came up to the front for prayer.. but when both of them testified they had been healed.. a few more came up! And then we gave one man the mic.. he had been sick for 2 years. He stood infront of all the people and said.. “Ini mujizat betul-betul†(these are real miracles!) One of their own village members testifying that Jesus really was doing these beautiful things excited all the people! And soon many sick people came forward! All of them stood at the front testifying.. most of them had been sick for 1 to 2 years! It was so beautiful! All the locals came in from the surrounding coffee shops to watch in awe.. All the praise to Jesus!!
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Last week I had planned to go to a group of unreached people in the Muslim province above me. However, as the days got closer I really didn’t have a peace about it and the people there were worried about are safety because the area was in unrest so I decided to postpone my trip there till another time. So during that time I decided to focus on another unreached group even closer to me! Did you know that within my province alone there are millions of unreached people (people who have never heard the gospel)? This will be one of my goals in this next year.. to reach those people. Preaching the gospel to everyone is wonderful.. but how much more amazing to give someone the opportunity they have never had before! Thank you for your prayers as we try to plan wisely how would be the best way to reach these beautiful Melayu people!
Actually our Youth Revolution in Sibolga at the end of September will also be reaching some of these Melayu people! We are so excited for this event.. we have been working all month on preparations.. to make it even bigger and better! I went to visit Sibolga and I noticed so many big billboards for other concerts. And I heard how they bring in huge sound systems and lights and everything .. then I was thinking.. why should the world be able to put on better events than us!??! We are children of the king! We have a purpose! We have the most amazing thing in the world to share with them… Jesus! So I’ve decided.. I’m not gonna let the world beat me at winning young people.. no way. I’ve decided. I’m gonna do it big.. go all the way! The world is so good at attracting young people.. but then it has nothing to give them. No hope. No future. No nothing! So what about us? We have everything to give them! So lets do it!! Let’s do it big!! Let’s not stop at 100’s of youth.. let’s go for 1,000’s!!
When I was in Sibolga we did a Youth event for all the churches in the area. What a night!! The place was too small to hold all the youth so each church sent a small group to represent them. And over 20 churches were represented!! At first they were shy.. But I challenged them to be crazy for Jesus!! Preaching from Mark 2:3-5 about those 4 friends of the lame man! Ever notice how crazy they were? Nothing could stop them! They tore apart someone’s roof!! Why? Because they were desperate to bring their friend to Jesus!! I challenged the youth to be the same to stop at nothing to bring people to Jesus! And by the end they whole place was totally pumped to work together to win their city to Jesus!!
One Saturday night I was surprisingly not busy so I decided to attend a local youth service. So I called up some guys who I knew needed some more Jesus in their life and asked them to come with me. At the end of service there was an altar call to the front. The guy beside me asked me to move so he could get out of the aisle. I was actually disappointed because I thought he was leave the service for a while.. but then I realized he was walking up to the front.. I almost brought me to tears to see him up at the front crying and then I looked down and saw the other guy I had brought was sitting there with his hands open to God and his head down praying.. Jesus’ touch is the most beautiful thing in our lives! I am trying to include both of these guys in a new weekly group I’m doing in my home to train a youth teams to shake the villages and cities in our area!
On sept 12 our new team will be arriving in Berastagi, Indonesia. (I am currently in Canada) This will be starting my 5th year as a missionary here! Wow! Totally unbelievable! It’s been so amazing the time has totally flown by! I thank you so much for all your support and prayers that have kept me coming back year after year! It just seems to get better and better every year!
I have so many plans already for this year.. so many dreams just waiting to become reality.. that’s where your part is. I may be here to see it.. to dream it.. but with your prayers and support you are the one who makes it become a reality! I hope you are rejoicing in each one of these emails over the past few years! Our God has been so awesome to us! And .. I know.. the best is yet to come!
It’s all about Jesus!
Susan Joy