Tag: Compassion

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LOVE IS NOT OPTIONAL

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#CompassionINDO @CompassionAU #LoveIsNotOptional

At #KYCK2013 I urged young crew from 1 John 3 to see that LOVE IS NOT OPTIONAL in our response to God’s love shown in Christ Jesus.

Check it: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18 NIV)

Christians must love their brothers and sisters in Christ. This happens as we meet the needs of those local to us.

As I have met Indonesian brothers and sisters living in poverty, I’m convinced that as those with means (98% of Aussies) our love ought to also reach out more globally.

So many Christians around the world have so little. We (rich Aussies) have so much. Our means can actually release a child from poverty.

Love is still not optional.

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MANADO RAW CUT

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#CompassionINDO @CompassionAU

The official part of our trip is now over. Three of the guys are still visiting projects in different areas; I am on holidays in Singapore; but most of the team have now landed back in Australia.

The official videos will be out in time (they will be worth the wait!), but here is a quick behind the scenes look at COMPASSION TRIP MANADO 2013.

These shenanigans were shot with my phone and edited on my tablet device.

Check it: http://davemiers.com/manado-raw-cut

(I still have another 5 or 6 posts that will drop on line soon!)

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NEEDING CLEAN WATER

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#CompassionINDO @CompassionAU

Manado was hot and humid, thirst-inducing weather! The water in taps is sketchy so I had about 8 bottles of water a day. (Side note: so much plastic dumped and in waterways!) Water is cheap for rich westerners, it works out at about 10cents per bottle.

Each drink reminded me of the gap between home and East Indo and the need to continue to find ways to provide suitable water.

We saw some of the wells that Compassion have provided and also communities in desperate need of a water source.

I’ve done some water projects with Compassion in India and Uganda in the last few years. If you’re interested in doing a one off project like this, do it, it’s worthwhile. Check out http://www.compassion.com.au for info.

The cool thing with all that Compassion do is that it’s centred on Christ. They point to THE Source of water and THE water never leave you thirsty.

“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13, 14 NIV)

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YESUS NOMOR SATU!

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#CompassionINDO @CompassionAU

My ability to speak in Bahasa Indonesian is limited. It means that conversations with kids who have limited English is always going to be with a limited vocab.

From previous work with kids with limited English (in Vanuatu) I worked out a phrase – JESUS IS NUMBER ONE – that was useful in verbal communication.

YESUS NOMOR SATU was a phrase I used lots of times with kids (and adults) that I met.

Here’s why I like it:

  1. It’s simple and fun
  2. It’s verbal and visual (one finger in air)
  3. It’s an opportunity to speak joyfully about Jesus
  4. Manado is a city where there is a large number of people who profess to be Christian. It means it is easy for the next generation to assume the gospel. I think the speaking of the supremacy of Christ is one way of, from even a young age, helping young people put Jesus ahead of anything that might compromise their discipleship.

On our second last day I was talking to a local lady who had very good English. She asked me how much Indonesian I knew, I said not much and then gave the YESUS NOMOR SATU phrase. She said ‘he’s more than number one, he’s the one and only!!’ She then tried to teach me to say that in Indo. I struggled. She said my phrase was good enough :)

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ROLL THE CAMERAS

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#CompassionINDO @CompassionAU

Andy and Tom, from Compassion Australia, have been capturing this trip on camera and film.Colin (and Riley) have been followed for most of the time, but we’ve all had opportunities on camera formally and informally.

I’ve been really impressed with the skill of Andy and Tom in what they’ve captured, their thoughtful questions and how they’re telling the story.

I’m looking forward to the documentary and different vids coming out afterwards.

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LOOSE THE CHAINS OF INJUSTICE

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#CompassionINDO @CompassionAU “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. (Isaiah 58:6-12 NIV)

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LOOK, IT’S JUSTIN BIEBER!

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#CompassionINDO @CompassionAU

Manado is a busy city, there’s a bit of tourism, but mostly locals. Of those who are tourists, we’ve only seen a handful of other Western looking people.

It means that even walking to the shops is almost a celebrity event! It helps when one of our team members – Sam – is about 9 feet tall! The locals are very friendly and enjoy practising their English while we practise our Bahasa Indonesian.

We regularly pose for photos in town (away from the Compassion projects) with random people.

Riley, our youngest team member, has been asked a number of times if he is Justin Bieber!! He is winning when it comes to posing-for-requested photos count.

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