Dear Saints and Aints.

Shalom.

The sound of waves crashing on some distant shore; the cry of a lonely seagull … for a moment I think I am in Goa … My eyes open and I am quickly disabused of the illusion brought about by the sounds from my speaker system … No seashore here, no sand, no seagull only a blank computer screen awaiting the "Master's touch" to be filled with meaningful symbols, words and sentences conveying … Conveying what? I am like a cook with a pantry full of ingredients that could be transformed into culinary delights - if he had a clue as to what shape these culinary delights should take; my mind is full of thoughts, ideas, word pictures and news and no clue as to how to make them into a meaningful whole that informs, delights, amuses and … Till "that" materializes you have to put up with what appears on your screen or paper …

Devoid of life the playground basks in the hot afternoon sun … The kids have left for their homes for the duration of the summer. A short tour of the compound shows the extent of the damage they inflicted on the facilities - simply by being kids … Instead of "leaving footsteps in the sands of time", they left them on bed sheets, walls, and even ceilings. Broken windows, missing water taps and doors hanging askew mark their passing … Starting the first week of May we will see what we can do to make the place habitable again. The task is daunting. The increase in temperatures, the absence of helping hands - even if they are not willing - hampers our "restorative" efforts. If experience is a guide, by the middle of June when the kids return - our energies and funds exhausted - some of the jobs will still be incomplete...

Incomplete will also be the dining hall - unless a miracle happens. The funds we hoped for did not materialize and we do not have the $20,000 US needed for the concrete slab. We went as far as we justifiable could and now have to stop. I refuse to burden the home with another huge debt. First let us dig ourselves out of the one we have.

Three of the Bible College "kids" who graduated are at the home and we suggested they start a work in their own villages. At first I thought we would send them out under our auspices but the church board balked at that.  It would have been "nice" to say that "Frank has four churches" - without adding that three have only one member - the pastor - but we are not equipped to handle that. So we will continue to do that which we do best - looking after kids -making disciples … and let others, so qualified, handle the supervision of workers.

Judging by the questions people are asking me I have the feeling that they believe unless you are into "church planting" you are not in the "ministry". That reminds of a quote: "We are what we eat which proves that there are a lot of nuts in many people's diet." If I understand the last chapter of Matthew aright, Jesus tells us to make disciples of all nations not plant churches. These disciples then will automatically gather and form into a body. This is what I and the staff are doing - making disciples and - doing it very well. (I am not patting myself on the back; I am just brushing off the dandruff …)

But we like fads; we like new-fangled ideas like formerly the "Church Growth Movement" epidemic (sp?) which probably destroyed more good pastors than it helped. So this is nothing new. When we equate the value of any kind of ministry with "church planting" we display our incredible narrow view of the "ministry". Have we never read about the judgment of the "sheep" and the "goats" and on what basis they are judged? Have we never read about the cup of water in His Name? Have we never read James? Leave alone the Old Testament …

People write they want to come and "minister"; that is great! I love to have people here. But what is our concept of ministry? To me ministering is something we are and not just do. The rose bush ministers to me by just being there - by displaying the roses and dispensing the scent. My garden ministers to me in the same way. That's what I consider ministry in this place. By all means come and should there be something to do, and the funds to do it, let's do it. Like the roses, the fruit in your life will minister to us. Believe me there are more people I remember because of their "presence" than their "presents". (Though I will not object to having both …)

Let ministry be the outcome of our lives regardless of how insignificant it might seem to us and we will find ourselves in unexpected places ministering in unexpected ways far beyond our wildest dreams.

"We should divest ourselves of this idea of special people (being) heroes, if you please, because really they do not exist." Scott Crossfield, (Famous Test Pilot now dead.)  I concur! And that applies to ministries - there are no special ministries only different ways and gifts used towards the same end -- of "making disciples of all nations". (NIV)

Changing the subject … As I am part of ERDO through Childcare Plus, it was a delight to have the boss here, Kelvin Honsinger, with his son Jordan. We traveled by car to Hyderabad (500 km - 9 hours) to attend the graduation of one of our "kids" who did very well.

At the Nagpur home we are planning on some 600 boys this year. Should God give me the funds for the necessary buildings (through your kind agency of course …) - I would love to have a 1000 boys … The girls' home will probably again have around 250 girls.

I again expect to send some nine young people to Bible College this year; the number might increase. Plus I will support the three young men for the next couple of years in their work. You ever get tired of being constantly broke?

Priya, Yohan's wife has been doing well. Yohan and Bapu are continuing to do a fine job running the homes. Pray for these two young fellows. They carry a heavy burden.

Financially we are still a bit in a mess but I am not complaining. God has been incredibly good to us via the agency of His faithful saints - our faithful friends.

I am fine! Aches and pains yes, complaints no … Why should I be spared what others have to go through?

Of late we have had a lot of Internet and e-mail problems; e-mails simply do not come through. Please check your computer for viruses as that might prevent e-mails from coming through. I still think the fjuelich@paoc.org e-mail address is the safest bet.

Again our thanks for your gracious help go out to you! You are truly ministering to us in beautiful ways and God will grant you the fruit of that ministry beyond your wildest dreams.

In His great love

Frank, Yohan and Bapu …