Twenty-five years ago I had a good time when I visited one of the mission fields in India. Just before the New Year, my missionary friend and I went to town to buy me a new diary book. My friend asked me if I wanted a big diary or a small diary. I paused a few minutes before answering. I thought, "I want a small one because I don't have much to write." Right then I had an idea.
I thought we write in our diary book only what we want to remember or else something interesting that happened that day. But our life is a diary book. Our Father who sees everything sees even beyond what we will write in our diary book. His diary book is not written with ink on paper. It is written by the way we live. Every day we finish one page, every year we finish a chapter. When we die, ready or not, our diary book is closed. Then people start reading it.
I started thinking seriously what kind of diary I would write. Tomorrow is New Year's day. I am going to start a new chapter. Lord, help me to write a better chapter than last year.
Each New Year is a challenge for me to write a new chapter of my life. The world we live in might not get better, but nobody can stop us from writing a good life diary book.
Through the help of our Lord, I believe we all can write a better chapter in 2001.
Thanks
:BRIEF REPORTS AND COMMENTS FROM MCGN GLOBAL POINTS:
INDIA:CALCUTTA
MCGN-Calcutta is trying to collect information that will be useful for Mizoram. Their effort to compile a list of foreign visitors to Mizoram will be delayed because information is not readily available from Calcutta at this time.
Mr. Dilip Bhattacharyya has been granted a visa to visit USA to do a project on the Illustrated Book of Mizoram proposed by Liana Mualchin for MCGN. Dilip is expected to arrive in February 2001.
INDIA:DELHI
Dr. Chinkholal Thangsing (Lala) sent for our review his proposal "The Retreat" for AIDS services center in New Delhi, India. He is the Executive Director of the Agency for Community Care and Development (ACCAD).
We also received a beautiful email about his sharing during last Christmas, and we quote:
"It is Christmas day and a blessed one. I share the Lord's message at the AIDS centre today and the evening at the Residential Care centre. I am blessed by my sharing and the Lord works in every step we take.
Thanking you for your continuing prayers".
Salai Tha Nei Luai regularly sends daily Bible verses by email to "Zo" people in different parts of the world to encourage and guide them in their lives. Many respond positively. He does this by using someone else's computer for a fee. If anyone is interested in his ministry, he would appreciate hearing from you.
INDIA: MIZORAM:
MCGN-Mizoram leaders are trying to find a person who will serve as the Executive Director of MCGN, a full-time position. They are careful to seek one who is called by God for the MCGN ministry.
Some MCGN leaders are involved heavily in the formation of the Mizoram Action Research Center (MARC). We need more helpers.
MCGN-Mizoram President, Rev. Dr. Zaihmingthanga, has been appointed to serve as one of the Executive Secretaries of Mizoram Synod and he will be in charge of media and communications. He has served well in the several important positions he has held in the past in the India and Mizoram Synod. We wish him well in his new assignment.
INDIA: TRIPURA:
We were grateful to receive an encouraging email from former MCGN-Coordinator of Canada, Rev. Fr. Stephen Rotluanga, CSC, who is now in Agartala. He is an exemplary Christian with his kindness and conduct. He is also an excellent artist.JAPAN:
We received emails from MCGN-Coordinator Pu Lalhruaia and MCGN-Secretary Pu Joseph Raltong. The Mizo community had joyfully celebrated Christmas. Needless to say, they must have public singing of Christmas songs and a communal feast on Christmas day as is the custom and practice of Mizo Christians.NEPAL:
We received emails from Tlana, Lura, Enga, and Ringa. During the last week of November 2000, the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Pu Zoramthanga, visited Nepal, and he graciously spent time with the Mizo people in Kathmandu. The spirit and intention of the Chief Minister for Mizoram encouraged them.
Lura and Sangtei are going to Singapore for a Leadership meeting from January 9 to19, 2001. Enga, Ringa, Tlana, with their family members will be attending a Missionary Conference in Aizawl, Mizoram from January 11-14, 2001.
Correction to MCGN-December 2000 Newsletter:
Concerning the circular letter from Nepal Baptist Church Council presented in our December 2000 Newsletter, we have been informed this way. A Christian group used a hall belonging to a Hindu community without a proper arrangement. Probably, that is the reason why the Hindus asked for money.
EUROPE:
John Lalrina (Parina) has gone home to Myanmar for Christmas, and he plans to visit Mizoram before he returns to Germany in January 2001. We have received his card from Yangon and pray that he had a blessed visit to his home. We also asked him to take our letter and copies of MCGN Newsletters to Rev. Dr. Laithuama, MCGN-President, Myanmar.USA:
In the Mission Focus meeting at Park Community Church, Shingle Springs, California, on Nov. 30, 2000 evening, Liana and Ngeni Mualchin made a presentation about their visit to Mizoram. They reported the progress of Mizoram Action Research Center (MARC), land donated for MARC, visit of Central Jail in Aizawl by Ngeni and their needs, having a new MCGN-coordinator in Lunglei, and meetings with MCGN-Mizoram and Calcutta. They also presented opportunities to serve in Mizoram.PRAYER REQUESTS
:Liana and Ngeni Mualchin are invited to attend the Winter session of Fielding Institute on January 10 and 11, 2001 in Santa Barbara, California to make a presentation about Mizoram on behalf of Mizo members of MARC who are unable to be present. They will be supported by Drs. Valerie Bentz, Steve Figler, Larry Short, Ms. Kathryn Dodge and other North American MARC members who visited Mizoram in March 2000.
During the Winter session, Dr. Valerie and MARC Board members will discuss how to handle the visit of Mizo members for the Summer session, 2001, and the relationship between MARC and Fielding Institute. Valerie will discuss the matter with Fielding officials. It is expected that more definitive ideas on these will be forthcoming after the Winter session.
Dr. Larry Short is working hard at raising funds for the Mizo members who will attend the Summer session of Fielding Institute in Santa Barbara, California.
"The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest"
(Mt. 9:37-38).
---Ideas, advice, and comments are always welcome---
MCGN International HQ: USA: Lalliana Mualchin (Email:
mualchin@hotmail.com)