05.31.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:00 am by dannyjones
Today we visited several communities and villages in the area and had 25 total that came out to go visiting. We passed out over 150 church flyers and brochures and got to stop and talk to lots of people along the way. Those who went were excited about the opportunity to witness about Jesus Christ. We went from house to house and got a good response from many people. Afterwards, when it got dark, we all went for ice cream and had a great time of fellowship. One young girl named Nan, who is 9 years old, was in the middle of the street jumping up and down as we went through her neighborhood. She was so excited about going visiting, she told me that she prayed to God over and over that I would pick her up and let her go visiting with us. It’s great to see the excitement of young (and old) Christians wanting to serve to Lord and tell others about Him. “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” John 20:21
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05.30.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:00 am by dannyjones
Today was my first day back at the high school teaching English after the summer break. (Thai summer lasts from March to the end of May.) The school principal usually announces my presence during the morning assembly, during which time over 1000 students bow and pray to Buddha, the spirits and various animals. After the daily show of idolatry and pagan ritual, the principal or one of his cohorts will give a speech about how Thai people are born Buddhist and should not listen to the foreigner if he speaks about religion. Today was somewhat different. I carried a handful of Bible school flyers into the principal’s office which had information about the English classes we would be teaching throughout the week at church and asked if I could distribute them to the students. Each of the flyers was conveniently placed inside a church brochure. I handed one to the principal and waited for his reaction. He read the church brochure. He read the plan of salvation. Then he sat quietly still for a moment. Finally, his response came, “Good! They need to learn English! And if they believe this other stuff you’re teaching there, well, that’s up to them.” By the grace of God, I was able to distribute the message of salvation to hundreds of students today. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” God is still working and the gospel still has power.
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05.29.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:00 am by dannyjones
I promised Bee (the girl I didn’t pick up on Sunday morning) that we would come visit her friends that she had invited to church sometime this week. I picked up one of our church flyers and tracts and noticed they had outdated information on them, and weren’t very eye-catching either. So, I set about today to create a new brochure about the church and a new flyer about the Bible institute classes which will begin this week also. I decided to take off the clip art and replace it with a picture of some teenagers from our church. It’s full color, has information about the church, what we teach, service times and the message of salvation. Inside, I placed a small flyer about UBBI classes and times. Printing, cutting and folding 300 brochures and 300 flyers took quite a while today, but Rachel and Kak helped. On the building project, I bought more cement, poured more concrete, ordered more block, and got a coat of paint on the office. We busy ourselves in the work of the Lord, and ask your prayers so hat we may have strength to continue. Today, please pray for us. Pray for a missionary today. “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1
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05.28.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:00 am by dannyjones
Do you ever feel like kicking yourself? I did today. You see… it rained. It rained hard. It rained a lot.I run a route to pick up kids for church in our Ford Ranger that has a tall camper top with open sides and bench seats in the back. Not many wanted to come get wet, but for those who were in the back of the truck ready to come to church, I wanted to hurry back so they wouldn’t get too wet. Most of the kids I pick up live in the communities and villages close to the church, but there is one girl who lives 16 kilometers away. Her house is down a rough dirt road that I knew would be a muddy mess from the rain. as I drove along, I thought to myself, “She doesn’t even come all the time… and I need to think about the other kids. They’re getting soaked back there. I’ll go out to her village this evening, but not now. Not during this storm.” So, I did go… that evening. When she got into the truck she said, “Bro. Danny, where were you this morning? I had invited lots of people from my village to come to church, and there was a big crowd waiting for hours for you to come pick us up, but you never came. They finally gave up and went home.” Needless to say, I shouldn’t have to explain myself when I say I wish I could kick myself. You get the picture. Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
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05.27.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:00 am by dannyjones
Today Rachel, Tara and I along with a couple teens from the church had a work day cleaning, straightening and painting in the church office. We’re not yet done, but we were able to get a base coat of primer on the walls. As night began to fall, the bugs started swarming by the thousands. Attracted to the lights, there are giant brown clouds of bugs like plagues of locusts that swarm in a frenzy with hundreds of them falling to the ground dead. By the morning, there is between 1-2 inches of dead bugs on the floor and ground outside. You have to close your eyes and cover your mouth and nose to breath so that they don’t fly in. To many (not me) the huge swarms mean a feast, as they sweep up the bugs off the ground and put them into buckets to deep fry and eat later. Despite having over a million in attendance at church this week… we were able to get quite a bit of work done. As you serve the Lord today… remember to not let the little things “bug” you.
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05.26.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:00 am by dannyjones
Every missionary ministering in a culture or nation that is not his own, will at some point in time have episodes of frustration, anger, resentment and general negative feelings towards the foreign situations that he faces on a daily basis. The people, their thinking, actions and reactions are different than what he is used to. The added stress of language learning and the feeling of helplessness that comes along with not being able to communicate and take care of ones own business just adds to the missionary’s already full plate. There is pressure from the States to show results. Then there are the goals that the missionary has placed upon himself to accomplish. I have come to the conclusion that this emotional upheaval in the life of a missionary that is commonly referred to as “culture shock” can better be summed up in the term “cultural stress.” “Shock” paints a picture of a single traumatic experience that overwhelms the missionary upon entry to the field or at some other point in time. Cultural stress, however, refers to the spiritual, emotional, and physical struggle that a missionary can and does experience on a daily basis.
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05.25.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:00 am by dannyjones
We cannot ask of you to anchor your heart in our memory as we leave, but rather fasten and secure you life to the Rock that is Jesus Christ. By your faithfulness we will be blessed, and by your prayers we will be sustained. We fight a battle in this war against sin. I ask only that you never surrender, never falter, but press on against the enemy. Through the power of God, we already have the victory. Stand fast in the Lord and in the power of His might. This world is crumbling all around us, and except we repent, we shall all likewise perish just as this world. There are many who have become altogether unprofitable, unfruitful servants, woefully lacking in their service to God. The old faithful few are a dying breed. Who will step up? Who will take their place? Who will stand on God’s side? Would to God that we had faithful men to step up and proclaim, “Here I am! Lord! Send me! I will have faith. I will go and fight for you!”
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05.24.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:00 am by dannyjones
When you think of mission work, what thoughts come to your mind? Passing out tracts? Baptisms in a muddy river? Church services under a large grass hut in the jungle? Mission work or any kind of gospel ministry certainly involves the traditional view of “spiritual” service, yet what is often overlooked or not talked about is the everyday menial tasks involved in serving the Lord. The highlight of my day today was not a packed church house or the heart-rending testimony of a repentant sinner, but rather a shovel, a big pile of dirt, and a lot of sweat. True spirituality involves more than “thees” and “thous.” True spirituality is doing what God wants you to do, no matter how great or small. If the Lord wants you to mop floors, wait tables or dig in the dirt” do it, no matter how menial the task. The Lord will not give you big responsibilities without first giving you small ones, and there are always many small ones along the way. Mission work is just that: WORK! No matter if your service to God finds you in your neighborhood at home or somewhere in Southeast Asia, do with your might what your hands find to do. “Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.” Matt. 25:21
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05.23.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:00 am by dannyjones
During our furlough last year, Tara got to spend some time with her grandparents in the States. One of her most vivid memories was riding in a little red wagon with her Papaw pulling her down the street. After coming back to the mission field, Tara never stopped talking about her Papaw and his little red wagon. Not too long ago, her Papaw promised Tara that he would buy a new Radio Flyer and ship it to Thailand. After a long wait (To Tara I’m sure it seemed like a lifetime) her little red wagon arrived in the mail today. Tara’s eyes lit up as Rachel carried the box out of the post office, and while I assembled the wagon, Tara jumped up and down non-stop. Seeing the joy in her young eyes was such a blessing. It’s always hard to wait, but we must realize that the best is yet to come. “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” -Luke 18:17
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05.22.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:00 am by dannyjones
With the news of expecting another child, I can’t help but to reflect on how our beautiful daughter came into this world more than two years ago. I had so many people ask me if I was going to stay here or come back to the states, but with our visa situation so up in the air at that time it was much easier to stay and pray that everything worked out. Everything worked out and we had a healthy baby girl, but the journey was a roller coaster of emotions and events outside of our expectations. Read more of this article in Rachel’s Corner.
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