GYNA & MELIO JEAN, HAITI

My wife and I got married on December 29 of 2001 in Gonaives, Haiti. After our wedding, both of us agreed that we wanted to have a child in a year-and-a-half, so we started praying for that to happen as soon as possible. In April 2003, God heard our prayer, and my wife did get pregnant.

As soon as she found that she was carrying a baby, she went to see a doctor in order to make sure that all was well with her pregnancy. We drove to a clinic, and when we went inside the doctor’s office, he checked up Gyna’s belly for several minutes. Then he told us that Gyna is not pregnant. Instead, she has a blood ball instead of an embryo (baby).

As we tried to process this news, the doctor also told us how very dangerous this is for my wife—that it must be removed as soon as possible. Then he gave us a prescription to go to the pharmacy to buy what he needed to remove this thing that he saw in her belly. 

We saw no choice. I did go to the drug store to execute the prescription in order for him to do the work for Gyna.

That same day, I was going to Port-au-Prince, so I told my wife to wait till I returned. As she waited for me to return, she started to pray, and she went to see another doctor. That doctor examined Gyna, and he said she is one month and a half pregnant, and all is well with her pregnancy.

Gyna and I thank God for that great testimony. As I write this, my son Christian is 17 years old. He turned 17 last December 15, 2020.

What a mighty God we serve! What a miracle He did for Gyna and me! God knows where you live. God is still the same today, yesterday, and forever.

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ROBINSON MANA, MYANMAR

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I often used to see world-class heavyweight boxing matches. In that type of fight, there are normally a current champion and a challenger. A champion knows who he will fight well in advance. Thus, he can prepare for the battle.

In the ministry, I do not get to prepare in that way. I never know in advance how big my challenge will be. Most of the time, I feel like young David fighting against Goliath. Victory is totally dependent upon God. 

I have encountered many persecutions, temptations, and difficulties. Each time, I have overcome these tests because of His strength. 

For example, I was called to give an explanation to military officers regarding what I am doing. Physically I was afraid, as I am much weaker than others—even in speaking (like Moses). In reality, however, the Lord has been going with me along the way. 

Now I know that my success depends on the Lord in me working, not my ability. I believe He will get me through it. Whom shall I fear? 

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FINAL WORD:

Global missions expert Paul Borthwick shared the following story to remind us how God’s mission can be from anyone anywhere at any time:

A young man named Peter reminded me of a modern-day Philip. I stopped in to a McDonald’s in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and I noticed Peter working the counter. I recognized him from our young adult ministry at church, and I knew he had just graduated from Harvard University with a master’s degree. I greeted him and managed to get him to break free for coffee together.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, knowing that Harvard master’s degree students don’t usually aspire to work the counter at McDonald’s. “Well,” he explained, “I graduated in May, but I went four months without finding a job, so I said to myself, ‘I need some income to pay bills.’ So this is where I’ve ended up—at least for now.”

“Sorry to hear that. It must be hard,” I replied, but Peter cut me off.

“No. Don’t be sorry. God has me here. This place is giving me awesome opportunities to share my faith. I’m on a shift that includes a Buddhist guy from Sri Lanka, a Muslim fellow from Lebanon, a Hindu lady from India, and a fellow Christian from El Salvador. It’s awesome. I get to be a global missionary to my coworkers while asking, ‘would you like fries with that?’”

He laughed, and so did I. Like Philip, Peter found himself in a setting he never would have chosen as part of his long-term plan, but his mindset of living as a sent person shaped the way he looked at his circumstances and at the people around him.

REFLECT:

Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28 includes the strategic phrase, “...AS YOU ARE GOING, make disciples of all nations….” Ask God to give you His strategic insight as to why he has you where He has you right now in your life. In your journal, jot down some possible reasons and some potential individuals that He might touch through you because of His strategic placement of YOU on His mission field.