God's Writing Assignment

God’s Writing Assignment

For quite a while, I’ve been frustrated with the lack of new missionary stories. The ones of Hudson Taylor and Amy Carmichael are great, but I knew that God was doing great things in the world today. I knew there was a need for more stories.

I attended a translation workshop at West Hampden Baptist Church and heard Fernando Angeles give his testimony of how God worked in his life – bringing him to the place where God spoke to him through the reading of a Gideon NT, seeing that salvation did not come by good works, but by faith alone. I was strongly moved by Fernando’s story. I knew that God wanted me to write it. It was as if He nudged me and said, “This is the one I want you to write.”

I spoke to Christy, Fernando’s wife, and she was delighted. She said that many have asked him to write his testimony, but he didn’t have the time and he didn’t feel he could do it. She would be glad to give me any information I needed and gave me an email address.

I took the information that I had and emailed her a list of a dozen questions for more. After waiting months for an answer, I wondered if I had gotten caught up in the excitement for nothing. (I later found that she had broken her foot and couldn’t walk over the mountain to the town where they could use the internet. She didn’t know I had emailed her.)

I had a very rough draft started, but I needed much more information to fill it out. Months went by again with no word. The next year, after I had retired from teaching, I was asked to substitute at the school for a few months. I was told that Ross Hodsdon would be conducting a workshop with Fernando and Christy right in the very building where I was teaching. They allowed me to sit in with them each afternoon. I would write out questions about Fernando’s childhood and the village life in Mexico, and Christy would answer them in her free moments. I even got a chance to have a one-on-one interview with Fernando. I thanked the Lord for the assurance that He wanted me to continue working on the story.

A year or so later, again I felt stuck. I needed more information, and God did it again. He brought Fernando and Christy right to my own church! Fernando is a quiet man, but he finally began opening up and telling me short incidents that happened that I could include in the book. Again, I thanked the Lord for His provision.

I finally came to a good stopping place and finished the story. (The whole Bible isn’t translated into Tenek, but I chose this spot to show that God had answered Fernando’s prayers.) I let them read the manuscript and make any changes they wished. Since it was necessary to imagine some dialogue and descriptions, not everything is exactly as things happened, but Fernando has approved it, saying that it could have been that way.

This is God’s book. I am only one part of this ministry. I pray that this book will be greatly used to reach others for the Lord.

For more information, CLICK HERE

Just One Piece of a Project for the Lord

God has brought some special people into my life.

It started when I was looking for a new missionary story to tell at VBS. I love the stories of Hudson Taylor and Amy Carmichael, but there didn't seem to be any new stories. I knew God was doing some marvelous things around the world. Why weren't there any more stories written?

Then a thought popped in my head, 

"I'm a writer. I could write a missionary story." 

Not long after that, I attended a translation workshop. As Fernando told his testimony of God reaching into his little village in Mexico - giving him a New Testament and teaching him of salvation through faith - I could almost hear God say, "Write this story."

Over the last few years, God has wonderfully arranged circumstances so that Fernando and Christy Angeles should visit Maine, at least once or twice a year, so that I may gather more information for the story.

I only see part of the work. I know that in their country, a team of people works hours and hours on this project. Ross Hodsdon also works long hours checking their progress. Then Fernando and Christy travel (risking rebel attacks) to have it approved by Ross. It's a display of dedication to the Lord's work.

I've watched them study each word and phrase of the Bible - making sure the Tének Bible will be as accurate as possible, so that his people will be able to read God's Word for themselves.

I've seen God bless their ministry in Mexico - 

churches growing, young people learning about God.

 God has continued to bless the writing of this story. 

Soon it will be published and ready to be distributed wherever God sends it. 

I feel honored to be one piece of this project for the Lord.

A2Z - N is for Nando's Bible

NANDO'S BIBLE



Five years ago, I had the privilege of meeting Fernando Angeles, a man who grew up in a small village in the eastern mountains of Mexico. As a child, Nando spoke Tenek (an oral language at that time)and only heard about God in Latin or Spanish.



After he had gone away to school and learned to read Spanish, he was given a New Testament. He read the entire book in ten months and learned that salvation didn't come from being good and following rules, but by believing in Jesus' gift of eternal life.



He went to Bible school and later to the United States to learn more. Now, he and his wife, Christy, minister to his own people. They are also translating the Bible into Tenek so others can hear Christ speaking in their own language.




I have written about Nando's Bible, and I had the privilege of teaching it to our VBS this summer. I am hoping to publish it soon so that young people will see the need to reach out to those around the world who have never heard the Gospel in their own language.
(See an excerpt from Nando's Bible HERE.)



Pray for Fernando and Christy Angeles, facing the darkness of sin while they strive to reach the Tenek people of Mexico.

Summertime Stuff

Summer is never long enough
for everything we want to do.


Check out a summer adventure on
Polliwog Pages
that a new young author wrote about.

(comments welcome)




Next week, our church is having our VBS Daycamp.
(Lighthouse Bible Church, 9:00am - 1:30pm)



It's a busy, but filled with fun.

I am excited to be teaching a missionary story
that I have been working on for the last 3 years.


(an excerpt from Nando's Bible)

I attended a class reunion of the Canaan Christian School.
(my memories)



We've taken some of our grandchildren to Storyland in N. Hampshire.
(our simple version of Disneyland)



I will be attending
the Faithwriter's Conference in Michigan.
(and teaching a session on writing for children)
(sample of class)



Later, we hope to go camping,
attend a family reunion,
celebrate a friend's wedding,
and some birthdays,
and have a few more picnics
and more!


By the end of August,
I think I'll be ready to slow down.
You think?

Friday Fiction - "Nando 's Fight"

For today's Friday Fiction, I'm giving you another peek at my missionary story of Fernando Angeles.

 Nando's Fight

Tata and Fernando walked for two days along twisting gravely roads through the mountains to reach San Vincente. Tata led Fernando through the rows of painted houses until they came to a blue one on the edge of town. It had a tiled roof and glass windows. A chicken scurried away from the front steps as Tata knocked on the door. This is where Fernando would live during the week. He would earn his keep by gathering wood or toting water. Tata then left without looking back. Fernando felt all alone.

School began the next day. His heart thumped as he followed the other children through the streets. There were many cars and trucks. Loud music played from radios. Fernando tried to read the bright signs on the stores they passed as they neared the big, white school building.

Rows of desks filled a room bigger than Fernando’s whole house. A bigger desk sat at the front of the room, with a large black board on the wall. Fernando knew some of the Spanish words written on the black board.

A group of boys strode into the room and claimed the desks in the back corner. The tallest boy, José, seemed to be their leader. The other boys did whatever he did and laughed at whatever he said. Fernando couldn’t hear what they were saying, but noticed José looking at him. José whispered something, and all the other boys laughed. The teacher came in, and the students settled into their seats.

The day was confusing. Fernando didn’t understand much of what was being said. He knew it was Spanish, but the teacher talked fast, and the words sounded different. The city kids laughed at Fernando when he said the wrong word. The teacher laughed, too, and made him feel stupid. He was glad when it was finally time to go home —
well, back to the blue house.

“Hey, Barefoot Boy, are you lost?”

Fernando ducked his head. He hoped José would just go away and leave him alone.

“Hey, look at me! This is a school for the big boys.”

Fernando kept his eyes down.

“Why don’t you go home to your mama and wait until you’re bigger…or can afford to buy some shoes.” With the last word, José stomped on Fernando’s toe.

Fernando clenched his jaw tight to hold back a cry. He swung his fist at José, but the bigger boy caught his arm before it hit his stomach.

“Ahhh…did I make the baby mad? Are you going to cry?”

Fernando swung with his left hand, but José grabbed him around the waist and carried him upside down out of the school building. Fernando squirmed and hollered for help, but the other boys only laughed. José dropped him onto the road and gave him a kick in the pants.

“That’s where you belong, Barefoot Boy!”

Fernando stood up and brushed the dirt from hands. He was crying, but not because he was hurt, but because he was angry. He put his head down, like a bull and charged at José strutting back into the school. Fernando tackled his legs and knocked him to the ground. Then he swung and punched José’s face and stomach over and over.

“I am not stupid! I am not stupid!”

The boys rolled and kicked and punched each other in the dirt. José stood up and grabbed Fernando up by his shirt collar. Fernando felt it rip. José punched him in the stomach. Fernando fell backwards, but stood up again. Over and over José pushed him until Fernando was up against the wall. The other boys circled him, cutting off his escape. Their eyes glimmered with anticipation of seeing a Tenek, a sin rasin (a person without reason) get what was coming to him.

Fernando’s back bumped against the concrete wall. His eyes held José’s gaze while his hand felt around for a weapon. He felt a pole. He glanced at it —a mop! His fingers wrapped around it. As José stepped in for another punch, Fernando pulled the mop out from behind his back. He swung it around to his left. He swung it to the right. He hit their heads and their backs and their bellies. He didn’t care what he hit. Soon he was just swinging at the air. They had all left.

Fernando dropped to the ground and leaned against the wall. He pulled his knees close and laid his head on his arms. Maybe they’d leave him alone now. Maybe now he could show them that he wasn’t a baby—he wasn’t stupido.


For more great stories, swim over to Hoomi's blog Pod Tales and check out Mr. Linky. We'd love to have you join the fun!

Friday Fiction - Preaching to His Village

This is an excerpt of a missionary story I am writing about Fernando Angeles. I am close to finishing the rough draft. Fernando and his wife, Christy, have been working on a Tenek translation of the Bible. They have finished about ten of the NT books. Yesterday, they finished the check of the book of James.


Preaching to His Village

Fernando couldn’t seem to get enough of talking with Pastor Benito and the visitor from the States. He had so many questions to be answered. Every week he went to the Baptist church to hear more about this new life that he had been given.

He told his family and friends what he had been learning. His mother and grandmother listened, but they didn't want to change from what they had known all their life. His father didn’t want to listen at all. Fernando talked to his brothers and sisters and friends, but they were afraid of listening to the protestant talk.

Fernando sat on the ground next to Doroteo. The young man was breathing hard. His body was weak and tired easily just walking up a hill. He could not work in the fields or play with the other boys.

“Ola, Doroteo. How are you doing today?”

“I get so tired. My heart hurts when I walk too much. I listened to your talk about Jesus. Will you tell me more?”

Fernando smiled and silently prayed, “Thank you, Lord.” He told how Jesus had come to seek and to save that which was lost. He told how Jesus could heal the sick and forgive sins. Doroteo became the first to believe the words of the Gospel.

Once when he was in Taquian, the pastor showed a movie about Jesus. To see the colored moving pictures of the life of Christ filled Fernando’s heart with a burning desire to share this Christ with his village. If they could only see this movie, maybe they would listen. Would it be possible?

Pastor Benito said that he would bring the projector and generator if Fernando could find something to use as a screen. With a bounce to his step, he could hardly wait to get home. But what could he use as a screen that would be big enough for everyone to see? All the walls were made of bamboo and sticks. Even the ones made of concrete were low, with doors and windows in them. A piece of white cloth might work, but he didn’t know where to find one.

Night had fallen as he walked into his village. The moon giving him light along the path. As he neared his home, the white-washed walls of the Catholic church gleamed in the darkness. Yes! It was perfect! He would tell everyone about it and ask Pastor Benito to come.

A moving picture in Santa Martha? Word spread quickly. A friend of Nando was bringing a movie picture to show in the village next week on Friday night, after sunset. Nando set up some benches behind the church facing the big blank wall. He couldn’t wait for everyone to see this movie about his Jesus!

“Buenos dias!” A man knocked at their door.

Fernando jumped up and shook Pastor Benito’s hand. “Welcome! This is my mother and grandmother. My father is in the fields, but will be home soon.”

“We brought the generator and projector and everything. Where should we set it up?”

Fernando puckered his eyebrows. “We? Are there others with you?”

Pastor Benito led the way outside. A group of about twenty men, women, and young people waited in the dooryard. “They wanted to come with me to help.”

Fernando’s eyes watered in gratitude for the love shown to him and his village. “Gracias. Gracias.” He shook hands with each one of them. “I will show you where to set up the projector.”

The pastor looked at the big white wall. “Yes, this will do fine!”

As the sun sank lower, the people started to gather. People from other villages came. Hundreds of people came to see the movie. But there was a problem. Fernando had forgotten that it was the Friday before Easter. The priest had come to the village to conduct the Good Friday mass. The people who came to mass wanted to see the movie also. The priest was not happy.

The large group of people watched the large pictures of Jesus blessing the children, stilling the storm, healing the sick. They moaned when they saw Him beaten and nailed to the tree. They shouted when he rose from the grave. Even those that could not understand Spanish, understood the pictures.

The crowds disappeared again into the mountains and forest. Fernando felt the tension of the men of the village. To talk about his protestant beliefs had been tolerated, but to take worshipers away from the Good Friday mass was unforgivable. A counsel meeting was called to discuss what to do with Fernando.

After long debates and discussion they called him to question his intent.

“Fernando, you have disrupted our village with your talk of your protestant beliefs. We have tolerated it until now. We hoped you would settle down and follow the ways of your father and uncles. But this last display has been too much.”

Fernando did not say anything. He looked at the ground and shuffled his feet in the dirt and waited for his verdict.

“Diego Santiago has shown us that those who have listened to you have changed. They have not been drunk or beat their wives or children. They work hard and help others. That is a good thing. We cannot decide what we should do.”

Fernando looked up at Diego in awe and gratitude.

“Can you assure us that you will not preach of your beliefs in a public gathering again?”

Fernando shook his head. “I can’t say that. I want to tell everyone about the Gospel. I would like to start my own church.”

Some of the men guffed at the last statement. “You may go. We will tell you what we have decided.”

Fernando waited days and weeks and months. He told Pastor Benito of the counsel. They prayed and waited. Nothing happened. Because the men could not find enough bad in what Fernando was teaching, they could not stop him from preaching his beliefs.

For more great stories, go to Cathy Bradley's
A Work in Progress.

"Nando Is Home"

I am going to deviate from my regular Bible character study today. This is an excerpt from a missionary book that I'm in the process of writing. Fernando Angeles grew up speaking Tenek. He now is working on translating the Bible into his native language. Check out Patterings for more missionary stories.



NANDO IS HOME

“Nando is home!”

“Hey, Nando, you are taller than I am now!”

It was so good to be home. Fernando looked around his home. It seemed much smaller than he remembered. Ach, his grandmother, seemed so much thinner and older. Her eyes watered as she gave him a toothless grin and patted the bench next to her for him to sit down. “You were a good boy, yes? Did you learn many things?”

”Yes, Ach. I can read books now.”

“You are a smart boy.”

Pablo wanted to show him the new baby ‘borrego’, or sheep. Mim brought him a glass of water and his sisters smiled happily as they fried the tortillas for supper. Tata’s big frame darkened the doorway. He looked hard at Fernando and placed his big hand on his shoulder. Fernando was happy to be home.

After supper, Tata stood up and stretched his arms. “It is time to have a party!”

“Yea!”

Word spread quickly through the village. Fiddles were polished and tuned. Clothes were washed and mended. Girls combed and braided ribbons in their long hair. Boys jostled each other with teasings and dares. A pig was caught and prepared for the feast. Even the bees and butterflies fluttering about seemed to be getting ready for the festivities.

As the sun set, the fiery reds and oranges in the sky were replaced by the bright reds, oranges, yellows, and greens of the swishing skirts and blouses. Drums, guitars, and fiddles filled the air with music. Tables creaked under piles of mangoes, pineapples, and papayas. The fires popped and sizzled as the fat from the roasting pig dripped into the dancing flames.

“Nando? You have finished high school. That is good. You are very smart now. You can read, yes?” Tio Lucio, Fernando’s uncle staggered up to him, a bottle in his hand. “I have a present for you…a book for you to read.”

Fernando looked at the tattered, coverless collection of pages. “What kind of book is it?”

“It is a good book, a book for a Catholic priest.”

“But you haven’t read it, no?”

“No, I can’t read, but you can. You take it. It is a good book.”

Fernando tucked it in his shirt to look at later. His uncle slapped his shoulder and handed him the bottle. Fernando laughed and took a swig. It was a night to celebrate. He was home with his family.


The next morning, Fernando looked at the tattered book his uncle had given him. “Now the birth of Jesus was on this wise…” Fernando read on and on. He read of Jesus healing the sick, walking in the water, raising the dead. These were stories that he had heard from his childhood from the nuns and his teachers, but it was so much better to read the stories with words. Some words were hard, names that did not sound like anyone who lived in Mexico, but he hungered to learn more…hungered with an empty heart.

“Angel, listen to this: ‘“and some will say “Lord, Lord” and He will say, ‘Depart from me I never knew you.”. Does it mean that God will turn some people away from heaven, people that pray and do miracles? Does it mean that doing good things is not enough? There must be some other way to please God.’

“Nando, you are acting like a crazy man. You are talking like a Protestant. My tata will put a curse on you.”

“But Angel, this is a book about God and Jesus and Heaven. It is good!”

“Nando, come. Leave that book alone. It will only bring you trouble.”

But Fernando couldn’t leave it alone. He put it under his mattress and joined Angel fishing, hunting, working in the sugar cane fields… but again and again the words of the book echoed in his mind.

“Depart from me; I never knew you.”

“Angel, I’m afraid of God. Do you feel that your heart is dirty with sin? I want to know more about Jesus. I want to know how to get to heaven.”

Fernando could not think of anything else. His family just shook their heads and hoped he would forget about this crazy thinking. Angel was the only one who would listen to his ranting about wanting God to let him into heaven.

“Nando, I have another book of God for you. It’s really belonged to our friend, Ramon, but he was afraid to read the Protestant book. Here, take it. If my tata knew I touched it, he would beat me and put a curse on me.” Angel glanced about and handed Nando a small blue book with gold writing on the leather cover and an emblem of a clay pot.

“Gi..Gide…Gideon. Who is Gideon?”

“I don’t know. Maybe that is the name of the man who was giving them to everyone in the village of Tanquian.”

Fernando wanted to be alone. It was difficult to think with all the noise of the chickens, and donkeys and children yelling and people talking in the village. He knew just the place to be alone. It had been a long time since he climbed the chiromoya tree. From his perch in the leafy branches, he could see down the mountain onto the thatched roofs of his village. He pulled the book out of his shirt and opened the thin pages.

It was very much like his tattered Catholic Bible, but as he read the words, it seemed that God was talking right to him. “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

He read on and on. It was different than anything the nuns ever taught him, different from anything he heard at school. The book told him that he was a sinner. He knew that; he felt the heaviness of all the times he lied and cheated and made his mother cry and his father angry. This book did not say he must chant prayers or go to the priest to have his sin taken away. This book said that there was nothing he could do by himself to get to heaven. Only Jesus could save him.

“Jesus, I know You are the Son of God. I have read your book. I want you to take away my sins. I want you to take me to heaven. I cannot be good enough. Only you can save me.”

He felt satisfied; he felt filled; he felt free! He felt like flying from tree like he did as a boy. He must tell everyone what this book says. What would the priest say? What would Tata and Mim and Auk say?