Hi there!
I am writing this to you from the wonderful world of… Canada!!
The time has come for my annual visit back to North America. It is wonderful to be back and to visit friends and family for almost a month. I had a few immigration problems and flight problems when trying to leave Indonesia.. but God is soooooo good and within a few days He worked it all out! And now I am enjoying a beautiful time here!
One of the last things I did before leaving Indonesia was our youth event near Yogyakarta, Jawa. I had dreamed of doing an event in that area for 3 years and had heard many times from many people that it was “impossible” and would never happen.
I thank God that not only did it happen, but that it will never be forgotten. Although things don’t always work out the way that we plan them to, there is no need to be disappointed because we can always learn from what happens and see the wonderful plan that God had worked out how it takes place in the end. On the last night of our event some of the local people got very angry about Jesus being preached in their area and they started an anger rising up in the community. A week later the problem was rising and I ended up flying back from another island to deal with the situation. I was not about to allow the local church to be persecuted and have to stand through it alone because they had worked with us. It was honestly quite scary to go back to that situation for me. I knew I would go back to face an angry mob. But I really just prayed God would soften their hard and angry hearts before they even saw me. And that is exactly what He did! I was amazed how in only one day of me being there and visiting the local leaders there was peace made and apologies accepted and even stronger relationships built between the local church and some of the muslim youth groups than ever before!
God doesn’t just change situations.. God changes hearts! Sometimes when I am experiencing these things I feel like I am living in the Book of Acts. And then I remember what I have taught my students.. News Flash!! We ARE living in the Book of Acts!!
I learned a lot from this experience… and am ever more determined than ever to take the wonderful news of God’s love to more and more young people in areas where they have never heard it before.
I plan to go back to Indonesia next month with a new excitement to do even more.. but, until then, I am enjoying my Canadian visit! In case you or your church would like me to visit while I’m here you can see my schedule below.
July 22 – July 26 St. Catharines area (visiting NCC on July 25th)
July 27 – July 29 St. Joseph Island and Sault Ste. Marie area
July 30 – Aug 1 St. Catharines and Toronto area (speaking at TICC Aug 1)
Aug 3 – Aug 9 Rockford, MI area (speaking at Bridgeway Community Church Aug 
Aug 11 – Aug 15 Knoxford, NB area
Aug 16 – Aug 18 Wasaga Beach area
If you would like to reach me while I’m in Canada you can always email me or contact me on my (new) Canadian cell number 905-324-6556.
Enjoy your beautiful summer… wherever you are!!
Blessings,
Susan Joy
Below some pictures from our time in Yogyakarta:
- Working together with the local youth for the event
- The excitment in the neighborhoods to get our flyers
- Me preaching at the event
- The youth in the crowd enjoying the event
- The local of the event. The field is right beside the local Mosque
- Visiting “Borobudur”. One of the World’s Wonders.
- Our drug seminar
- Me with the local pastor who was Chairman and his family (please keep this family in prayer. They just opened thier church a year ago. They are bold with the gospel and have a true desire for their area to know Jesus)
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