drjoem on Family Tree Circles

VOLUME 34, NUMBER 5 MAY 2009

Dear World Missions Partner,
I send you warm greetings and blessings from your Mission family.
By God?s grace I have returned to America safely after six months of ministry throughout south-east Asia. Besides my regular ministry in India, I was privileged to minister in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and China, and several islands in the Andaman Sea off the coasts of Thailand. Because of the downturn in the economy which resulted in a dramatic drop in air travel, the budget airline which I use while in Asia, Thai Air Asia, offered 10,000 free seats on their routes. I was able to book three free tickets for my missionary journeys. I have made it a rule to travel as cheaply as possible. In the countries that I visited, my most expensive hotel room was $12.00 per night, in cities where first class hotels cost over $200.00 per night. I have tried to pattern my life after Jesus, Who told us that ?foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no where to lay his head.? Even as I sleep on a small bed in a simple room, I am reminded that it is better than what Jesus had!
I am so happy to tell you that this missionary excursion was one of my most rewarding and happiest in my more that 35 years in that part of the world. The Lord gave me strength for the busy days and favor as I ministered to Hindus, Buddhists, and other unevangelized individuals. God has given me a love for people generally, and a special compatibility with Asians. The Asian culture is expressed in quiet and mild mannerisms. When I tell about the kind and loving and gentle spirit of Jesus, there is relation to their own culture. I am convinced that the most effective way of leading people to Jesus is to show them the spirit of Jesus by our word and deeds.
I am asking all of you to have special prayer that our missionary work can grow, and that many more souls will be led to the Lord. Lately I have been thinking of the Scripture, ?Your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.? Years ago I preached a sermon, How to Reverse the Aging Process. My main point was that to keep young, we must keep a vision of things we want to accomplish in the future. Old people dream about what they have done in the past, but young people look forward to the future! I must tell you that my vision today of things I want to accomplish for the Lord is greater today than 30 years ago.
Please let the Lord enable you to share my vision, and add it to your own list of projects you want to accomplish. I am convinced that this will keep us young mentally, and a healthy mental state will contribute to keeping our bodies well and strong.
May the Lord richly bless you spiritually, physically, and mentally. It is an honor to have you as a partner in the work of worldwide evangelism.
In the Master?s service,
Dr. Johannes Maas, President