I have now been to the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Asia is completed…4 months are over.
I am now on my 2nd continent, Africa.
As I was thinking of how to summarize Asia, I just kept picturing all the faces of people and remembering Jesus stories of how my brothers and sisters have come to know our amazing Savior all over the world. I have picked 4 testimonies, one from each country that have blessed me so much and have challenged my faith in the Lord. I pray they not only touch your life but bless your spirit and encourage your faith in our mighty Lord, Jesus Christ.
“The Testimonies (Jesus stories) of Asia 2010”
Month 1: Philippines- Story of Pastor Richard and the Gangsters
Richard grew up in a broken family, left home at a young age and lived in the streets. Living alone was hard and lonely. He needed friends, so the gang become his new family. He was lost, searching for love but was miserable. He stayed in the gangs until he was in his early 20s and finally came to a place of desperation. He told me that he couldn’t take life anymore, so he went onto the top of a mountain and started to pray to God for help, and God showed up that day. Richard felt his spirit change and believed in Jesus.
He left the city where he was living to get away from the gang and that life style. He went to Bible college to become a pastor, ministered in a church for a short time but knew that he wasn’t meant to preach in a church. So he left his position and started to minister in the streets to young gangsters. His ministry is to love on those who most people hate; the robbers, prostitutes, and thugs. He lives his life like Jesus would have…its so inspiring and humbling.
Month 2: Cambodia- Story of Vuthy Nurn
Vuthy was born into a Buddhist family, the oldest of 5 children. His parents couldn’t afford to keep him at home so he was raised in Phenom Phen with his Aunt and cousins. When he was in his early 20s he became a TukTuk driver(Cambodia’s taxi). He was Buddhist but didn’t practice it very much and simply wasn’t happy with life.
A few years ago, a team of missionaries came to Phenom Phen and were working with the street kids in the city. By God’s plan, Vuthy was their taxi driver and he saw how they loved the kids and were giving their time for the street children. Vuthy was challenged specifically by how the Christian men were playing and loving on the children, in Cambodia men don’t do that. So because of simply watching the missionaries his heart was touched and he went to find a Kami pastor about Jesus.
Now he is changing the Buddhist village his family lives in, he has a church, a school, and is raising money for an orphanage so those street kids will experience Christ’s love!
Month 3: Malaysia- Story of Kaya
I met Kaya cutting vegetables in the back of a homeless shelter in Malaysia. She was born in Slovenia into a Catholic home, the youngest in her family. She was unwanted from birth, she came from a large family and her mother didn’t want another child so her entire life she was rejected and hated by her own family. She was physically, emotionally, and spiritually abused by her family and the church. So in return she hated herself and wished she hadn’t ever been born.
She left home at an early age, got heavily into sex, drugs, and became addicted to almost anything you could think of. She was also into all kinds of religions, believing in Buddha, Karma, Allah, Mohammad, all kinds of idols. She was miserable and had nothing but heartache, then she lost her health causing her to be bed ridden for 1 yr. Within that sickness she was laying in bed reading all the names of gods hoping they would help her.
She read, “Allah, Mohammad, then Jesus.”
As soon as she said the name Jesus, her insides shook, she felt a sensation like never before move through her body. She questioned why, so she read the line once more, again saying Jesus. Each time her body shook, the sensation filling her body. She knew then that there was power in the name of Jesus.
She had a Bible from being Catholic, so she became to read it, day in and day out. Her body miraculously began to heal, and her addictions were gone in a matter of days.
There is power in the simple name of Jesus! AMEN!
Month 4: Thailand- Story of Sophia
Sophia was Muslim, always worshipped Allah. When she was 17 yrs old she had a dream that she and her other Muslim friends were worshipping Jesus. She didn’t understand why she would have a dream like that because all she knew was worshipping Allah. She asked God if he was true then give her another dream, so she drempt of the same thing. She still questioned Jesus and asked for a 3rd dream, and she had a 3rd dream of Jesus.
After the three dreams she said, “ok Jesus I will believe in you and worship you if you send me 5 people to share Christ with me.” Jesus sent 6 people!!
She told her family that she believed in Jesus and trusted in Him. Her family was not happy, and told her she was on her own. At the age of 17 Sophia left home, her family took all her financing away from her, but she trusted in the Lord and continued school by God’s provisions. She is now a missionary to Muslims, dozens have come to Christ become of this humble girl. She told me, “I don’t know why but when I share the Gospel, the Lord He uses my mouth and people become saved.”
I love this story because Jesus is the one who told her about Jesus!
