Team Report – #372S
| Location: | Central Asia |
| Date: | Jun 3-Jun 21 2002 |
| Sending Partner: | STEM SHARE, Bemidji, MN |
The travel guide that described our destination in Central Asia as “the saddest place in the world” couldn’t have known about the small but growing groups of believers who have invited the King of Kings to their city, or about the handful of foreign workers who daily demonstrate the love of Jesus in this “closed” country by helping establish the Kingdom of God in many practical ways. They couldn’t have known about the new believers who persist in their faith despite arrest and harassment or about the young people who God is using to write new worship songs in the people’s own language and style.
“The saddest place in the world” obviously refers to the disastrous state of the people’s health, economy and land. A multitude of health problems has been caused by years of breathing airborne pesticides. Families live on $25 per month, and the disappearing water supply has caused the loss of their fishing livelihood.
Yet, in this desolate place, the life-giving Word of God is being proclaimed to this unreached people group.
Culturally, it’s a world apart: Camels wandering freely, removing your shoes at the door, ceremonial hand washing before meals, intricately woven carpets, sitting on the floor to eat, traffic signs that are merely suggestions.
Spiritually, though, they are the same as people everywhere. Desperately in need of the light of the gospel. The light that this team carried has made a difference.
