Hello my Family and Friends! It's been a while since I updated all of you! Hopefully some of you had a chance to watch my Mongolia video update on you tube. I have a NEW video of me eating "balut", a nasty Filipino "delicacy". Just go to www.youtube.com and type in "Eric Demeter" in the search and you'll find it.
Since my last update from Mongolia, I co-lead our team to the island of Mindanao, Philippines and we spent three weeks preaching and sharing several dramas in poor and indigenous villages. It was very encouraging because some of these villages never heard the Gospel from white people. When we first arrived, some of the children even ran away crying because they see so few foreigners! The Philippines is an amazing country with over 7,000 islands and super hospitable people and a real laid back culture. It's hot there, in the 90's with around 90% humidity which can make it quite difficult to sleep at night. Our last evening we led a youth service and did shared their testimonies and we performed dramas. There was an alter call and we prayed with several of them to receive Christ!
Now…DTS is OVAH!
We graduated our Around the World in 80 Days DTS on the Mount of Olives on June 26th. It was quite an exciting and emotional event with all 37 people receiving their diplomas. There were about 70 people total including parents, staff, and students. Several students committed to doing long term missions but all of them are excited to go back home and share their passion for missions. After graduation in Jerusalem, the staff debriefed for five days in Tel Aviv which gave us a chance to process the last six months and figure out what we can improve for next year. Now I'm in Bern, Switzerland relaxing for a couple weeks with a few friends.
My Heart and What's Next?
It's hard to put into words so many images and experiences from around the world and the people I've met over the last three years. There is SO MUCH need around the world just waiting for passionate Christians to come and make a difference: kids need hugs, parents need support, communities need schools and churches, and people need to hear about Jesus. Honestly, sometimes I feel almost desensitized to the injustice that used to make me cry. I know for sure God has called me to the mission field in some way, even to throw one of those "starfish" back in the water, as the popular story goes. In what country? Not sure yet, but that's what I will have to find out in the Fall when I'm home. I'm scheduled to teach a computer applications course at Bethel College, and between that and a wedding in Mississippi, I will be doing a lot of listening to God to see what's next.
Prayer Requests
Last week in Bern I rented a city bike and it was stolen while my friends and I we were at a CHURCH of all places! The city is charging $1,000 for the cost of the! Please pray it is found soon or I will have to find the money to pay this huge bill. I know God will provide in some way and it's a test of faith! Thanks…
On faith, tomorrow morning I'm going on another unrelated bike adventure but only this time biking across Switzerland with my friend Jeremy. Please pray for safe travels as we will bike around 350 miles. We hope to spread the Kingdom of God on the way to fellow bikers and other travelers. Please pray for divine appointments!
Let me know how I can pray for you! See you in August for coffee!
With love,
Eric
|
