Jan 2007 / Feb. 2007 / March 2007 / May 2007 / June 2007 / August 2007

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY
In Indonesia a holiday can be celebrated for several days or weeks. Whatever date you get this, we want you to know we are thinking of you and appreciate you. Love is a good theme for February and all year. In January we wrote about Bintang and Bia’s wedding. Please pray for them as they serve the Lord together. We’re proud of them because they just made a very difficult decision. Bia has an accounting degree, but just graduated and hasn’t held a job yet. She came here planning to work to help with expenses. She was offered and accepted a job which would have taken her 1 1/2—2 hrs traveling each way. After three months she would move to an office even further away. We were unhappy about it and discussed it with them, but of course didn’t say she couldn’t work. We felt it would be hard for her to work, take care of her new husband and house, and share in visitation with him. We suggested getting a job closer to home or setting up a “warung” (small store) at their house (there’s room) Besides selling everyday staples, they might sell cell phone cards, watches, other things. The warung would be an excellent opportunity to develop relationships with their neighbors for evangelism. I knew Bia really wanted to help with expenses right now - the next two months are going to be hard for them because they owe some money for their wedding.We thought they were still going to try the job, but they decided to put the Lord’s work first.

JACQUES FROM CYPRUS
A couple of weeks ago, a new friend named Jacques from the Island of Cyprus spoke at the Ciputat church service here. Twenty-six people from the Ciracas Church came in a van and motorcycles, We had at least 45 here. Bintang’s new wife of 3 weeks, Bia, taught the children while Jacques spoke. He explained to the church that Paul and Barnabas went on their first missionary journey to Cyprus, that Christianity has been in Cyprus for more than 2,000 years. The church there is the Greek Orthodox Church. He told of the many church traditions that are still followed in Cyprus today. Everyone was very interested and asked him many questions. We served lunch to everyone - rice, vegetable soup, spicy boiled eggs, corn fritters, krupuk (shrimp chips) and watermelon.
Things Jacques wanted our people to know:
1. Paul & Barnabas went to Cyprus on their first missionary journey.
2. Indonesian Christians don’t have to feel alone . Cyprus has been Christian for more than 2,000 years.
3. They withstood the Turkish invasion for 300 years, although a few did become Muslims because of the high taxes for Christians.
4. Today the country is 80% Christian and 20% Muslim.
5. Easter is the most important holiday in Cyprus. The Christians fast for 40 days before Easter. Their fast is no meat or meat products. The fasting is to purify the body and mind in order to become closer to God.

DANIEL, our newest evangelist, joined our team February 6th. He is staying with Bintang and Bia until he finds a place of his own. He’s a graduate of the Christian Church Bible College in Salatiga, Central Java. Salatiga is the first place we lived when our family moved to Indonesia in 1974. Daniel has been working in a village in Central Java, so evangelism in a city of more than 12 million people is quite a change for him. Part of his time is getting used to the roads and areas around Ciputat. On one of his journeys, he found he was going in circles. He finally followed a bus to get back to Ciputat.

CIRACAS
Arlin and Martius in Ciracas - The congregation is growing slowly; they have ten “head of households,” but some families are very poor and some that should be tithing a significant amount are not. During the floods Arlin and Martius had neighbors sleeping with them in their small upstairs bedroom; she said that they were so crowded they slept sitting up.

NEWS FROM ACEH
Our family in Aceh still needs a reason for being in Aceh and want to start a “jamu” business (health drink used by Indonesians everywhere - a different drink for everything, pregnancy, lose weight, gain weight, general health). They submitted an amount of $700 to us several months ago. We thought we might be able to help them personally, but don’t have the money at this time. We are praying about this. Bob will be with them in Banda, Aceh, February 22 - 24th; look for an update in our March newsletter.

NOAH’S ARK - FLOODING
IN JAKARTA
Every year there is flooding in some parts of Jakarta. Many people are saying this year’s flooding is the worst in the history of Jakarta. In this city of 12 million, 60% of the area flooded. Thousands have been homeless. Telephones and electricity have been out of service. We are blessed because we are up high and haven’t had any problems except for one falling tree. The picture above is in the area of Pulomas where our Indonesian sponsor preaches in a church in a housing complex of 80 homes. Everyone had to flee to a public building, some sleeping on balconies. We were able to help provide a few of the basic food items needed. The flooding has receded now and the people are trying to clean up their homes to be able to live in them again.

PRAYER & PRAISE
Our Lord is faithful.
Please continue to pray for our evangelists, for open hearts in Ciracas, Ciputat, Pamulang, and Banda Aceh.
Pray for our secretary, Linda, as she goes to the land office to get the letters needed for a clear title for the mission property.

FINANCIAL UPDATE
We always seem to expect that January income will be down. Sure enough, we were more than $1,000 below budget. Please help and pray we will be on target before April. Thank you and God bless you for sharing in God’s work in Indonesia. Oh! And next year, let’s pray and predict a high January income.

INDONESIAN CHRISTIAN
MISSION ANNUAL BOARD MEETING, Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. Rosemead Christian Church, 8705 E. Valley Blvd. Lunch will be served. All are welcome. Please RSVP to Dave and Polly Apodaca (626)280-7700