"In as much as you have done it unto the least of these - you have done it unto me." - Jesus

Depraved-heart murder, also known as depraved-indifference murder, is an American legal term for an action that demonstrates a "callous disregard for human life" and results in death.

Pain to Beauty

This morning, Japan was hit with the largest earthquake they've ever had in history. The earthquake was 8.9 on the Richter scale, and cause a Tsunami, 7 metres high. I guess it's hard to imagine in Canada an earthquake, or how powerful they can be. The impact was so colossal, that a Tsunami hit Haiti this morning as well. I feel so terrible. I can't imagine what it would be like to go through something like that. I'm praying that they'll get as much help as they can today, but even with the most efficient help, it doesn't take away from the emotional, physical, and spiritual disaster that people must be experiencing there. I have Christian brothers and sisters who are dieing and suffering right now, and I get to sit in my comfy apartment, on my comfy couch, in a comfy, heated room. I could be one of those people in Japan right now. I don't know if I'm making any sense, but I am just overwhelmed with grief for these people. Please pray for Japan.

All of this pain can be turned around to God's glory, and I've been looking at a couple of God's promises through Scripture today. I pray that through this disaster, many will turn to God for their comfort, and that God's kingdom will grow because of this disaster. These verses give me some peace about this whole situation & I hope that they may be able to give some people in Japan a little bit of peace over the next few days, months, and years that they'll be recovering through. God can turn this pain to beauty.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Psalm 34:18 
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
   and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Joy to the World!!

So our team was pretty PUMPED when we heard that we will no longer be split up into two groups anymore, but we will all be going to the Oku people group TOGETHER!!! (:(:(: When I found out that we were initially going to be split up, I had a lot of uneasiness at first about the idea, but I left it in God's hands and tada! I just thought I would let you guys know a little bit about the Oku group we will be working with :)

Oku Language Group
Population: Estimated 67,000-80,000
Religion: 94% claimed Christian (6% evangelical), and 6% Ethnic Religions
Villages occupied: Over 33
Income: Agriculture
Agriculture: -corn, Irish potatoes, beans, plantains, and cash crops like coffee and cola nuts
                  -animals like pigs, goats, and fowl

Fun Facts:
- Oku alphavet was developed in 1987
- communities are already responding well to literacy initiatives
- there are two men translating the Bible into Oku, Christopher Fornkwa and Mbuh Samuel
-  it is expected that by 2009, four hundred and fifty children will be registered for literacy certificate examination