Ministry and the Body of Christ #2

And so....I waited.

And then one day, Rev Robert Benn, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, came to town and talked to the the good folk at Darwin Presbyterian Church. He told us of the work that was being done by God's people in Timor-Leste and how these people desperately needed our help. He spoke compellingly and from the heart. Ah, may the Church always have such men who move mountains by speaking from their hearts as well as their heads. Yes, he moved mountains. Well, the mountainous island of Timor! Straight into the hearts of more than one person there!

Ministry and the Body of Christ

Whether you are involved in a ministry like Grasa Mesak, working overseas in some far away country or pastoring the congregation down the road, I guess you do not work and minister outside the Body of Christ. For those overseas, like in Timor-Leste, the prayers of faithful friends are cherished. For those even more isolated, there is also the knowledge that men and women of Christ have walked before them. We read the words of the apostles and many, many godly men and women through the ages, and we know we are part of a Kingdom that extends across the globe and back through time.

For me, there are so many people that I have met along my walk - people that God has put in my path because He wanted me walking in the direction of His choosing, by His abundant grace. One of these people was Phil Zamagias, former Flying Bible Man, who, at a difficult time in my life reminded me to wait on the Lord. I had no idea what God was preparing for me - a ministry that would use all the skills He had given me. Skills that had just been waiting dormant until now.

Wait on the Lord. It is a message I want to, in turn, pass on to all those who wonder what it is that God would have them do. Wait on the Lord. In His own time, He gives us the tasks that He wishes us to do. Sometimes we may feel so strongly there is something else, something more. Maybe there is. Wait on the Lord.

Thanks, Phil, for reminding me of that. Even if you don't remember the conversation. Many people in the Northern Territory were blessed by God through Phil during his time here. But my friends, Phil, in his best Arnie voice, dons his dark glasses and says "I'll be back!"

Teaching children about Timor-Leste

I am currently in the middle of a unit of work at Marrara Christian College where I am doing my practicum, teaching the children about Timor-Leste. They are learning about the people, place and culture as well as some basic words and phrases in Tetun. Their enthusiasm is wonderful to behold, and they go home and tell their parents all about it!
This unit of work is aimed at middle primary but can be modified for any primary classes. If anyone would like a copy of the material I have put together, let me know at: grasa DOT mesak AT gmail DOT com (replacing 'AT' with '@' and 'DOT' with '.')

Checking the Proofs

Yesterday I was at the printer's checking and signing the proofs for Miguel Nia Jardin. I wasn't expecting the printers to have the proofs ready so quickly. Fantastic stuff! They hope to be printing it on Friday, all being well. The printer and I are on the same page (excuse the pun) regarding the pursuit of quality. He is concerned with providing the right quality of paper to make the photo collages as sharp and clear as they can be. I am concerned that all aspects of the the production of this book be the best that they can be.

I would like to think it is not just about me, about my professional pride, but more about Him for whom the book is written, Him of whom the book speaks. A beautifully produced book about the Gospel message says more about how much we value that message than something rushed and careless. It actually costs very little extra to produce a book well than to print on cheaper paper and do a shoddy job. The difference is not so much in the money spend, but the care taken – the time spend! The book has taken months and months to produce – from writing, to organising translations, illustrating, designing, organising printing. But when it is a labour of love, these hours are as nothing. A thought to ponder on, perhaps, for all those involved in ministry, whatever it may be - all those hours given to Him: I have all eternity to recoup them, do I not?

Gone to press

Today, thanks to the donors who gave us enough for a small deposit, the book has gone to the printers. I have taken all the files for Miguel Nia Jardin to Hollands Print Solutions, who will print 5000 copies in glorious full colour for me! I am very excited, needless to say, and also have a lot of confidence that the printers will do a good job. They are the old fashioned family type of business - remember them? The kind that would always treat their customers like visiting dignitaries?

Hollands Print Solutions,  Palmerston, NT

When the book is printed, we plan to ship 4000 copies to Timor, and sell the remaining 1000 copies to raise money for printing and shipping costs.

Books AND rice!

According to the World Bank in 2009, the GDP (PPP), or  gross domestic product at purchasing power parity per capita, of Timor-Leste stood at 805, compared to Australia at 39,231. Although statistics over the past decade have improved a great deal, Timor-Leste is one of the poorest countries in Asia. Although education was, for the vast majority, voted a national priority, the fact stands that for the average Timorese family, buying rice comes far ahead of buying books.

I want my books to be freely available to the people I write them for, but this is only possible through the generosity of those who can afford to help. I plan to print 5000 copies of Miguel Nia Jardin, ship 4000 copies to Timor and sell 1000 copies in Australia (and overseas). I plan to sell the books here at $10 each (includes postage for orders within Australia) - all the proceeds will go directly to printing and shipping costs and the distribution costs within Timor.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy, or feel you may be able to sell multiple copies for us, please email us at grasa DOT mesak AT gmail DOT com (replacing 'AT' with '@' and 'DOT' with '.').

Book #3 - Miguel Nia Jardin

My son Michael is 8 years old. He collects seeds and loves growing plants. Michael lives in the tropics where tropical plants thrive - but the geranium seeds sprouted, flourished a promise of green but then promptly withered and died. Michael was disappointed....but the seed of a story had been planted!

Miguel Nia Jardin is the story of a little boy who plants some corn seeds but a heavy monsoon rain washes his little crop away. Naturally he is disappointed, but his mother tells him a story. A wonderful story about a beautiful garden and a man called Adam and a woman called Eve. Miguel Nia Jardin tells the story of paradise lost, but the promise of paradise regained through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The gospel story is a story of comfort, a story for all people. No parent likes to see their child suffering loss, sorrow or pain  - but the Bible promises us in the Book of Revelation, that one day there will be no more tears. Miguel Nia Jardin concludes with that beautiful passage of hope.

Perhaps the most important aspect of this publication is the translations. Not only is it translated into Tetun, but Miguel Nia Jardin also includes Mambai text. After Tetun, which is the national language, Mambai is the most common language in Timor Leste. To gain a clearer understanding of the extend to which Mambai is spoken in Timor Leste, have a look here.  There is very little, if any, literature available in Mambai, but I pray that one day there will be a complete Bible translation available in that language.

The Tetun text of the book was translated by Rev Arlindo Marcal, who is the moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Timor Leste. The Mambai text was translated by Rev Carlos Marcal, of whom I have mentioned previously here.

The illustrations to the book are a combination of black and white line drawings and photographic collages. This was an exciting, rather novel approach for me and I want to thank the many people who made it possible, with modelling for photos or graciously sharing their own photos. As for my son Michael, not only did he inspire the story, but he was an excellent and expressive model for all my drawings.