We have built up many great relationships with individuals and organisations in Asia, and in the last two years we have been privileged to send mission teams out to various Asian nations. In 2013 we sent out a number of teams to different nations around Thailand, and this year we took a small team to Nepal. Read on to find out how we got on, and for some photos of our time on mission.
Asia Mission
In April 2013 over 30 people from Ichthus London and a few of our link churches gathered in Bangkok, Thailand for two weeks of seeking the Lord and moving out in partnership with the good news of the kingdom. The build up of fundraising, prayer and practical preparation was over and it was time to go!
Before the team from London arrived, I was part of an advance group of Ichthus leaders that had a very precious time with some of the local church leaders we work with in the surrounding nations. We enjoyed excellent teaching on the kingdom of Jesus, looked at building the church to our master’s plan and were taught to expect a greater release of the Lord’s power through the church. This time of fellowship continued as our numbers swelled from London and we spent three days in teaching, prayer, worship and preparation, before being sent out in outreach teams to three surrounding nations.
Gathering back together in Bangkok 10 days later, it was fantastic to hear so many reports of God’s power to heal, changed lives and a renewed vision to see the good news of Jesus spread. We were also encouraged to see our original vision to model team life and relationships had been honoured by the Lord. As Jesus said, ‘by this will all men know you are my disciples, that you love one another’.
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The whole team
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Preparing to be sent out
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Meeting locals
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Meeting locals
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Meeting locals
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Meeting locals
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Cleaning
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Worship
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Praying
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Praying
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Out and about
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Out and about
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Out and about
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Making friends
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Making friends
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Making friends
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Making friends
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Making friends
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Making friends
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Making friends
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Food!
Nepal Mission
We are so thankful for our time in Nepal, in February 2014. Although it was relatively short we felt like the Lord accomplished so much. And as always he blessed us much more than we could bless others! Below are a few highlights from our time with our wonderful partners – that is, our family – in Kathmandu.
Prayer
We visited many people to pray for them in their homes. It was a real privilege to pray, sing and read scripture over people, and to anoint them with oil for healing. It was fabulous to hear a week later that one lady in a very serious medical condition we had prayed for was now sitting up and had started to take some steps! Praise the Lord!
We visited two church plants in strongly Hindu areas, prayer walking and calling on the Lord to strengthen the believers and cleanse the place from false religion. We spent time there sharing from Psalm 23 and praying with people.
Speaking in churches
We spoke in two churches and at a youth conference in Pokhara. On the first Saturday we visited a church about an hour from Kathmandu in the hills. The region has the usual Nepali mix of Buddhists and Hindus, along with some animists. We arrived in our Jeep and walked up the path to the church, sharing there about Jesus being the vine and us being the branches, and praying for people. It was a lovely time, with one woman confessing her shoulder had been healed as we prayed! Another lady manifested in the meeting, which served as a reminder of the intense spiritual battle in this area. It was inspirational to see the believers opening their homes to the orphans, and sharing their lives and resources with each other.
Team life
The team, ranging in age from two to 40, were brilliant. Everyone supported and encouraged each other, shared with one another and prayed for each other. We stayed in three different places while there, ate lots of new food, had numerous cold showers, travelled on many bumpy roads, ate so many eggs and were all overwhelmed by the generosity of our hosts, who we like to call family!
