Short-Term Teams

Posted on 19 September 2009.

When our August courier team leader first phoned one of the contacts to arrange for him to collect the books from the team, the young pastor replied that he would come and meet them on his bicycle. It was the first time this young man had received any materials from us and the team leader had to gently explain that he might need something a little larger than a bicycle to transport all the books.

You can imagine how overwhelmed and delighted this church leader was when he saw all the team had brought with them! His church had grown to more than 800 people before splitting into eight smaller churches, which are all now growing again. In all, the team successfully delivered materials to three different cities and all the contacts expressed their grateful thanks for the Bibles and teaching books.

The mercy team that month also did a great job serving in several different situations. Team members painted several classrooms and did other practical work in a village school before running a two-day summer camp for the local children. The children had lots of fun doing sports and crafts. "It was such a joy to see the kids laughing and playing with each other," shared one team member. The following week, the team split into two groups with one teaching English songs and games in a centre for children with behavioural difficulties and the other visiting some of the children sponsored through the mercy side of our ministry. "Although the families have nothing, they still wanted to give us fruit and other gifts to say thanks for our help. One grandfather gave us a pair of inner-soles that were embroidered by his mother - such a precious thing to have but he insisted that we have them," a team member told us.

As we give thanks for all that the August teams achieved and pray for continuing fruit from their visits, we also need to remember in prayer an intercession team that will be in China this month. Because of restrictions on entry to the Tibetan areas of China following last year's riots, it has been some time since we were able to send a team there to pray. It was therefore encouraging to hear that the areas are open to tourists once again and our team should be able to travel outside the major cities. As well as praying through these unreached areas, the team also hopes to visit some of our China-based co-workers to support them with prayer and encouragement.

Give thanks for the safe delivery of a large number of Bibles and teaching books through the August courier team. Pray that as the materials are read and studied, the church in China might be helped to grow and flourish.

Praise God for the impact the mercy team members had in the village school, the centre for children with behavioural difficulties and with the families of our sponsored children. Pray that the Lord's love might continue to touch their hearts and bring true peace and joy into their lives.

Thank the Lord that the Tibetan areas are once again open to visitors. Pray that as our intercession team visits, there will be no problems with travelling outside the main cities. Pray for team unity, protection as they travel, and that they will be an encouragement to the long-term co-workers they meet.