tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10838739943840816272024-03-20T00:54:53.547+06:00Christian In BangladeshPersonal Blog from BangladeshChristian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-85233944337053176832015-11-26T22:18:00.002+06:002015-11-26T22:27:04.700+06:00Thanksgiving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Being part of the community at LAMB, seeing lives changed whether through medical services, development, education or through being part of the community at LAMB providing these services is a blessing for which we cannot adequately praise God.<br />
<br />
I am thankful for the protection God is providing as answer to your prayers and ours; whether by angels unseen or by those in uniform sent by the authorities in Bangladesh.<br />
<br />
I am thankful for colleagues and friends whether at and around LAMB or further away. The contribution of the people lifting us up in prayer is invaluable; the funds provided by individuals, organisations and governments are important too.<br />
<br />
I am thankful for the children who fill the school with laughter and joy; the colleagues who pour out their hearts for students, patients and so many others; the neighbours who support and make us feel part of the community, not just at LAMB, but the whole area; the partners as well as the 'competition' (private and government). There are so many people with similar desires for all to have abundant Life, and we are privileged to be allowed to be one small contribution to towards people having fuller lives.<br />
<br />
Tonight I heard of a man who for forty years had refused to bow to pressure to abandon his wife who needed a procedure to stop her incontinence, a problem which would have made her very difficult to share a house with, let alone a bed. Today she had her surgery, and we won't know the outcome for a while yet.<br />
<br />
Imagine, to be part of God's answer to someones hope of forty years.<br />
<br />
God must love the people here.</div>
Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-61790511473165460002015-11-05T22:56:00.000+06:002015-11-05T22:56:01.124+06:00Cavities to fill<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Friends,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been back in Bangladesh for about six weeks, a
dentist appointment in Dhaka is a mundane reason for leaving LAMB for a weekend
and in many ways it feels like I am going where I haven’t gone before.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since coming back after over two months in Denmark on the
auspicious occasion of my parents’ fiftieth and my father’s eightieth – we like
grand words like auspicious in Bangladesh even if they are not much in vogue
elsewhere, least of all in Denmark where we speak Danish.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shortly after returning to Bangladesh it lost its innocence
again. First there was a case involving some of the people I love at LAMB, and
then there were direct hits followed up by threats against foreigners. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We, or at least I, had lived in a pretend world of the
privileged who are not going to experience sin and oppression. The events of
the last six weeks feels like several consecutive deaths and if I am
melodramatic, it is because to top it up, a good friend got mad at me, another
tried to end her misery and we just fall way short of what is right.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was listening to a version of Leonard Cohen’s famous
‘Hallelujah’ which was predicted to become the next favourite Christmas carol
and all I could do was look at the expensive furniture in the café where the
artist were performing thinking what the carpet could buy for some of the
poorest people here.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is little we can do, and yet, we are doing more than
ever at LAMB. By January 2016 we expect to be around 1,500 staff at LAMB, all
working to make positive changes in a place where so many long for something
better but many live in fear; some in fear of diseases and poverty, some in
fear of the changes we are trying to bring to alleviate those fearsome ills.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With the threat to foreigners in Bangladesh – we haven’t
been threatened at LAMB since last year – we have been given the privilege of
what it feels like to live in conditions that pale compared to that which is
reality for so many of our brothers and sisters here, let alone for the people
living in places where evil reign in public.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I had two former students in my office, they came for
some financial help made possible by generous foreign donations. Last time they
came, they asked if they needed to bow before me to show their gratitude – that
is what they should do culturally, excepting that I am only the messenger.
Today they talked about the challenges posed by classmates who question the
girls’ Christian faith, except the ‘faith’ they question doesn’t look anything
like what we believe. We talked about one of the best things about God –
that He is our Father and that He loves each of us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I write this, I hear the car come to pick me up for my
trip to Dhaka and a dentist’s appointment. There are cavities to fill – some can only be filled by love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you for your prayers and support in sharing That Love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christian</div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>418</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2387</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Grace International School</o:Company>
<o:Lines>19</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2931</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
November 2015</div>
</div>
Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-28756681460075131092014-11-03T19:05:00.001+06:002014-11-03T22:07:47.114+06:00Praising God for Heart Surgery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzuzE52vmzTUm2a57HQEkLBWRfF6AxB4Umf2n6OI6-vkR_-dVn6tzgOkCp_5I2FVwBPKXKLbJFd1tqaDvvu1VH_7Cd_m8NzXQH3Q94-sWKnV-wCoMt_LA_GZtV-OAiswnbLVJwf2-kx46/s1600/P1080204-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzuzE52vmzTUm2a57HQEkLBWRfF6AxB4Umf2n6OI6-vkR_-dVn6tzgOkCp_5I2FVwBPKXKLbJFd1tqaDvvu1VH_7Cd_m8NzXQH3Q94-sWKnV-wCoMt_LA_GZtV-OAiswnbLVJwf2-kx46/s1600/P1080204-2.jpg" height="155" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anjan, Jerin, Oli and Badli</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Saturday afternoon Anjan and Badli invited our entire
community to participate in a thanksgiving service for Oli’s successful
recovery from heart surgery. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The thanksgiving service was in the format we use at LAMB
for our twice weekly prayer meetings in people’s homes. We started with a
couple of worship songs, there was a ‘sermon’ and then prayer before snacks
were served.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One difference was that Oli’s father, Anjan, narrated the
events from when, two years ago, Oli had been diagnosed with a hole between two
heart-chambers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He focused on their worries as parents, including fears
about her admission into Hebron School in India which was not stopped by this,
about finding funding for the surgery – more than a year’s salary – and
naturally mostly concerns for Oli’s life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anjan praised the medical teams, both at LAMB and in Dhaka
and gave thanks for the funding from Korean Global Health. He narrated how,
throughout their time at National Heart Foundation Hospital in Dhaka, more
members of their extended family than they knew they had, visited and supported
them. He also shared how the answers to their prayers for God’s presence and
peace were evident in that Oli, as she was wheeled away into the operation
theatre, waved goodbye with laughter in her voice and a smile on her face.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anjan’s narration was followed by our church council
chairman drawing parallels to how Jesus healed when he walked this
earth. In doing so, he not only put Oli in good company but also firmly placed
the honour with God.<br />
<br />
The celebration finished with communal prayer and praise for
Oli as well as prayer for other issues brought the people there.<br />
<br />
How appropriate it was and how right it is to celebrate God's salvation the way Oli, her family and the over hundred guests who came did on a Saturday in October 2014.</div>
</div>
Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-37835526743225529622014-10-13T16:11:00.000+06:002014-10-13T16:11:44.337+06:00LAMB Brochure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is good to be reminded of the range and reach of LAMB's services to the poor. It is difficult to measure and count the difference we make in the lives of the poor. The brochure may only show our efforts but I hope you will be encouraged to continue being part of LAMB's work by reading the brochure available<a href="http://the%20brochure%20is%20available%20here/"> here</a>.</div>
Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-78413015012782547402014-09-26T14:23:00.001+06:002014-09-26T14:23:31.535+06:00Poverty and Hope<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16.666667938232422px; line-height: 28.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Most of my time is spent in the relative protected environment that is LAMB. Though we are here to ‘serve God by serving the poorest of the poor,’ the poorest are often far away. It may be that God has changed the situation for the ones who live near LAMB, a scarier scenario is that they do not have access to our services. Whenever I travel, often from the capital Dhaka to LAMB, the poor come much closer.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16.666667938232422px; line-height: 28.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
On one such recent trip, I was accompanied by a national colleague who was keen on being at the station early and so we had two hours to observe the life at the Airport Station.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16.666667938232422px; line-height: 28.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The first people we noticed were a little family of four. As is custom in (rural) Bangladesh we engaged in polite conversation. The family was traveling the same way as us and both children were born at LAMB. The oldest, a daughter of four, was their reason for being in Dhaka. She had been diagnosed with a heart problem and they were now on their way home to raise the necessary funds for surgery. We did not ask what resources they have.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16.666667938232422px; line-height: 28.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
There was a steady flow of beggars passing by as we stood around our bags, some were old, some were disabled but a good number were young children. One old man with his mouth frozen into a kiss was selling soap bags. Convenient thread bags that would hold a bar of soap and could be hung around a tap so as to not fall onto the ground or into a drain. I didn’t see his stock diminish and when I bought one he informed us he would make Tk 2 for each bag he sold. He would have to sell 40 bags to make one dollar.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16.666667938232422px; line-height: 28.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Many of the young children came by, asked for money or candy and went on their way, but one boy of about ten scooted past without stopping. On his leg was a big pink patch where the skin was missing, the leg was fixed straight and he used the other good leg and his two hands to push himself forward. My colleague commented that there was a syndicate abusing the children to raise funds by begging. If he hurried past in fear that I would get him medical help he is not the first child deprived of the kind of care that would reduce his ability to arouse sympathy when begging.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16.666667938232422px; line-height: 28.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
As we got on the train, the sense of helplessness that comes from not being able to bring any lasting change to these people’s lives was already there. The one bright spot was a perhaps 12-year old boy who, when asked why he sold water on the station at night rather than went to school, confidently said he was in 3rd Grade and worked at night to help support his family.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16.666667938232422px; line-height: 28.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: 16.666667938232422px;">Before we settled in for the night, we discussed the recent open-heart surgery with one of the other people in the cabin, my colleague had a stint put into the coronary artery a few years ago and they had much to share. Another occupant and the young girl in the bunk above him did not share as much. In the morning when I asked the girl, who was probably not even ten, what grade she was in, she told me she didn’t go to school. The old man with whom she was traveling assured me that she, as his work-girl, did go to evening classes. I know she didn’t go to classes that night as we were on the train, but perhaps she does get some informal education. I have to ask myself, “What are her alternatives?” </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16.666667938232422px; line-height: 28.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: 16.666667938232422px;">LAMB School serves God by providing education for the children of some of the almost 1000 staff; in doing so we are part of bringing the Kingdom of God to Bangladesh. Thank you for your fellowship in prayer to support this work. </span>Coming back to LAMB, it was good to be reminded, as our new brochure does so well, that LAMB is making a difference in an area with over 5 million people. In 2013 almost 60 thousand patients received care at the hospital and over 45 thousand in our health care clinics, (This doesn’t include the over 250 thousand seen in government clinics that we support). In the training centre there were over 25 thousand trainee days last year. You can find more statistics and stories on the <a href="http://lambproject.org/" style="border: 0px; color: #2c4279; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16.666667938232422px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="LAMB Website">LAMB Website.</a> </div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16.666667938232422px; line-height: 28.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
At LAMB we thank God that we can be part of making a difference in so many lives; we thank donors, prayer supporters, partner organisations and the government for working with us to bring lasting change to people in Bangladesh.</div>
</div>
Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-60184825112351412782014-01-30T22:26:00.002+06:002014-01-30T22:26:59.810+06:00Good going<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KwZ4V_tbok63uAArrwYB-4Wn9GQXsMtgdXVSUJYYW-_V_B2gmo8XmB1Zc0YK1lQ2O-FsfKzboqY93OPI6L7-6O0207w5lR5ziq2mbgg07zfh2jTtrjNkVWOxoX_ITVEC-20VX2DaO5nC/s1600/Mor+og+far+Jan+2014+ga%CC%8Aende.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KwZ4V_tbok63uAArrwYB-4Wn9GQXsMtgdXVSUJYYW-_V_B2gmo8XmB1Zc0YK1lQ2O-FsfKzboqY93OPI6L7-6O0207w5lR5ziq2mbgg07zfh2jTtrjNkVWOxoX_ITVEC-20VX2DaO5nC/s1600/Mor+og+far+Jan+2014+ga%CC%8Aende.jpg" height="400" width="80" /></a></div>
My parents have visited again, I think it is the seventh time since I moved to Bangladesh in 1995 that they have come to spend time with us here at LAMB.<br />
<br />
It is common for people in Bangladesh to have their parents stay with them for months on end, so it is no surprise that they come every other year. What is more surprising is that they do not stay in my house.<br />
I have been blessed with being able to have them stay at Bashundhara compound with me and am thankful to the people who have let them use their houses.<br />
What also surprise some people is that my parents were born so long ago, and yet are not very old. There are many much older people here who were born after my parents.<br />
<br />
My parents have spent time helping and sharing with staff, students, neighbours and patients all over LAMB. I count it a privilege that they are able to come and that when they do, they are accepted as part of our community.<br />
<br />
God has been with them in many ways; when they arrived there was a break in the otherwise pretty consistent transportation blockades which allowed them to travel from Dhaka to LAMB. At Christmas we were able to visit friends further north in Bangladesh because of another break in the political struggles and my father just made it to a Dhaka on a train that was three hours late, and got seen even though he was fifteen minutes late for a dentist appointment.<br />
<br />
I am thankful for their time here, I praise God for his faithful protection of us all and pray for all those who are in need of safety, peace and parents to come give them time.</div>
Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-78312903939157499922013-12-30T10:04:00.000+06:002013-12-30T10:04:03.086+06:00Christmas 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>572</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3263</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Grace International School</o:Company>
<o:Lines>27</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4007</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Dear Friends,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking back at 2013 it is hard not to notice the blessings
of a year in England – studying, of the opportunity to come back ‘home’ to Bangladesh,
of my parents being able to visit amidst the political unrest and perhaps most
of all the blessings of seeing so many former students who, while often facing
big challenges are doing great.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7tgGeTIR_FSichgTtRpQtb1BY13-1QGRQV77zSWJhVtMBqa2TGNj8N30a66jeK2IUXLyFnZLN-4uC2nI3z3qCePSH1B2nOnMyUgQxepVNpBcx1l-WAtRPzxjrqFezQk7DteXQrk55bPK/s1600/Freedom+fighters+2013-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7tgGeTIR_FSichgTtRpQtb1BY13-1QGRQV77zSWJhVtMBqa2TGNj8N30a66jeK2IUXLyFnZLN-4uC2nI3z3qCePSH1B2nOnMyUgQxepVNpBcx1l-WAtRPzxjrqFezQk7DteXQrk55bPK/s1600/Freedom+fighters+2013-s.jpg" height="200" width="191" /></a>It is the time between Christmas and New Year when focus, if
it is good, is decidedly on relationships and remembrance. Remembering that
Christ came with a not just a message of, but to establish a peace that is for
all people is very relevant for us in Bangladesh at this time. The country is
preparing for a change in government, but there is no agreement on how that
change should happen. The main opposition party is not taking part in the
elections scheduled for 5 January 2014 so there is no question as to who will
win. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last two months have been filled with strikes and road
and transportation blockades so many days that it has been difficult to get
essential resources for the hospital. It has also been difficult for patients
to come to the hospital so much that the number of critically ill patient
admissions have fallen by app 75%. Peace may literally mean the difference
between life and death for some patients.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Others have died too; activists have had an affinity for
setting vehicles on fire killing passengers and staff on-board. This has mostly
been far from where I have been, but the other day when travelling in
Thakurgaon my parents and I passed a group of riot police who were walking
towards a fire on the road. It was encouraging to see how a number of people
made sure an approaching truck did not proceed into potential danger. While not
exactly messages of peace, the intent was clearly to save the driver in the
truck. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54HWlekcJ10SYK02j0upc_hdCdnV1ItspEgh4rQa23gVBhiWQfb0KSy9lo8CR4xbNYb7i1lsshccpPlvn2qBxrjmrLm5XmuvWwiE9fiS8EfjsFqpT_FABC3iIH4FkN9e4XJKSxVhX76Et/s1600/Teen+Bonfire+2013+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54HWlekcJ10SYK02j0upc_hdCdnV1ItspEgh4rQa23gVBhiWQfb0KSy9lo8CR4xbNYb7i1lsshccpPlvn2qBxrjmrLm5XmuvWwiE9fiS8EfjsFqpT_FABC3iIH4FkN9e4XJKSxVhX76Et/s1600/Teen+Bonfire+2013+small.jpg" height="185" width="200" /></a>My parents arrived during a few days of respite when a
visiting UN peace negotiator was trying to help the parties find a peaceful
solution to the impasse. This break in strikes and blockades allowed my parents
to come, and it allowed the LAMB Board to meet. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was encouraging to have the opportunity to sit in on the
board meeting and listen to the reports from all the varied parts of LAMB’s
work. To hear about how our Community Health and Development Department is
working with the health authorities to run 414 clinics in two districts and to
hear that many of them are increasingly independent of outside (our) help.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the hospital our staff continues to work to offer medical
care that is both appropriate and accessible, including to the poorest of the
poor in our catchment area of perhaps 1.5 million people. Making decisions
about what treatment not to offer in order to ensure the greatest benefit to the
most people can be very difficult. Decisions about whom not to treat are very
difficult, especially when some treatment is readily available elsewhere. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can read more about LAMB and the work we do here: http://www.lambproject.org/
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In church the most encouraging event was a farewell cum
Christmas party. The spontaneous dancing and praise around the bon-fire
afterwards was an encouraging testimony to the Spirit that is active in our
fellowship. Do pray for the teen group as we enter another year; for God to be
active in us and for the fire to spread amongst us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9q0lsxuAJId_NsoXrdTB1hSu4CcXfL8AbRBk6epwLEkqVjeZoLc4RPfciWqfN0S5YFxylHz8_-Xk_yaXlSYkZRUf64xlVj6E-rdz2sLMhRLFMYadYaP17JsPwu-FffpOhwaRkR-4PEl0D/s1600/Three+of+the+youngest+from+my+village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9q0lsxuAJId_NsoXrdTB1hSu4CcXfL8AbRBk6epwLEkqVjeZoLc4RPfciWqfN0S5YFxylHz8_-Xk_yaXlSYkZRUf64xlVj6E-rdz2sLMhRLFMYadYaP17JsPwu-FffpOhwaRkR-4PEl0D/s1600/Three+of+the+youngest+from+my+village.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The peace that we seek is often reflected in the children.
These three are from the youngest generation in our* village near Thakurgaon. I
don’t think they are unaffected by the turmoil around them, but perhaps the
fact that they don’t understand it helps them live in their childish reality.
To enter the Kingdom of God we must be like little children and live in a
reality that supersedes the political reality of the adult world of worries
around us. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you once again for your prayers in another year,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* I call Kamarsenua my home village because our family had a
house there in the early eighties. </div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-37576410432495592052013-11-10T22:22:00.001+06:002013-11-10T22:22:22.567+06:00Prayer Letter November 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>661</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3770</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Grace International School</o:Company>
<o:Lines>31</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>7</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4629</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="2050"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitJzj5OeOodERs0c0Tb7jKbC0-yPTasJxntWIWOJBb3vhC6yhKHzjwbkrO4wVJvDKH_GOwGtgDJd-SM3M2wqmFS65wzMGQL_hxf2xguSqZqw8wWDVWS3sYtZJ-MmmQKxoB8lwF2K2YfKc/s1600/Landscape+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitJzj5OeOodERs0c0Tb7jKbC0-yPTasJxntWIWOJBb3vhC6yhKHzjwbkrO4wVJvDKH_GOwGtgDJd-SM3M2wqmFS65wzMGQL_hxf2xguSqZqw8wWDVWS3sYtZJ-MmmQKxoB8lwF2K2YfKc/s1600/Landscape+1.jpg" height="81" width="400" /></a></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='width:415pt;height:87pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/sandie/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image001.png"
o:title=""/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span>…that all kingdoms of the earth may
know that you, Lord, are the only God.</i></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Is 37:20</span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Friends,<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>November
2013</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Greetings from a beautiful and much cooler Bangladesh than
the one I first encountered when I arrived home at LAMB in mid September. After
three weeks storms brought temperatures down to around 30 <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">˚</span>C
and they are now sometimes even below 20 <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">˚</span>C in the morning. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been great returning to LAMB after a year away; the
welcome by friends, staff and students has been overwhelming. The fact that the
school seems to have be running very well increases the joy of being part of it
once again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Returning has brought new opportunities for engagement at
work and in church; at the school my replacements have decided to stay on for
(at least) another year giving us the opportunity to reconfigure
responsibilities and focus on continued development at the school. We were
hoping to get some construction under way, but need to find funding before we
can do so. Some of my colleagues are hoping to have extended leave the way I
did. Please pray for teachers who can teach English and other subjects to
children aged 12 to 16 (Grades 6 – 10/Years 7-11).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1030"
type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:2pt;margin-top:9.3pt;
width:196pt;height:196.8pt;z-index:2;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;
mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;
mso-position-vertical-relative:text' wrapcoords="-220 0 -220 21512 21600 21512 21600 0 -220 0">
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/sandie/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image003.png"
o:title=""/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
<w:wrap type="tight"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t202" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="202" path="m0,0l0,21600,21600,21600,21600,0xe">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t202" style='position:absolute;
margin-left:-2.75pt;margin-top:206.35pt;width:201.5pt;height:31.35pt;
z-index:1;mso-wrap-edited:f' wrapcoords="0 0 21600 0 21600 21600 0 21600 0 0"
filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:fill o:detectmouseclick="t"/>
<v:textbox inset=",7.2pt,,7.2pt">
<![if !mso]>
<table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="100%">
<tr>
<td><![endif]>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>
<i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>a different kind
of test…<o:p></o:p></i></p>
</div>
<![if !mso]></td>
</tr>
</table>
<![endif]></v:textbox>
<w:wrap type="tight"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It feels like the team at LAMB is committed to doing God’s
work; this is a good foundation for working through our, sometimes
contradictory, ideas about how and what doing God’s work looks like. At times
we may be confused about what is God’s plan and what is our own personal
agendas. Pray for humility and the ability to listen and hear each other. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGaHgxq_Qkx4XBH-Jgn354wH9Mgs0RXVhEInWKQGunDigWtajHCRNd7yRl47Te2W5RTBIuLUokxYJ4qIrCOe7Czq9gmr1LLCOwvqdVY4AwfFoVtiF1wXgURrUAk8aZXTGs2jhL3uQPzcX/s1600/Maim+and+Bijoy+S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGaHgxq_Qkx4XBH-Jgn354wH9Mgs0RXVhEInWKQGunDigWtajHCRNd7yRl47Te2W5RTBIuLUokxYJ4qIrCOe7Czq9gmr1LLCOwvqdVY4AwfFoVtiF1wXgURrUAk8aZXTGs2jhL3uQPzcX/s1600/Maim+and+Bijoy+S.jpg" height="200" width="198" /></a>In the Bengali school year it seems to be exam season – in
fact, it seems to always be exam season – our sixth-grades have had three sets
of mock tests for their final “Primary School Certificate Exams” scheduled for
20 – 28 November. Grade nine started their final “Junior School Certificate
Exams” on 7 November. I don’t know how many mock tests they have done, but when
they come back, we have our own week of assessments before the Christmas break.
I wish we could just ignore these exams, but the results may make the
difference for what further education opportunities our children have after
they graduate from high school.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We believe our school provides good education but because
our style is so different from other education available locally it can be a
challenge for our students to adjust after LAMB. We give thanks that so far,
our students have been able to continue their education in various schools in
Dhaka, at Hebron in India and further abroad.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvbyoM6-vFLlCqIKSBeJJz051Rl47arB07may-6ugsU1YZ4lVJaR0-xl_hqbVtm1ncD3X2rp7ZkwWLmBv_WNLJsugIlvPlBmaOLogo4pWWVBMvZ4or-qgqoc0QgMTUCoC3II_4guliv5j/s1600/Following+Zarif+M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvbyoM6-vFLlCqIKSBeJJz051Rl47arB07may-6ugsU1YZ4lVJaR0-xl_hqbVtm1ncD3X2rp7ZkwWLmBv_WNLJsugIlvPlBmaOLogo4pWWVBMvZ4or-qgqoc0QgMTUCoC3II_4guliv5j/s1600/Following+Zarif+M.jpg" height="320" width="166" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
government’s five years are up and it is time for their final exam. The opposition
has called for ‘hartals’ (general strikes) since the incumbent government was
supposed to step down according to the last constitution but not according to
latest amendments. The hartals have resulted in about 20 fatalities so far. Most
of them were ‘little people’; either ‘foot-soldiers’ who were deployed to fight
‘the good fight’; people who were caught out perhaps because they couldn’t
afford not to work and even children. The incumbent government insists on an
‘all-party’ government to oversee free and fair elections, the opposition demands
a ‘no-party’ government. What they agree on is that the others can’t be trusted
in free and fair elections . Our students seem to have similar experiences as
they return telling about how teachers and invigilators help individual
students copy answers and solve problems during the tests. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The church has been without a pastor for a year now, the candidate
selected after the first round of interviews has turned down the offer. Please
pray for the church council to find someone willing and able to fill this role
– someone whom we will be willing to have teach us God’s word.<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the teen-group I am getting good help from two others,
but pray for a permanent national Christian to come help set direction for the
group. It can feel like a big challenge to teach and organise a group of
discerning (or critical) teens. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One passage from Isaiah recently caught my attention. In it,
the prophet talks about good things the people have done but mourn that they do
not recognise that the resources and conditions that allow the work all come
from God (Isaiah 22:8b-11). It is my prayer that we all will recognise God as
the source of all the good he does here at LAMB.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1083873994384081627" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1083873994384081627" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1083873994384081627" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1083873994384081627" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Thank you for your continued support and prayers. Pray
especially for the children as they study and grow, for their teachers to have
wisdom and insight into how to teach and for us all to know God and his
faithfulness.</div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-35442947082073203692013-09-05T13:29:00.001+06:002013-09-05T13:29:32.653+06:00Prayer Letter, September 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>417</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2379</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Grace International School</o:Company>
<o:Lines>19</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2921</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="Section1">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Dear Friends,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">After experiencing the
seasons; rainy-, winter-, and what I am told is a rare guest: a beautiful sunny
summer, in England my tickets are bought, visa in hand and vaccinations
scheduled it is time to return home to Bangladesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I have been privileged
to study at Redcliffe College in England for a year. While others have finished
their degree in a year, I will need more time to do so, and because I am
scheduled to start work again from mid September it will be quite a while
before I finish my degree.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It has been a
privilege to study Justice, Advocacy and Reconciliation. The requirements have
been that the students make their studies both Biblical and relevant to their
work. This has helped maintain motivation for me as I have been able to work on
how various challenges others are working throuh have relevance for us at LAMB.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Studying has been
challenging in many ways, not least academically. The struggles have given
renewed appreciation for those of our student at LAMB who find learning a
challenge. Insights from many parts of the world on working for justice and
reconciliation have also given me hope; hope that circumstances can improve for
those who do not live the lives of freedom God intended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A key passage from the
New Testament is where Jesus claims that the Isaiah’s prophecy has been fulfilled:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 125.75pt;">
<b><span style="color: #838772; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">Luke
4:18-19.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<b><span style="color: #838772; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="ALL" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></b>
<div class="Section2">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<sup><span style="color: #838772; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">18</span></sup><span style="color: #838772; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has
anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #838772; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">He has sent me to proclaim
freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the
oppressed free, <sup>19</sup> to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<sup><span style="color: #838772; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">21 </span></sup><span style="color: #838772; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="ALL" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A challenge for us
today is to see how this is true for us today, and in what ways we are called
to participate in making it a reality. Redcliffe has given me many questions;
while the answers are few and weak the hope we have in Christ is strong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When I return to
Bangladesh I hope to work on my dissertation every week. There is much to learn
but I look forward to the process of relating what I have learnt to our lives
at LAMB.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Highlights from the
past year includes bike-rides with former colleagues from LAMB; visiting and
having visitors from all over the world and experiencing God’s provisions for
people I care about and for me. Being away from LAMB has given me renewed
appreciation for the work God is doing in and through us there: I count it a
privilege to be part of a work which, while by no means perfect, has a focus
and aims to be proud of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">At the school a new
year has started, we continue to take on more students and new challenges. The
Snowdons who have covered for me while I have been away have agreed to stay on
at the school. I look forward to working with them on developing the school in
new areas and to return to work with all the colleagues who have carried extra
loads while I have been away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>57</o:Words>
<o:Characters>330</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Grace International School</o:Company>
<o:Lines>2</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>405</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Praise<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A year of study and
reflection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Competent cover at
LAMB while I have been away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The opportunity to
meet friends and family <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The opportunity to
return to LAMB<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Travel mercies <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For good
re-integration into work and community at LAMB<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For wisdom to know how
to use what I have learnt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For time and stamina
to finish my studies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For LAMB to do justice
to our focus and the God we claim to serve<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-89814030085583980112012-12-10T06:11:00.003+06:002012-12-10T06:20:58.575+06:00Christmas 2012<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>480</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2737</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Grace International School</o:Company>
<o:Lines>22</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3361</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1028"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 288.0pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Dear Friends,</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At first, an apology for not having written for a long time,
then best wishes for Christmas and New Year 2013. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKV2_Njnm5Z6TW3GQEf5LcyqCJMiqq58ycn1Q1ODVIDL1HXF65z0t3TDCuyls49CnSD1o5XtLv-7Y5_jYlW_58Q0MyzY8Zt2wAEY1hlqRyW6pBe9RhnZ-CmSllHzr8i7g7UBGUhjnkD6vH/s1600/Rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKV2_Njnm5Z6TW3GQEf5LcyqCJMiqq58ycn1Q1ODVIDL1HXF65z0t3TDCuyls49CnSD1o5XtLv-7Y5_jYlW_58Q0MyzY8Zt2wAEY1hlqRyW6pBe9RhnZ-CmSllHzr8i7g7UBGUhjnkD6vH/s1600/Rainbow.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This
picture was taken today, 9 December 2012, from the window in my college room.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sit at my desk and look out, and get a glimpse of the
countryside in the horizon and today, the hope symbolised in a rainbow.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My current assignment as a student – a four-and-a-half
thousand word essay – is about how we, rich Christians relate to poorer
Christians. The buss-word is ‘Inaugurated Eschatology’: about how God’s Kingdom
has already come with Jesus’ first coming that Christmas two thousand years ago
and how it gives hope to our lives today, both in light of Christ’s second
coming when everything will be made new; when such things as poverty will be
history. It also gives us hope for today when we let that future reality take
hold and let God reign today, in our lives, right where we are. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am struggling with the academic way of thinking and
perhaps more to the point; writing, but I am thankful to God for the
opportunity to spend a year studying and I am excited about the fact that the
focus is required, apart from having high academic standards, to be relevant
for the work I am a part of at LAMB and Biblically based. It is to be true,
relevant and good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A friend reminded me, when I got my first assignment back a
few days ago, that it is more important that what we learn is useful than that
it is assigned good marks. (I wouldn’t mind both.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back at LAMB, the school seems to be running well, Dave and
Shannon Snowdon who are covering for me, as well as the wonderful team of
teachers are a gift from God. We continue to have challenges with visas,
trained teachers, special needs and teachers who have been unwell. I do believe,
however, that God is faithful and continues to care for us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A number of children will transition into other schools from
January. It is always with mixed emotions we say goodbye to children. At times
we would like to keep them for a while but the alternative leaving would
probably be worse.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The challenge parents face is always to know when is the
right time, given the need for children to continue education in another
system, sometimes in another language. Each child’s aspirations, potentials and
gifting along with the family’s hopes and abilities – including but not limited
to financial abilities – determine when is the best time to move away from LAMB
School.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are thankful for the time we have the children and we
pray – do pray with us – that we will have helped them grow to their potential
and that they know the God who loves them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyMbIeTzzUiuyYEfrH0k1BnBWzBofe4_j0ui4XLjnJYywoh8U8RUrqsfUDrQdLW6WDO3OknYpnhknn5XPZpvjBD5-lK4Tb6GnTbeQaoO9clLtIX9oI_fCim6cFBsRXs0vTwXbCh_7UxVS/s1600/Bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyMbIeTzzUiuyYEfrH0k1BnBWzBofe4_j0ui4XLjnJYywoh8U8RUrqsfUDrQdLW6WDO3OknYpnhknn5XPZpvjBD5-lK4Tb6GnTbeQaoO9clLtIX9oI_fCim6cFBsRXs0vTwXbCh_7UxVS/s1600/Bedroom.jpg" height="189" width="320" /></a>On
next Saturday I plan to travel to Denmark to spend three weeks with family and
friends there. In 2010 we hoped to have our whole family together for Christmas.
I had to leave just before on 22 December to return to Bangladesh because of
visa issues. If we succeed this year, it will be the first time since 2001 or
2002.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
May your Christmas be a celebration of the reality of Luke 17:21
‘the kingdom of God is in your midst.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Him,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christian Vestergaard</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
LAMB, Bangladesh; 1995 - ?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redcliffe, England; 2012-13</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kingdom of God; already and forever…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you want to see where I am now, enter my current post
code ‘GL1 3PT’ into Google maps or another mapping application.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-43432590078000622182012-03-29T09:20:00.001+06:002012-03-29T09:20:42.335+06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBN_iKj90gJFanknAx8hGB69FoIqwUTfd6K7a_exGaY2SefCu6OpuzmjWV1RFAKEqV3pf3XhcFbZT9tNj7T7_i8WDX2kGfk3zq40gmtwgjCm_7CEAhgCyJ7H-EAbT5Rbi6Owf-xhoVC8u/s1600/March+26th+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBN_iKj90gJFanknAx8hGB69FoIqwUTfd6K7a_exGaY2SefCu6OpuzmjWV1RFAKEqV3pf3XhcFbZT9tNj7T7_i8WDX2kGfk3zq40gmtwgjCm_7CEAhgCyJ7H-EAbT5Rbi6Owf-xhoVC8u/s1600/March+26th+001.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">There have been lots of complaints lately, loud, rude,
inappropriate early moning and all through the day complaints; persistent
complaints; furious and frustrated complaints; at times violent complaints.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Some of these have been at work, but the ones I mention here have
been at home – on my roof. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">This winter I got a new water heater, a beautiful shiny new water
heater, enough for everybody in the house to share – as long as we told each
other when. That hasn't been the complaint at all. The problem has been that on
the other side of the shiny surface there has been a matching number of
claimants to the space on my roof, and the crows have been at it for weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I didn't realize right away that the intruders on the other side
of the shiny surface were what caused the furore and have been asking around to
find out what to do. Most people say it is impossible to get rid of crows and
as the days grow longer - and start earlier - I have been alerted to the conflict
above my head earlier and earlier each day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I am not a good sleeper at the best of times, but when on a
weekend morning I just about managed to sleep in and then woke up because of
the racket on my roof I had had enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">One neighbour suggested that, if I could only kill one single crow
and hang a wing somewhere on or near the roof, the crows would not come back. I
was ready to do what it would take.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">That is when another neighbour suggested we cover the heater in
black plastic and so reminded me that I had some paint left over from when my
parents painted my kitchen this January.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Light blue paint on my water heater has done the trick, it is
bright, but much to prefer above the alternative of a dead crow hanging over my
head. I still hear the crows at times, but now theirs has mingled with the sound
of hundreds of other birds. They are still loud, but their talk is no longer incessant
complaining but more a quiet sharing of joys and sometimes sorrows too – just
like at work.</span></div>
</div>Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-6548532369084993522012-02-04T18:44:00.000+06:002012-02-12T08:48:06.967+06:00Dependencies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As a missionary one of the things I absolutely don’t want
is to create dependencies. People who are dependent on me have the wrong ‘god’.
They might not ask God for help because it is easier to ask people and when I
provide, I run the risk of standing in the way of them seeking and experiencing
God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A good friend gave a passage from a book called Gracia!
By Henry Nouwen where the message is that to reach people we need to find their
gifts, receive them and thereby allow them to see how God also receives them and
they are valuable in His sight – that is what I took from it anyway.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yesterday an older friend came to my door telling me two
things; first that he had an injury to his leg and then that someone had
forgotten to give him money for a cup of tea while they had a break in the work
they were doing together. I couldn’t find the change he wanted, and then
asked if he would like my leftovers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After he had eaten, I asked him to pray for me and for
the teen group I was going to.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Today, when I saw my friend again and asked how he was
doing, he told me his leg hurt. I hadn’t heard him when he told me yesterday.
He had seen a village paramedic who had given him tetanus injections, but this
was ten-twelve days after he had pricked himself on some thorns while building
a fence. The oozing wounds needed more and better treatment today. I took
control of the situation, gave my friend a little money, told him to get seen
at LAMB and then come see me again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The man is not independent and I am not the only one who
gives him the help he needs. Where is the point, when things are going so
wrong, that it is all right for me to take over?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My friend probably hadn’t gotten treatment for two
reasons; he didn’t have the Tk 203 (DKK 14, GB£ 1.4 or US$ 1.6)! it took to
get proper treatment, and he knows I will pay him for work done, but
don’t want him to beg from me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I so desperately want people to trust in God rather than
in me, sometimes, perhaps, I end up missing the opportunity to bring the help
God is trying to send. Perhaps I am in desperate need for God’s wisdom to know when
to give, and when not to; perhaps I am the one who needs to trust God, and just
get on with helping my neighbour when I can.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-14162115277445511892011-02-10T20:20:00.005+06:002011-02-10T20:47:49.334+06:00HappinessIt has been over a month since I returned to Bangladesh. At the school I feel up to speed again. There are new children to get to know, there are new dynamics to fit into and there is evidence of growth in both students and staff.<br />In the teen group the teens have received me well. It is good to fellowship with them, and to see how they continue to contribute in church and in our own fellowship. There is a new generation of boys who are starting and we hope the girls will follow soon.<br />My time in USA, Canada, Norway, England and Denmark was fantastic. Reunion with family and friends was reassuring. Time to relax and see life from another perspective was a great and the reminders of the many people who pray for LAMB and for me was a real blessing.<br />Someone put the attached picture on the door to my office. The promises of easy access to the happiness available in Denmark might be hard to fulfil, but I'd love to share true happiness if you like. If going to Denmark remains an elusive dream you might chose second best; come see a happy Dane in Bangladesh.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HgJXnG_xcRn_yr9AD63RoY4vIvufdGe3fBWk4wZDZ7hM1_WFDvZqPV-LUD4EtLN4Tj8QJN96gXNHKHUmD3wHARb3UdBMYOsi4-zn6kyDDpxlvTWaygH4WeGdFmYke9noyqFiSZwb4xwq/s1600/DSCF0078+%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HgJXnG_xcRn_yr9AD63RoY4vIvufdGe3fBWk4wZDZ7hM1_WFDvZqPV-LUD4EtLN4Tj8QJN96gXNHKHUmD3wHARb3UdBMYOsi4-zn6kyDDpxlvTWaygH4WeGdFmYke9noyqFiSZwb4xwq/s400/DSCF0078+%25282%2529.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572067504911825618" /></a>Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-30131711549805100602010-09-01T19:44:00.003+06:002010-09-01T19:56:17.653+06:00From Minneapolis, USA"We would do well to seek a new appreciation of the inarticulate many who make up the body of the Church. They do a large share of the praying and pay most of the bills. Without them not a preacher could carry on, not a Bible school function. They are the flesh and sinews of the missionary program. They are the private soldiers of the Lord who do most of the fighting and get fewest decorations. The big stars of the Church get a lot of their glory now; the plain Christians must wait until the Lord returns. There will be some surprises then."<br /> A. W. Tozer as quoted in <span style="font-style:italic;">The Life of A. W. Tozer</span> by James L. Snyder<br /><br />While we probably wouldn't use the word 'soldier' today, the truth is still that the work is carried by the many who pray and pay for the work other missionaries and I have the privilege of doing.<br /><br />I have been reminded of the many who pray and support the work at LAMB through six weeks of visiting USA and Canada. It has been refreshing and encouraging. You have taken me into your fellowships and families and reminded me that we are many who work together - under God.<br /><br />I am indebted to all of you; Thank you.Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-43030377572862491882010-05-31T21:31:00.003+06:002010-05-31T21:46:41.855+06:00Ruth and Boaz<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wbbu3-ote24GX99Wpq3PnIhuytfKIIDGNiQBuWwXKkMS9_KnjX8JdIxxqypM3vEB1mooAwU1Hcj6KJgTcbFUR5VEagNmt8oGSl9TCnkpvBUYpztT4Ahxv8AG467k1Cyi-DlsoPJejhAp/s1600/DSCF1078.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wbbu3-ote24GX99Wpq3PnIhuytfKIIDGNiQBuWwXKkMS9_KnjX8JdIxxqypM3vEB1mooAwU1Hcj6KJgTcbFUR5VEagNmt8oGSl9TCnkpvBUYpztT4Ahxv8AG467k1Cyi-DlsoPJejhAp/s200/DSCF1078.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477459878762355218" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSTm6e8CMQArlGWOu-6gADpkFkXK2GqyT4AaV5_SB0YALws7Ij5XUzIHwPxbDayO-c6mA_pMObRr8-I5YgDm_QqWWxc9uZ-ADWoGXPXhTcZI_4kSrTsHG5k_QYBee7sIVDLpqTHACz6KV/s1600/DSCF1079.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSTm6e8CMQArlGWOu-6gADpkFkXK2GqyT4AaV5_SB0YALws7Ij5XUzIHwPxbDayO-c6mA_pMObRr8-I5YgDm_QqWWxc9uZ-ADWoGXPXhTcZI_4kSrTsHG5k_QYBee7sIVDLpqTHACz6KV/s200/DSCF1079.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477459883468865538" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBgg83MN_5VBew_7wRUpI9tA8UdsXOLotmHlTaxBjiooGf3KCZqiJ1Hv-R8LZ-4SrceLwx9tEDd6XC7vDg0ABodNz6I2Yn6vAd0OIOiIQy6DxgZx_kGZmlnynpdMSXt_l6j7gVD7svOix/s1600/DSCF1081.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBgg83MN_5VBew_7wRUpI9tA8UdsXOLotmHlTaxBjiooGf3KCZqiJ1Hv-R8LZ-4SrceLwx9tEDd6XC7vDg0ABodNz6I2Yn6vAd0OIOiIQy6DxgZx_kGZmlnynpdMSXt_l6j7gVD7svOix/s200/DSCF1081.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477459888706607362" /></a> The woman in the photo is closely following the hired hand who is gathering the rice from the field after harvest. It was evident that she was running to be right behind him in order to gather as much as she could.<br />When I asked another woman who had been with her in the field, she told me they could gather between six and seven 'se-er' close to as many pounds or three kilos of rice in a day.<br />I explained that there is a story about what she was doing in the 'Tourat', the Old Testament, and asked whether the labourers would ever leave any straws for them on purpose. <br />This 'Ruth' laughed at the idea, the owner of the field would be very upset if anybody did.<br />I guess what Boaz did in the Old Testament is still surprising today.Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-61412280876048757292010-05-22T08:42:00.005+06:002010-05-22T08:59:33.157+06:00Visa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaHFuLrAj1jKUhtfhAEHyAhqgKdts3xgZzZBSi-o6EXA_JjyRdYD0fRYGbcIlnEoZNM0i2LZDG42A01ZmasBNzFqlXL9v6DnZlMYbLU1xinUm-Bv2I0UxFp7hzMgilgZddsio_IwH7I9n/s1600/Visa+-Christian+V.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaHFuLrAj1jKUhtfhAEHyAhqgKdts3xgZzZBSi-o6EXA_JjyRdYD0fRYGbcIlnEoZNM0i2LZDG42A01ZmasBNzFqlXL9v6DnZlMYbLU1xinUm-Bv2I0UxFp7hzMgilgZddsio_IwH7I9n/s400/Visa+-Christian+V.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473922554359375330" /></a> Praise God for a visa for 2010. Our dedicated staff at the office in the capital Dhaka finally got my visa for 2010 this Wednesday, 19 May. While this might sound backwards, the practical implications of this is that I am now free to leave Bangladesh again. While the application process was running I would have needed special permission to leave Bangladesh, now I can come and go - or at least go.<br />I have planned a home assignment from July through December this year. My family and I were looking forward to the first Christmas together in nine or ten years. My new visa expires on 26 December 2010. This leaves me with a choice to either return to Bangladesh before Christmas and apply from here, or risk not being able to return until another work permit and visa can be issued. Given this year's experience, that requires a little bit of faith and a great miracle by God.Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-64688777949514166432010-04-15T08:16:00.002+06:002010-04-15T08:23:39.151+06:00Bangla New Year 1417<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRajW2qoHu_YVEHL8XNRdolNRotc5IBHbuJgtDucbOEZhzOU785oKkqAfCHeRXBZ_tzEeBwvABA960hq4X76bwq849SMldQVCdQslO_yevYSMSR17hOrmHmP0wVLfY6W09JrmgR_V3y6B_/s1600/DSCF0576.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 108px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRajW2qoHu_YVEHL8XNRdolNRotc5IBHbuJgtDucbOEZhzOU785oKkqAfCHeRXBZ_tzEeBwvABA960hq4X76bwq849SMldQVCdQslO_yevYSMSR17hOrmHmP0wVLfY6W09JrmgR_V3y6B_/s400/DSCF0576.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460183313230943666" /></a><br />Happy New Year to all. <br />It is good to be able to celebrate the new year; it started with a storm that blew off roofs and killed four people in Bangladesh and over fifty in India according to media reports.<br />The storm blew down trees and all my mangoes but the roof stayed on my house.<br />During the day we celebrated with a procession, a fair and a cultural show.Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-76851320660045942512010-04-11T17:27:00.002+06:002010-04-11T17:36:26.973+06:00Work Permit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguq9AAtctbXymvJSQ-Dw9aaeTkqKNdfy5nszZtvPxDsjcOiCyGJiWR8O5OSHWpi4_hF-AdjQ2F-9XGVuQV5Oe9hVkcascEa0vKQP7dVGb7sptuolyPI8pn7GNDyA29o4YQAQvutkAXq3jZ/s1600/Christian's+work+permit+2010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 108px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguq9AAtctbXymvJSQ-Dw9aaeTkqKNdfy5nszZtvPxDsjcOiCyGJiWR8O5OSHWpi4_hF-AdjQ2F-9XGVuQV5Oe9hVkcascEa0vKQP7dVGb7sptuolyPI8pn7GNDyA29o4YQAQvutkAXq3jZ/s400/Christian's+work+permit+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458842201025438050" /></a><br />I am grateful to all the staff in our Dhaka Office and the HR Department for the work they have put in to getting my work permit for 2010. Thanks to all of you. I am also grateful to the investigating officers who gave a good report on me and to the people handling the application.<br />Most of all I am thankful to God for providing in good time for me to apply for a visa so that I can leave on home assignment this summer. <br />God is faithful.Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-60398794836642719962010-04-01T09:11:00.001+06:002010-04-01T09:13:10.492+06:00Hosanna<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCr22CvNWGEQY-5CNirKHz9z1z9cstf9l8AeCQF2xCTIKPPkOPWxr5izMfYWZ2xoU8QdhxCOiwh0wxMAW3rvgoGhZpAdr3WZyDtZ-hTf3flIqkoVrP0x0X6sy5ao025h5tSLNcjofOAZU/s1600/DSCF0023-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCr22CvNWGEQY-5CNirKHz9z1z9cstf9l8AeCQF2xCTIKPPkOPWxr5izMfYWZ2xoU8QdhxCOiwh0wxMAW3rvgoGhZpAdr3WZyDtZ-hTf3flIqkoVrP0x0X6sy5ao025h5tSLNcjofOAZU/s400/DSCF0023-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455000792739920754" /></a><br />The Easter week is here and we have started celebrating Christ's victory over death. As the congregation walks around our village we sing, <span style="font-weight:bold;">'Hosanna, hosanna, the Kingdom of Peace has come.'</span><br />Every night throughout the week there will be worship services in the church and on Easter Sunday we end the celebration with a meal together; we don't end there, every Sunday we continue the same celebration of Christ the King.Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-71939368783768001452010-02-26T13:48:00.003+06:002010-02-26T14:09:36.934+06:00Its a sin to kill a dogThe poppy was unable to move as it lay just across the path from the enclosed bathing area behind the hospital. The mother and twin poppy were nearby watching as it lay whining in pain.<br />I couldn't make myself kill the dog, not least because of the big brown eyes staring helplessly at me. As it was only a matter of time, I called our maintenance department; a group of good people doing low jobs, including those that are considered bad by some. <br />Mr H, a Muslim, came with me and saw the dog and agreed that it would die but said it is a sin to kill a living being.<br />I asked about the colleague who had done it in the past. Mr. H informed me that he had been unwilling to do so since one of the last dogs he had killed had come back to visit him in a dream.<br />Mr H called the medical director who is a Christian. To him it would be a sin to take medicine from people to put a poppy to rest.<br />Next came another doctor, this time a Hindu, who suggested we take the poppy somewhere else where it could die in peace, it was better that way than committing the sin of killing a living being.<br />Next came a foreign doctor who, though she is from a country where euthanasia is practiced, didn't herself support it and so was unable to assist.<br />Regardless of who we were, we were unable to kill the little dog.Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-25409679925990627582009-07-22T22:46:00.003+07:002009-07-22T23:39:21.344+07:00Total Solar Eclipse<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3sulksD0WqZI8ck_6aF2Nw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_7VG65YY0hOE/SmaUAMyaI0I/AAAAAAAACX0/8VtB9HPzR0I/s144/0658.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/christian.lamb/SolarEclipseTotal?feat=embedwebsite">Total Solar Eclipse</a></td></tr></table><br />This morning we were all surprised at the splendour of the eclipse of the century. We have been longing for rain, but when I woke up to the sound of rain falling on my roof I was worried that our prayers had been heard just one day too soon.<br />As you can see in the photos there were some clouds, but we could see the sun except twice, first it was eclipsed by clouds for almost a minute and then the it hid behind the moon.<br />We could not have hoped for a better view of the eclipse. <br />My Ayah told me the story of how Ghona demands that the Sun repaid the loan she took when creating the Earth, the humans and all the other things in it. The Sun will never be able to make the final payment and so Ghona has her punished.<br />All Hindus, she said, plead with Ghona to release the Sun again. My Ayah admitted that she herself had stopped her cooking fire as a concession to that story when the Sun disappeared. She has heard a modern explanation of the phenomenon involving the Moon passing between the Earth and the Sun, she said but nobody in the village believes that. She has known the story since she childhood, and I'l have to concede that it did work again today. <br />I will go back to praying for rain.Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-69507689389344504742009-06-29T23:07:00.002+07:002009-06-29T23:38:12.570+07:00No ghosts only evil spiritsSix year old Victoria turned my attention from 'The Last Mughal' by William Dalrymple with the statement. She and two friends were playing dominoes on my floor - building towers and discussing life. <br />At first I was shocked and asked her where she had heard that, but like all good children she was too loyal to tell, and when I had caught myself we talked about belonging to God and not needing to be afraid.<br />That was when my good Christian friend and neighbour Sprint who is also six gave me the second shock of the evening, 'I used to be afraid,' he told me, 'until my parents took me to the local which doctor who put an amulet around my neck. Now I am not afraid, but my [older] brother is still a little afraid.' <br />'Oh.' I managed to respond, not wanting to set him up against his parents.<br />The children continued their conversation with the two girls asking Sprint about when he had seen Jesus from his chest up in a cloud while they had been praying. The discussion was matter-of-factly and discussions ensued about whether Jesus' hair was long like that in the picture on Jonna's wall or shorter like in the Jesus film they have all seen.<br />They all agreed that there was a heart on his chest; not the popular one we usually draw, but one the shape of a fist with blood dripping from it. This is from a poster many Christians keep in their houses to ward of evil.<br />It was a rare moment of insight into the beliefs of my neighbours and friends through their children. I can reassure you that the names have been changed but am less sure there is much reassurance in there being no ghosts around being that there are still evil spirits.<br />Earlier today I received a phone call from a friend who had received a letter threatening him to move away from where he lives and has always lived - or face the consequences. The letter came in the mail but was not signed. When I reminded him that he would be protected here he replied, 'The laws of the country protect me, but the laws of the religion I left are clear about the consequences of leaving the faith.' <br />I will reassure myself that I have been baptised into the family of God and had the sign of the cross on my chest and my forehead as symbols that I belong to the One true God.<br />Pray with me that the children - and my friend; whatever the evil they may face will Know the power of the Almighty God who has overcome All evil.Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-86624836541383066642009-06-14T21:39:00.006+06:002009-06-14T22:27:22.701+06:00There is Life in BangladeshLast week when my gardener invited me to visit his home church today for the baptism of twelve new believers I didn’t think I would go. Sunday is a work day and I don’t encourage (read; ‘allow’) my teachers to take time off on school days. As it is I only have one class on Sundays, and that with a co-teacher. From my gardener’s perspective the excuse didn’t really work. He ended up with support from my director and so I went.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7o-F8m5zBK4_R1ahW1B8YN-m6raPf3OXHFTDufaa1mJswcyec3XDvlPrSXZaH9PEuFcHQ8s5Ftl007fPuIhIbSdYCrWoDCodZbCLR1QUSs-MxyyWn2VJQ0ICRzWw8Hmk5F-JvapY4QPWc/s1600-h/DSCF2703.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7o-F8m5zBK4_R1ahW1B8YN-m6raPf3OXHFTDufaa1mJswcyec3XDvlPrSXZaH9PEuFcHQ8s5Ftl007fPuIhIbSdYCrWoDCodZbCLR1QUSs-MxyyWn2VJQ0ICRzWw8Hmk5F-JvapY4QPWc/s400/DSCF2703.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347211416840428178" /></a><br />I had planned on going by bicycle – it is only thirty minutes from here and I need the exercise – but then yesterday I was told the head of the church – the GS, was coming by in a car and invited me to join him. <br />We were due to leave at half past eight from LAMB so I had plenty of time for our monthly birthday celebration at the school which started at twenty to nine and finished in an hour. Church started at nine and we got there just in time for a light snack and tea. When the service was over at twenty past two we had been at it for over three hours. Nobody was troubled by the timing, and I have been here long enough that I impressed myself by not being bothered by it either. I’ll leave it to those who are so inclined to sort out when things happened and stick to the more interesting ‘what.’<br />I am not going to guarantee anything about the following as, apart from the sermon and my two minutes worth, everything was in Santali, a language I do not know.<br />The visitors, including myself, were invited to bring greetings and so we did. These included the clergy, the church politicians and representatives from two NGOs, one of which had paid for the feast afterwards the other being me. I didn’t realise until after I had had my turn that I wasn’t there as my gardener’s friend, but as the LAMB representative. <br />The first thing that happened after the introductions was a couple who were accepted back into the church after church discipline. They didn’t look too repentant, and the male part was an active participant in the church afterwards. I am blessed with not knowing anything about the story. The idea is that they are now forgiven so I really shouldn’t know; and don’t.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7GJlTHSiq3TGe-boi6I9SxMAInEz5qyID2naDI1r9P7Ad8itZX7NthlTXmWUiRE5hzB1rSxkU44tX6gRT6HAsZP0Upqldj9whpVcPhkzLLeTCfkLw7Rbk1zv8vmrEpbwW0q7xso53nbb/s1600-h/DSCF2811.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7GJlTHSiq3TGe-boi6I9SxMAInEz5qyID2naDI1r9P7Ad8itZX7NthlTXmWUiRE5hzB1rSxkU44tX6gRT6HAsZP0Upqldj9whpVcPhkzLLeTCfkLw7Rbk1zv8vmrEpbwW0q7xso53nbb/s200/DSCF2811.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347215610566853138" /></a> The sermon was exactly twenty two minutes from six before the hour until twenty seven past? It was a good sermon, the preacher who works at LAMB, started by saying he was going to read the text for today but was going to preach from Matthew sixteen. That’s not true, he started by praising the congregation for participating well and encouraging them to continue to come every Sunday so that the GS might be motivated to fund a bigger church building. The main point I took home from the sermon was that we can all be like Peter – perhaps not be too bright, but we can be used by God if we will let Him. (The sermon was in Bangla which I do understand.)<br />After the sermon, and before communion, there was to be baptisms. Two families from the village who have resisted the gospel have decided to become Christians. I would like to think that my gardener friend has had a part in this, but nobody took the honour for it, at least not in a language I could understand. Since there was a 'real' pastor there, the congregation also accepted three previously baptised Christian’s from another church into this congregation. They had been looking for a fellowship. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEgohFyONerovS-IW83wa2LtdoaTbvrhXpjBjxqRilvoE68Efm2wXceptx4lLonPDlvjDdFwAkzGmVwVsQAHc5J66J2gOshmx0YrcZAnM9a9MmB3W6d_1j54fs1xr9um_4SP7NvOKi5pR/s1600-h/DSCF2781.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEgohFyONerovS-IW83wa2LtdoaTbvrhXpjBjxqRilvoE68Efm2wXceptx4lLonPDlvjDdFwAkzGmVwVsQAHc5J66J2gOshmx0YrcZAnM9a9MmB3W6d_1j54fs1xr9um_4SP7NvOKi5pR/s200/DSCF2781.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347214663797127410" /></a> We only call it sheep stealing when it is the other way. Besides, I have come to be rather fond of sheep stealing because it often means someone who is looking for money (rather than God) leaves one church and becomes part of another. In order to do so, he will have to go through some sort of Baptismal classes where he might hear the gospel again. He will then hopefully learn that becoming a Christian is not about getting rich – even if it is about God looking after his sheep.<br />Yesterday somebody called me and introduced himself with the following sentence, “I want to become a Christian because I need money.” He went on to explain how I would give him a job if he became a Christian and that many people do that. I told him that becoming a Christian would give him lots of trouble and no wealth and that he should try to find some of these people who have become Christians and rich to find out how they had done it, since I couldn’t help him. I can’t think of anybody who has become rich by becoming a Christian, but I know several Christians who have had their share for problems – my friend the gardener is one of these; he is an old man who doesn’t always have enough of anything in Maslow’s pyramid, not for himself, nor for his wife or children. No, that is not true, there seems to be genuine love between him and his wife. Her eyes were as bright as the sun and that in spite of her needing a cataract operation within the foreseeable future.<br />Sorry, I got sidetracked from the service, there were twelve new believers four little children, three not so little children an old widow and two sets of husband and wife, then there were the two toddlers whose parents took the opportunity now that the pastor was present to have their children baptised.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWbODmEWabLtAC-HskJgz6AC-joLjy_jgyImnaOdZNFGdVTfW8CkDHpuQkmkqKHc-IErjGvSpxl40FR7dA7Hz0qdWLqXxlBUes6cJuJWeEcqzRCSu2qyIVDSUX8XcOQzbIshOH5Hk_WYq3/s1600-h/DSCF2729.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWbODmEWabLtAC-HskJgz6AC-joLjy_jgyImnaOdZNFGdVTfW8CkDHpuQkmkqKHc-IErjGvSpxl40FR7dA7Hz0qdWLqXxlBUes6cJuJWeEcqzRCSu2qyIVDSUX8XcOQzbIshOH5Hk_WYq3/s400/DSCF2729.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347211413669969282" /></a><br />We aren’t quite done yet, but we did get ready for communion. It was an opportunity to see four pastors; the congregational pastor who has very little training and doubles as my gardener, the pastor who has responsibility for a greater area with several congregational pastors under him, then there was our former pastor at LAMB who is more senior again in some capacity and the GS who is the head of the church. They took turns giving out the empty cups, the oblate, the wine (rose water) and 'sitting out.' If there was anything that showed who was more important it might have been in the reading which my gardener didn’t do. Reading also required good young eyes as there were no electric lights in the church. (There were no candles either that would have made the heat unbearable.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPo2aNaAvK8wANSimRTJFkIsSOctVpRz0CT3aVkUp4Qf6QNGQRRTTAUni4zXKQcTd2vmy8MUe5NdN5ZssjCDHL_VYLlDAaVebqy4G53YeDw2TzIVBzIB3_ZVqOGUl4meiswVQU4nVPhyphenhyphenYI/s1600-h/IMG_0049.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPo2aNaAvK8wANSimRTJFkIsSOctVpRz0CT3aVkUp4Qf6QNGQRRTTAUni4zXKQcTd2vmy8MUe5NdN5ZssjCDHL_VYLlDAaVebqy4G53YeDw2TzIVBzIB3_ZVqOGUl4meiswVQU4nVPhyphenhyphenYI/s400/IMG_0049.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347209084465633186" /></a> <br />When everybody had been served, two of the pastors suddenly disappeared out the front of the church, I know from a photo shown later, that they went some ways into the village to find an old lady who was too weak to come to or sit in the church. The lady really needs wheels.<br />The last ceremony in the church was for a couple who had been married in a secular ceremony and now were blessed in church; a girl who might have been their daughter looked to be about eight so it was about time. (Couples who do not get their parents’ blessing to get married often run away and then get a church blessing once the marriage has been consummated.)<br />We were all ready to leave when someone remembered that the wives of two of the visiting people might also want to be introduced so we took the time to bring them up front and have them remind everybody who they were – as in who they were related to or perhaps how they are all related. It is a great pastime for many here to go through each other’s pedigree.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNs5rJRBSnsFn3cB9KtdLNTlFklSvYhx7UHtrqL-bi8Jw_bzqqlTcVuXyThES4FU5EgAjpnsth1OK2qOsPfEus180j2Oh-rP_16Z3bljxxhdV4j189qdrmdGmsm1GDCSj5QAU4egCaz5On/s1600-h/DSCF2796.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNs5rJRBSnsFn3cB9KtdLNTlFklSvYhx7UHtrqL-bi8Jw_bzqqlTcVuXyThES4FU5EgAjpnsth1OK2qOsPfEus180j2Oh-rP_16Z3bljxxhdV4j189qdrmdGmsm1GDCSj5QAU4egCaz5On/s400/DSCF2796.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347211418779345106" /></a><br />I had not been bored for a second in church, it probably helped that our former pastor had asked me to bring a camera, and called me up front to document every part of what happened, but also because I had time to reflect on how the congregation was alive and involved. It was great to be reminded that there is Life in Bangladesh.<br />I was also impressed by the relationships between the sexes. We sat on opposite sides in church, but there was room for all. The pastors were all men, but the men and women worked together at the feast afterwards, at least my gardener and his wife did. And they talked to each others as friends.<br />By the time we got to the end of the service I had passed my camera off to a boy of perhaps twelve. He was keen and did a great job taking photos.<br />I had time to enjoy the day and rejoice in what God is doing in one little corner of His kingdom in Bangladesh.Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-52681417793349158272009-05-23T19:51:00.004+06:002009-05-23T20:08:59.984+06:00LichuThis might not be the conventional spelling of what is possibly the best fruit in the world but it is worth sharing our blessings with others. God has certainly given us a fantastic treat. <br />One of my colleagues' daughters who goes to a boarding school is home on holidays. She invited me to come visit. When her mother asked what she was going to feed me, she replied 'Lichu' ['Li' as in list, 'ch' as in church and 'u' short and aspirated in a way I can't match to another English word.] <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwM78nVyb5OsFSAo2jc_QieVk9PRhoH8v8Hgl3wOHbxgUNxzXo0aTA8k7sXomhSOL-18STTYM4l6qMUdJ1ZvsM04wTOy5N1bvejQcQEArI6iee-ev_8Jx-Aglu4Th71pnVbMBy3ThFkFvE/s1600-h/DSCF2009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwM78nVyb5OsFSAo2jc_QieVk9PRhoH8v8Hgl3wOHbxgUNxzXo0aTA8k7sXomhSOL-18STTYM4l6qMUdJ1ZvsM04wTOy5N1bvejQcQEArI6iee-ev_8Jx-Aglu4Th71pnVbMBy3ThFkFvE/s400/DSCF2009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339020002698430514" /></a><br />As we arrived, two colleagues and I, they were cleaning the seeds for next year's rice, and I got to help a bit. Then we were fed the lichu and tea. As we were about to continue our round to three other families from the school who live right there a wind blew up with the promise of rain.<br />We hurried home. As I savour the lichus and enjoy the relative cool of the evening we are still waiting for the promised rain.<br />Next come the mangoes...Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1083873994384081627.post-35888331922297671802009-05-06T19:47:00.002+06:002009-05-06T20:02:16.802+06:00Family everywhereI went to Greece to spend Easter with my family; my brother and my parents. It was a great time because we know we belong together. It was good to reconnect and spend time together,<br />When I came back home, it was definitely like coming back to family here in Bangladesh. There are so many great people who make up for not having any biological family nearby.<br />Tomorrow I am going to Dhaka for a WMPL Field Conference. That is much like family too. I look forward to spending a couple of days with other missionaries talking about what God is doing in various places, to be refreshed and to be encouraged to continue in the work God has given me here.Christian Vestergaardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05313667205319221490noreply@blogger.com0