Mission Report December 2021 – Christmas Letter

Our Christmas letter this year – entitled “A Christmas Like None Other” – focused on the fact that many families around the world will gather around their Christmas table with deep sadness due to the losses they have experienced during the pandemic.  May families will have loved ones missing – like the Karthak family in Nepal who will be mourning the loss of the grandfather and father within two days of one another, both of whom will be missed by not only their family but the entire Christian community in this nation since both men were beloved leaders who pioneered and oversaw the growth of the faith in this predominately Hindu nation.  Space did not permit the mention of the Estrada family in Nicaragua who last their patriarch early on during the pandemic; again, Isaac was not only a family patriarch but a patriarch of faith who led one of the most significant ministries in that nation.  Nor were able to talk about the more than two hundred pastors and leaders in Myanmar who have died from COVID and the civil war.  Nor did we mention the ten to twenty percent of the Christina leaders in India who have died from the pandemic, leaving behind a deep void in both their families and the Body of Christ.

On the other hand, we did have space to share a couple stories about two families who will have joyous hearts as they gather for Christmas dinner because the lives of beloved family members were saved through emergency operations that the generous partners of Teach All Nations paid for.  The Korha family in Liberia will rejoice that their mother is alive and well with them after having to be flown to Kenya for a life-saving operation that could not have been done at any hospital in their own country, and the Boube family in Niger will celebrate that their father will be joining them after emergency appendix surgery.

In addition, we shared that many families around the world will actually have food on their tables this Christmas because of the generosity of the Teach All Nations family.  In Myanmar, conditions were even more extreme when the military takeover and the ensuing civil war cut off daily resources such as electricity and gasoline.  Although there wasn’t space in the letter to share any detailed storis, you can read them below along with some beautiful testimonies from India.

In the letter, we also made brief mention of the fact that believers in Niger and Haiti will be able to gather in their church buildings for Christmas celebrations this year because of the loving compassion of our friends and partners.  In the almost-totally Muslim country of Niger, our partners rallied behind a Christian pastor who wanted to erect a sanctuary for his little flock.  In Haiti, we helped repair a church building that was severely damaged in the recent earthquake.

Testimonies from India

This pastor was trembling when he shared his testimony.  He couldn’t believe that someone would come to his hut with a big bag of rice and groceries.  “It is so very difficult for a pastor like me to survive during this pandemic. I had a small church with thirty people.  My survival was depended on whatever support used to get through my church.  Now it is almost one and half years since my fellowship closed.  Most of my congregation left this place, some went back to their villages, and some moved to other places as they had no work left here and I left with no support for my family.  I worked as a daily worker but after I had covid I became weak and not able to work daily.  We are praying daily for God’s help and today your visit is a miracle for to us.  Thank you so much for your love and care for my family.”

A young girl and her younger brother became orphans not long ago when their mother who was an HIV+ widow who worked in a restaurant as a sweeper and dish washer, but her earnings were insufficient to support herself and her two children.  The Christian workers in her area used to visit regularly to counsel her, nurture her spiritually, and support her with groceries and her medicines.  When she passed away due to COVID, she left her two young children by themselves.  They were helpless because society was hesitant to accept them because everyone knew that their mother was an HIV patient.  When the workers brought them a food package, the girl broke out in tears of joy to experience such a surprise, comfort, and love in the most distressful time.

Our newsletter featured a picture of a pretty lady with a joyous smile receiving her food package, but we weren’t able to tell her story – one of failure, hopelessness, and a blurred future She always hides her tears so that no one can see her pain hidden deep in her heart.  Even though she is a gentle, kind, and lovely person in nature, she cannot win the heart of her stepfather to accept her as his daughter because she has been diagnosed with HIV.  Her dreams were shattered because of rejection and judgment from her family and relatives – and even the church.  When the local Christian worker first met her, she was totally disturbed, discouraged, and hopeless; however, after counsellinga and gifts of food and medicine, she is a happy, hopeful person, with a hunger and thirst for her spiritual needs.

Testimonies from Myanmar

Our family has been out of business since March 19, 2020.  But by the grace of God, God provided food, shelter, and money.  Despite the hardships, the situations had led our family to pray and read the Bible every day.  So, we did.  As I Thessalonians 5:18 says, “It is the hardest time, but thanksgiving in all things.”  To this day, God provides just as much needed as needed on time. As God promised in Luke 12:24, the crows did not have a barn to sow, but God did feed them.  I am very glad to know that our children are more precious than these birds, and I would like to thank all the brothers and sisters who have contributed as much as they can in these difficult times. Thank you so much to all. May God Bless you. Amen.

During Covid-19, I became completely unemployed, and I was worried about dying and starvation.  But because of the prayer of the pastor and the weekly sharing Bible study from the USA pastors, I came back to God, and He supplied miraculously for us.  My wife is an unbeliever.  When she was pregnant, she said she wanted a baby girl.  So, all the pastors and ministers from our church came to our house and asked God to give us a baby girl.  My wife said that if she got a girl, she would believe on Jesus.  God truly answer our prayer and showed us that He is with us.  The test showed that my wife is carrying a girl!  Thank you so much for each one of those who are supporting and giving us food and gifts.

God is so good to my family.  Jobs have been bad since the first wave of Covid, and my health had been bad with Covid symptoms.  Five of our nine family members have shown signs of being infected, but we always read and speak out lout Psalm 23.  I thank God and to the pastors those who are sending not only physical food but also spiritual food during Covid-19 and even this crisis.  May God anoint more to the pastors from our church and also from the USA.

Firstly, I give all the praise to the Lord.  Thank you so much to such wonderful pastors who are teaching Bible and helping us.  Although we’re living in a time of tribulation, we are in good health and have been able stay well.  Praise God for keeping us safe and protecting us from evil in every day.

Thank you so much for giving rice, oil, and food.  Since this is such a hard time, all I want to say is that I am so glad and thankful for your help. May God bless you.

I’ve received the donations such as rice, oil, beans, and the funds from you.  Thank you so much for showing your love by helping us and supporting with funds.  This is the time that everyone is facing so much hard time and struggling for living and financial difficulties.  We felt so much relief by your blessing. May the Lord bless to those who came all the way to our house bringing all the heavy stuffs.

Thank you so much for the rice, oil, and some foods!!  We are living in very difficult times with the covid and the military coup!!  But, God’s hand is on us – my son was freed from the prison and my husband was given a new motorcycle!

I would like to say thanks for the rice, oil, and food.  We are still jobless and are facing many other problems, but God is blessing us through you!!

Due to the conditions of our country, we are hopeless.  But God has blessed us with your gifts and also with the spiritual food!!  May God bless you richly!!

I would like to say thanks and appreciate for your generosity to us and our church!!  This is really hard time for us due to Covid and the situation or our country!!  But God has never forsaken us, and He has used His people to bless us not only in spiritual but also in physical!!  H

Thank u so much for your support, help, encourage, and prayer for us during this difficult time!!  Thank you so much for always giving and helping the needy of our church!!  I would like to say thanks for giving your time to teach us Bible studies on every Wednesday even though you are busy!!  The teaching from Dr. Peggy about deliverance make me set free from bondage, and it gave me blessings!!  The teaching from Dr. Delron about Romans and Nehemiah also gave me a lot of knowledge to understand more about the chapter!!  Sometimes I am so disappointed and discouraged, but your teachings really helped me and set me free!!  Thank you so much for your love and care to us!!