Todays update from Jack and Anne Kamst Dear Friends, 20/6/14 Two friends and I were sitting at a picnic table that is in a common walkway that connects their rooms in their accommodation block at one of the family camps. We were laughing, chit chatting and sharing Bible verses. A little 4 year old boy who I know came by and gave me a hug. Then he looked at me and told me something in his own language. Of course I didn’t understand a word that he spoke. From the look in his eyes, I could tell that this was very important information. Then he went to his room. He came back a few minutes later with a very purposeful walk. He plonked himself down next to me and handed me a box. He looked up with a grin from ear to ear. He was showing me his new jigsaw puzzle. So without hesitation, I spilled out all the pieces on the table and we all proceeded to help him make his jigsaw. It was two separate puzzles, the alphabet and the numbers up to 10, both done in colourful trains. So of course we had to sing songs and make train noises, what fun we had! One of my friends said, “This is life.” I said, “What do you mean?” She went on to explain that ‘life’ was sitting at a table chatting, helping a little boy do a puzzle, whatever blessings were given here and now, we should take and participate in it. Life is not yesterday or in the future it is here, it is now.” WOW! That is so profound! So powerful! So true! The next day a friend from our home church posted a quote on Facebook, ‘Today is unique! It has never occurred before and it will never be repeated. At midnight it will end, quietly, suddenly, totally, forever. But the hours between now and then are opportunities with eternal possibilities.’ Charles Swindoll. If they are not allowed to come to church, then we’ll take church to them! That is what we did on Wednesday afternoon! There are a group of men who were involved in the peaceful protest a few weeks ago, to mark 100 days since Reza Berati’s death on Manus Island. As a consequence of their participation in the protest, they are not allowed out in the common area. This means that they cannot attend the church service that we have each Wednesday afternoon in the music room. So we decided to take the speaker, laptop and projector and have a church service in their compound. I asked one gentleman to bring some chairs. He told me that there are only benches that are bolted to the ground – no chairs. Just a reminder of where we were. The men joined in enthusiastically, they enjoy worship in their own language! They especially appreciated singing the hymn, ‘Because He Lives!’ Jack has sermons that have been translated into their language, so one of these was read out. As the service finished, they let us know how special this is and what an encouragement it is to them. ‘For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.’ (Matthew 18:20) We then went to the music room and another church service was held there. Usually we have between 20 and 30 men attend. For some of the compounds we have to have written permission, as it is not their turn in the common area. Yesterday, the numbers were down, only 10. Many were just very angry and upset with the High Court decision about Manus and Nauru being legal. Even though we are continually presenting them with the message of hope and peace that can only be found through Jesus Christ, these are the things that they struggle with. One gentleman said, “I am upset and angry, like everyone else. But I know it is very important for my mind and my heart to come to church.” Through Facebook, we are in contact with many friends who are in Detention on Nauru. One Christian brother wrote, ‘Ooooooh Jack, very hard, very boring, living in a tent, no good.’ Please pray for our brothers and sisters there, that they will stay strong in the faith. We are hoping to visit them for a week at the end of September. Pray that visas will be approved. Lately we have had some Skype contact with friends and family. We have really enjoyed this and it has meant a lot to us, as it helps us to stay connected and in the loop, even though we are so far away! Please continue to pray for our son, Ben and our daughter Dani as they navigate their way through important times, with Mum and Dad so far away. Please pray for protection and wisdom for them. Thank you for being on this journey with us. Jack and Anne
Posted on: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 06:20:09 +0000
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