EAST ASIA - Last Update prior to returning Home

We completed our journey yesterday by having a Bible Study with missionaries from numerous organizations as well as our final gathering with university students last evening.

The missionaries were from all over the world - Europe, Africa, North America, and Asia.  It was a wonderful time to hear their stories of victory as well as some of their heartbreaks for this, their adopted country.  It was an honor to pray over them that God would sustain them during challenging times.

And then, our last night in this city was consumed with loving on the students and sharing our faith with many of them.  As usual, we had loads of fun as we played games, ate together, shared  in spiritual conversations, and finally to say goodbye.  It is amazing what strong relationships can be built over just a few days.  However our work would not have been completed without sharing the Gospel with these future leaders.  They were like sponges, in that they were totally submersed in these discussions.  There were difficult questions and honest answers, there is one true God and that there is not other way to Him than through Jesus Christ.

We were able to leave some "Books" with them to read and encouraged them to stay connected to our friends here.  We look forward to seeing what God will do in and through these students in the days ahead.

Today is day 12 and we will be leaving for a nearby, large city to catch our flight out early tomorrow morning.  We will have a final session with our hosts here this morning to debrief and then board a bus for the five hour journey.

Please pray for our journey home as we leave with sadness to be leaving our newfound friends but also excited to see our families and friends soon.  Thank you so much for your support and especially your prayers, we believe they have been answered in many ways!

Blessings,

Asia Team

EAST ASIA - Update #6

Well we may have lost some time in communicating all that has taken place for the past several days but I'll try to catch up with this message.  Some of this may be a repetition.

We left the Capitol city to the south and caught an overnight train back to the border.  After arrival, we had breakfast and left on a bus ride scheduled for 9 hours.  We arrived early and made a mad dash across this large city from the East Bus Station to the West Side Station.  We made it in time for a connection leaving in about 30 minutes!  This bus ride was about 5 more hours and we arrived at our destination around midnight (27 hours since we started this trip).  We were tired and hungry since we had not eaten since early in the day.

Our day started at 9 a.m., as we began the third element of this mission journey.  We received an orientation on the city, the focus of this specific ministry, and our week of ministry.  After a tour of the city, we prayer walked

around the local university and also passed out invitations for evening activities over the next three nights.

Half of our team went to a local house church while the balance of the team met with students for a time of games, singing, and fellowship.  Both of these activities were very enjoyable and productive.

Today (Saturday, 8/3), we met with university students who volunteered to serve as tour guides for the old, historic part of the city.  We divided up in three teams with two students and two from our team (Americans).  This was a great opportunity to get to know these students, who are not believers, better and develop bridges to move into spiritual conversations.  We will be meeting with many more students this evening as well.

Our team continues to serve with great unity and a wonderful spirit of love.  Everyone remains healthy and we're catching up on our rest.

Keep praying that we will be able to share our faith in a way that some of these students might come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.  Pray for open doors and open hearts with neighbors, drivers, and even the hotel workers.

Yesterday, our team was split up and each group went to a different worship service.  Both were wonderful and there was a sweet spirit as we joined our Asian brothers and sisters in worshipping our Lord.  We then joined in a time of fellowship over lunch.

In the evening we had our third consecutive evening, coffee house talk with university students.  Besides board games, karaoke, and a dance demonstration, we engaged in wonderful conversations in small groups.  We continue to build relationships that we trust will be carried over with the local believers.

We just have one more day of ministry and then we will travel, by bus, five hours back to the city of departure.  Please pray for continued good health and safe travels home.

Asia Team

EAST ASIA Updates #5

Our two days in this Capitol city was a whirlwind as we attempted to meet with a large group of university students, individual students, and our local missionaries (3).  Of course we had to fit in a couple of sightseeing stops to validate our visit.

The first evening, we had about 20 university students attend our coffee house talk.  David gave an overview of where we lived and I think the students really enjoyed themselves.  He also sang some songs and led the group in some others.

I was able to share about some of our church's work around the world and the reasons we were engaged in those projects.  We then broke up into small groups for a wonderful time of discussing spiritual topics.

Our second day consisted of meeting with our missionaries for debriefing and strategy planning for future visits.  It was a great time to encourage them and be inspired by their stories.  It was also a time to be reminded of their great sacrifices for the Gospel.

The balance of our time was consumed with individual sessions with students who had previously made decisions for Christ.  Then we prepared to begin our journey back up north on the overnight train.

Team is doing well and trusting in the Father's favor for the balance of our journey.  Keep praying for many to come to faith in these final days.

Team Asia

EAST ASIA - UPDATE #4

We have had a whirlwind couple of days so this is an attempt to catch up a little.

Day 4 was spent with our host family continuing to build on relationships begun earlier in the year.  It rained most of the day, and very heavy, so we were sad not to be able to get out to see more people but fortunate to be able to spend even more time with this wonderful family.

We left on an overnight train and arrived in the Capitol city early on day 5.  Our hotel rooms would not be available for several hours so we spent the time walking around our part of the city to see the sights and sounds of this bustling Asian city.

After some early sightseeing, we began a period of time meeting with students individually and in large groups.  During the evening we were blessed to spend 3 hours sharing with 15 or so university students and only one was a member of the "family."  Our team divided up with each person sharing with two or three students and great progress was made by everyone.

Day 6 will be filled with meeting our M's here, meeting with individual students, and a little sightseeing to fulfill our obligation.  Please continue to see the Father's blessings on everything that takes place today and then our travel back up north on an overnight train.

Asia Team

EAST ASIA - UPDATE #3

UPDATE #3

We finished yesterday (Saturday) with a wonderful time in worship with a local house fellowship!  It was a sweet time together as both groups were encouraged through joint praise and worship.  We sang songs in both languages and testimonies were shared by individuals from each country.

Then it was back on an overnight bus trip to a neighboring country.  After 12 hours, we finally made it to our next destination and were able to join another local, house group in their Sunday time of worship.  Even though we had traveled to a different country, we were still blessed with sweet fellowship and wonderful hospitality.

There were seven baby dedications in today's service and one, especially special dedication.  I have to offer a little explanation for this story.  In January, we had finished a service and was headed down the road when a young woman ran after us and asked for prayer.  She had three previous miscarriages and was quite discouraged.  We prayed for her that The Lord would show favor on this young couple and bless them with a child.

Well today, this woman came up to have us pray over their newborn son.  Our interpreter shared that this was the young woman we had prayed for in January and she and her husband had not named the child and wanted me to have this honor.  It is hard to put into words the emotions that came over me with this request.  This was truly one of the most humbling experiences in my life.

We have a busy day tomorrow spending time with our unreached people group family.  Then tomorrow evening we have an overnight train ride to the Capitol city where we will spend two days connecting with university students - both old and new friends.

Please continue to pray for open doors with this minority tribe as well as the students.  Also pray for safety in travels and our physical health.  Everyone is doing extremely well despite a challenging travel schedule.

East Asia Team

EAST ASIA - UPDATES #1 & #2

UPDATE

      We have arrived safely in Shanghia and are waiting for our final flight into Kunming.  Train service to one of our destinations was full so pray that another option will open up for us.  I'll let you know when we arrive In Kunming.

East Asia Team

UPDATE#2

Good Morning,

We arrived early this morning (Sunday) and after a few hours of sleep, we are off to the Father's house for a "family" time.  Later this afternoon we will be attending an English corner for strengthening university students' English skills.  And then finally this evening we will begin our overnight bus ride to the country to the south.

Everyone is tired but excited about what the next few days will hold and trusting the Father for all things.  We'll try to update again later today or tomorrow, once we have arrived in the village where we will stay with our friends for the next few days.

Keep us in your thoughts and before the Father for open doors and physical strength.

East Asia Team

EAST ASIA MISSIONS UPDATE (Day 2)

Day 2 was spent going to a nearby village that our leader had never been to and performing vision assessments. We were definitely the main attraction when we arrived.  It took awhile for our leader to convince one of the villager's to go through the assessment but once 1 of them did it, the flood gates were opened!  Thanks to a well timed thunder storm, we were invited into a young lady's home where our leader was able to share the G with her.  We named her and her husband "Romeo and Juliet".  Pray for them (see attached pic).  God is good.   

We met with other teammates last night to prepare for the English Camp we're putting on over the weekend.  We are seeing about 160 students each day and doing VBS-like sessions (English, Music, Crafts, Recreation, and Drama).  We are repeating the same camp tomorrow but with older students. 

Trying to make meaningful connections at the camp with our translators.  We just had lunch with them and are inviting them to Karaoke this evening.  I'm so proud of Team Brillhart.  Patty is leading the drama, Somer is heading up the crafts, Moriah is working in music, and Brace is doing recreation.  I am teaching the English session. 

The English Camp was a big success.  The administration at the School we visited was very grateful for what our team did. 

We had about 7-8 people join us last night for Karaoke.  All of us went back and forth singing various American and Native songs.  Then our leader plugged in his iPod and we started singing a few Christian songs (How Great is Our God, How He Loves, etc.).  You should have seen Brace pump out a Lecrae rap - "Don't Waste Your Life."  I was so proud of him!  Then our leader shared the gospel in their native language.  We got contact info from our guests for our leaders to follow up on. 

According to our leaders, it was one of the best Karaoke sessions they've ever had.  Team Brillhart may have owned the mike last night but God dominated the room.  It was an incredible opportunity for us to connect with the East Asian people.

Today we're headed to another school to put on a camp similar to what we did today.

We're missing you guys but thrilled to be a part of reaching these beautiful people for the Lord.

I'll keep you updated.  The Word for the day "But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (2 Tim 4:5) 

Thanks,

Jeff

EAST ASIA UPDATE

Wanted to let everyone know that Team Brillhart arrived safely to base camp in East Asia without major incident.  Had a few flight delays but arrived around 6am East Asian time on Thursday morning.  After some much needed rest, we spent most of the day with our leader going over the itinerary for the next couple of weeks, learning basic language nuances, and reviewing cultural / religious norms.  Tomorrow we'll go into a nearby village to perform some vision assessments and provide glasses as necessary.  On Sat & Sun we'll help run an English camp for students and then it's back into the villages.   

Pray for "Lucy & Desi" (can't pronounce or spell their real names) - a couple we met during a scavenger hunt around the city today.  We plan to invite them to join us for Karaoke on Saturday night so we can spend meaningful 1:1 with them.

Key lesson learned on Day 1 - speaking louder with a funny accident does not help people understand you better. 

Please pass along the update.

Thanks,

Jeff