asap newsletter, 4th quarter 2009

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

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ASAP is a registered §501(c)(3), non-profit organization and is fueled by faith in God and His provision through individuals’ financial support. Please note that 100% of your gifts go directly to the projects specified. All donations are tax-deductible.

ASAP publishes this newsletter quarterly. Please contact the office to receive your complementary subscription, or for additional copies to give to family and friends.

ASI MEMBER ASAP has been a member of ASI (Adventist-layman’s Services and Industries) since 1996 and is grateful to be an ASI grant recipient.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR/DIRECTOR Judy AitkenEDITOR/ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Julia O’Carey COPY EDITORS Linda BauerDESIGN/LAYOUT Sarah Lee | whyambient.comPHOTOGRAPHY Frank Spangler | worldviewimages.com

ASAP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair: Bruce Bauer, Judy Aitken, Max & Linnea Torkelsen, Mary Ann McNeilus, Ralph & Beatrice Neall, Byron & Carol Reynolds, Robin Riches, Trudi Starlin, Kenneth Straw

CONTACT USAdventist Southeast Asia ProjectsPO Box 84Berrien Springs, MI 49103 TOLL FREE 1-866-365-3541PHONE 269-471-3026FAX 269-471-3034EMAIL [email protected] http://www.asapministries.org

fourth quarter 2009 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

ON THE COVER

Saw Aye*, ASAP Church Planter from Myanmar, pours over God’s Word during a recent training. Get to know him better on page 13.

*Name changed for the safety of God’s servant.

IN EVERY ISSUE

3 DIRECTOR’S UPDATE BY JudY aitken

4 THE INNER VIEW BY Julia o’CareY

10 IN LOVING MEMORY & HONOR BY sara martin

11 ASAP FAMILY CONNECTIONS BY linda steffens

18 SNAPSHOT OF ASAP’S FINANCES BY karen Wade

21 A GIVER’S HEART BY BruCe Bauer

23 P.S. WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!

12 Results of the Spirit Working BY Pastor hoPe & Pastor faith

Meet Saw Aye

ChurCh Planter

IN THIS ISSUE

6 special feature: a storY to share

First Impressions BY susan, minh, and lien turleY

Meet Bun Sokhom asaP ProJeCt manager and Women’s

ministrY direCtor of the CamBodia adventist mission

14 A Life of Service BY terri saelee

Meet Saowanee Kertpron ChurCh Planter

16 An Unlikely Candidate for Mission ServiceBY Phomsaming keovanna

Meet Pom Malavong ChurCh Planter

22 A Special Invitation from ASAP ira rollovers

The lndiscriminate Gift

Discover how God’s Spirit is poured out on the young, old, women, men and does not discriminate against those who can be a witness.

“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also on My menservants, on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28, 29).

As Jesus promised His disciples in Acts 1:8, the power of the Holy Spirit came on them and they became witnesses for Christ, “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Ellen G. White writes, “We are living in a time when it [the prophecy of Joel 2] is to be even more evidently manifest to the people of God. He will so bestow His Spirit upon His people that they will become a light amid the moral darkness and great light will be reflected in all parts of the world. O that our faith might be increased, that the Lord might work mightily with His people” (MS 49, 1908).

The memories of what the Holy Spirit did during the time I worked in the refugee camps will forever be burned in my memory. As men, women and children readily accepted the gospel message and joined the family of God, they were empowered by the Holy Spirit to share His love, peace and joy with their relatives, friends and all who would listen. Truly the light from the Holy Spirit shone indiscriminately to people of all races, classes, genders and ages. When repatriation came, hundreds of Adventist believers returned to their homelands, sharing the light of salvation in Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, nine of the eleven refugee camp church leaders (two now retired) still serve the Lord and work as district pastors in the Cambodia Adventist Mission.

With Christ’s coming rapidly approaching, today we see even a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit. You will be inspired as you read this issue and see people from every walk of life actively sharing their love for Christ. For example, Saw Aye, an elderly church planter in Myanmar, who together with an evangelism team, taught and then baptized eight new believers from the unreached Hakeg Tribe. You will meet Richard Steffens on page 11, a young boy touched by the Holy Spirit and prompted to deny himself expensive toys in order to save money for a much more meaningful purpose. You will discover on page 4 how the Holy Spirit paved the way for a housewife in Vietnam to also become an effective evangelist.

We sincerely thank each of you who are partners with us in praying and supporting the spread of the everlasting gospel. As the Holy Spirit touched your heart, you helped

accomplish much this past fiscal year for the spread of the gospel. Catch a glimpse of this on pages 18-20 and join us in praising God for His amazing gift of the Holy Spirit.

Sincerely,

Judy Aitken, ASAP Director

14 A Life of Service BY terri saelee

Meet Saowanee Kertpron ChurCh Planter

16 An Unlikely Candidate for Mission ServiceBY Phomsaming keovanna

Meet Pom Malavong ChurCh Planter

22 A Special Invitation from ASAP ira rollovers

fourth quarter 2009 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects4

House-wife, mother, sister-in-law, daughter of God, evangelist—five titles Kim-ly Phan* happily claims as her own. Read on to find out how she manages to balance it all.

JO: Kim-ly, you have many roles and responsibilities as most women in this world today do, yet you feel called to also be an evangelist. How did this come about?

KP: During an ASAP training four years ago, Pastor Isah Young* encouraged me to work for God. I gladly accepted the call, but then became pregnant with my second child. My husband was so excited about having a boy, he was obsessed with me staying home. I prayed and prayed about this because I wanted to be a good wife and mother, but also do God’s will if He wanted me to keep sharing the good news. One night I had a dream where I struck the head of a snake and killed it. After praying, I understood that dream to be God telling me that I would have victory over any power that would hinder me from ministering.

JO: How did your husband react when you went against his wishes?

KP: He got very angry at me and yelled, “You are a believer so you should know the Bible says that a good wife should submit to her husband.” He kept yelling at me. When I did not stop witnessing, he got desperate and started to beat me. I still showed love to him and was respectful, but kept going out to witness and support the house-church throughout the time I was expecting and after a four month maternity leave.

JO: Did your husband ever have a change of heart?

KP: All of a sudden, he came down with a serious illness where his skin became yellow and his abdomen expanded. He felt so weak he thought he was going to die. I had faith in God and prayed and cried for Him to heal my husband and comfort him. Because we had no money for hospital bills, the Lord impressed me to go to a pharmacy where I bought some remedies from a natural herbalist. My husband allowed me to pray before administering the treatment and God used the herbs to heal him. My husband saw God’s love through me and though he is a man of great ego, he felt sorry for how he had treated me. I praise God and thank Him for the support that my husband has become. Now he is so happy and willing to help take care of our two children and support me as I work for God. He even lets me play sermons of truth to his clients in his barber shop!

Photo CaPtions toP: (left to right) Lay Evangelist Kim-ly Phan, happy to serve Christ. Kim-ly shares the gospel with a friend. Kim-ly with her young son. Sharing the gospel with those in the market. Being confronted by the police for her witnessing.

BY Julia o’CareY

P Vietnamese Lay Evangelist: Kim-ly Phan*

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web: www.asapministries.org | phone: 1-866-365-3541 5

Vietnamese Lay Evangelist: Kim-ly Phan*

JO: Jesus sent out the disciples two by two. Do you have someoneto accompany you when you go out to witness?

KP: I often bring my young son with me and my sister-in-law shares the burden I have to spread the truth in God’s Bible. Sometimes another friend goes with us. We thank God because even though we feel so limited in our knowledge of the Bible, we pray and hold hands each time and experience the power of the Lord. The Holy Spirit fills us and gives us the courage to walk up to total strangers and in a friendly way, ask them questions about themselves, depending on their age and what they are doing.

JO: How receptive are people when you approach them?

KP: Generally, the reactions are different depending on where we are. When we walk along the beach, people show apparent joy and interest. Some people kneel down in the sand and praise God right on the spot when they receive the sermons on DVD. It is a freer environment than in the market. Many gladly receive the materials there but they are quieter. Some market sellers will whisper, “Do you have anything new?” We have the contact information for the lay pastor on every DVD and pieces of literature so the people can come to the house-church on Sabbath and receive more material.

JO: Are you free to witness in your area, or do the police attempt to stop you?

KP: The police watch our every move. They come as “clients” to the barber shop and give us trouble when we give them DVDs. From time to time, they call me in to the police station for interrogation. My father was in the communist party and used intimidation tactics. One time when the officer used those methods to try and exert control over me I asked him, “Why are you treating me like a criminal? You should treat me like one of your colleagues because we are in the same business, to protect and serve. I serve God, do good deeds and share messages that will protect the people from the enemy, Satan.” He actually apologized to me and found no reason to put me in jail. Hallelujah!

JO: Yes! Hallelujah! I hear from Pr. Isah Young that your house-church keeps growing. After talking with you, Kim-ly, I can see why. God has and continues to work through you in a special way.

*Names have been changed and faces blurred for the safety of God’s servants.

6 fourth quarter 2009 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

In August 2009, my two daughters and I traveled to Cambodia to work in the ASAP-sponsored schools

there. These are our thoughts on this amazing and wonderful mission trip:

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIAThe sun is high and hot in a cloudless sky; it scorches your skin. The air is heavy with heat and humidity, exhaust fumes, and the smell of food cooking. The street is crowded with bicycles, motorcycles, and cars that flow past each other in ever-changing patterns as they jockey for position on streets without traffic lights or stop signs. The street is lined with small shops, each selling something different (plasticwares, fans, fruits, religious shrines), tiny sidewalk restaurants with a few chairs and tables, and shops that repair motorcycles (with dismantled motors spilling out onto the sidewalk). The sidewalks are uneven, their tiles and concrete often broken. Vendors slowly walk their carts along the side of the road, each selling something different (French bread, grilled meat, sugar cane pieces, rice and vegetables, coconuts, or balloons).

BY susan, minh and lien turleY

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7Christ is Coming ASAP … Reach Asia Now!

Everywhere we see the striking contrast between the rich and the poor. Three-story mansions and gardens surrounded by high fences with intricate wrought iron front gates are not far from pothole-filled alleys littered with rubble and trash. Many shops and houses have miniature, doll-house sized, gold and red shrines filled with drink and food offerings and incense sticks. The poorer homes have an offering of a small pile of food and drink by the door. We see more Lexus cars in one hour here than we would see in one day at home. Oblivious to the heat, their passengers ride by in air-conditioned comfort, past an old woman on a bicycle trying to balance a basket of sticks, past a motorcycle piled high with trays of hundreds of eggs, past a small shop where a man and a women struggle to cut rusty metal bars into small pieces, and past coffee houses with girls as young as nine who have been sold into prostitution.

We turn from the main street and walk down the alley that leads to the school. Even though the alley is narrow and filled with potholes, there is a steady stream of cars and motorcycles. Part way down the alley is the gated entrance to the first Vietnamese school. There are few dividers between the classrooms and the teachers’ and students’ voices reverberate off of the concrete walls and floors. It is hot and noisy, but the children are happy and learning!

ASAP-SPONSORED SCHOOLSThough ASAP sponsors teachers in 166 literacy schools in Cambodia, my daughters and I focused our time and attention on the five ASAP-sponsored Feed & Read schools around the capital city of Phnom Penh. Three have full-day school programs that teach Bible, reading and writing in Khmer and English, math, and other subjects. Children from the poorest of the poor families living in nearby slums benefit from these schools along with the children of AIDS victims in the

school that meets at the SDA center hospice. The other two schools have half-day Bible-based literacy programs that teach the Bible, reading and writing in Vietnamese and English, and math to poor Vietnamese children.

I visited the three Cambodian schools, which are well-established. The students wear crisp blue-and-white uniforms and the teachers are dressed in shirts, ties, and long-sleeved jackets in spite of the heat. The students rise to their feet with a respectful greeting when a teacher or guest enters the room. I was treated to several songs about Jesus in both Khmer and English!

Because my two daughters speak Vietnamese, we spent most of our time at the Vietnamese schools, visiting one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. In the evening, we returned to the first school to have dinner with everyone, to talk about books and teaching methods, or to have Wednesday evening prayer meeting. These two schools have much potential for growth, so we spent a great deal of time helping them get much-needed school supplies, desks, lunch trays, and other standard pieces of equipment, as well as cleaning and organizing study and work spaces.

Both Vietnamese schools are managed by Pastor Khanh with the help of student teachers whom he has trained for the past few years. These students were previously illiterate but through the hard work of Pastor Khanh, their own diligent study, and God’s blessings, they are now literate and teaching the younger students. These older students not only teach, they also lead out in the Wednesday evening prayer meeting. They selected and announced the hymns from the hymnbook and led the song service. I recognized many of the hymns

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EVERYWHERE WE SEE THE STRIKING CONTRAST BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR.


and sang along in English while the teachers, student-teachers, teachers’ helpers and my daughters sang in Vietnamese. Then another student delivered a twenty-minute devotional message complete with Bible verses, examples, and stories!

It was amazing to see how little the schools have and yet how much Pastor Khanh and these student teachers have accomplished, as they have impacted this community of poor illegal Vietnamese immigrants who are not recognized by the Cambodian government and have no other opportunity to attend school, let alone learn of a God who loves them.

MINH AND LIEN’S COMMENTSThe thought of leaving the United States and going to a foreign country, such as Cambodia, has never intimidated us, as we were born in Vietnam. To us, every trip is an adventure, an eye-opener, and a much-anticipated experience. In Cambodia, we had the pleasure of working

with the teachers at the Vietnamese schools. We were surprised to find out that the teachers were our ages, sixteen and seventeen, and some were even younger, ages fourteen and fifteen. All day there were classes to teach, papers to grade, meals to serve to the children, and things to clean up afterwards. At night these teachers still had their own school subjects to study (advanced English and math). We were shocked. Shocked because they were so young and yet they carry so many responsibilities. But never once did we hear a complaint or see a frown on the teachers’ faces. They were always cheerful and truly happy. Now that we are back home, we realize how blessed we really are, how blessed we all are in America. But often times we do not have the happiness and thankful attitude that we should have. Working with the students at the Vietnamese school and making close friends with the teachers was also a blessing. Some students were stubborn at times but their smiles are what we will remember forever.

FINAL THOUGHTSWe would recommend this experience to everyone. If you have the opportunity, instead of going on a vacation, give your time and money for a mission trip like this. It will change the people you are helping but most importantly it will open your eyes to a whole new experience. An experience that will change your view of life, and lead you to realize how blessed you truly are.

Three of us went, and three of us returned home—but forever changed by what we had seen and with joy in our new-found brothers and sisters in Jesus.

—————————————————————about the authors —————————————————————

Susan Turley is a nurse and adult educator who writes textbooks in medical language and pharmacology for college students pursuing allied health careers. This was her first mission trip. Minh Turley, age 17, and Lien Turley, nearly age 17, who joined the Turley family in 2001 through adoption, are high school students

who enjoy school, volleyball, and keeping in touch with friends. This was their third mission trip.

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teacher linh, giving extra help to one of her students

fourth quarter 2009 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

Pastor and Principal khanh, smiles at the entrance of the vietnamese sda school, with a group of his students


Meet Bun Sokhom

“I’m so happy to work for God and help these women and their families.”

position ASAP Project Manager and Women’s Ministry Director of the Cambodia Adventist Missionlocation Phnom Penhmain goal To be a positive role model to the women in Cambodia and serve the Lord any way I can how you can help

Pray for ASAP’s special projects and for wisdom in how to most effectively meet the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of poor women and children, along with sick people in Cambodia.

A HEART FOR THE POOR When I travel around Cambodia with my husband, Pastor Hang Dara, I see many women and children who are suffering. They do not have enough to eat and do not have a proper place to live. They do not have a chance to study like I did and like my children have. My heart goes out to them because they are my people. When I was young, I suffered under the Pol Pot regime, but now in Cambodia there are different wars against the people; the war of poverty and the Satan’s war where people’s hearts are wounded.

PRAISE TO GOD It amazes me that God would burden the hearts of people in America to support my people on the other side of the world. We are one big family in Christ Jesus. I am always so happy to meet the ASAP volunteers that spend their vacation time to come and help my people. I want to share my praise to the Lord for what He has done.

workers cambodia

I was amazed to see the love the women show for each other.”‘ ‘

JOYFUL TO SERVE I am so happy to work for God and help these women and their families. I see that simple projects, like sewing or giving micro loans show the love of Jesus. Their life can easily turn from misery to hope when they see that someone cares for them. When I recently visited ASAP’s sewing school and gardening project for AIDS victims, I was amazed to see the love that the women show each other. They are outcasts in their neighborhood. They do not make much money with sewing, but they never quit because they feel accepted by Jesus and each other. It was so beautiful, just thinking about it makes me want to praise the Lord.

FACING CHALLENGES Being a pastor’s wife and supervising ASAP projects is not always easy. I always look to God for my strength in every difficult situation. I am most grateful to God that my three daughters have learned how to do this from me. For instance, when my oldest daughter, Rothana, was taking her final exams in school, she did not feel prepared. She prayed to God to show her what to study. She felt impressed to just open her textbook and study whatever portion she landed on. The next day she started the test with peace, knowing that God was guiding her. She was not surprised when she saw the very section she studied as the questions for the test. If we put our trust in God, he will help each of us in every difficult situation.


“The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ” (Philippians 4:7).

IN MEMORY OF:Kristine Proctor, by Karen Bennett & Michelle StembridgeBrother and nephew, Monte & Michael Morris, by Shirley BurtonJonathan & Lindsay Reynolds as they united in marriage July 19, 2009, by Heather Glass, Cari Harrison, Roger Hinshaw, and Beccy IvinsMaddox Cowan’s 4th birthday, by Carolyn HartmanSang & Kyoung Kim’s anniversary, by Martin & Liana KimAmy Kim’s birthday, by Martin & Liana KimAlma Kravig, by Paul KravigReid & Lane Dounias, by David LyonsMy mother, Els Van Keulen, by Ellen Sabel

IN HONOR OF:Shamus Curry who passed away July 3, 2009, age 28, from a brain tumor, by Donald & Ellen AmadorPearl Martin, by Rae Anna Brown, Carol Dunn, Donald & Alice Fahrbach, Clela Fuller, and Eleene JacobsenLance & Evelyn Lockwood, by Robert & Sherron LockwoodStan Barnett, by Doris BarnettWilliam Daugherty, by Victoria BereczMy dear wife Pearl Martin, by Charles MartinM.D. & Dorothy Shasky, by Dottie DavidsonMy spouse, by Albert GerstNaoma Henkelmann, by Charlie HenkelmannJohn Hooper, my husband, by Irmgard HooperMilton Kesler & Wesley Steele, by Yvonne KeslerWendell Horning, by Helen W. LeeBob & Lucille Peyton, by Robert & Bonnie LeeNorton ‘Bud’ Ritter, by Lois Ritter

ln Loving Memory & HonorBY sara martin


T he iDeny project was started by one of my children, Richard Steffens, as a way for young people to raise money for

mission projects. This project is a good way to implement the recommendation of Mrs. White that every family should have a self denial box where they could save extra money they might have spent for trinkets and instead put it to good use in the mission field.

Here is how the project works. First make a self-denial box. You can see the one Richard made in the picture above. Second, choose a mission project—we kindly suggest choosing a project from the ASAP gift catalog, which can be found online at www.asapministries.com/resources-catalog. Then begin saving for your project!

Richard and his friends went together to save, and were able to raise enough to build a church in Southeast Asia. Richard took his project to ASI, where everyone attending the ’08 Primary class was able to make an iDeny box for themselves. 3ABN also featured his project on the program "Kid’s Time”. He wants others to catch the excitement of using their money and their time to help others.

Richard hopes many young people will experience the joy of giving to missions. You can choose a small project, like saving $10 for a Bible for someone who does not have one or you can get together with friends and save for a larger project. Whatever you choose, by saving little bits of money, you can soon have enough to do something big for Jesus. Try it! The joy of giving cannot be matched.

BY linda steffens

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TRY IT! THE JOY OF GIVING CANNOT BE MATCHED

Hey kids—here are some of Richard’s self-denying ideas you might try! They will help you with your project:

Instead of buying candy, gum, or trinkets use that •money to put in your iDeny box instead.

If your parents offer to buy you a new toy, ask if you •can have the money for your iDeny box instead.

Use gift money, such as from your birthday or •Christmas, to put toward your iDeny project.

Ask your parents or grandparents for small jobs that •they could pay you to do (not your ordinary home chores), to earn money for your project.

pPpPpP WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Visit Richard’s iDeny website for more great giving ideas: www.ideny.org


Results of the Spirit Working the indisCriminate gift in mYanmar—BY Pastor hoPe* & Pastor faith*

P

As soon as I, Pastor Hope, received resources from ASAP for conducting musical and youth training, evangelistic

meetings, and revival meetings, I left my office at Central Myanmar Mission headed for the Rakhine state and southern Chin state with Pastor Ko Kyaw* who is a field director for one part of the Rakhine state and Pastor Happy*, a retired pastor still working in this area.

We began our first evangelistic meeting July 5 to July 11 where we were invited by the village chief to preach to his village who had never heard the whole message about Christ. The monsoon rains poured down mercilessly almost the whole week while we conducted the evangelistic meeting. The heavy downpour did not stop the two hundred or more villagers that attended faithfully. The Holy Spirit worked in their hearts in a special way and many were touched by the truth they heard. The devil also gave us trouble. Two of the sound speakers that we were using for the meetings got damaged. God gave us an even better one—a horn loud speaker that was loud enough for almost everyone in the whole village to hear the message from where they were.

Eleven of our listeners were convinced by the Holy Spirit and responded to be followers of Christ by being baptized at the end of the meetings. Other villagers wrote down their names requesting Bible studies in more depth before they make their decision for baptism. We also realized that the villagers need health training to live healthier and that it would be good for them to have a Christian education.

Pastor Aung Aung Oo* is from another denomination who was working in one of the villages in the southern Chin State. Years earlier, while he was studying at one of the seminaries in Yangon, an Adventist literature evangelist came to sell books to him. The headmaster of the Seminary forbade them to buy any books from the Adventists, especially from that particular literature evangelist. Secretly, he bought three books. Among the three books was a Bible study guide. In reading it he learned about the Millennium, 2300 day prophecy, about clean food, and especially the truth about which day God considers the Sabbath. After finishing his studies at the Seminary, he worked as a pastor in his province. He regularly listened to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Voice of America (VOA), and Radio Free Asia (RFA). Fortunately, one night he tuned into Adventist World Radio (AWR) broadcasting about the Three Angels’ Message. After that, he continuously listened to AWR broadcasts.

He contacted one of the Adventist churches in his town and invited us to conduct evangelistic meetings in his village. So Pastor Hope and Pastor Aung Win Shwe*, the local pastor, organized some meetings. At the end of the meetings Pastor Aung Aung Oo with his family and some of his members (fifteen of them) were baptized in Christ and joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I praise the Lord for this. Later the head village chief from another village invited Pastor Hope to come and conduct evangelistic meetings in his village. At the end of those evangelistic meetings thirty-one souls were baptized.

New converts are babies in faith and in their spiritual life. They need follow-up Bible studies, intimate care and support in their spiritual, social, and mental growth. We need continual help from God and from His children at ASAP to reach out to close to fifty million people in un-reached people groups in Myanmar. Will you join us today in praying for and in out-reach to these precious children of God?

*Names of workers in this article are changed, and exact locations of places are withheld for safety of God’s workers and the work they are doing.

recently baptized members that need care and nurture. (for more images from myanmar visit our website at: www.asapministries.org)


workers myanmar

Meet Saw Aye*

“The Holy Spirit impressed me that God had a plan.”

position Church Planterlocation East Shan Statemain goal Share the message of salvation to people of the Hakeg Tribehow you can help

Pray for Saw Aye and the other ten dedicated ASAP missionaries who are planting churches among unreached people groups in Myanmar. We invite you to help provide for their stipends, guitars, and mopeds that will aide them in their ministry.

SAVED FOR A PURPOSE I grew up in a Christian family but left the faith of God when I was a teenager. I lived a worldly life of drinking, smoking and chewing beetle nut. One day I was with friends on a boat when it capsized in the sea. I cried out to God to save me. Miraculously, my friends and I were rescued by fishermen just before we drowned. The Holy Spirit impressed me that God had a plan for me and saved me for that purpose.

LOST BUFFALOS One of the men in the village lost his buffalos. He felt discouraged and decided to go to a fortune teller to find a solution. On the way he met Pastor Maung Shwe*, the SDA district leader. Pastor Maung Shwe advised him to pray and depend on God to help him. He took this advice and came to my house and told me his problem. We prayed together for two weeks before the buffalos were found. When the buffalos were found his faith increased and he praised the Lord.

God answered immediately and set me free.”‘ ‘

MIRACLE OF NEW LIFE One of my boyhood friends who is now a pastor visited me and invited me to return to God. The Holy Spirit convicted me through my friend. I prayed and surrendered my life to God. I cried and asked God to forgive my sins and take away my addiction to cigarettes and alcohol. God answered immediately and set me free. I felt very weak after giving up my worldly habits and prayed for help. God answered my prayers and gave me strength. I thank God that though I am considered to be very old, I was called to become a church planter. God gives me good health and blessings to serve Him.

EIGHT PRECIOUS SOULS SAVED In April, Pastor Hope* who is one of the church leaders for Central Myanmar Mission held an evangelistic meeting in my village. I praise God for eight precious souls who accepted Jesus as their Savior and were baptized. The Holy Spirit helps me encourage these baby Christians in their faith and they are growing stronger spiritually.

*names have been changed for the safety of god’s workers


I can’t preach,” he says, yet Saw Morrison, a Karen refugee from Myanmar, leads a group of more than eighty Karen believers in

St. Paul, Minnesota. Saw’s English is not flawless, but his love for the people is unmistakable. If his people have a need, he does his best to find a way to meet it.

When he finds out that a new family is coming from the refugee camps in Thailand, he rents an apartment for them, picks them up at the airport, helps them apply for Social Security cards and I.D. cards. He makes medical appointments, provides transportation, he does anything he can do to help them start their new life.

Some of the Karen refugees he helps are already Adventists. He makes a special effort to shepherd them. He buys food for them when they need it and looks for resources in the neighborhood with which to help them. He takes a personal interest in each family. “Most important,” he says, “we bring them to the church.” He makes two to three trips to church every Sabbath, and then two to three trips home after church to provide transportation for families who would otherwise not be able to attend. “My green van is broken right now,” Saw admitted, “but I believe God will help us,” he was quick to add, courageously. “We just go forward.”

In 2006, he began organizing the members into a congregation. The local SDA church, St. Paul Eastside Seventh-day Adventist Church let them use the fellowship hall for Sabbath School

classes in their language. That is when the group really began to grow. Now his large group needs a place where they can hold not only an adult Sabbath School, but a full worship service in their own language, in which they can include the children and young people.

Saw’s life and ministry is, to me, an illustration of the inspired message that “the common people are to take their place as workers. Sharing the sorrows of their fellow men as the Saviour shared the sorrows of humanity, they will by faith see Him working with them.”(Gospel Workers, p. 38 [ChS 24.2])

Pray that ASAP will be able to financially support Bible workers like Saw Morrison so they can work full-time in meeting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the Karen refugees flooding into the United States.

—————————————— about the author ——————————————

Terri Saelee is mother of three and wife of Pastor Ko Saelee. They are church planters for the Hmong, Karen and Lao people in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Terri recently took on the position of the North American Division’s Coordinator for Refugee and Immigrant Ministries.

A Life of Servicethe indisCriminate gift in north ameriCa—BY terri saelee

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LEARN ABOUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED!

Email Terri at [email protected] or visit www.refugeeministries.org.

Saw Morrison with his family in St. Paul Minnesota Saw, teaching a class of Karen refugees


Meet Saowanee Kertpron

“God answered and opened the door for her...”

position Church Planterlocation Lahansai, Bouriam Provincemain goal To increase the faith of church members and win more souls for Christhow you can help

Pray that the thousands of •Buddhist people living in Bouriam Province will have open hearts to accept and follow the gospel.

Partner with church planter •Saowanee and fourteen other church planters and medical missionaries in Thailand by giving support of $110 per month.

GOD’S LEADING When I was a student, I received a tract given to me by a group of Christians. As I read the words that told about the true God, I felt like I wanted to know more. Later, I went to church at the invitation of a Christian young lady and there I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I shared my belief in Jesus with my parents and other people in the community. My parents and other friends became Christians. Today my parents and the family of Mr. Tonkra are Adventist believers. Mr. Tonkra is now an elder in our church.

THE PROVIDER, COMFORTER AND HEALER I have many experiences of how God answers my prayer when I pray to Him. I prayed for my daughter to study at Chiangmai Adventist Academy. God answered and opened the door for her to have a scholarship to study there. Though the school was full, she was accepted. Another answer came when I prayed for my father who was seriously hurt in a car accident. The hospital told me that he had a 50 percent chance to survive. For one month I took care of my father, prayed for him, and read Bible texts to Him. God helped him fully recover. I thank God for healing him. He is now a witness by giving his testimony to neighbors and friends of God’s power. He is a good help to me in the church. The Holy Spirit is wonderful to comfort and heal when we ask.

workers thailand

My passion is to share Jesus...” ‘ ‘

A PASSION FOR MINISTRY Jesus gave me a heart to serve Him. My passion is to share Jesus with whomever will listen. Every Tuesday evening the church members come together with me to study the Bible and pray. On Wednesday I teach a Bible study to a small group in the village of Bansong. On Friday evening I worship and teach Bible lessons in the home of church members. On Sabbath I lead our congregation of thirty-four members.

16 fourth quarter 2009 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

Crippled at the age of five, Mike Vongsada was an unlikely candidate for Mission Service. Due to his deformity he was not

able to attend school regularly. Poorly educated and with a physical handicap, many would have written him off as unqualified to be a foreign missionary. But praise God that “the LORD does not see as man sees.” God had a special work for Mike to do.

After becoming an Adventist about seven years ago, Mike went for training in Thailand for a few months. There he learned how to give Bible studies along with basic principles of health. Upon returning to Laos he volunteered

at the local Adventist church for several years. In January of 2009, Mike volunteered to be a foreign missionary to Cambodia to work with the displaced Lao villagers in Wang Muang. When he first arrived there were no adult Christians, only a handful of children and youth. Now there are three families attending regularly every Sabbath.

Mike did not let his disability and his lack of education keep him from obeying Christ’s command to “Go” into all the world and make disciples for the kingdom. With joy in his heart and a smile on his face he limps from house to house taking with him the light of a better way. Praise God for willing people, empowered by the Holy Spirit. In these last days God is using simple means to finish his work through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. If God can use Mike, he can use you too.

——————————————————————about the author ——————————————————————

Phoumsaming Keovanna is the secretary of the Lao Adventist Field. He accompanies Boonpranee Wannadee on trips throughout the country to encourage and train the ASAP missionaries and the church members. He praises God that over three hundred people in Laos have accepted God in baptism in 2009.

An Unlikely Candidate for Mission Servicethe indisCriminate gift in laos—BY Phoumsaming keovanna

P

Young adventist students learn about god in Wangmuang.

“The joy of the Lord is my strength,”

quotes ASAP medical missionary Kham La in an interview. This missionary’s village has been transformed through healings, answered prayer and a well. He has so much to smile about.

You too can experience God’s joy when you join a Lao missionary in service through your financial support and prayers. It takes only $70 per month to support one church planter in Laos.

pPpPpP WHAT MAKES THIS MISSIONARY SMILE?


Meet Pom Malavong

“I want you to pray for me because you have a powerful God.”

position Church Planterlocation Nanhue Houakhoua Villagemain goal To spread the message of Christ’s soon return to all how you can help Pray that many will come to know God and that all the church members will be stronger in faith. Pray also that God will provide the physical and spiritual needs of all his members.

PRAYER WAS THE ONLY OPTION I used to worship with my members in a small house. I wanted to build a bigger church so that many more people could come and worship together with us. I went to God in prayer. Praying was the only thing I could do because I did not have the money for a bigger church. I prayed that God would provide for us so that He could be glorified by many worshippers. God is faithful! I praise the Lord for not only giving us a bigger church, but also providing for us a well.

JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME My uncle was slow to become a Christian. One night, my cousin called me and said, “My dad is dying. Please come now quickly!” So I got on my moped and rode very fast while praying the whole time. When I arrived at my uncle’s house, I saw him and he looked fine. I believe that God went before me and healed my uncle. I believe that God works in mighty ways through our prayers. The Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). It is wonderful to know that Jesus continues to work through the Holy Spirit to perform mighty miracles.

workers laos

I believe that God went before me.” ‘ ‘

HE STILL RAISES THE DEAD I was asked to come see a girl who was very close to death. When I rode my moped to the girl’s home, I noticed that a coffin had already been prepared to carry her body, and there were many people who were weeping. As I looked at her, I thought about how the Bible spoke of death as a sleep. I believed that God had the power to raise the dead. I began to pray, “God please give her your Holy Spirit so that she can live.” As I prayed for her, she woke up and sat straight up on her mat. I thank the Lord for giving me the faith to pray for this girl who seemed nearly dead. I have developed a good friendship with this girl. She often calls me asking for prayer. She says, “I want you to pray for me because you have a powerful God.”

An abundance of Bibles, 250,000 DVD’s and players for evangelism, 500 mega-voices, along with 300 radios to strengthen the faith of new believers.

Continued support of an AIDS hospice which ministers to 54 infected church members. They receive a roof over their heads, treatment and nourishment, education for their children and a chance to live with dignity.

Join heaven in reJoicing over what you helped provide in the past fiscal year

BY karen Wade, CPa

The Holy Spirit lmpressed You!

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An expanded team of over 625 ASAP missionaries (lay pastors, church planters, literacy/Bible teachers and medical missionaries).

Wells put in near 35 churches, which provided safe water sources for many villagers

Literacy schools (166 total), giving hope for a better life and hope for eternity to the poorest of the poor in Cambodia.

Emergency aid for the desperately poor and those suffering from drought

Media outreach support and materials both in Southeast Asia and for the thousands of refugees living in the USA: Voice of Love radio ministry to the Khmer both in the USA and Cambodia. Development and air time of new Lao Christian programs now being aired on Lao TV.

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Training for ASAP’s Southeast Asian missionaries ($45,000 worth) in addition to training and ministry provided by the dedicated ASAP mission trip team to Cambodia.

Income-generating projects such as sewing schools, weaving projects and gardening to help poor widows and young women at risk of joining the commercial sex trade.

New outreach and evangelism work in Myanmar. This included 12 generators, 10 mopeds, evangelism support, pastoral and medical missionaries, and disaster relief.

Building, repair and re-building of temporary house-churches in Cambodia and Vietnam.

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W e must be careful that we do not continue to think that promises of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, like

what is found in Joel 2:28, are still for the future. God is pouring out His Spirit in powerful ways even as we speak. The incredible turning to Jesus Christ in Vietnam with thousands becoming committed Sabbath-keeping followers of God and the exciting things that are happening in the Muslim world as many receive a dream of Jesus that begins them on a journey to faith in Him as Messiah and Lord demonstrates that the time of this prophecy is being fulfilled.

If this is true, what should be our response? Can we continue to live and give money for missions the same old way? Can we continue to allocate resources for mission in the same way that we did ten or fifteen years ago? I think not. Instead, living in the end time motivates us to give more, to give sacrificially (do we even know what that word means?), to go without, so that unreached peoples can have an opportunity to hear the Gospel for the first time.

God’s Spirit is powerfully impacting people, but people still need human interaction to explain the Good News, to give them a Bible, or to answer the many questions they have when coming to faith. This is where ASAP needs your continued support and prayers, for the fields are truly ripe and ready for harvest. Notice the challenge Ellen White gives:

BY BruCe Bauer

A Gift for Today

A G

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’S H

EART

The lapse of time has wrought no change in Christ’s parting promise to send the Holy Spirit as His representative. It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. If the fulfillment of the promise is not seen as it might be, it is because the promise is not appreciated as it should be. If all were willing, all would be filled with the Spirit. Wherever the need of the Holy Spirit is a matter little thought of, there is seen spiritual drought, spiritual darkness, spiritual declension and death. Whenever minor matters occupy the attention, the divine power which is necessary for the growth and prosperity of the church, and which would bring all other blessings in its train, is lacking, though offered in infinite plenitude.

Since this is the means by which we are to receive power, why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, and preach concerning it? The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who serve Him than parents are to give good gifts to their children. For the daily baptism of the Spirit every worker should offer his petition to God. Companies of Christian workers should gather to ask for special help, for heavenly wisdom, that they may know how to plan and execute wisely. Especially should they pray that God will baptize His chosen ambassadors in mission fields with a rich measure of His Spirit. The presence of the Spirit with God’s workers will give the proclamation of truth a power that not all the honor or glory of the world could give.

The Acts of the Apostles, page 32

GOD’S SPIRIT IS POWERFULLY IMPACTING PEOPLE, BUT PEOPLE STILL NEED HUMAN INTERACTION TO EXPLAIN THE GOOD NEWS

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WHO? ASAP Supporters Over Age 70½

WHAT? The Federal government now permits you to make a direct rollover up to $100,000 from your Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) when you give to a charity.ASAP invites you to take advantage of this opportunity and make a generous tax-free gift to benefit God’s work in Southeast Asia.

WHY? Three reasons: First, your gift of $1,000, $10,000 or any amount up to $100,000 this year will not increase your taxable income and you will not have to pay any additional tax. Second, your gift will qualify for your required minimum distribution (RMD). Third, it is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

WHEN? We suggest you act A.S.A.P. because this special offer expires December 31, 2009.

HOW? It is easier than you think! ASAP’s planned giving consultant will answer your questions and assist in the process or you may contact your IRA planned administrator to administer a direct IRA rollover.

IRA ROLLOVERS

Dr. and Mrs. Paul Watson were missionaries in Thailand and long-time prayer and financial supporters of the work of God in Southeast Asia. They recently completed a direct IRA rollover gift this year and last because they heard it would help them avoid additional taxes. They contacted their IRA custodian and had a generous gift sent to ASAP, one of their favorite ministries. This contribution gave them immense satisfaction because they believe that Christ’s coming is right around the corner and feel an urgency that NOW is the time to invest in finishing God’s work here on earth.

Mrs. Watson shared, “Our mission in life is to advance the kingdom of God by introducing as many people as possible to the Lord who has done so much for us in the past with His tremendous sacrifice for us, and is still continuing to bless us every day. We are just celebrating out 60th wedding anniversary and this great landmark makes us ever more conscious of God's mercy to us. We praise the Lord for His goodness. We want to give everything we can to spread the gospel all over the world, and ASAP is certainly working hard to do this.”

INTERESTED? Contact ASAP 1-866-365-3541 or [email protected]

A Special lnvitation from ASAPPPh

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At our church vespers one recent Sabbath afternoon, one of our members showed an ASAP DVD. About the same time, one of our elderly members gave my husband a piece of garden equipment he no longer wanted. He refused to take any payment for it, so my husband decided to donate the money to some project. He recalled that his generous friend once labored in Southeast Asia, and still having the ASAP program in mind, decided to send the money to you. You all are doing a wonderful work!

helen from the united states

Dear Judy, Thank you for ASAP. Receiving the ASAP newsletters in the mail was a huge encouragement to me and got me very interested in southeast Asia. I enjoyed reading the stories and seeing the pictures. Then hearing David Gates talk about missions got me really motivated to do something so I quit my job and came to Thailand. I knew the Spirit of God was leading me to become more involved with the last day gospel message and I desired to have a deeper experience with Jesus. Coming to Thailand has been the best booster in my spiritual life.

miChael straCk, missionarY in thailand

Kevin and I were so blessed by the ASAP Benefit Concert with Jee Wong we attended and wanted to do what we could to help. We are planning a

trip to visit Kevin’s brother and discovered that the car rental ended up being much less than we had budgeted for. We decided to give half of the money we saved on the car rental to ASAP and half to AFM. We praise God for doing this for us. He is certainly capable! If we only trusted Him more!

viCki from miChigan

Dear ASAP, this money is a donation from my sister. She had an estate sale and promised half of the profits to God. After hearing the presentation by Martin Kim, she chose to send the money to feed the hungry in Cambodia.

sheila from miChigan

There are four hundred families in Unlung Svay Themey village and most of them are originally from Laos. The people are interested to learn more about Jesus and His teaching from the Bible. There was not enough water in the village and the people were facing problems. We prayed and requested God to provide a well. God answered our prayers and we received help from ASAP to dig a well. Now the people are very happy. We all are very thankful to God and the donors of ASAP for their kind help. God bless ASAP, all the donors, and prayer warriors involved.

Pastor ChouB Phouen from CamBodia

LAOS

THAILAND

CAMBODIA

VIETNAM

P.S. We Love Hearing from You!P

MYANMAR

You can read more inspiring stories of how God has influenced people’s lives by visiting our website:www.asapministries.org/about-testimonials

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asap newsletter, 4th quarter 2009

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