Tanya (Qld) in Bali - God's surprising ways

Life is good. I'm having a great time, meeting so many people from Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Germany and America. It is so amazing being surrounded by people who care, not because they have to, or because the bible tells them so, but because they look around and see people suffering, and the only thing they can do is respond. It is so refreshing to be challenged, to give everything, to trust in a God who will provide.
The group of young adults I'm working with are just amazing and so talented. The best Christian music I have heard in a long time. Sunday nights they all come to the hotel for a swim, but it is too cold, so they don't actually swim, very funny!!
Last Thursday we went to a rural village, a Hindu village. We were expecting maybe 30. We walked across a rice field and into a village, where two hundred people were sitting. They had been sitting waiting for us for three hours. Why were they there? They wanted to hear about God and they wanted us to pray for them. They have a faith that this God will come and save them, that God will protect them, and love them!!! And we were the special guests because we brought food, clothes, and lollies for the kids. Most of all, we came and prayed with them. We sang songs for hours, and laughed, prayed, talked, and ate with two hundred Hindu people.
On Monday I went to an orphanage, and heard their story. There is one lady looking after 27 children. She lives in a simple house. She is supported by a church in America, but still it is not enough for all the schools fees, clothes, shoes, and food. She has some helpers who come and go. The government has just cut all funding to orphanages. Before the cut, they gave 30% of funding in basic food. Now this funding is gone. One of the orphanages had cows, but after the cut of funding they had no food for 126 children. So they had to kill two of the cows and hope it was enough until they could get more food. One cow was left, to live, and the next day it gave birth to twins. Now that is God working!!

For more information about the People in Mission program, contact Kathy Periera, People in Mission Coordinator, kathyp@nat.uca.org.au, Ph 02 8267 4230.