WHAT ELSE CAN WE SAY TO THIS MAN?
By a Pioneer in East Asia

"I'm a gambler. That's what I do—play, win, lose. I'm pretty tired after a long night of playing…"

Mr. Zhao pulled a large stack of cash out of his pocket and showed it to me, fanning it out and leaning back on the couch with a sigh, as if to illustrate how tiring his life of chance really is.

Sandy, Leah and I were sitting in Lucy and Camille's shop trying to chat over the blare of the TV when the boss came in. He was looking to break a hundred dollar bill into small change so he could pay the repairman who had just stopped by to look at a leak in the ceiling of the brothel. Lucy and Camille puttered around looking for small bills. My gut reaction to seeing Mr. Zhao was a mixture of fear and disgust. This is the man, after all, who refuses to pay his "employees" the money he owes them, who profits from the sale of their bodies then gambles his earnings away, the man who Lucy and Camille assured us would send someone after them if they tried to run away.

>>Read More.

IN THIS ISSUE:
• Pray: Imam Embraces Christ
• Give: Scholarships for Missionary Kids
• Learn: Batik—A Glimpse of the Heart
• Glimpse: Education in Afghanistan

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IMAM EMBRACES CHRIST
By a Pioneer, Indonesia

Mr. S is a 60-year-old man who is known as a religious leader imam in his village. He has four children. Every day he works as a roadside vendor selling bottled gasoline, which he has done for years since he has asthma and respiratory distress. A team of national missionaries started visiting Mr. S and giving him traditional medicine therapy once a week while also trying to build a relationship with him. The team shared about Isa (Jesus in Arabic) as the healer who can heal sickness. Then they continued sharing that Isa is the Spirit and the Word of God. He is the deliverer and He is the way, the truth and life. No one could come to God without Him. The conversations became deeper as they continued to meet with Mr. S and his wife every week.

Three months after their initial meeting, Mr. S told the team that he had had a dream. He said that Isa had come to him in a dream dressed in white, His face shining brightly and offering him a bouquet of flowers. After hearing Mr. S 's story, the team challenged him, "So, after what you saw in your dream, who do you think Isa really is?"

"Isa is God," he replied. Then Mr. S accepted Jesus as his personal savior and confessed that He is God who delivers men from sin and sickness. Praise God that the Word that was sown has grown and borne fruit in Mr. S's life.

>>Pray that this man will be established in the faith and be a fruitful bearer of the Good News to his family and community.

>>Want to read more stories of national believers? See below.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MISSIONARY KIDS

Mortarboards and tassles. Celebrations with "Pomp and Circumstance." For many in the U.S., June is graduation season. Former high school seniors now have their sights set on college. For months, they've been taking SATs, visiting universities and applying for financial aid.

The children of missionaries around the world also have their eyes on college, but by nature of their location, many are denied the opportunity for scholarships. Recognizing this need, Pioneers established a special fund exclusively for the educational needs of Pioneers' college-bound kids.

This fund is also a statement to the families of Pioneers-USA that we recognize and appreciate the price they pay for joyfully serving the Lord overseas. This price includes lost opportunities for scholarships, a modest income, lack of American cultural knowledge and separation from loved ones, including separation of the college student from their parents. It is a loving attempt to express gratefulness and solidarity with Pioneers-USA families at a time when it is most needed, reentry to the US and college.

Would you consider contributing to this unique scholarship fund? It is a strategic investment in the next generation of leaders who are uniquely poised to change the world as a result of having grown up overseas.

>>Give now.

BATIK—A GLIMPSE OF THE HEART

Consider the art of Indonesia—its batik and its believers. The process that brings striking color to Indonesia's signature cloth can also be seen in the lives of its Christians. Heat and pressure in the hand of a master artist bring unique beauty.

All of these individuals are Indonesians. Most were Muslims. Open your eyes and heart to the unique art and people of these islands through this full color, 32-page book.

• "A most unusual and beautiful book…" –Tim Stafford, senior writer, Christianity Today magazine

Batik: A Glimpse of the Heart makes a great gift and is available for $12 plus postage. For more information or to place an order, contact Pioneers.

EDUCATION IN AFGHANISTAN
By a literacy student of a Pioneer

When my mother was married the taste of her mothers' milk was still fresh on her tongue. Because of her young age at her wedding there was no rejoicing, only sadness and tears. Sometimes I look at my mother and cry because her life has been so difficult. Despite this, God is kind. My family moved from a village into this neighborhood when I was around 12. My father has white hair and cannot work. He has poor health, and my mother is weak as well. They have no sons, only daughters. None of us were able to go to school because there was too much work to do at home. My mother is illiterate. My father can sound out the Arabic words in the Qur'an, and taught me the prayers at home when I was small, however he cannot read the signs in the city. The only work he can do is to clean the chickpeas in our home. I learned how to do embroidery from the daughter of my mother's brother. I embroider men's clothing in my home. A man comes and brings me the pieces to do, and when they are finished he sells them in the bazaar for profit. The money for me is not good, but it is the only opportunity I have. My other sisters are all illiterate and without work. I love attending this course. My teacher is kind and good. She is from a good family, and she is like a mother to her students. I missed two days of class because our family has guests, but today I told my mother I had to return to class because I was so lonely for my teacher and classmates! I enjoy reading my lessons, and now am able to understand signs in the city. The chance to have this class is a big kindness to us.