Good morning, Good day everyone!
It’s been awhile since I’ve put up a post so I’m feeling prompted this morning.

Currently our team is working feverishly on Shine On Disc #6. It will be released to you, our video site at http://mbmsiVideo.com and the churches the end of February. I’m excited about sharing what God is doing in India: Shekhar’s Story; in Austria: Bernhard Mizelli’s Story; and in Congo: Patricia’s Story-Mercy Home. Pray with and for us during these intense post-production weeks.

Also, you need to know that we are not planning any more production trips until we have full support pledged. We are currently 25% short. This support enables us to receive a salary, but also supports our travel, some production costs and equipment.
PLEASE PRAY WITH US IN THIS REGARD.

I traveled to the Ukraine and experienced the work first hand of John & Evelyn Wiens. It was exciting to see them supporting and working alongside Pastor Boris and others. Continue to pray for and support this invaluable ministry. Project #: C0547
Projects in the Ukraine:

Shot in the Crimea, Ukraine

This is us in 2009. Three grand children; three children, two of which are married; two great grand mothers and us. I’ve changed the About Us page to reflect that. Check it out…

You may have already noticed:
1- Top (header) pictures change whenever you return to site
2- We have a new address for our blog (even if you type in the old address or use an old bookmark you still find our site

We made the address change mainly because it was always so difficult to give the “old one” out. People could never remember it. So we’ve changed the address to:
mbstoriesofhope.com

This “new name” reflects the title of our blog anyway and now is easier to pass on to others. Feel free to give it to anyone you think might be interested!

P.S. If you happen to go back in history to re-read a post or check out some photos you will find, at least for now, that some of the pictures are not showing up on dates earlier than November 2008. That’s because I have to make a coding change to those posts. If you have a problem just email us at mbmsimac@me.com and we can make sure that you see and can read everything.

is the title of a book written by Mike Erre.

As part of a mentoring relationship, another guy and I are meeting from time to time and are reading this book together. We are challenging each other to follow Christ as we live out our lives.

Here are some powerful quotes from the first chapters of this bk:
“We are called to vulnerably trust in God and not in ourselves.”
“God ensured that we cannot possibly make life work apart from him.”
“Men shouldn’t work only because we need money or for the chance to enjoy ourselves in the evenings and on the weekends. We work because something about it fulfills our humanity.”
“Men dream of living a more compelling, adventurous life, but then we find out that even guys who live that way find it empty.”
“The call to men who live in the community of Jesus is to live in reality and reject the counterfeits and substitutes that fantasy and escape provide.”

I’m working on memorizing a new set of verses…
Paul is passionate about his new found faith in Jesus and so am I.

“I once thought these things were valuable,
but now I consider them worthless
because of what Christ has done.
Yes, everything else is worthless
when compare to the infinite value of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
For his sake, I have discarded everything else,
counting it as garbage,
so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.
I no longer count on my own righteousness
through obeying the law;
Rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.
For God’s way of making us right with himself
depends on faith.
I want to know Christ and experience
the mighty power that raised him from the dead.
I want to suffer with him,
sharing in his death,
so that one way or another I will experience
the resurrection from the dead!”

When asked in India if I was a Christian I would often say “no” and follow that up with, “I’m a follower of Jesus.”

In India 80% of the 1.17 billion people are Hindu, 13% are Muslim and the rest are “other” or Christian. Indians just believe you are part of some “religion.” When they hear the word “Christian” they think of religion with a set of do’s and don’t, religious piety, rules, works, things that you do… I wanted to make them think beyond that concept.

After all, Christ said, “follow me.” He didn’t use the word Christian. Being a follower means that I am saved by grace and that I am seeking to live as Jesus lived, be his follower, “love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” “Doing” doesn’t earn me salvation.

One evening I participated in a poetry club. Each person recited their own poems from memory. Very impressive! As they went round and round, people began dropping out until one was left, the winner so-to-speak.

I read from the Psalms for my contributions.
One poem even had the topic of religion. I could relate to it’s plea.

“O God,
save me
from religion,
and never stop
surprising me.”
Mark Klassen

Check out Mike Erre’s video, “How Do You Grow in the Christian Life,” where he talks about being a disciple of Christ. The word Christian is only used 3x in all of scripture. Follower and disciple of Jesus is used over 100x.
http://www.conversantlife.com/blogs/mike+erre/video

MB’s are bringing the light to India.
Do you feel called to join in?
First go home and turn up your thermostat to 120 degrees. Enjoy for several hours. If you still are interested in going to India as a missionary then let’s sit down and talk. (you may also want to ride a rickshaw through old Delhi first to see if you can handle the bustling Indian traffic)

Shot in Delhi, Patiala, Amritsar and Hyderabad, India in November 2009

I spent my last couple of weeks in the south of India, in the state of Andre Pradesh. The Hindi word “Pradesh” means “state” in English.

Here are a few glimpses into where I stayed and what I saw:

Guesthouse where I stayed...

Place where new Classroom will be built

MB Centenary Bible College Students

Students with Professor

Rev. Ruth Sovana Nayak - NT Lecturer

Campus Memorial

MBCBC Staff Family

MB Church

Church Extension Worker

New Jesus Followers

Church Extension Team

MB Church in Shamshabad

November 27, 2009
Reedley, CA 93654
I awoke this morning to a strange sound of silence. Gone were the grunts of pigs, calls of the street vendor, shrieks of horns of every imaginable and unimaginable kind. It was almost kind of eery.

The hustle and bustle of India has strangely vanished. Aaron, my son, picked me up at the airport and drove me 5 hours to Fresno to meet Geri and as we traveled I marveled at the lack of traffic. There was no one in the streets. I hardly caught a glimpse of anyone. Where were all the people???

When I walked in the door I felt a warmth of familiarity. I was home. I could hold Geri in my arms again and not have to let go. I could sit in my office, and stare into our backyard.

I wonder what God has for us today? He is here and wants to speak into our lives. God I want to be your servant here too. Thank you for bringing me home again!

November 26, 2009
I began my trip at 22:30 in Shamshabad, India yesterday. After a lecture/class session at a University in Hyderabad, I went shopping for gifts, got a tour of the city and had my last shave.

I ate one last meal of curry and rice and had one last talk with Dr. Paul Wiebe, a former missionary, sociologist, now a consultant for MBMSI in India. He is spending his time in south India being a peacemaker and giving advice to ongoing projects at an MB Bible College in Shamshabad, Andre Pradesh.

After supper I did my final packing and took my final splash bath, after heating up the water, using a heating coil by hanging it into the water. Then I dressed and sat down to wait for my ride.

When the driver arrived I couldn’t help but chuckle. India’s winter in the south is actually quite warm and somewhat humid, but the driver was dressed in a heavy winter coat with gloves and ear muffs. Apparently Indians here feel that winter has arrived.

We got to the airport in quick order. I wasn’t overweight with my checked bags, but they were only allowing 8 kg for the carryon. Mine weighed 14. In a whispered tone the clerk asked me to carry my laptop case separately and that he was only allowing this because of my valuable gear. He was very kind…
My plane left at 2:55 AM. In Frankfurt after walking and riding a bus and an air tram I reached my gate just before boarding.

The first leg of my trip was over. It was now 9 AM November 26, 2009. My next leg would be 11 hours to Los Angeles. After that a 5 hour road trip home.

After 9 1/2 weeks I can’t wait to be home, sleep in my own bed and see family and friends!

This post will be my last from the subcontinent of India…
Many of you know that I was sick the last few days. I’m doing much better now. My fever is gone and I feel quite good again. This did impact some of my work, but I still have been able to accomplish many things.

I was able to speak at the Shamshabad MB Centenary Bible College, share the gospel, encourage a former Muslim, now a
follower of Jesus and make many contacts for a potential next trip to India. God is good and he is at work in this huge land of poverty & wealth, color & black and white, noise & quiet. I have enjoyed my time here even though it was challenging…maybe also because it was challenging!

Tomorrow I will speak in a university class in photography-film. I’m looking forward to this opportunity. Then I’ll spend some time in the city, Hyderabad, head back to Shamshabad to pack, pay bills and get ready to fly home.

Enjoy a few last parting shots of life in India:

10 Rupie Shave = 20 cents US

Missionary to the North

Shekher & Sikh's

Sacred Pool

Walking the Temple

Sikh Women

He wanted his picture taken...

Shoe Man

Marble Reflections

Golden Temple

Bathing to be Healed

Prayer

This may be my last post for awhile. I’m not sure...
Tomorrow I head up to Amritsar in the north, near Pakistan. I will be traveling with Indian Rail to visit the most sacred holy
shrine for Sikhism. My goal will be to gather some footage and stills of yet another religion and rail travel. Another slice of India…

Then on Thursday I will head to another city in the Punjab to work on the story of a young man who experienced physical healing, has found faith in Jesus Christ (is a follower of Jesus) and was led to become a witness for Him in the north. I’m excited to meet “Shekkar.” Please pray for safety, energy, creativity, God’s protection and health. Each day is another step of trust and adventure.

I will then head for Hyderabad and Shamshabad Sunday afternoon where I will visit the flood zone, see MB projects up close and work on a second transformation story (TBA).

I want to see what God wants me to see, hear his voice and take steps of obedience. Little did I realize how important the prayers of Randy Friesen have been as he washed my feet and prayed. I am treading on ground that is simply mind-boggling.

You may have been wondering who has been taking all these pictures and shooting all of the video. Well, I have been there too…

Talking with Amit

Heading out again

Mark, Brent & Students

Soccer Shoot