eart H e h t f o Melody

A Stumbling Block
A missionary society was deeply impressed by the courageous devotion of David Livingstone who worked single-handedly for God in Africa. The society wrote to Livingstone: Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to send other men to join you. Livingstone replied, If you have men who will come only if there is a good road, I dont want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.
ways, declares your ways My e ar r no , ts gh thou My ways higher ts are not your e earth, so are gh th ou an th y th M er or gh F are hi as the heavens the Lord. For

k! Hello, Were Bac

Well, we have been back in Suriname from furlough since February 1999. I have written many inserts for a newsletter, but I finally put some of them into a format to send. Some will say, Praise the Lord finally! We have had time to reminisce a little over our furlough. We praise the Lord for our family, adopted families, faithful friends, friends, new friends and those who sent us our way with finances and prayer. For those who we didnt see, we love you, and we hope and pray that we will be able to see you on our next furlough in 2001. May God bless you!

Inside this issue: The Bellamys Conference in Amazon Bro. Dandekers Homegoing Email Address 4 3 2 6

ARE OUR WAYS HIS WAYS?

I can really think of some foolish things in which we could do our Lords will. Can you imagine witnessing being done by Africans speaking Japanese, Eskimos speaking Swahili, Russian Christians working in the gettos of New York; Afro Americans witnessing in Kosovo; Hindoestanie Christians witnessing to Pakistanies and Afro -Americans; Caucasian Christians joining Afro-American churches to minister and some ministering and living in the gettos of Philadelphia; Afro-Americans preaching in the Amazon? As I think about how todays church approaches the work of Christ, expensive electronic equipment, unreliable statistics, hidden competition between Christian organizations and the local churches trying to ever increase their budgets and be trend setters in promoting the work of Christ are we missing the mark? On the other hand, we look at the method of our heavenly Father. How he has accomplished his purpose throughout the centuries. His methods were always simple. Gideon to whom the Lord said, Gideon, you have to many. Moses, whom our Lord for 40 years had to be retrained from the ways of Pharaoh (the world) in the wilderness so He could use him. Elijah who had to be still while the storm and whirlwind raged about him so as to hear our Lords quiet still voice; Samson, whom God had to remove his eyes to complete His will; Samuel and the other prophets, all of whom did Gods work in a simple and modest manner. Our Lord said, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. Look at our Saviour who was born in modest surroundings and continue to do His Fathers will through simplicity as He tried to avoid publicity when he could. His disciples who were a band of losers and illiterates in the eyes

The Hough Family

of the world. The greatest of all prophets, John the Baptist had to minister in the wilderness. All of Gods ways were and are done not in the ways of the world, but in an unlikely manner that the world could not dream of and by unlikely people that the world wouldnt and couldnt accept. Why? That no flesh should glory in His presence. 1 Cor. 1:29 As we do our Lords work with our whirlwind of a work orientated mentality and the gadgets and toys we use (e.g., videos, computers, etc.) maybe we need to take time to be still, so that we can hear His quiet still voice and know His simple will for our lives and ministries.

Furlough and Thanks 6 Missionary Conference (1998) Mailing Address Photos Radio Program and Cassette Ministry Translation Work and Bible Distribu4 6 5 4 2

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Melody of the Heart

International Families, Inc. (IFI)

As members of IFI, we are very thankful for Mr. & Mrs. Kamalaker Dandeker. Since June 1991, they have been a very special part In our lives and ministry. Co-founder of International Families, Inc., Bro. Dandeker, has been in fragile health for the past couple of years. On February 10, 1999, Bro. Dandeker went to be with the Lord. We were very honored to have known Bro. Dandeker on this side of eternity. We are very happy that Bro. Dandeker is in the presence of the Lord and our hearts go out to Sis. Dandeker as she makes her transition in her walk with the Lord the IFI Ministry. What a blessing and encouragement he has been and still is through his wife, Sis. Dandeker. I would imagine that they couldnt have asked for a more ideal homegoing than for him to depart to be with the Lord while visiting and ministering in his hometown of Parbhani, India. While in the hospital in the emergency room in a semi-conscious state, Bro. Dandeker was rehearsing his message aloud, giving instructions about baptizing the two young people that were going to be baptized. Then he prayed for them, said Amen - still semi-conscious, said, Now serve desert to everyone. It was an added blessing that we could give him a copy of the Sarnami Bible at the IFI banquet (November 1998) which he so diligently prayed for and supported. Bro. Dandeker went into the presence of the Lord on February 10, 1999 at 12:10 P.M. His body was laid to rest alongside his parents, brothers and sisters in a Christian Cemetery in his hometown in Parbhani, India.

Translation Work and Bible Distributions

As we think about how often we use our Bibles, many of us must confess that it isnt often used as it should be. But many times we can consider that we do have other advantages with being able to listen to radio stations that air Christian material and programs, Christian bookstores, schools, etc. In Suriname, Sarnami speakers dont have many of these advantages. Two thirds (2/3) of our goal for Sarnami speakers are not in our hands. Translating the Bible from Dutch to Sarnami and getting the Bible into their hands is only 1/3 of the process; the other 2/3 of the process is: (1) the thirst for and study of Gods Word through the Holy Spirit; and (2) the submission to Gods will for their lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. We ask for prayer for Christians who cant read and understand spiritual truths in Dutch well enough that someone will take the time to read to them or help them to learn to read the Sarnami Bible as well as in other translations. We have distribute almost 200 Sarnami Bibles with plans of distributing 200 more before the end of the year. We believe that translation work is never finish until the thoughts and hearts have been translated into confessions and a willingness to know and follow Gods will for their lives.

Parwesmar ke Poestak

My favorite quote from the conference in the Amazon:

Let us take a break and water some bushes.

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CONFERENCIA NAY
I attended a 4-day conference on September 22-27 in the interior of Suriname, wanting only to learn more about my Amerindian brothers and sisters and to experience their fellowship. The conference was held at Kwamalasumutu, the largest and furthest village in the rainforest of Suriname with a population over 2,000, consisting of about eight (8) tribes. It was an unbelievable sight to see over 800 brothers and sisters from coming from various tribes worshipping, singing and trying to take in every word and scripture that was being given at the conference through as many as four interpreters at one time. As the Amerindian Brothers from Brazil hung the banner signifying that the conference from Brazil had now come to Suriname, it was a moment of joy as the conference began. What manner of love is this that our Lord had changed the Amerindians from the Amazon, from fighting and killing one another to brothers in Christ and drawing other Amerindians of the Amazon to their fellowship by their love for Christ and each other? Some Amerindian Christians from Brazil made a 22-day trip through the jungle of the Amazon and by rivers to attend the conference that means a 22-day trip to and a 22-day trip from Suriname. Some of the Amerindian Brothers from Suriname made the trip also to Brazil and back. Some Amerindian Christians from Guyana made the trip to Brazil, Suriname and then returned to Guyana. To attend these conferences some of the these Christians are away from their villages for almost 3 months. Still amazing is that their traveled through the Amazon Jungle was done without a compass. To this day, I dont know how my name was placed as one of the conference speakers. I spoke for 3 days at the conference and was asked to returned to give Bible studies and preach again when the conference was over by the Granman (Head of the village). There I could see the importance of believers having the Bible in a language that they could read as they followed along the many scriptures that were given at the conference. They taped all the sermons and music that were at the conference. At night you could hear the singing and sermons as they played the recordings from their huts during the conference. Amerindian Christians really love to sing. Some having instruments played only two to five chords, but it seemed that there were many mores chords coming from their hearts. But at communion when I heard There is a Fountain in Trio I felt like I was home. The conference menu consisted of the different Amerindian drinks, Pingo (an animal with the head of a horse and the body of a cow), monkey, cassava bread, sweet potatoes and other delicacies. We bathed in the river and we slept in hammocks with klamboes (mosquito curtains). Since I didnt feel many mosquitoes and had taken my malaria pills, I wanted to sleep without my klambo. But my attention was quickly drawn to the tarantulas that were hanging and walking on the ceiling and the walls. Even though it was hot, the bamboo leaves and mud keeps the huts very cool. Visiting the village of Kamalasumutu, one can see that our rainforest in Suriname is only an extension of the Amazon Jungle and is a very dangerous place. Jaguars are the animals that most Amerindians fear. In the past, when many of the villages were newly established in the jungle, and when the huts were on the ground and open, the jaguars would take some of their children for food and run back into the jungle. I learned many things about my Amerindian brothers and sisters as to from where the Lord has brought them. I feel honored that the Lord allowed me to experience an entire different world that His Word is changing lives and hearts. As I think about the Trios, Wai Wais, Wapasxanas, Akurios, Mawawanas, Wayanas and all the various tribes that came together out the jungles I look at the conditions of their world and ours And I wonder, who really lives in the Jungle?

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Melody of the Heart

Radio and Cassette Ministry

This is an area of needed prayer. We are getting testimonies, recording sermons for Christians in Sarnami, continuing our radio programs. With our small group, there is an added burden of preparing for a small sermon each Sunday. Suriname is not an easy place to communicate the Gospel with the many languages. I am very surprise how people are not really that concerned about communicating, but preserving whatever advantages they have living in Suriname by communicating in a language that others do not understand. Its pretty amazing that the employees at the Rapar radio station can take the time to tell me if the program that is airing is an old program or not. That keeps me from becoming slack in making programs. I ask for prayer also in the area of getting unbelievers to comment about what they think of God by interviews and then I would comment at the end of the program about their opinion. Our purpose is to expose the struggles of those in Hinduism in their search for peace with the Lord and mans need for a Savior from his sins. Among those I would like to interview are pundits too. We are praying that this will expose the shortcomings of Hinduism and the need for Christ in their lives. Please pray for us, our plate is full!

A Missionary Conference That Was!

It is a year now, but truly one of the highlights of my furlough was the 1st Missionary Conference in October 1998 at my home church, Bethesda Baptist Church. It was truly a group effort. But two persons stood out, Bro. Sid McMichael and Sis. Betty Walker. I thank the Lord for them along with the others who participated to give the conference an international taste in experiencing Christ last command which is our primary concern as believers in Christ. Our theme was Wake up Church, the World is Dying. The keynote speakers along with the testimonies from different cultures, I believe, inspired those who attended the conference. But only God knows how many were truly inspired to follow through on Christs last command to the Church. We can only be responsible in bringing forth Gods truths and the results rest with Him through His Holy Spirit! In 1999, the plan at our home church in missions was to help assist persons willing to go on short-term assignments.

The Bellamy Family

From Suriname as we think about the hospitality of those who open their doors to us while on furlough, thank you. We thank the Lord especially for the Bellamys and the fellowship we had with them. We were given the opportunity to be involved in their lives for our time in the D.C. area. We appreciated Danny (Kevin) and Brendas love and devotion to their family and to one another. Danny and I spent hours in prayer as well as sharing personal requests for prayer and situations on his job, reminiscing about the past, talking about his love for his father, family and family in Tennessee. Mila and I appreciated the love that Brenda has for her father and sisters and grandmother (Sis. Rose Hughes), Danny Jr.s easiness and Brook teaching Melody her little girl secrets. Truly we have learned on our furloughs through Bro. And Sis. Nance and the Bellamys, the true meaning of hospitality. I would imagine that our Lord knew hospitality would become a valuable commodity because of the heart of man. We have become irritated at the thought of being inconvenienced. Not only did the Bellamys accept us with open arms as family and our entire stay in the D.C. area, they did it without complaining or grudgingly. They have shown me in my own walk with the Lord that many of my services for the Lord can be undermined by a grudgingly and complaining spirit. We love you Bellamy Family! P.S. Coca and Storm too!

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REMINISCING