The Tabernacle Community

First let me pause to wish you each a very happy and blessed new year 2008! May you see the Lord move mightily in answer to your prayers and may you become more and more the person He wants you to be, and may Jesus Christ be glorified in your life.

I don't know whether the persecution of Christians in the state of Orissa, India has reached your newspapers or not--but it is indeed a fact and our brothers and sisters in that area are asking for prayer and for protection from the government authorities and police. I saw in the Singapore paper today, an article in which the federal government promised to ensure the rights of all Indian citizens, including the Christian minority. I can only pray it is more than empty words. A friend of ours in India wrote : " 300 houses burned to the ground and over 40 Christians are feared killed in Barakuma a Christian village in Palvana District (this was reported by a pastor living in the area)... They are asking for prayer and protection from the government authorities and police." Let's pray that indeed the authorities both federal and local and state will do what is right and protect these Christian villagers from the militant Hindu group that is perpetrating these atrocities. Pray for courage and a spirit of forgiveness for the Christians so that they may glorify the Lord in what they do and not perpetuate violence by retaliating.

I'd also like to ask you to pray with us for an Indonesian 48 year old lady who has cancer. Here's the story. On Christmas eve I (Edith) got a phone call from Pat, a friend in our church here in Singapore. She was at the hospital near our home with her son who had a serious surgery. She saw a lady in the waiting area, all alone and looking sad and decided to sit by her and see if she could comfort her in any way. She found she could only communicate a little with her because she only spoke Indonesian and Pat understands very little of that language. But she did understand that this lady's sister is very sick and wants to be ministered to. Pat remembered that I speak Indonesian and called me. So on Christmas afternoon Dick and I went to the hospital room of the sister, whose name is Djiastuti, taking elements for communion. We found out that Djiastuti has a very dangerous cancer in one breast and had just had a tumor removed from her back. The doctor in Jakarta had told the sister, Lilik, that there was no hope. Lilik and her other siblings did not want to just give up. Djiastuti has worked hard to help her younger siblings get education and they love her very much. She is Catholic, while the two younger sisters with her here in Singapore are evangelical Christians. Lilik had been praying the Lord to send her some encouragement when my friend Pat sat down by her. In fact the Lord has been sending her encouragement along the way, answering various prayers. Clearly the Lord is showing His love to this family.

I don't know whether Djiastuti is saved or not and I don't know whether or not it's God's plan to do as He did for Hezakiah and give her more years to live here. I only know that Lilik and Sari are calling on the Lord and asking for their sister's life and her salvation. Will you please join us as we join them in this prayer? Also, please pray for me to have the Lord's Words and wisdom to share with Lilik and Sari as I visit them each day I can. Also pray that the Lord will supply the finances they need for Djiastuti's treatment. (It is not common for Indonesians to have health care insurance.) One brother owns two houses and is thinking to sell one of them to help pay the bill. Her treatment is to be 6 chemo treatments and 10 radiation treatments and then a mastectomy, as far as I understand. It will take all their resources and then some, for they are not wealthy. Please pray also, that if indeed the Lord does not plan to heal her, that the doctors will see and advise wisely so that this family's resources are not wasted.

Thanks for helping others through your prayers.

Edith and Dick