Peace that Surpasses Understanding

Philippians 4:6-8: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Many of you have read the latest blog of Erin losing the baby and how she has been handling the loss. If you want to read my thoughts on it, though I think Erin did a wonderful job, you can go to my blog. I also handle the question of whether or not babies go to Heaven, http://www.aleris.blogspot.com/.

Erin is healing slowly physically and emotionally, but we both know that God will deliver her through this time. We have been so encouraged by what God has been doing through this struggle and loss. We have had the privilege of seeing a young woman at the hospital impacted by the birth, though we do not know to what extent as we were not able to talk to her. God has used this in my classes to help people with understanding how sometimes we just do not know what God is doing, but we rely on Him no matter how strenuous life becomes here.

Our prayer is that through this time we can glorify God. And through this, that Tobiah’s short life would allow us to speak out on behalf of the unborn, and to be able to comfort others who have lost an unborn child.

We have received emails of encouragement and others telling us that our example through this has helped their faith. Through our writings and being open about our experience, we have also been able to impact those that have been thinking about where they stand on the issue of “choice.”

Then there was the overwhelming love we received from the Indian community. Everyone in our building came down to pray and check on Erin. Everyone brought food and is still bringing food as Erin continues to heal. They continually call, and stop by to make sure she is healing and resting. We have been truly blessed with the love and care we have received here.

I, Alan, have completed teaching my first class and it has been a great time of interaction with energized students desiring to move into the mission field. Some questions you are asked, though, are cross cultural. I have now been asked in two countries what happens to the people who live in places that never hear the Gospel. I will let you work on this one yourself.

Jayakumar, myself and another Professor are on a committee that is developing a Ph.D. program for another local seminary, and at the same time, Jayakumar, myself and a Missionary from the U.S. are developing a Doctorate in Missiology program for ACPL.

The next class I will be teaching will be Pastoral Counseling for Master in Missiology students. I have been assigned my first mentoring student in the M.TH program, which will be exciting as her dissertation is going to be on reaching out to teenagers and their parents through a Christian perspective. In her town there is a disconnect within the Christian community pertaining to dealing with troubled teenagers and how parents’ roles can help or enable their pattern of behavior.

Kayla attends school every morning until lunch time. She is doing very well making friends and completing her work. We are very proud of her, as the school has almost all Indian children who attend. She seems to be adjusting very well in this area, as well.

Once life gets back to normal (hopefully within a couple of weeks), Erin hopes to help the church here with children’s ministry curriculum, a great need right now. Current lessons need to be developed for each Sunday, as well as a curriculum to be used starting in June that will operate on a 3 year rotating basis. Connie, who has been here as a missionary for four years now, has begun to develop this three-year curriculum, and Erin hopes to assist her in this undertaking.

We thank you for your prayers and support. We have undergone some trials in our short time here, but are experiencing God’s peace in the midst of it all. Please continue to pray that God’s kingdom be advanced in this country and that we would glorify Him despite what comes our way!