| Children's Letter from the Ritschards |
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Australia Team
Dear Friends and Family of the BJU Australia Team:
We've moved from the country to the "big smoke." Sydney is the largest city in Australia and the home to 4 million people and 131 different ethnic groups. You can see some pictures from the past week at
http://homepage.mac.com/gmatzko/2004AT/PhotoAlbum56.html
We'll start with an exciting report from Pastor Steven Mock about what happened after camp:
NEW BIRTHS
Thank you for praying for our youth camps! There were two teenage boys from our church, Zac and Dean, who trusted Christ as their Savior. They immediately took interest in learning their memory verses at camp and Dean asked Steven spiritual questions throughout the entire three hour trip home from camp. Steven took advantage of their second week of school holidays to meet for Bible studies as well as to answer their questions. Zac and Dean have been to every church service and youth group meeting since their conversion. It is a joy to work with new converts who are so keen on growing in their faith. The past few weeks have not been without struggle so please pray for them.
The team testimonies this week center on opportunity we had to participate in street witnessing with the Auburn Bible Fellowship. Auburn is a very multicultural place with a large mosque.
I had a very unique opportunity at Auburn. Instead of me trying to get Muslims to actually take one of the tracts, I had a young girl in a black head-to-foot covering ask me for one! I began to discuss with her about Jesus Christ. She agreed that Jesus was a part of her religion - Islam. But as we continued talking, she told me she really didn't know anything else about her religion. She just accepted it because her parents did. How exciting to see a searching soul! Yet how many Muslim young people are simply holding on to their parent's religion. I pray God will water the seed planted.
I met up with a Muslim man named Sultan, who was rather confused about Christianity. He was trying to understand the difference between Islam and Christianity. However, the difficulty was that he believed if his good deeds outweighed his bad deeds he would go to heaven. But I tried to show him that Jesus is the only way, truth and life. The only Way to life eternal. As I saw from Sultan, many Muslims are very uncertain as to where they will spend eternity.
One man asked me in broken English what the tract was worth. I told him that the paper was free, but that eternal life was priceless. He began fishing for coins in his pocket and tried to give me some money. I refused the money and he took the tract with two hands.
On Sunday George spoke to an Palestinian dentist who trained in Cuba for 10 years and was startled to find out that he although we've seen him in church the last two years, he is still unsaved. He told us how his only desire was to be a communist but now he is seriously considering the claims of Christ.
There are so many more stories that we could share. Please ask the team members to share them with you when they return.
The entire team of 18 is altogether this week at the Kwok compound but starting on Friday we will be splitting up into smaller ministry groups once again. Pray for the Bible clubs in Townsville and Cardwell, the Children's Rally in Woolongong, and out weekend ministries in various places.
George & Darlene Matzko, Team Leaders
2004 BJU Australia Team
June 6 - August 6
Critter Corner: You'll have to check on the web site to see the critter than Alan has become attached to.
From: Australia Team
To: 2004 Friends of the Team 2 Subject: BJU Australia Team Update for July 13
Dear Friends and Family of the BJU Australia Team:
We've been busy in three states and the Lord has been busier in hearts and lives including our own. You can see a sampling of the ministries we were involved in at http://homepage.mac.com/gmatzko/2004AT/PhotoAlbum55.html
First some testimonies from teen camp:
"The Lord has been teaching me the reality that He desires our
faithfulness no matter what the situation. Many people in Australia will never see abundant fruit from their decades of service till they are rewarded in heaven for their labors for Christ."
"Most of my campers were very receptive and evidenced a desire to learn more truth from the Bible. Decisions were made to spend more quality time with the Lord each day, to have a deeper relationship with Him, and to stand for Him among their unsaved classmates."
"Last week at camp I had to realize that it was God who would change my campers and not me. The Lord used His word to comfort and encourage me when I was exhausted and thought that I couldn't go on."
"The Lord saved two of my three campers. I knew right away that I needed God's strength and help. The Lord showed me that He is the one that does the work, not me."
A report from Steve Diachenko who is with the group that traveled down from Camp Benaiah to Evangel Bible Church in Putney:
"The team was able to blend in well with the Australian cabin leaders during junior week. It was good to be able to work together with them, instead of being in the spot light. We are enjoying getting to know the believers here at Evangel. The young people took us out to a Chinese restaurant for lunch and we tried chicken feet and some other interesting things. One of the men who picked us up at the airport wanted me to talk a little about BJU because there are some people in their church who are interested in attending."
Pray for Steve as he is being treated for a painful infection of the knee. I'd send a picture, but some of you may be eating dinner.
George & Darlene Matzko, Team Leaders
2004 BJU Australia Team
June 6 - August 6
Critter Corner:
The way north from Crystal Creek to Parkes was flatness punctuated by sheep and cows. It was unusual for us to be involved with a large herd of cattle moving up the road. Three of us also enjoyed seeing sheep being sheared on a 5000 head sheep farm. You can see the pictures before and after on our web site.
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2004
Dear Family and Friends of the BJU Australia Team:
This past Sunday the team members were in 7 different churches up north as well as down south. Here are some reports about the activities going on this week so you can pray better.
From Laura, Becca, Alan, and Blake in Wollongong:
The children's rally went very well on Saturday. We had 16 children with 2 first timers who go to the public school. The gospel was clearly presented. One of the boys had some questions after the friend that brought him started witnessing to him during afternoon tea. The unsaved boy does not believe that the Bible is true and that God created the world. It was amazing to see his young friend earnestly try to convince him of the truth. No decisions were made, but seeds were planted.
Sunday was friend day. There were 50 in attendance about which the Harris were very excited. They are so faithful and joyful in what they are doing even though they see little fruit. They put a lot of work into setting up and tearing down the hall each week in order to meet, but they never complain.
From Christin, Karen, Kevin, and David in Townsville (joined by Alan and Becca on Monday):
The 2 Bible clubs started on Monday. They have both grown in number in just one day, and the Lord is working in hearts. Today 3 children were saved, and many are considering seriously what they have been hearing.
From Sarah Biddle, Scott, and Daniel in Cardwell:
Both days of Bible club have gone well so far&Mac220; on Monday we had 26 kids and on Tuesday we had 40 kids. There was some response to the lesson today. One girl asked to speak to Sarah about God--she has some questions. Please pray for wisdom as Sarah speaks to her.
From Christy, Maria, Diachenkos and Dr. M in Coffs/Grafton:
We enjoyed going to the Bible College in Grafton. It is a lot of work for the pastors. To see the dedication of the teachers and the eagerness of the students to learn God's Word was an encouragement and challenge.
This coming Thursday we will all be back in Queensland for our final week in Australia. We will finish up some jobs at Camp Benaiah while having our debriefing interviews with each team member.
Finally, here are a few testimonies from the team members:
Talking to a girl from Lebanon was a very eye-opening experience. She told me how the opportunity to witness on the streets is non-existent. Reading your Bible there is a privilege. It made me realize what a blessing it is to be able to witness openly and how I should take advantage of it.
Hearing how God had worked in the lives of the pastor and his wife that I stayed with last weekend and how He orchestrated various events to perfect His plan in their lives tremendously helped me. Things might not seem to make sense at first, but God knows best!
We have a few pictures from last week posted at
http://homepage.mac.com/gmatzko/2004AT/PhotoAlbum57.html
George & Darlene Matzko, Team Leaders
2004 BJU Australia Team
June 6 - August 6
Date: Tue, 03 Aug 2004 08:53:20 -0400
Subject: FW: BJU Australia Team Update for Aug. 3
Dear Family and Friends of the BJU Australia Team:
All good things (except God, Heaven, God's people ...) have to come to an end. This will be our last update for this year.On Friday morning at 12:10 am (10:10 am, Thursday EDT) we are scheduled to leave this land and its people that we have learned to love so dearly. Please find below a few of the lessons that the team members have learned about missions, God and themselves. There are also some pictures at: http://homepage.mac.com/gmatzko/2004AT/PhotoAlbum58.html
Missionaries are much more than pastors and people building ministries in another country. They are hard working people willing to literally get down in the dirt with the locals so that they can reach them.
I learned that God is completely trustworthy. Watching Him provide finances, orchestrate in schedules and give me strength for each day, I learned that it is good for me not to be in control or to know what will happen each day -- that I may depend upon my sovereign, all-wise God.
A highlight of the team was being able to be a camp counselor for the first time. Counseling got me to think outside of the box and reach out to the needs of my campers.
I learned how much faithfulness is key in missions -- being willing to keep going no matter what the opposition. Missions is about people and being willing to drop everything to help someone.
Missions is not just conducting church services or witnessing. It is loving people with all you have and every minute of everyday. Missions is becoming a national yourself to an extent -- leaving your country behind completely.
I learned that the sovereignty of the Lord extends even to the details of life. I also learned that the Lord is more pleased with simple, humble, faithful workers than with a great talent or ability.
I learned more about my selfishness, my desire to control things and people, my tendency to seek for acceptance, my wrong heart attitudes, my tendency to joke around too much -- I think higher of myself than I ought to think.
I&Mac182;ve learned that missions is a matter of daily living the Christian life. It is not always fun and certainly not glamorous. Missionaries need prayer for daily strength and wisdom.
Missions is hard work! God has showed me over and over that you need to base your harvest on the seeds planted every day.
I&Mac182;ve learned to pray more. God desires to hear His children and I need to lift up many more things in prayer.
God can use a change of scenery and venue to show me how much mud is on my face.
I focus too much on myself. When I worry about what I took like or who I&Mac182;m with, I miss some of God&Mac182;s blessing. But when I focus on others and the needs around me, even when I don't want feel like it, then God can work through me.
The biggest thing I have learned about myself is that God has given me exactly what I need for what He has called me to do.
Special thanks to our Auzzie friends who gave and gave to us even though most of these young people will never return to Australia and many thanks to those of you who have prayed faithfully for us all summer (a few more days, please). This team would not be possible without you!
George & Darlene Matzko, Team Leaders
2004 BJU Australia Team
June 6 - August 6
Critter Corner: We don&Mac182;t need just a corner, but a whole house this week! We had bush rats in the kitchen and bunk house (the girls were not amused), bush turkeys on our front step, wild pigs on the road and a snake in the bathhouse. Ok, ok we're leaving already.
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