2022: a BMS year in review

2022:

a BMS year in review

As we stood on the threshold of 2022 and looked forward, it’s doubtful many in the BMS World Mission community could have predicted what was to come in the year ahead. From war in Europe and a cost of living crisis, to incredible hope triumphing over struggle in the achievements of BMS partners and supporters – this is 2022, our year in review.

Hope in the darkest times

As we look back at 2022, one event looms especially large in our hearts and minds: the war in Ukraine. The shocking events of the Russian invasion in February soon unravelled into months of violence and bloodshed, resulting in a refugee crisis affecting millions. In the midst of it all, BMS supporters came together to raise an astounding total of more than £1.6 million.

That money went to help families like Lili’s, who fled Ukraine after surviving for more than a month in the basement of their home. Thanks to you, Lili and her children found shelter, practical support and a warm welcome in a church-turned-refugee centre in Poland. Watch her story below to learn more about the difference you made.

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Standing firm in crisis

The war in Ukraine had an impact that reached far beyond Europe’s borders. Shockwaves were felt across the world, especially in countries that had previously relied on Ukraine as the breadbasket of Europe. As global prices skyrocketed, it was the most vulnerable families who were hit the hardest. Thanks to you, they weren’t forgotten.

You supported families like Julie’s who fled Syria for the safety of Lebanon, but who experienced the impact of war all over again through an economic crisis that left them utterly devastated. As a result of your support, Julie’s been attending an education centre where she can make up for lost years – and where she finally feels safe and loved.

Photo of Julie with her family
A BMS-supported Church Learning Centre in Lebanon has given Syrian refugees like Julie (right) and her family renewed hope in 2022.

Good news from Good Land

Soumy* thought he’d have to leave Nepal to have a good life. Your support for the BMS Harvest appeal for 2022 persuaded him otherwise. The appeal, named Good Land, was based on the idea that flourishing can be found in Soumy’s home village of Ghusel, with the right opportunities and support. You brought that support in the form of veterinary training, child-centred education and clean water practices, as well as providing breeding goats to the community. The results have been so encouraging – check out a video shot on the ground in Ghusel to see them for yourselves!

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Your prayers bringing justice

Your faithful support and prayers this year have helped embed crucial gender justice and creation stewardship principles across all our work. In November, you prayed for our gender justice champions, which we shared on our Facebook and Twitter pages during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. These dedicated individuals are working hard to see God’s justice reign throughout BMS-supported work.

And just before that, you prayed along with our Creation Stewardship Co-ordinator Laura-Lee Lovering ahead of COP27, trusting that the Lord would be at work among world leaders making big decisions about the future of the planet. Your support and prayers for these areas are so crucial to making God’s vision of justice real across the world – so thank you for praying with us!

Two women pastors from Bangladesh smile at the camera, along with a man and a woman
BMS workers Pete and Lou celebrate with Nandita and Jyoti!

Celebrating and making history in Bangladesh!

At the end of the year, our partner the Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha (BBCS) celebrated the 225th anniversary of BMS founder William Carey’s arrival in Bengal. Thousands of people came together to celebrate BBCS’ rich history, and to anticipate an exciting future, as with the celebration came the ordination of BBCS’ first two female pastors!

Praise God for Pastors Nandita Sharkar and Jyoti Ratner! Please pray for them as they take their first steps in their ministries this year.

Praying for Afghanistan

Afghanistan is another nation that has really been on our hearts this year. We shared an update on the changes there during a period of relative stability over the summer, and many of you gave generously to our Afghanistan Christmas appeal to help farmers feed their families. However, you may have seen the recent news about more tragic restrictions on women’s rights and their ability to access work and education.

There is so little hope left in Afghanistan – especially for Afghan women – so we ask that you continue to pray for this nation. Please pray for wisdom, open hearts and for a resolution to this situation that is hurting those who have already been hurt the most.

Thank you!

Thank you so much for the difference you’ve made across the world in 2022. Without your generous giving, faithful prayers, dedicated volunteering and hearty support, none of the work mentioned above would have been possible! You can be sure that with your support in 2023, you’ll reach people in need, help build strong communities and see even more people come to Christ this year.

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*Name changed for security purposes.
Words by Hannah Watson and Laura Durrant.

Mission Turned Upside Down

Mission Turned Upside Down

History made as history is celebrated in Bangladesh

Last month the Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha gathered in their thousands to mark the 225-year anniversary of BMS World Mission founder William Carey’s arrival in Bengal – but all minds were set firmly to the future.

“Life at the edges”…”When waters rise” … “Cyclone Amphan: pray as heavy rains hit Bangladesh” … “Cyclone Bulbul: pray for Bangladesh”.

When you search for stories about Bangladesh on the BMS website, you discover a country on the frontline of the climate emergency. However, Bangladesh’s stories aren’t only about human-made extreme weather conditions. As a nation, it’s on the frontline of 21st century mission.

Once upon a time, what was Bengal was the frontline of 19th century mission. Last month, long-time BMS partner, the Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha (BBCS), celebrated a 225-year anniversary. The celebrations marked the moment BMS founder William Carey moved across into what is now the Bangladeshi district of Dinajpur, after his famous landing in what was then known as Calcutta.

The celebrations lasted four days and involved over 3,000 Bangladeshi Baptists, visits and talks from BMS General Director Kang-San Tan and Head of BMS Trustees Marc Owen, as well as BMS workers Louise and Peter Lynch, and, wonderfully, 31 baptisms. When we spoke to Louise and Peter earlier in the summer, Louise stressed the importance of not dwelling or taking comfort in the past. “The whole idea of the celebration is to go forward,” she said, “looking into how we can share the gospel even more successfully across Bangladesh!

What Louise couldn’t reveal back then was that she and Peter had been intimately involved in working with BBCS to clear the path for the ordination of their first women pastors. As they shared in their most recent prayer letter, “[The two women] stood alongside twelve men, who were also committing their lives to sacrificial service.

Two men in suits smiling at the camera
Marc Owen, BMS' Head of Trustees, is joined by BMS worker Pete Lynch to celebrate this amazing anniversary!

“Jyoti and Nandita are also our friends and we have seen their patient service irrespective of recognition. So, it has been really good to have been part of the behind-the-scenes team within BBCS working towards this day, and to pray for these women as they develop, train and support the next generation. The very public inclusion and affirmation of these women, also I think communicated something about how BBCS leadership wants to be.”

Two women pastors from Bangladesh smile at the camera, along with a man and a woman
Pete and Lou Lynch celebrate with Pastors Nandita and Jyoti!

Telling the story of BBCS and the ordination of Pastors Nandita Sharkar and Jyoti Ratner is vital. As Kang-San told the thousands in the congregation, “My prayer and encouragement is for us to tell the story of BBCS by focusing on the history of local church pioneers rather than foreign missionaries.”

This is what 21st century mission can look like when we are prepared to turn it on its head. Drawing from his own personal story, Kang-San had a challenge for the ministers who had gathered from across the region, “I was converted at the age of 17 in a small Baptist church in Malaysia. My pastor took risks in allowing me to preach at the young age of 19.

“By the time I graduated from university, I was an itinerant preacher and pastor of Malaysian Baptist churches. My challenge for BBCS is for every minister to model godliness and to mentor 12 young disciples for leadership for the next generation Church.”

The theme for the 225-year celebrations was appropriately taken from Revelation 2: 25, “…hold on to what you have been given until I come”. As Louise points us and the Church in Bangladesh towards the future, it begs the question about our future goals until Jesus is comes again.

Inspired by the ordination of Jyoti and Nandita, Kang-San’s sense of the future direction is clear, “We need to focus on the need for Christian discipleship among younger generations. We need to release women and men whose holiness and discipleship will prepare for the leadership of BBCS.”

225 years on, our understanding of mission has changed, the church in Bangladesh has changed. The present and future in Bangladesh and beyond is that, as Kang-San puts it, “Jesus Christ’s sacrifice is available for all, young and old, female and male to participate fully in the leadership of the church.”

* This article was amended on January 4 2023 to afford Pastor Nandita Sharkar and Pastor Jyoti Ratner their full titles.

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Words by Matty Fearon

The story of mission continues

The story of mission continues

225 years of God’s Word in Bangladesh

I'm praying for this

Saris are being sewn. Songs and dances rehearsed. Celebrations prepared. When BMS World Mission founder William Carey first landed in the (then named) Asian city of Calcutta, he likely couldn’t have imagined the story of mission being celebrated by Baptists across Bangladesh a staggering 225 years later.

When you first visit the offices of the Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha (BBCS) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a striking mural is likely to catch your eye. It’s a mosaic portrait of William Carey in the forecourt of the Sangha’s offices, surrounded by brightly coloured pink and white flowers. Bangladeshi Baptists are proud of their history, which they date from the moment that William Carey moved across into what is now the Bangladeshi district of Dinajpur, after his famous landing in what was then known as Calcutta. But their 225 year celebration planned for this November isn’t about dwelling in the past, as amazing and rich as that might be. “The whole idea of the celebration is to go forward,” says Louise Lynch, “looking into how we can share the gospel even more successfully across Bangladesh!”

Louise and Peter are BMS World Mission workers in Bangladesh, working alongside BBCS to support and strengthen their pastors, churches and activities across the country. Peter and Louise have been in Bangladesh since 2018, and today they’re being interviewed for Premier Christian Radio about a story of mission in Bangladesh that’s still going on all these years later.

“We’re seeing a Church now established and growing in many places,” says Pete. “The work of mission and sharing the good news of Jesus is still something very much at the heart of what the Baptist churches want to do.” When you look back at the work of BBCS across the years, this desire to share God’s love in word and deed couldn’t be more evident. Whether it’s flood relief given out to the poorest communities, no matter their background or beliefs, or the appointment of a new mission co-ordinator (aptly named Barnabas!), it seems very likely that the Bangladesh Baptists of generations to come will have plenty of reasons to look back and celebrate, as they’re doing this autumn.

Louise and Peter light a candle along with other members of the BBCS office.
The work of mission is still being done by BBCS today.
A lady reading the Bible in Bangladesh.
The idea of the whole celebration is to look forward.

Why not watch Peter and Louise’s interview now, and as it concludes, pray along with them for another 225 years of gospel presence in Bangladesh? “The lovely line in the Lord’s Prayer that I always love in Bangla is ‘Thy Kingdom come’,” says Pete, “because that’s our prayer for the nation.”

Two Bangladesh pastors stand in front of a mural of William Carey.
Rev Ashim Baroi and Rev John Karmakar lead the offices at BBCS today.
Could you support Peter and Louise Lynch?

You can find out more about Pete and Lou’s work by heading to their mission worker profile. There, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up for their prayer letters, as well as the chance to support them as a 24:7 Partner. Giving regularly means that BMS can plan for the future, and when it’s as exciting as the future is looking in Bangladesh, you won’t want to miss out on playing a crucial part in God’s ongoing story! Find out more by heading to their profile today!

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Words by Hannah Watson
Editor of Engage, the BMS World Mission magazine

School’s out forever?

School’s out forever?

The BMS projects fighting to keep kids in school

The past two years of on-off school closures have brought home one thing: how important it is for children around the world to have access to education. In the run-up to the International Day of Education on 24 January, we’re shining a light on BMS World Mission projects fighting to make that right a reality.

Uganda

Grace’s big dream is for her son to go to school. He’s not yet three years old, and for many children at that age and stage, primary school might seem a little way off. But Ephrahim’s not just any little boy. In his early life, he struggled with speech delay, and Grace knows that schools in Uganda are very reluctant to take children with disabilities or additional needs. These concerns for Ephrahim’s future used to fill Grace with fear, until she explained her worries to a friend at the market. “She said there are some people,” says Grace. “An organisation that is helping people with this problem.” That organisation was a speech and language therapy clinic in Gulu, Uganda that BMS supporters have enabled to open and run.

Thanks to specialised therapy at the clinic, Ephrahim has started to ask for what he wants and needs – and Grace feels confident about enrolling him in school. BMS-supported speech and language therapist Isaac is also working to make links with schools and tackle the stigma the children he works with can face. “We are lucky to have this organisation,” says Grace. “Because it used not to be there.” Thanks to BMS supporters, children living with disabilities in Gulu are no longer being left behind.

You can support Isaac’s important work right now. Please give today.
A woman and child in Uganda

Nepal

School boy at a desk in Nepal

A little boy sits outside a classroom on a bench. He’s not in time-out – this is October 2021, and he’s doing his best to access his school lesson while staying at a safe distance, as Covid-19 surges across Nepal. Inside the classroom, two girls sit metres away from their teacher. They don’t own a computer or mobile device to join the lesson like some of their other school friends who are being taught from home on Zoom.

Now that the threat of Omicron is forcing schools in Nepal to close again, all these children will be at home, where they’ve already spent 18 months of their education. They come from a community where 85 per cent of people don’t have access to a smart phone or the internet, and where 70 per cent belong to the most disadvantaged people groups in Nepal’s caste system.
Thankfully, that’s not the end of the story. Although schools are closed once more, BMS’ partners aren’t shutting up shop. A grant funded by BMS supporters is providing a computer lab for a school in Lamjung district, so that teachers can host online lessons, and children can access essential content while gaining valuable computing skills. Plans are also in the works for the computers to also be made accessible outside of school hours, for job seekers who have lost their daily-wage income. Thanks to BMS supporters, this small suite of equipment could have a life-changing impact.

Bangladesh

A class of girls is sent home from school as the pandemic puts a stop to everyday life in Bangladesh. By the time school re-opens, hardly any of the girls return. The rest have been married off by their families during an uncertain and frightening time for the community, where the threat of Covid-19 looms large and flooding has destroyed hundreds of livelihoods and homes. Their chance at an education has come to an abrupt end.

Having seen this tragic story play out in other villages, a pastoral superintendent in Rangpur, Bangladesh reached out to BMS with his plan for keeping girls in school. With the support of BMS workers Louise and Peter Lynch, the partnership of Asia Pacific Baptist Aid and the Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha, and the generosity of BMS supporters, the village was able to hand out school bags, pens, paper and food packages to 160 children from six villages, as well as helping with school fees. Each family also received a strong waterproof bag to keep precious items and documents safe during flooding in the monsoon season.

“The families involved in the project live at the poorest ends of a very poor village, closest to the rivers and the greatest flood risk,” explains Louise. “We helped 160 kids through the project and all except one came back for the second part of our training and were ready to re-enter school.”

Children hold school bags in a village in Bangladesh.
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All around the world, school closures due to Covid-19 have presented huge challenges by disrupting education and exacerbating inequalities. But in vulnerable communities, there are other things keeping children away from their essential right to an education. Poverty, natural disasters, stigma and a lack of access to technology all play a devastating role, too – one that BMS supporters are working to weaken and overcome through projects like these. Could you give regularly to BMS to make work like this possible? Find out more by visiting the BMS 24:7 Partners page today.

Become a 24:7 Partner!

Words by Hannah Watson, Editor of Engage magazine

Life at the edges

Life at the edges

Lessons in joy from the Bangladeshi Church

Praying for this

The Christian message has always found a home in the margins. Louise and Peter Lynch, mission workers in Bangladesh, share a truth they have been wrestling with – and a corrective to our comfortable Christianity – that it is on the edges of Bangladesh society where the joy of the gospel flourishes.

Fragility

Fragile communities abound across the fault lines of Bangladesh. They survive at the edges — at the edges of the pandemic, of natural disaster zones, and of a state that is increasingly discriminatory towards Christians.

These fragile communities survive and, where the local Christian Church has taken root in the margins of these communities, there are signs of thriving, against all the odds. “So much of the work of the Church has been successful amongst the poor and probably least successful in the wealthier cities,” explains Louise Lynch, BMS World Mission worker in Bangladesh. “When we refer to the Church, [and this is something we wrestle with], what we are talking about is just a whole group of poor, really marginalised people. No-one economically is going to make their own way out of this situation.”

River in Bangladesh
Rivers cover almost 80 per cent of Bangladesh, making yearly flooding inevitable.

Part of BMS’ ministries in Bangladesh is to come alongside those who work on the margins, supporting localised church-based initiatives aimed at community transformation. Over the last few years, this work has taken Louise, and her husband Peter, into the northern region of Rangpur, a district right on the fault line of extended unseasonal monsoons.

“We are part of network that means the church leaders in this district can reach out to the rest of the churches in Bangladesh for aid and for prayer,” adds Louise. “But it’s not the only poor area, and it’s not the only flood affected area, and so there’s not enough to go around.”

Flourishing

It’s Louise and Peter’s visits to and engagement with one particular village, Balapara, that have stayed with them though, demonstrating the flourishing that is possible when we can work in partnership with local churches grown in local contexts – and when they work in partnership with each other. Louise and Peter are pragmatic, however, about the fact that as long as they work in Bangladesh, in villages like this, need will always outstrip resource.

Gospel sharing Bangladesh
Much of Louise and Peter’s work is supporting pastors sharing the gospel in remote communities.

Life in the village is marked by uncertainty but, as Louise explains, light reaches in through the cracks. “The church is bringing good news because it’s telling people about Jesus, and therefore they’ve got someone to pray to and someone to hope in, which replaces hopelessness and uncertainty. But it’s worth emphasising that they’re not expecting God to lift them out of their poverty.”

God, it seems, is at work in other ways. “Some of it is just supernaturally amazing in that God appears in dreams to people and they ask us, ‘Who is this Jesus?’” Peter says. “I’ve met him in my dream, and I want to know who I am now going to follow.’”

Louise and Peter experienced a church “full of vibrancy and life” on their last visit. “What’s wonderful when we go is that you see the church springing to life. Christians there love to sing. The church is full of people and we have such a joyful day and a good time worshipping and training, and the people feel blessed and are so grateful.”

Economic recovery for so many Bangladeshi Christians can seem very far off in the aftermath of floods and Covid-19. But incredibly, there is still so much good being done by the church. A local pastoral superintendent organised for school children to receive replacement books and bags after school equipment was lost to flooding. Louise says acts like this can seem small, but seeing a village prioritising education in this way has been really inspiring.

"What’s wonderful when we go [into the villages] is that you see the church springing to life," says Louise.

“There was a whole group of 14 to 16-year-old girls who’d been going off to coaching with their new bags and all their books in their bag,” adds Louise. “They all have aspirations to become nurses and are desperately asking everyone to pray that they’ll get better at their studies because they struggle. Bengali is not their first language, so they’re working in their home tongue and then they’re working in Bengali.”

Girls with bags Bangladesh
Praise God that girls have been able to receive replacement books and bags after devastating flooding.

“We had helped to distribute money as part of the relief response to help pay school fees, with schools closed instead they used that money for extra coaching. We weren’t expecting that but that news just made us so happy. They could have used that money for so many other things and they chose to use it to remain engaged in education throughout the lockdown.”

With the need so apparent all around them, Louise and Peter wrestle regularly with the idea that the joy surrounding their visits masks a more sombre reality. “We struggled. We asked the local pastors, ‘Is this happiness genuine?’ And their reply was, ‘Yes, they’ve just sang songs with you and you’ve played games with them. For them it is a moment of respite and that lasts for quite a long time.’”

At the centre of all this, it really is the vision of church leaders and local Christians that shines light into what seems like darkness. When asked what motivates these Christian leaders, Louise and Peter say it is the hope of flourishing communities that keeps them going. “Their hope is really that for the young people in their journey into faith, that these moments of joy stick, that this will provide a sense of belonging to the church family.” Joy at the margins produces more joy. And when it does, villages like this grow and thrive.

Read more about Bangladesh

You can read much more about Peter and Louise’s work bringing hope to villages devastated by floods in the next issue of Engage magazine. And if you’re not already, it couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just sign up here to receive Engage three times a year, free of charge!

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Words by Matty Fearon.

Cyclone Amphan: Pray as heavy rains hit India and Bangladesh

Cyclone Amphan:

Pray as heavy rains hit India and Bangladesh

Praying for this

The biggest storm of a decade made landfall in the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday 20 May, with winds equal in force to a category five hurricane. Please join us as we pray for India and Bangladesh, and for the protection of millions of people seeking refuge in cyclone shelters.

Millions of people across Bangladesh and India are seeking refuge in storm shelters and schools as Cyclone Amphan wreaks havoc on the Bay of Bengal. Fears surrounding the Covid-19 Coronavirus add complexity to evacuation plans in the two nations, as more cyclone shelters than usual are needed so that people can maintain social distancing measures. In Odisha (formerly Orissa) alone, hundreds of shelters are already being used as Covid-19 quarantine centres, and urgent prayer is needed that the virus would be contained even while people seek refuge from the storm.

Please pray for India and Bangladesh:

  • Please pray that the millions of people being evacuated would be protected from the strong rains and winds as they travel.
  • The severity of the storm in Bangladesh will depend on whether it strikes at high or low tide. Please pray that God would calm the winds as they approach and protect those sheltering along the coast.
  • The arrival of Cyclone Amphan has been described as “a crisis on top of a crisis”. Please pray that social distancing measures can be maintained despite the extreme challenge the cyclone poses to both countries, and that India and Bangladesh would not see a rise in Coronavirus cases as a result of the storm.
  • Please pray that more cyclone shelters would be found across India and Bangladesh, that road and rail infrastructure would not suffer, and that crops and livelihoods would be protected from the storm’s destructive path.
  • Pray for those who have lost loved ones, whose homes have been destroyed, and whose lives have been made even more precarious because of Cyclone Amphan. Pray that they would know God’s comfort and find help.
Map of India and Bangladesh
Pray for India and Bangladesh as they face Cyclone Amphan, the biggest storm of a decade.

BMS World Mission’s disaster recovery fund raises money before disasters happen, so that we can respond when they do. Find out more about how BMS responds effectively when a crisis hits, here.

Keep up with all the latest news from BMS by signing up to our weekly email update.

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Women of God, past and present

International Women’s Day:

Women of God, past and present

Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, we’re celebrating great women, past and present. With the help of BMS World Mission workers Louise Lynch in Bangladesh and Laura-Lee Lovering in Peru, we’re taking you back in time, to remember three incredible women in mission history.

Brave BMS missionaries made history in the 19th and 20th centuries, setting off courageously for places they’d only read about. Travelling for months to reach the shores of India, Bangladesh or China, many didn’t plan on making it back. We’ve heard the stories of great men like William Carey and William Knibb. But what about the women? We asked two of our mission workers, the fabulous Louise and Laura, what they made of these extraordinary, and all too often forgotten women.

Introducing…

A black and white picture of a woman.

Hannah Marshman (1767 – 1847): “Outstanding among the wives”

Noted as being “outstanding among the missionaries’ wives,” Hannah Marshman was more than just a wonderful spouse as remembered in her obituary.

Recorded as being the first female missionary in India, this passionate woman single-handedly set up a boarding school and became a pioneer of education for Bengali girls. The school went on to fund Baptist missionary work in the area. All this while becoming fluent in Bengali and having 12 children!

Hannah Marshman died in 1847, remembered as “having consecrated her life and property to the promotion of this sacred cause and exhibited an example of humble piety and energetic benevolence for forty-seven years”.

Louise and Laura, how would you feel about being remembered as a “missionary’s wife”!?

Louise: I feel for Hannah. But I think I know how she feels. Here in Bangladesh I’m normally introduced as ‘Peter’s wife’.

I like the fact that Hannah just got on and did things. You have to remind yourself that actions speak louder than words. And having said that, my contribution is respected here.

Laura: I’m a single girl, so the whole idea that I’d come under the title of someone’s appendage is mildly insulting.

But, there’s nothing wrong with just doing the work regardless of the title. That’s what really liberates people. Many women here have laboured on and not worried about the title. Time and time again, they’ve been praised. That’s inspired me. It’s about what you do and how you’re able to show God’s love.

A BMS World Mission worker smiling into the camera.
BMS worker Louise Lynch serves alongside local Baptist churches in Bangladesh.

What do you think of these women missionaries of the 19th century?

A BMS World Mission worker smiling into the camera.
BMS worker Laura-Lee Lovering works with local pastors in the Peruvian Amazon jungle.

Louise: I have utter respect for the people that have gone ahead of us. We wonder how people managed to live, with the heat and the mosquitoes, trying to keep themselves healthy – let alone do anything!

And many women missionaries are talked about with fond regard in Bangladesh. They are the ones that people name.

 

Laura: I’m completely in awe of them! With all the diseases, they didn’t have all the vaccines, they certainly didn’t have a health insurance number to call. Some had children whilst out there, just from a biological point of view it was difficult – then you add in everything else!

I’d like to think that I would have been brave enough to go on mission 100, 200 years ago. I really respect the fact that when they went out, they went out for good.

Introducing…

A black and white picture of a woman with the words Dr Ellen Farrer above and Processed by BMS underneath.

Dr Ellen Farrer (1865 – 1959): “First in her field”

Overcoming the prejudice faced by working women of the era, Dr Ellen Farrer began to challenge society’s disapproval when she was accepted by the Baptist Zenana Mission in India as its first female doctor. The mission reached out to Hindu women from the wealthier classes, who were secluded in zenanas – private apartments to segregate female family members from the rest of society. She soon won the trust and love of these women, who preferred to be seen by a female doctor. Administering aid during a famine, fighting annual outbreaks of the bubonic plague, expanding the dispensary she worked at into a hospital and translating textbooks for nurses and midwives were just some of Ellen’s achievements during her incredible lifetime in India.

Celebrate International Women’s Day in your church!

It’s International Women’s Day next Sunday 8 March so we’ve made a great PowerPoint resource with all these amazing stories for you to share in your church! Download the PowerPoint and inspire your church family with stories of these incredible women from BMS’ past and present!

Download the PowerPoint!

Would you have any advice for women looking to go on overseas mission?

Louise: There are some real practical challenges. But I think there’s a huge advantage to being a woman in mission. You can talk to other women and have an impact on their lives. Letting women help me dress up in a sari has been a great way of opening up conversations. My advice is to walk with the people, experience their life, their frustrations. I have to manage the difficulties around some of the cultural protocols, but people here have a lovely attitude and I get given lots of opportunity.

Laura: Don’t fixate on being a woman on overseas mission. We’re not here to fight for women’s liberation, we’re here to see the kingdom of God be extended. And if through that we can show to both men and women that women have a big part to play, then great! But that’s not the main reason.

The best thing you can do is be who you are, do a good job and bless people. Let them see that God is using you. That’s the strongest message for women – and for men.

Introducing…

A black and white picture of a woman with the words Dr Ellen Clow above and Processed by BMS underneath.

Dr Ellen Clow (1901 – 1984) “Determined to make a difference”

A kick-ass surgeon and incredibly brave lady to boot, Dr Ellen Clow devoted her life to mission in China. Unperturbed by the Japanese invasion of the north of the country, it was reported that Ellen remained at The Women’s Hospital in Taiyuan where she worked despite being “menaced by soldiers and looters” in raid after raid.

Even the news that a shell had destroyed a bedroom she’d vacated earlier that day couldn’t persuade Ellen to leave, and as the hospital building shook and rattled, a patient grabbed Ellen’s hand and said, “You are good to stay with us.” Many women in the region were said to have owed their lives to her skill. Ellen’s commitment to God’s mission in China and Hong Kong was unwavering throughout her life, and she returned twice to serve overseas before her death in 1984.

Feeling inspired?

Have these inspiring women encouraged you to explore your calling overseas? Check out our current overseas vacancies and get in touch with our team today!

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Answers from God

Answers from God

Praying for this

Lives are restored, fellowships flourish, abundant life flows. This is what happens when we speak to God. This is what happens when we pray together.

Mission is powered by prayer. That’s why we encourage you to pray with us, asking God to move mountains overseas and at home. And your prayers have been working in powerful and wonderful ways. Here are just a few stories about how God has been faithful. Thank you for praying.

1. Anointed and far from disappointed

On the road to Macchu Picchu, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, lies a small village called Pisac. BMS-supported Pastor Amilcar is planting a church against a backdrop of the majestic Andes mountains, where local Baptist pastors feel that many don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus.

A photo of Pastor Amilcar with an arrow to the mountains of Pisac.
Pastor Amilcar heads up BMS-planted church "El Puente" in Cusco. Now he's gone from the city of Cusco to the mountains to plant a church in the village of Pisac.

Remember when we asked you to pray for Pastor Amilcar? He had also been praying, for a new leader for this new church plant. But as his fellowship was so new, he wasn’t sure any of them felt confident enough to take on a leadership role.

In December, an answer to prayer emerged as a dedicated member, Joseph, expressed an interest in studying God’s Word and becoming a church leader. “The life of a pastor can be really lonely sometimes,” says Pastor Amilcar. “But now I have a partner.” Praise God!

2. Unforgotten in the floods

After floods destroyed homes, crops and livelihoods across Bangladesh last year, we asked you to pray with us for a swift recovery, that food supplies would reach those with the most need. Thanks to your prayers and support, BMS partner Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha (BBCS) was able to supply food parcels in Sreemongal, Manikgonj and Shiragonj and in the Hill Tract area, where mudslides devastated lives. “When we arrived, people said nobody had come to help them,” says John Karmakar, Assistant General Secretary of BBCS. “But BMS quickly sent aid.”

“Most days feel like an answer to prayer!``

We also asked you to pray for BMS workers Louise and Peter Lynch, who work with BBCS and went out to help during the recovery efforts. “The distribution of help and the delight of recipients was very moving,” says Louise. “Most days feel like an answer to prayer!”

A map of Bangladesh highlighting Dhaka and the Hill Tracts area.

Louise and Peter Lynch singing a worship song in Bangla

3. French Connexion

We know that many faithful members of the BMS family in the UK have prayed for more young people in France to be transformed by Jesus’ love since we asked you to remember them. And we’re delighted to report that that is what is happening. French Christian youth camp “Connexion” took off in October with 460 people in attendance! Action Team France, a group of four young people on a BMS gap year, were amongst the volunteers.

Four young people in fancy dress with cakes behind them.
Team France: Hamish Rice, Jennie Lockett, Ruth McCormick and Bridget Turner

The event was all about seeing young people engage with God. “People were surprised to see that we chose to spend our gap year serving God in France, when we could have just gone travelling,” says Hamish. “They were excited to see young mission workers.” The team also led last year’s Christmas service, at the church in Gif-sur-Yvette, where BMS worker Christine Kling is minister. Over a hundred people attended, filling the building to capacity. What an incredible answer to prayer!

4. Bringing the world into churches

We wanted UK churches to hear what their prayer and financial support was achieving directly from the people who were doing the work. But getting visas to visit the UK is not always easy. Sometimes we even doubted whether our workers from Uganda (Benon Kayanja and Genesis Acaye) and Mozambique worker (Carlos Tique Jone) would be allowed to visit churches in this country. So, we prayed. And we asked you to pray.

Three BMS mission workers looking at the camera and smiling.
Three incredible BMS mission workers: Carlos Tique Jone from Mozambique, Benon Kayanja from Uganda and Genesis Acaye, also from Uganda.

We waited months, weeks, without permission for all of our African friends to enter the UK. And then, in God’s time, the visas were granted, and Benon, Carlos and Genesis set off to visit churches across the UK, telling people about the amazing impact they are having through BMS work overseas. “Without you BMS wouldn’t be able to do this work,” says Genesis, who helps farmers get the most from their crops in Uganda. “Really, you are doing the work.” Genesis loves to thank BMS supporters. And we want to join the churches our overseas workers visited in thanking them!

“Thank you so much for bringing Carlos to Park Baptist Church,” says Elizabeth, the BMS representative from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. “He was an inspiration.”

5. The magnificent six

We’ve been asking you to pray for more people to serve in Chad for years, and now, we’re so happy to give you the praise report of six wonderful workers for Guinebor II, a BMS-supported hospital in Chad. Six wonderful people, all serving as long-term BMS workers in this marginalised and under-evangelised country.

With the existing G2 team, they’ll deliver healthcare to 19,000 people a year. Please continue to pray as we urgently need a second surgeon for this busy hospital.

The magnificent six are:
1. Bethan Shrubsole – developmental music therapist
2. Gareth Shrubsole – G2 hospital manager
3. Mel Spears – health specialist
4. Tom Spears – GP
5. Brian Chilvers – nurse
6. Jackie Chilvers – nurse

Three photos of three mission worker couples
Another answer to prayer is actually six answers - six mission workers for Guinebor II mission hospital in Chad.

With the existing G2 team, they’ll deliver healthcare to 19,000 people a year. Please continue to pray as we urgently need a second surgeon for this busy hospital.

Prayer warriors unite!

Want to see even more prayers answered? Join us!
We are so excited to invite you to the annual BMS Day of Prayer on Sunday 9 February. Join us as we pray for BMS projects, partners and mission workers across the world. Whatever your style of prayer, whether using Bible reflections, sung worship, using creative prayer spaces, individually or in a group, we’d love you to join us.

You can find all the BMS Day of Prayer resources you need. Let us know what you’re praying for on Twitter and Facebook. We would find it so encouraging. We’re so grateful for everyone who prays for our work and we know God will do incredible things thanks to you.

Praying for this? Click here
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Words by Melanie Webb.

When waters rise: food relief for flooded Bangladeshi villages

When waters rise:

food relief for flooded Bangladeshi villages

I'm praying for this

News reports have suggested that Bangladesh is experiencing its worst flooding in years. BMS’ grant will provide emergency food relief for hundreds in need.

Thanks to the generous giving of BMS supporters, and the heart of Bangladeshi Christians who have mobilised to help those in need, an emergency BMS grant has been approved to sustain 200 families facing food insecurity due to flooding.

Bangladesh is reportedly experiencing its worst flooding in years, with tens of thousands of people having been displaced. Bangladesh’s monsoon season can often pose a flood risk to the low-lying country, where heavy rains see rivers swelling to dangerous levels. The erosion and bursting of riverbanks in recent weeks, coupled with adverse landslides, have left an estimated 4 million people at risk of “food insecurity and disease”.

Waters flooding market stalls with a man looking on in Bangladesh
Flood waters in Bangladesh in 2009 going up as high as the windows.

BMS has provided several grants for flood relief, including after flooding in 2007 and 2009, pictured here. While Bangladesh is known for its habitual flooding, more extreme flood events are a worrying trend.

The BMS Disaster Recovery fund allows local Christians and trusted partners to mobilise when disasters like these strike. Because of generous past giving from BMS supporters, a £5,000 grant was swiftly approved, allowing quick-thinking Bangladeshi Christians to jump into action.

The BMS grant will fund a programme of food distribution for 200 families from three different communities: the Sreemongal, Manikgonj and Shirajgonj communities. Led by the Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha (BBCS), the food packages will be distributed from local church centres by pastors. They contain rice, salt, dhal*, sugar, oil, chira* and waterproof matches, sustaining around 800 people for a week and a half – some of whom have not eaten in days.

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“The families come from varying religious backgrounds, but are known to the Bangladeshi churches which are distributing aid,” explain BMS workers Louise and Peter Lynch, who work closely with the BBCS. “There are pastors on the ground who can assess what needs to happen,” says Peter. “There are people without any food because they’ve got nothing left. But the BBCS can go out and get food for the programme, knowing support is backed up by BMS.”

The emergency kits contain:

30kg of rice and 2kg of salt

3kg of dhal* (a staple Bangladeshi dish made of lentils or other split pulses)

2kg of sugar, 5 litres of oil, 400g of chira* (a flat rice that is easy to prepare and digest)

and 6 packets of waterproof matches for 200 families

A man carrying a calf through flood waters in Bangladesh.
Two men wading through a flooded river in Bangladesh.

These concerning images have come from the Sreemongal, Manikgonj and Shirajgonj communities which the BBCS is now able to help.

If you’ve given to BMS’ Disaster Recovery fund, you’ve not only supported Bangladeshi families after dangerous floods. You’ve also provided vital psychosocial first aid to victims of the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, shored up a hospital during hurricane season in Haiti, and much more. Thank you for all you’ve done.

Give to BMS Disaster Recovery Click here
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Christians believe in a God whose Son walked on water. So when floodwaters rise, we can trust in his power, goodness and might. Join us in praying for:

  • Bangladeshi communities in danger or at risk of disease because of flooding, that they would be kept safe.
  • Those who are hungry, that food would be provided. Pray especially for those receiving food through the BMS grant, that it would reach those who need it most.
  • Peter and Louise Lynch, the BBCS, and the pastors who have been able to help families after the floods. Give thanks for their generous hearts, and pray for wisdom and strength to know how to best help those in need.
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Words by Hannah Watson, Editor of Engage magazine.

Update from the frontline: Bangladesh and Nepal

Update from the frontline:

Bangladesh and Nepal

Praying for this

Two amazing couples. Two wonderful countries. Six incredible months. The latest from Team Lynch and Team Vokuhl.

New friendships, hard work, lots of prayer and one very embarrassing language mix-up. These past few months have certainly been challenging and rewarding ones for BMS World Mission workers the Lynches and Vokuhls. Louise and Peter Lynch are working with church leaders in Bangladesh, while Toby and Pippa Vokuhl are helping Nepal rebuild after the 2015 earthquakes. They couldn’t have got this far without your support so please read on for an update on their work.

Photo of Louise and Peter Lynch
Louise and Peter Lynch are currently based in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh.
Photo of the Vokuhl family
Pippa and Toby Vokuhl, and their children Jakey, Ella and Millie, have been adapting to life in Nepal

Tell us what it was like when you first arrived?

The Lynches:

Peter: It was a bit disorientating. We were tired, and we went straight into meeting people, being at church and getting our bearings. That was easier than going to bed though! The Proctors (BMS workers) were our chaperones for the first couple of weeks. They were really good, very kind to us.

Louise: They took us shopping, showed us how to dress, helped us buy our clothes and showed us the supermarkets. It feels like we’ve settled in well.

The Vokuhls:

Toby: When we first arrived in Pokhara we were very warmly welcomed, which was great. Our housing situation was a little bit of a challenge because our flat was still under construction and we didn’t have a kitchen at all, so for two months we were living in a building site. We now find ourselves in what is a really lovely flat, not far from the children’s school. It’s worked out really well for us as a family with our children having friends nearby.

How is the language learning going?

The Lynches:

Louise: We have completed three books, so we’ve finished the basic course. We’re given about 25 new words every day and we’ve learnt tenses we never knew about. So we’re doing our homework. We get most of right, but there is quite a lot of red ink on it most days too!

Louise and another lady are walking away from us down a Dhaka street
Louise and Peter enjoy exploring the streets of Dhaka

The most useful phrases we’ve learnt so far are things like ‘kemôn achhen,’ which is ‘how are you?’ So we spend a lot of our time saying that, and ‘bhālō,’ which means ‘fine’, ‘āstē āstē,’ which means ‘slowly slowly’, and ‘ami janina,’ which is ‘I don’t know’, or ‘I don’t understand’. I think we are the entertainment sometimes, but sometimes you just have to go for it. People come along and they come and watch us trying to speak Bangla, and it is almost a sport!

Peter: We make everyone laugh! People appreciate us trying because they’re very proud of their language and they love people trying to learn it. They’ve been great.

The Vokuhls:

Pippa: It’s hard work! We started off doing four mornings a week and we are just doing one or two now. It’s nice to have some basic conversations with friends and people at church, and the local shops, but we have a lot more hours of study ahead. I’ve had a few embarrassing moments. I went into a shop to try and ask for two kilos for carrots and I managed to ask for two kilos of marijuana. The poor shopkeeper looked extremely shocked and distressed, and then said in English, “Oh, you want carrots.” I mentioned it to my language teacher who pointed out what I’d asked for.

Toby: Our landlady seems to think we are doing well settling in. The other day I could make out her saying to me in Nepali, “Toby, you’re so fat… your wife also.” I relayed that to Pippa, but in Nepali culture when you call someone fat you are just referring to how well they are doing. It was still rather funny!

Louise and Peter give us a slice of life in Dhaka and fill us in on what they’ve been up to

What else have you been up to?

The Lynches:

Louise: We just want to build relationships and understand the culture first before leaping in. We sat alongside pastors in some training for discipleship making, I think that’s an area where we’re looking to see how we can support them and help them to put their training into action in their churches.

We’re going up to Dineshpur for a month soon, and we’ll be staying with some of the pastors who were on the training, so it’ll be interesting to see what they’re doing.

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Peter: We’ve met most of the key people we’ll be working with in Dhaka, and people from the districts have come here for conferences. It’s been great to meet pastors and regional leaders. We’re developing a really good relationship with them, they’ve been so gracious and welcoming to us.

Everyone says to us that life outside of Dhaka is very different to life in Dhaka, so it will be great for us next month to just be outside of the capital and mix with the local community there.

The Vokuhls:

Pippa: Until recently, I’ve been doing language study and orientation, and at the moment our three children (Jakey, Ella and Millie) are on school holidays so that’s keeping me out of trouble.

Toby: We were waiting for a work visa for quite some time, so we have focused quite heavily on language study, and we’ve also been attending the local church. We’ve had a slightly longer language and culture adjustment period than we expected, but it has helped, and we’re pleased to have moved into the space where I can contribute to the work here.

Life in Nepal: Pippa and Toby Vokuhl chart some of the highlights, and ask for your prayers

What’s been a highlight so far?

The Lynches:

Peter: I just enjoy the life and vitality of the city, everyone is so industrious and active, there’s so many people everywhere doing so many things. It’s an energetic, lively and colourful place. We love the people.

Louise: We like walking around and we like the buzz of the place.

The Vokuhls:

Pippa: We went as a family to have a look around some of the projects that INF (International Nepal Fellowship) is running in the west of the country in villages and hospitals. It was amazing to see some of the projects that are making a difference to the poorest of the poor in Nepal.

Toby: There has been a wealth of experiences, such as being in a different culture and in a beautiful environment when you get out into the hills and mountains. Another highlight has been being able to make a difference through my work. That has been very rewarding.

What have been some of the challenges?

The Lynches:

Peter: I think pacing ourselves has been difficult. It is hot, and you find yourself on certain days having lower energy. So, I think knowing how to pace yourself and how to navigate your way through that.

Louise: It’s hard on your downtime because it’s not a recreational city. What to do when we’re not studying Bangla is the biggest challenge for us. But we’re enjoying Bangla learning, so it’s quite a win win really, as that’s what we spend most of our time doing.

The Vokuhls:

Pippa: Subtle cultural differences that you don’t necessarily see or understand. For example, our language teacher came around and she had very bad back pain. I said she should sit on the sofa, but her feet were dangling so I got some books to put under her feet. She went very quiet and said, “Oh, in your culture do you put your feet on books? In our culture, we believe that if you put your feet on books, all the knowledge from your brain will go.”

Toby: Not being able to communicate is disempowering, such as when you can’t say what you want to say to the local shopkeeper. Another challenge is finding your way around locally.

Photo of street scene in Pokhara, featuring motorbikes and overhead cables
The Vokuhls have been working hard to find their way around the streets of Pokhara

What can people be praying for?

The Lynches:

Louise: I think for next month, that we travel and stay well in Dineshpur, and that we make the most of that chance as it’s a really unique opportunity.

Peter: We’re moving house at the beginning of September and we’re moving to an area that’s close to the office. So please pray for that process of moving and getting into a local community.

Pray too for the church in Bangladesh. They’ve got big hearts and a big vision but it’s quite tough. So pray for them, that God would empower them.

The Vokuhls

Pippa: Please pray for my ongoing language study, and also pray for developing deeper relationships with local Nepali women. I’d also appreciate prayer as I find a role for myself. Please pray that God would move me into what I can do to serve him here.

Toby: Please pray for continued cultural awareness. Please also pray for a construction project that I’m managing at the Green Pastures Hospital, where a new chapel is being built. Everyone would like that to be a success for the hospital and for the people of Pokhara.

BMS 24:7 Partners - sharing God's love with a world in need

 

 

Are you inspired by the works our mission workers are doing? You can commit to giving regularly to support the Lynches or Vokuhls by becoming a 24:7 Partner. Just click here. Thank you for standing alongside them.

Introducing the Lynches

4,956 miles to Dhaka:

introducing the Lynches

Supporting this

On Thursday 26 April, Louise and Peter Lynch fly to Bangladesh with BMS World Mission. Find out why they feel called to mission and what they’ll be up to overseas.

Whether it’s climbing snowy mountains in Scotland or ridiculously long cycle rides, Louise and Peter Lynch are always up for an adventure. And this time round, they’re getting ready for a big one. Having worked as a social worker (Louise) and a pastor (Pete) in the UK for 27 years, they’re leaving this country behind and moving to Dhaka, in Bangladesh. Amidst packing up their belongings and selling their car, they sat down with us to talk about the new venture that they’re embarking on with BMS .

Alright, we’ll start off with an easy question. How would you describe each other in three words?

Louise: Oh that’s hard! I want to say adventurous, principled, and football-crazy.

Peter: Dynamic, thoughtful, and fun.

Tell us about your decision to move to Bangladesh.

Peter: Since first becoming Christians we’ve always had the sense that God was calling us to work overseas at some point. The last 27 years have been a bit of a surprise in some ways because we’ve been UK-based all of that time. But it came to the point where it felt like change was coming, our family circumstances were changing and it freed us to look at what God might want for the next phase of our lives. So, we began talking with BMS. As the conversation developed there was a growing sense that the skills and experience we have and the needs in Bangladesh were a good fit. We’ve grown into the idea and sensed that this is where God wants us.

Do you think the skills you’ve gained while working as a social worker and pastor in the UK will be transferable?

Louise: I think so. What’s excited us about Bangladesh is that the role involves the sort of things that we’ve got experience in. It’s going to be difficult because we’re used to working in a UK context, so doing the kind of cultural switch and learning different ways of working will be more challenging. We’re quite heavily reliant on speaking skills, so being able to do that job in Bengali is going to be very challenging.

Peter: What we offer is probably some experience of having been on the road in terms of pastoral ministry, training and community engagement for a number of years, so we’re hoping those skills will transfer and contribute something to a different cultural context.

What exactly will you guys be doing out in Bangladesh?

Peter: The first thing will be to just meet people, to build relationships, to learn the language and try and understand and adapt to the culture. I think in the longer term, the Baptist Sangha – the name of the denomination there – see us having a role in leadership development, helping to train and encourage pastors and community leaders in the different parts of Bangladesh. It’s quite a broad role, but potentially a very exciting and far-reaching one.

Louise: It’s not so directly written into the job scope, but I think very likely some safeguarding training around all the different projects that the churches work with too. We’re trying to really work in partnership so don’t want to predict what we’re going to do too much until we’ve really met the people we’re working with. What we need to do is discuss with the leaders in Bangladesh what they most want and then take it from there.

How’s language learning been going so far?

Peter: We’re making a bit of progress. It’s quite enjoyable, but we’ve not really got into the in-depth stuff. So just learning vocab, learning the alphabet, understanding how the script works, those sort of things.

Louise: We can say random words at random times, no sentences yet! We think we’ve learnt the phrase for ‘I don’t understand,’ but we’re not convinced we’ve got the pronunciation right!

Peter: We’ve learnt how to say ‘how are you?’ and ‘what is your name?’, the normal things to begin a conversation.

Louise: Men’s and women’s toilets we’ve got sorted out as well.

What excites you the most when you think about moving to Bangladesh and your role there?

Peter: For me, I think it’s standing alongside Christians there so that all of us can be the people God’s called us to be. We recognise the Church there has challenges and struggles, you need to know their situation, and part of what excites me is just being able to be an encourager and to stand alongside and partner with people so we can be faithful to Jesus in whatever place he puts us. Also, I’m really excited about living in a different culture, learning from the Church in Bangladesh and seeing what following Jesus looks like in a completely different place to what we’re used to.

I’ve been to parts of Asia before and I just loved the colour, the dynamism and the hospitality in those places. I also love all geography and geology stuff, so being in the massive delta and the kind of outwash of the Himalayas, in a bizarre way, quite excites me as well.

I’m really excited about living in a different culture and learning from the Church in Bangladesh.

Louise: For me, when I read what the Baptist Sangha writes about their vision for their churches and the schools they run, that they want them to be like beacons and really great places, that excites me. I’d like to be part of something that means when children or adults come to church, meet Christians or go to Christian run schools, that they see something really different about the quality of care and the love they receive. That makes me very excited.

I’m also looking forward to the food, and deep down I’d like to see a tiger. I like exploring so I love new situations – I’m just looking forward to new smells, new sounds, everything.

What are your biggest fears about moving there? What are you most worried about?

Louise: I think in the UK I understand how things work, so I know where to put my energies if things need to change. I think it will be really hard not knowing how things work, and that can leave me feeling really ineffectual and frustrated. So I think that’s going to be the biggest challenge.

Peter: Building good relationships is key to life isn’t it – it’s key to everything we do. I think just doing that cross-culturally, we’re hopeful that that will happen. I think to have good team relationships, to have good relationships with partners and just building good friendships. That’s not a fear or an anxiety, but it’s a recognition of what we need the most to enjoy being there, fulfilled and useful in what we’re doing.

Pray for wisdom and insight about where we settle ourselves.

So what are you going to miss the most about living in the UK? Your two children are at university, aren’t they?

Louise: Yes, thanks for reminding us!

Peter: We’ll miss just being able to see the boys (Calum and Jonah), see Louise’s mum and dad, and we’ll miss good friends that you can just drop in on and share life with. I’m hoping there will be access to various ways of keeping up with sporting events and I’m sure we’ll end up missing food that isn’t spicy, and going for a run. We like exercising and being outside so having some restrictions on what’s appropriate in terms of activity will be a challenge for us.

Finally, what can people be praying for?

Louise: We would really like to make friends when we arrive in Bangladesh. Being able to meet people and make friends would be really, really important.

Peter: Pray for God’s wisdom in knowing how quickly to do things, or how slowly to do things, and to have the right attitude of being there to serve others and to serve God.

Louise: We’re borrowing a house when we first arrive and then we’ll need to decide where to live. That will be quite an important decision, so we’d like some wisdom. Pray for wisdom and insight about where we settle ourselves.

If you want to commit to giving and praying regularly to support Louise and Peter, become their 24:7 Partner by clicking the box on the right!

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Could you be called to mission overseas? We have plenty of opportunities to serve with us.