Dec 2023 - Jan 2024 Missionary Updates
Jesse and Priscilla Wong – Rwanda, Africa
Ministry Updates and Highlights
Many days I feel the entire weight of running a dental clinic in Africa. For starters, we run out of materials often since there are no trustworthy suppliers. Equipment breaks down often and competent technicians are scarce. The rote memory education system produces workers who lack problem solving skills. The majority of our patients are under 15 years old (50% of the population in Africa), and for most of them, their first visit is extremely traumatic since preventative care is yet to be embraced.
This created a perfect storm in which I believe it's all on me. We are in our 10th year of serving overseas and it has created a small chip on my shoulder. Call it a Superman/Saviour complex, I have fallen many times into this trap.
Learning to let go and "Let God" isn't as easy as it sounds. But one thing has worked: praying before procedures either in silence or audibly. Wouldn't it be unnerving if your doctor/dentist prayed that the procedure would be successful and healing would fully take place? I thought patients would second-guess my ability but they haven't yet. I've learned to position myself in humility rather take all the credit if things go well. Because, in the end, I have no real ability to ensure that anyways.
Since doing this more regularly (you'd think that after being a missionary for 10 years I'd be doing this more often) I've had more boldness to ask deeper questions with patients. I've had a string of young adults whose life choices with alcohol, drinking or drugs has led them to me with a primary associated dental emergency. Instead of going about the "you could get oral cancer" or "drinking will kill you one day", I've asked questions like, "What sorrow in your life is causing you to run to those things" and "Do you think you could fight this addiction all by yourself? Maybe you need the power of Jesus to free you."
Jesus Christ does have a Saviour complex, He is the Saviour after all!
Many inquire what it's like to raise kids overseas. It's AWESOME for several reasons. Families who have made the step of faith to move here tend to have solid deep relationships with Jesus, and their kids are pretty cool as a result. Secondly, though there aren't ample opportunities as in North America (sports, clubs, music, extracurriculars), as parents we become that opportunity to foster those interests as we get involved. One such opportunity over the last 4 months was a musical with the creative input by several families. They all did AMAZING. What a delight!
Our annual partnership with American short term dentists, His Hands on Africa, the residents and our clinic. We treated over 400 patients in 2 days providing care to those who can't afford to even travel to the closest hospital. The beauty of it was watching the Rwandan dentists take full control and ownership over this outreach and many others they have performed in this last year.
This little one captured my heart from the outreach. She has one of my trademark "Totoro" balloons made from a latex glove.
Like everything in Rwanda developing at an accelerated rate, so is the dental student/graduate community. Exchanging of ideas, prayer for God's transformation in our lives, and realizing the potential for massive change By Rwandans For Rwandans.
Aaron and Ying – South East Asia
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ”
Pressed, but not Crushed
What is the longest time you had to wait in line for gas? A youth told me he spent 5 hours waiting in line to fill up gas for the church van. All around the city, we see people standing in line to purchase cooking oil. The current situation is deteriorating and daily life for people, businesses, schools has become more and more difficult. The intensifying fighting across the country is affecting many facets of life.
As we enter this Christmas season, this situation reminds me of Advent. A nation of God's people waiting longingly for the arrival of Emmanuel (God with us). Those suffering crying out to God for deliverance. The poor long for restoration, looking beyond the troubles of daily life for an unseen Hope. Our prayers this year is similar to those in the Old Testament time yearning for Christ's birth:
"How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?" (Psalm 13:1)
Perplexed, but not in Despair
"How many of you wish to still be in this country in 5 years time?" I asked a group of youth. This was at a prayer meeting that I attended along with some foreign friends visiting the country. Not a single youth raised their hand. My heart sank in despair as I looked at the faces of these youth who see no future for themselves here, that their only hope is to start a new life elsewhere. I've shared at this ministry just a few months ago, but upon entering this time, I was greeted by an entirely new set of faces Indeed, many of their peers have already left the country.
One youth stood up and asked us a question. "The Bible mentioned that we reap what we sow. Is the current hardship happening to us a result of our sin?" He comes from a state that is engulfed in heavy fighting, where church buildings are destroyed and villages are burnt. This youth is planning to enter Bible school next year. I heard the pain behind the question, the desperate attempt of a youth trying to understand what was happening.
This question of his moved one of the foreigners to tears. We didn't have an answer for him, and I think no answer would suffice in situation like this. Yet sharing in the lament and pain of the youth seemed to be better than any answer. Over this past year, I've sat with so many locals sharing with me the news of people they know, who passed away from the fighting. This Advent season, we wait longingly for the Prince of Peace to come.
"How long, O LORD, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save." (Habakkuk 1:2)
Persecuted, but not Abandoned
Doors closed, curtains drawn, invite only. This secretive setting is where we gathered to celebrate Tulip's baptism. I previously shared about Tulip, a brave youth who received the gift of a prosthetic arm thanks to the generosity of some Canadians. She has been welcomed into my team of interns and has been with us for a few months now.
Tulip spends almost everyday at the church. She is an intern that uses the church computer. She teaches English as a form of outreach to children 3 days a week, and she attends Bible study and prayer meetings. Yet, despite all her church involvement and all that the church has done for her, her grandmother (only family member alive) is opposed to her getting baptized. After months of waiting, the pastor decided Tulip was old enough to make her own decision about baptism.
Baptism is the true cost of following Jesus here. It marks you as an outcast, and signals the rejection of the Buddhist majority culture, turning away from Buddhist traditions. Yet, I watched as Tulip celebrated new life, surrounded by her newfound family in Christ, and witnessed her bursting in joy, even during this current time of suffering and challenges.
Struck Down, but not Destroyed
"We will spend Christmas on our knees." That's the statement made by one local pastor, as the decision was made to extend a country-wide online prayer meeting from 72 hours to 10 days.
I was asked by several ministries to help with the technical aspect of an online 72-hour prayer event on Zoom. What I saw amazed me. Christians from different churches and denominations, all coming together to pray for this country. Families waking up at 3 am, to keep the intercession going nonstop. They prayed with such passion, such desperation, such resolve.
We cannot do anything to help our country during this time. We can't even send food to those displaced by the fighting. All we can do is pray. I was humbled by their desire to keep up 24 hours of prayers for the next 7 days (3 days have already passed). I was amazed how quickly people signed up all across the timeslots.
"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. 2: From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint;" (Psalms 61:1-2a)
His Promise will Endure
What happens when short-term teams stop coming to this country? Every year pre-Covid, a team from Canada would come and run a 3-day children's camp. Singing, teaching and sharing the Gospel message. They are loved by the locals, and many welcomed me and my family because of their influence.
Now instead of a 3-day camp, we held a half-day evangelistic meeting for children and their parents. Dancing and singing led was by local youth. I watched each of the youth I know, as they led a small group of children through the Gospel message. They incorporated games, songs, and pictures in their sharing. I saw the efforts they put in to prepare for this. The children stayed engaged, listening intensely to the message of Hope.
I shared a short testimony of my faith. The local pastor ended with a strong message of the Bridge illustration, but done in a way that is culturally appropriate. The short-term team did well in modelling to these youth, over the past many years. Through all of this I saw the value that short-term teams could bring and how God used them to not only impact the children inthe 3-day camps, but also the youth who now took up their roles in this annual event. Now, it is the youth's turn to take up the baton and carry on the task when it is not possible for teams to come in.
Prayer Requests
1) Thanksgiving: Despite all the violence in the news, we feel very safe in this city. The fighting has not yet reached us here.
2) Thanksgiving: I was encouraged to meet up with 4 different groups of visitors that love this country and support ministries that are happening on the ground here. Pray for these visitors as they return home and share about what they have seen and heard with their friends.
3) Healing: One of the interns paused her internship for the rest of this month, to take care of her father who is scheduled for surgery. :He has undergone a head x-ray and is staying in town for recovery.
4) Stamina: Christmas is the busiest time of the year for churches. It's a season of outreach, and the easiest time of the year to invite non-Christians to join in the celebration. I'll be joining in 6 Christmas outreaches and 2 New Year's outreach and working alongside the pastors in sharing the reason for this season.
5) Security: Two female youth I know had their cell phones stolen in broad daylight. The economic hardships have caused an increase in crime.
6) Protection: There's been several reports of young men being taken. As such, the male youth I work with are all taking more precaution and avoiding staying out.
Lily Wang – Philippines, Asia
Our students and teachers had services in the local communities before Christmas. Our group went to an orphanage. The orphanage was run by a couple whose kids are in our school. There were 30 orphans from five families in the orphanage. The workers told me the main reason those kids came to the orphanage was because of being abused by their parents. The Philippines is a Catholic country, and it is against the law to divorce, so many young people choose to live together instead of getting married. Many children and women don’t have legal protection. Our students learned what a fallen world was and how many broken hearts needed to be healed in community services. They were given opportunities to hear God’s calling in the mission trips.
It was a tough season in the past two months. Many people were sick. Coughing, sore throat, and fever were the highlights at school and home. My daughter Joy had a fever for more than two weeks. It was scary to experience as parents. She went to school when she had no fever for 24 hours, but the fever returned. Joy had the blood test and X-ray check; the doctor said it was a virus, but the fever caused by virus infection lasted five days at most. The doctor had no idea what happened. Our faith was challenged again. I was reminded that my children were God’s, not mine. I usually woke up at midnight and prayed for my daughter. The Lord talked to my heart one night, “My grace is sufficient. Jesus is above the storm.” my heart was full of peace and joyfulness. The fever was gone completely in the next few days, but her ears had a serious infection, and she had to take antibiotics. Our son Daniel followed his sister’s sickness routine soon. But there was no fear or anxiety in our hearts anymore. Jesus is our rock. The Lord raised us by his grace!
I graduated with my master's degree in December 2023! It was the best gift from the Lord in 2023😊. Issac will finish his last course to graduate from theology in January.
We look forward to seeing how God use us more for HIS Kingdom!
Prayer Requests
Going back to China in June
Our family follows God’s guidance
Dennis and Evangeline Chow – Philippines, Asia
Our school year is informally broken down into: before Christmas and after Christmas. In August, students and teachers are nervous and excited. Everyone is adjusting to being back in school again. In January, students and teachers know the rhythms. We are in a groove, but then soon, around March or April, we face the fact that life will change soon: school ends, seniors graduate, and people leave.
This “after Christmas”, we are facing many transitions.
· Pre-school Goodbyes: These are Lincoln’s final months at Curiositas, his preschool, which he’s attended for 3 years. Teacher Teri and Teacher Jho have encouraged him to think and explore. Lincoln is reading! Pray that he will enjoy this semester before he becomes a Faith Academy student next year.
· Friendships: We said/will say goodbye to friends for their home assignments. Being apart is challenging and they will be missed. Pray for these families as they raise support back home and for Faith Academy as we aim to fill “open” positions.
· Moving Houses: We’ll move in June. Our landlord is converting the property into an office space. We have loved “1 Santana”, having been here for 6.5 years. Our children came home from the hospital to this address. The kids will miss Auntie Allie and Auntie Kelly living below us. We’re now actively searching for a house to move into this summer. Pray for all the logistics of moving, and for God to lead us to our next home.
Despite the transitions, we are grateful for stability.
Ministry: In May, Evangeline will have finished 11 years and Dennis will have finished 8 years at Faith. This is 29% of Ev’s life and 21% of Dennis’ life! Praise God for the opportunity to serve Him in the Philippines.
Bible Study: Our groups are thriving. Evangeline has led a Bible study for many years. They’ve journeyed through Jonah, Daniel, and Luke together. Dennis’ small group is close knit. They enjoy meals out and times of prayer.
Quality Friendships: Missionary life is full of goodbyes. We have a handful of friends who have been with us since the beginning. God has gifted us with new deep friendships too. For example, we have grown close to the Minas, our Filipino teammates with Philippine Challenge. They moved to Manila in the summer of 2021. Our kids love playing with Uncle Tata, Aunt Cherril, and their teen daughters.
Aren’t we all seeking stability? Reliable internet. Grocery store layouts. Familiar people to text. Our missionary life is often not predictable. We are learning to continually lean on the Lord. We cannot control the ups and the downs or dictate the whens or hows of transitions and stability. We can control who we focus on during those times. Our daily aim echoes the words of King Jehoshaphat: “Our eyes are on You” (2 Chronicles 20:12).
Thanks for reading our update and praying for us! We enter 2024 grateful to partner with you.
Tim and Regie Wang – Japanese Student Ministry
Facilitating Connections
Part of the JamnTea team's role is to bridge the gap between returnees and local workers. This strategic connection is instrumental in maintaining and fostering relationships and growing the seed that has been planted in their hearts. It also gives local workers the opportunity to introduce their connections to us, especially when they are planning a visit to Toronto.
Yukana's Story
Our journey with Yukana began at an Easter Dinner we hosted alongside P2C worker Cathy W. Yukana, already spent eight months in Toronto by then and will return to Japan by the summer. In the following weeks, we intentionally met up once a week, engaging in meaningful conversations about life and career aspirations.
She came from a family where her father wasn't a believer but her mother, aunt, and grandma were. This knowledge sparked conversations about faith and seeing where she is at in her own faith journey. Lots of conversations about what she thought about the Bible and Jesus took place afterwards.
These conversations sparked Yukana's interest in exploring church for the first time. Along this journey, she connected with Rika, who coincidentally will be in Japan a few days before she returns. Rika played a pivotal role in introducing her to Cindy. As emphasized in our last newsletter, relationships hold immense value in Japanese culture. Building connections becomes more fluid when introduced by trusted friends. This ensures a smooth continuation of meaningful relationships.
In Japan
Yukana has been working two jobs. It is difficult to get her to come to church because of that reason but Cindy continues to meet her whenever possible. She was excited to share about her attending the Dec 24th Chinese/Japanese worship event and brought along another friend. She and her friend heard the message of hope from the local pastor Cindy works with.
As mentioned when a returnee is introduced by someone they trust and know, it makes the connections with the local worker easier. She brought her friend along once again this month to meet with Cindy.
Prayer Requests
On-going opportunity for Yukana and Nami to meet up with Cindy and have meaningful conversations
For the Lord to provide workers where Cindy is located so that there will be more people who can do this type of follow-up with those who will return in Japan.
Many Japanese often are expected to work long hours. Pray that despite Yukana's two jobs that she will continue to make time to meet and join some of the creative ways Cindy's church puts together to reach the people for Christ.
Rebecca Louissaint – P2C University of Toronto
Upcoming ministry focus: Relevant Series
Link with event schedule: https://relevantseries.com/
Prayer Requests
· Pray that every component of Relevant Series week points students to Jesus. (e.g. Morning devotions, outreach, lunch talks, evening talks).
· Pray that students attending Relevant Series would discover Jesus.
· Pray that the speakers' words would be inspired by God in order to reach students with the hope of Jesus.
· We will be hosting “Christianity Explore” starting the week after the Relevant Series. Pray for students who are inviting their non-Christian friends to attend courses to show genuine compassion and love for their friends.
· Pray for spiritually interested students who are attending “Christianity Explore” to ask honest questions as the Holy Spirit draws them closer to Jesus.