Happiness

It 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.
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.
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.
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.

From 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."
A. W. Tozer as quoted in The Life of A. W. Tozer by James L. Snyder

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.

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.

I am indebted to all of you; Thank you.

Ruth and Boaz

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.
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.
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.
This 'Ruth' laughed at the idea, the owner of the field would be very upset if anybody did.
I guess what Boaz did in the Old Testament is still surprising today.

Visa

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.
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.