Team Report – #377S
| Location: | Central Asia |
| Date: | Jul 23-Aug 1 2003 |
| Sending Partner: | STEM SHARE, Bemidji, MN |
This small Team of professionals was able to provide significant assistance in specific areas of need — to the government, locals, and believers alike.
A Butcher: a self proclaimed “country boy” from Minnesota, easily made friends while chatting with butchers in the open-air meat markets, learning the hows and whys of local meat-cutting methods. Then, hosting a meat cutting and handling seminar, Mark taught new and valuable meat processing techniques to local butchers.
A career forester, met with government forestry officials to offer practical advice on an environmentally challenging desert area. His professional guidance built valuable bridges of communication between the government and our hosts, who are working to improve the region’s harsh and polluted environment by planting trees.
Both of these professionals were interviewed and filmed by a local television station!
“Please Pass the Sheep Head”
In this culture, sitting in the seat of honor at a banquet may mean you’ll be presented with a sheep head on a platter. Twice caught off guard by a “sheep head event," the team handled this unusual menu item with great cultural sensitivity.
Under the Radar — Meeting with the Underground Church
One Team member was invited to meet with a group from the Underground Church to share a testimony, and a message on God’s promises. Believers arrived two by two so as not to attract the unwanted attention of the secret police, and they spent nearly 3 hours soaking up God’s promises. The group leader later said this was the first time they had been taught about how to hold on to God’s promises through their difficulties, and the group was VERY encouraged.
On-Site Prayer Plus…
Team members engaged in prayerwalking in several locations — spurred on by a story. A local Church leader really caught the vision for prayerwalking after a previous STEM SHARE Team to this area did a lot of prayerwalking. That leader said “Hey, WE can do this too!” and new powerful prayers of believers from this ethnic group are further expanding God’s kingdom in exciting ways!
