New from the field

I figure you've learned enough about me for a while--so what's new on the field?

Here's a few snapshots from our workers, as many of them take part in Ramadan with local Muslims:

Today is the first day of Ramadan, the fasting month. It's even more prominent here because 95% of the people are Muslim. It's hard to find any food stalls open during the daylight hours. Many families will probably break fast together in their homes for the first few days, around 7pm each evening. Then for the rest of the month, a lot of the restaurants will be full of people enjoying buffet dinners.
If you are interested to know more about this important month in the lives of Muslims, and also how to pray for them, here are a couple of good weblinks you can go to:[1] http://www.30-days.net/islam/ramadan.htm[2] http://www.30-days.net/content/index.htm

Early every Tuesday morning, at least 2 or 3 of us have been attending a prayer meeting, together with about 6-8 local believers. The meeting is led by one pastor ("K") whom I've known since almost the beginning of my time here in SE Asia. They started this meeting when we moved to this city, to focus on the majority people around us. Pastor K says that God is doing something, because 3-4 years ago he could have never convinced even that many people to pray for the majority people. I am believing that soon they will want to do even more than pray.

Dear Intercessors,

RAMADAN HAS BEGUN! We have a sense that this year will be a war, yet we believe we will be gaining ground and the Kingdom will come! Please stand with us this month for the following breakthroughs--
+grace and strength for our western and national teammates who are all joining the 30-day fast, and covering 24-hour shifts in the HOPE prayer room
+fast-breaking parties we will be hosting throughout the month reaching out to many people
+distribution of stickers and cards announcing our new 24-hour prayer hotline--and that many would call
+meetings with people off-island to advance new literature publishing, public speaking events, and FM radio team formation
+new open doors into college campuses
+breakthroughs with key individuals: Fool, Nadia, Sally, and our many other friends
+unity and healed relationships within our national CP team
+a visitation from heaven for our city!

From the Arab Gulf:
RAMADAN 2005-----Week 1


As we've entered the supermarket during the past week or so we've been reminded that the month of Ramadan is coming up soon. Huge sacks of rice, flour and sugar are on sale. There are special offers on things like cake mixes, jello packets and Tang. Displays of dates, nuts and dried fruit are prominent. People leave with carts loaded!Once again, we want to invite you to pray with us during this month which is extremely significant not only to our friends, but to over a billion Muslims around the world possibly including some of your neigbours. To give you one perspective on Ramadan the following is part of something the university sent out.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar and the holiest of the four holy months. It begins with the sighting of the new moon after which all physically mature and healthy Muslims are obliged to abstain from all food, drink, gum chewing, any kind of tobacco use, and any kind of sexual contact between dawn and sunset. However, that is merely the physical component of the fast; the spiritual aspects of the fast include refraining from gossiping, lying, slandering and all traits of bad character. All obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided. Purity of thought and action is paramount. Ordained in the Quran, the fast is an exacting act of deeply personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of God-consciousness. The act of fasting redirects the hearts away from worldly activities, towards The Divine.
The month of Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends. The fasting is intended to help teach Muslims self-discipline, self-restraint and generosity. It also reminds them of the suffering of the poor, who may rarely get to eat well. It is common to have one meal (known as the Suhoor), just before sunrise and another (known as the Iftar), directly after sunset. This meal will commonly consist of dates, following the example of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him. Because Ramadan is a time to spend with friends and family, the fast will often be broken by different Muslim families coming together to share in an evening meal.
Ramadan derives from the Arabic root: ramida or ar-ramad, meaning scorching heat or dryness. Since Muslims are commanded to fast during the month of Ramadan, it is believed that the month's name may refer to the heat of thirst and hunger, or because fasting burns away one's past sins. Muslims believe that God began revealing the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan.

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Tuesday, October 4: Muslims take dreams seriously. Pray that God would reveal Himself through dreams, visions and other unmistakable ways this month to those who are seeking Him.

Wednesday, October 5: Our team will be spending this evening and the next two days in a city about four hours away for a weekend of training on intercession and prayer ministry. Pray that we receive everything the Spirit has for us.

Thursday, October 6: We want to make this a month of daily times of worship together, weekly prayer walks, and asking God for opportunities to pray for healing and to share our faith. Pray that we be diligent and expectant.

Friday, October 7: Pray for the many Christian maids (from countries like the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia) who work in local families throughout the Gulf. Many are isolated or in difficult situations, but they have incredible opportunities to share Jesus with their employers and especially the children in these homes.

Saturday, October 8: Pray for ""Fatima." We had an interesting conversation about miracles, prayer and faith last week. She asked me to pray for something after that. Pray that God answers and that salvation would come to her and her family.

Sunday, October 9: "Elsa"is one of our team-mates. She's with us for a year from another team in the Gulf as she attends language school here. Pray that she makes great progress in Arabic and that her stay with us will be mutually beneficial. We love her passion to be out sharing with people.

Monday, October 10: There are many Gulf Arabs studying abroad and they are often more open to spiritual things away from the pressures of their own societies. Because of current world events many of them are asking questions, but many more are fearful, expecting rejection. Pray that believers reach out to them with the love of Jesus.