Footprints Blog

What Christmas gift still holds that same thrill as the moment you opened it…just a month ago? Care to share?

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:12:00 GMT

A friend of Mustard Seed sent a gift for a Mustard Seed school’s Orchid Club as a Christmas gift to her husband. She might have imagined her gift as a bunch of garden tools. But there were few details with the thank you…until today when this note arrived. Please pass on some information about the money that was sent for the orchid club last Christmas. We gave the funds in rupiahs to the Science Club coordinator to work together with the students on a project. I have a complete breakdown of expenses plus all of the receipts. They bought two gardening tools, a book about orchids, pots, trays, and twenty orchids, which they distributed to the classrooms. They have been teaching the students how to care for the orchids, and if one of the orchids dies, the class that was taking care of it replaces it. Every single one of the twenty orchids is a different variety.

Not only is this Christmas gift still blooming with life, but in a country where half of the population is involved in agriculture, knowing how to care for orchids could lead to gainful employment.

Mustard Seed students sending URGENT help to disaster area

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:53:00 GMT

This just in from our Director in Indonesia:

Mount Bromo has been erupting. The result? About fifty houses have been destroyed. A team of students from one of our High Schools put together some emergency aid kits. They traveled to the disaster area to give the kids to a local pastor for distribution to the families.

The whole village is covered with thick ash. Here is a photo was taken by one of the students yesterday.

This is just one of the ways Mustard Seed schools work within the communities and are able to help others. Please help us to continue to support our amazing students and relief projects like this when needed. If you donate today, we can forward the funds to where they are needed the most!

What does December 31st have to do with April 30th

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:35:00 GMT

Invest in the Kingdom!

If you are looking for a guaranteed return on your money, then there is no better investment than in the Kingdom of God:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

One of best Kingdom investments is with Mustard Seed Canada. We bring the love of Christ to the people in Indonesia and focus on providing children with better opportunities. Many have received not only the basic necessities of life but the skills needed to have a new career and become a productive member of their city or village plus they have started a relationship with Christ. Thousands have turned from destructive behaviors and beliefs and have come to faith in Christ.

"What does December 31st have to do with April 30th?"

The answer is both dates are very important for your taxes. December 31st is the last date that you can make a charitable contribution and be allowed to deduct it on your 2010 tax-return. Charitable giving could lower your tax burden — lowering your tax bill or give you a bigger refund.

If you are able, please consider Mustard Seed Canada beyond your regular commitment to your church. In the midst of the uncertainty and upheaval in the world today, the collective body of Christ needs to stand firm and continue to provide a strong voice of hope to those that need it.

Please see your tax accountant or professional to determine if you or your company can benefit from additional charitable giving at this time. If so, please think of us! All gifts to Mustard Seed Canada are tax deductible to the maximum extent allowed under law and we also participate in the CCCC Seal of Accountability Program.

You may place your gift in the mail to us or donate online at CanadaHelps.org before midnight on December 31st and give with your credit card.

T H A N K Y O U ! ! !

On behalf of the Mustard Seed team in Indonesia and the lives that have been transformed through this ministry, thank you very much! Because of your gifts this year, people have come to faith in Christ, children have been given the opportunity to learn new skills and better their communities in Indonesia for the better. We are so thankful and humbled that God has chosen us for this work. May God Bless You! You are literally changing the world with your support of Mustard Seed Canada!

Why We Do What We Do - It All Starts with Christmas...

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 15:28:00 GMT

what do you believe?

With the Christmas season comes the obvious hustle and bustle of gift purchasing, Christmas parties and family gatherings around the dinner table to celebrate the birth of Christ or the descending of a jolly man in a red suit down your chimney, depending on your preference. Indeed, it is quite the time of year. For us, Christmas is a very special time of year and it reminds us of "why we do what we do".

Of course, many churches will be filled with Christmas sermons this season and most will talk about the virgin birth, the prophecies of old and the gifts brought to the feet of the newly born king. But let me make one suggestion that doesn’t quite get the attention it deserves. When God became man he came to make all things new which should beg the question: what do we see that isn’t new? What isn’t right?

I’m reminded of that famous Christmas hymn and echo sentiment that indeed, ‘the weary soul rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn’. With the birth of Christ a new era has begun, one in which the weary rejoice because God has become man and changed everything. The weary understand that everything needs to change because things are not right; things are not as they should be. But a new and glorious morn has come!

Our hope at Mustard Seed Canada is to continually remember that because of Jesus, everything is being made new. We’re simply playing our part in the kingdom by loving Indonesian children and their families and journeying with them as they escape the cycle of poverty through education! Our hope is that they will experience that newness of life for now and for eternity!

Merry Christmas from all of us at Mustard Seed Canada!

Day 3: Mount Merapi Mission of Hope

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:29:00 GMT

Day 3: giving hope

We went to a small refugee camp of 30 families all displaced together in a school building. Although we saw no new followers of Christ that day, every person was ministered to in some way. The women and children all drew pictures to show what happened when the volcano erupted. It was a very therapeutic time for all. The children were entertained with games and activities and received children’s packs. Several gospel presentations were completed that will be followed up by local missionaries and native workers. It was a great day of sowing and watering.

The team was so blessed to be a part of giving hope to so many who are in need. We want to thank all of those who have supported this trip through prayer and finances. So many people were ministered to through your support. We are excited that your account in heaven has increased for Gods glory.

“Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.” - Philippians 4:17

Please continue to pray that the Lord will send laborers to partner with the pastors in this harvest field.

Day 2: Mount Merapi Mission of Hope

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:24:00 GMT

Day 2, Thanksgiving Day [in the U.S.]

We drove 2 hours up a mountain, 7.5 km from Merapi, to a village steeped in animism. They chose not to leave their village, believing their area leader and their idols would protect them. The area leader “Keeper of the Volcano” died in the 1st eruption and their idols were not providing for them. Our team planned to do everything here as we did at the stadium except we had supplies to hand out, which included family packs, children packs and feminine packs. They were especially appreciative as the government supplies had not reached them since they stayed in the danger zone. Only 1 bag was left over after the distribution. Wow!

Fertile Soil.

After getting off the bus and walking up a steep hill to our distribution site we met three men. One was the pastor of a church with 8 families out of 169, the first believer in the village, and an older man with a bandana on his head, we will call Sam. We were led to the property where the pastor would like to build a kindergarten/church. Sam was so hospitable and friendly and we felt led to ask him our questions. After he gave his answers, we asked if he was Christian, he said “No, but if there was a church, I would come.” Miraculously, later in the day, we ended up back on that same property with Sam. We shared our stories with him, then asked a national worker to present the gospel in his native tongue. As the worker shared, Sam slowly unwrapped his bandana and placed it around his neck. We later discovered he was the village spiritual leader of a Javanese mysticism sect. Removing his bandana signified renouncing his position in order to surrender to Jesus. After he prayed to receive Christ, we encouraged him to tell his pastor of his decision. The local missionary gave us the opportunity to baptize this new believer right away in a large tub of water in a village home. What a joyful time it was! And that is not all, another team member had shared with his wife and she also prayed to receive Christ and wanted to be baptized. The native worker then baptized her. What a glorious Thanksgiving Day! We found out 2 other people from that village became believers that day as well.

Seasons of Giving: Mount Merapi Mission of Hope

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:25:00 GMT

Seasons of Giving All Year Round: Mount Merapi Mission of Hope

December is known as the season for giving and we wanted to highlight some stories of how some Mustard Seed Canada workers have given during the past year. Our goal is to share with you stories about why we do what we do in Indonesia and the work we have been able to accomplish. We start off with the recent disaster at Mount Merapi. Above is a photo from this article in The Epoch Times. According to the article, villages near Mount Merapi were devastated after the Mount Merapi volcano erupted repeatedly beginning October 26, 2010. The article states "[i]n some places, no trace of life remains. Villages...have been completely wiped out in the disaster."

This began our Mission of Hope.

We will post some journal entries from the Mustard Seed Canada workers who raised funds to go to Mount Merapi to provide provisions, aid and most importantly, HOPE:

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“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.” Matthew 9:37-38

God in his majesty, love, mercy and grace has a way of bringing His creation to a point of hopelessness and despair for His glory. In late October Mt. Merapi, in Central Java, erupted causing the people to flee their villages leaving everything behind. The Government stepped in to help by setting up refugee camps scattered throughout the province to provide shelter, food and water.

Five weeks later, the media is gone, many have returned to their villages, yet there are thousands still displaced and traumatized by the Mt. Merapi eruption. We were part of a team that took advantage of this fresh opportunity to serve and share truth with these precious people. Our goal was to provide counsel, entertainment, provisions and hope.

It was encouraging to watch the Body of Christ come together in unity using their individual gifts to make this possible. Team members began communicating with potential donors for financial support. Others went out shopping for supplies. Others organized the daily activities. Students sorted and packed all of the supplies. It was amazing! The Lord used our Team leader to keep everything moving smoothly.

Tuesday November 23rd at 10:00pm we were ready to head out. The Charis bus was loaded with team members and supplies as well as an additional van. The bulk of the supplies had to be carried on a large truck that led the way. Our bed that evening was a bus or van seat.

After sleeping on the bus through the night we arrived in Yogjarkarta bright and early. Breakfast was prepared and waiting for us by a local missionary. This host family made arrangements for our entire team to stay in their home. What a blessing!

Day 1 began with a team meeting where we were given the method we would be using to counsel and share the gospel with the people. We were instructed to work in pairs and were given 5 questions to ask the refuges:

What happened?
How did you feel then?
How do you feel now?
Can we pray with you?
Can we share our story (testimony) with you?

Then we headed off to a large soccer stadium, housing about 9,000 refugees. At one time the number was at 36,000. The remaining families lived closest to the volcano and had lost everything. They may never go back to their villages. We were instructed to walk around and share with as many people as possible. We were accompanied by several native workers including a counselor. At one point, we shared with an older couple. The woman was unable to answer any questions because her eyes kept filling up with tears. All we could do was pray and cry with her. Another man shared his hopelessness which could be seen in his eyes. We were able to share about our hopelessness without Christ, even when we had plenty. The students shared games, songs, and activities which brought smiles to many children as well as adults. There was one person that professed Christ and many seeds were planted and watered that day.

Read more about Day 2 in our next post.

The Almost Perfect Gift

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:15:00 GMT

I knew I had the perfect gift idea when letters arrived from an orphanage and many of the children were writing about the long walk to school. I’d save up enough to send money for bicycles, maybe even one for each of the children. And I was so happy when the day came to forward my donation. But the children’s reply contained a mixed message: “Thank you for the bicycles. They are a big help. But really we’d like a toilet. Really now, just what were they thinking, an American standard? Well, I soon found out. The orphanage's toilet was a hole in the ground sheltered by a tarpaulin to offer some privacy. When the torrential rains came, their toilet became a nasty mess. It turned out they were really just asking for something more permanent, an outhouse raised up off the ground and a properly dug septic bed.

A telling moment; even though I don't consider myself a technocrat, I realized that the simplicity of the children's real needs was far more basic than an ordinary Canadian could imagine. We have so much, and they have so little.

Prayer Request: Thankful for the work in Taiwan

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:20:00 GMT

July 11: Luke 10:21-37 Give thanks for the ongoing work in Taiwan remembering that it was from there that tribal leaders that first visited the Dayaks of Borneo.

Prayer Request: Pastor Santosa's 12 Mission and Agro-Ministry Trainees

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:18:00 GMT

July 5-10: Amos 1:1-7:17 This week pray for Pastor Santosa’s twelve mission and agro-ministry trainees. They are all from local jungle villages and they have hearts to serve the Lord and learn practical skills to help their people. Pray for their total surrender to serve and for the Holy Spirit to commit their hearts.

Prayer Request: Praise God!

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:17:00 GMT

July 4: Psalm 66:1-20 Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man’s behalf. (vs 5)

Prayer Request: Thankful for encouragement to the children

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:17:00 GMT

July 3: Judges 6:19-40 Give thanks for the encouragement they give the children to continue their education and live lives pleasing to God. There is always great excitement when a drivers test is passed. They have a motorbike to share.

Prayer Request: Healing for Ibu Sendi

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:16:00 GMT

July 2: 2 Kings 5:1-19a Pray for continued recovery from a stroke for Ibu Sendi as she oversees the orphanage with her husband. She is teaching the older girls how to do things that she is unable to do.

Prayer Request: Blessing to the orphans in the Hope Orphanage Home

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:16:00 GMT

July 1: Colossians 3:8-17 Seventy Children call Hope orphanage home. Ask God to bless each one of them. Some are suffering rejection, as their parents are unable to care for them.

Prayer Request: Safety of our workers and Asian churches

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:15:00 GMT

June 30: Galatians 6:1-18 Pray for the safety of our Mustard Seed workers and Asian churches from riots which can rise up suddenly.