CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS WITH MERCY CHILDREN

By the grace of God, we just celebrated our Christmas and new year with our orphans from Atambua, Bipolo and Soe (west Timor). It was a great time to see our children praising the Lord together. As we worshiping Jesus, I could not hold my tears:” Thank you Father for caring and providing the need of our children”. I can’t describe the joy of my heart after seeing so many mercy children are growing. Seven years ago we brought them to the HOME, they were small boys and girls and now they are teenagers, beautiful and smart. My wife and I are very proud of them.

Every time we make a visit to the HOME (House of Mercy), God always remind us about the small beginning that we took. It was right after East Timor Independent that we started our orphan rescue. Nine years ago I was in Dili right after independent’s riots. It was very divine moment when I woke up and saw three children in front of my hotel. They were desperate orphans needed help. The eldest girl was nine years old, she took care of her two sisters, collecting cans from the rubbish to buy food. I prayed for them and God clearly spoke to me to take care of those orphans. That was the birth of Mercy Indonesia Orphanage. Now every time I see those East Timorese orphans, God always brought my memory back.

Bendita was small girl separated from her parents. She lived with grandma in Labor Refugee Camp-Atambua. She was eight years old, not enough food and no school. My heart was moved when I saw her empty eyes. Someone told me that she was sold by her parents. Bendita was not alone, there were still many others in that camp who have the same story. But now she is no longer suffering malnutrition because of Mercy Indonesia. She live in the HOME, she has a better place to stay, a better food to eat and great love atmosphere. That is why I was in tears when I saw her worshiping Jesus and praising the Lord.

The Bible tells us that pure religion is about action and not only belief system. In fact it was said clearly that  faith without action is useless.  My God told me that I should take care of orphans and the needy children.  It was difficult at the beginning but when God give you vision, He will give you provision.  Mercy Indonesia was started almost eight years ago. And now God entrusted us with 12 orphanages and 4 widows training Center in Banda Aceh.  I want to thank God for our partners who support our works. Your giving has changed many children lives.

testimony

I am Apraun Doseris (male, 49 years old). I am a farmer from Naikasa Atambua. I am a Catholic. My Favorite programs from RDM. I was the most pessimist person, but when I listened to RDM Atambua I felt something different. I have never heard such programs like that in my life before. After listening to programs, I felt very peace and always enthusiasm. I was not able to face my daily life but now I feel so strong. Because when I listened to RDM, there are motivating word so I get motivation. Until now I am a steadfast listener of RDM Atambua.

My Name is Imanuel Frates (male, 39 years old). I am from Naikasa Maulun Atambua. I am a farmer. My favorite is listening to RDM programs. One day, I didn’t have anything to eat for my whole family. Fortunately, at night I turned on the radio, it was RDM FM. There was sermon of Pst. Paulus Wiratno (Making Life Better). Pst. Paulus was talking about faith. As soon as the sermon finished, I was praying the same way with Pst. Paulus had taught at the sermon and since that time I learned how to live by faith. In the morning my wife said that we are not going to eat today like yesterday. But I told her we will eat today. Because I believe that God bless us. Then, I went to seek job and I had faith that God will help me. Suddenly there was a woman coming and said greeting to me. She gave me some money and told me to use the money to buy some rice. I didn’t know where she came from, but I knew that was God’s way to help me and my family. I got job, and until now I like listening to RDM FM, especially Making Life Better program. Amen

My name is Hendra (male, 28 yaers old). I am a teacher from Ponu Atambua. I am a listener of RDM Atambua. I like listening to almost every program especially Making Life Better program. RDM Atambua really bless me in doing my job as a teacher and in making my life better. Thank you.

My name is Ian Bureni (male, 30 years old). I am a pastor from Alor Selatan. My favorite programs are Living Water. I like listening to Dian Mandiri Radio because I felt many changes in my life. Especially for the Bible lesson like Living Water. I really like it because the programs can gain my knowledge and comprehension about Bible and ministry. Even my congregation can too. We are all in Southern Alor very hunger of Christian Broadcasting from RDM. Then, RDM Atambua as an answer of our need. Everyday I turn on radio at pastoral house using loud speaker (TOA) so that my congregation can listen to the RDM Atambua and being entertained with broadcasting that Making Life Better.

The Power of Laughter

By PAUL KRASSNER

I spent this past weekend at the 11th annual Earthdance celebration, a global festival for peace held in northern California, just north of Laytonville on 101, uniting with over 250 locations in 50 countries, providing a wide variety of live music, workshops, speakers, inspiration and a worldwide sense of community.

On Saturday, I was among a large group of men and women participating in the International Elders Forum. Each one had six minutes to share their wisdom with an overflowing crowd in the huge Electronica Dome. A native American, David of the Blackfoot tribe, would play the flute after five minutes of talk as a signal that there was one minute left.

When my turn came, I began, “Whatever wisdom I have to share is in the form of comic relief, but just remember, if you don’t laugh you’re only helping the terrorists.” After seven minutes, I still didn’t hear any notes from the flute, so I decided to pass the microphone on to the next person.

On Sunday afternoon, David told me that he had been laughing so hard he simply couldn’t play his flute. He tried again and again, yet the best he could do was spit into it. Of course, this was gratifying feedback to a stand-up satirist, but over lunch our conversation became deadly serious.

Last November, he wanted to sell a piece of equipment, and a man who saw the ad invited him to his apartment. There, David was told to help himself to a soda from the refrigerator, which he did. When he turned around, four guys–biker/skinhead/Aryan-Nation types–burst through the door and attacked him with 2-1/2 inch metal pipes, first striking him on the forehead, then beating and kicking him while calling him a “dog” and a “prairie nigger.”

He tried unsuccessfully to defend himself and finally dove out the first-floor window, landing in a carport. He pounded on somebody’s door–yelling “9-1-1!”–and collapsed in a puddle of blood. He regained consciousness in a hospital where he got 40 stitches for a cracked cranium and a head brace for his broken neck. His shoulder and hand were also injured. He was rescued by a friend and stayed at her home to heal. He could no longer do physical work, but she has since helped him open a small business.

Two weeks after the incident (the night before Thanksgiving), police arrested David for missing a court date on a traffic violation. He had missed the date because he was unconscious in the hospital. At the Sonoma County jail, the guards kicked him, removed his head brace, refused him all medical attation, placed him in solitary confinement, forced him to sleep on a concrete bed without a mattress, and did not allow him to shower for six days. They eventually brought him to court, chained to a wheelchair.

After he was released on probation, the district attorney demanded that David testify against the skinheads. Knowing the nature of the Aryan gang, he immediately expressed concerns about his safety, regardless of what his testimony might be. A couple of months later, the DA agreed to place him in a witness protection program. It turned out to be at the Pink Flamingo, a hotel in Santa Rosa, the same city in which he was attacked.

On the third day, he walked out of the hotel and saw a bunch of bikers and skinheads outside. Not knowing they were there for a tattoo convention, he panicked and smoked a cigarette in his no-smoking room. For that offense, he was taken out of the witness protection program and left homeless, afraid to put anyone he knew in danger. The DA made it very clear to him that “We have ways to make you testify.”

The day before the trial, David was arrested again, on the way to the Indian Health Center, for driving with a suspended license. Again, he was denied medical attention, his head brace was removed, and he was thrown into solitary confinement. A week later, he was again brought into court chained to a wheelchair–unbathed and looking like a wild Indian–and threatened with three years in jail. The DA was in the courtroom at his sentencing, pow-wowing directly with the judge.

Immediately before the sentencing, David’s friend stood up and asked to speak out on his behalf, since his court-appointed lawyer had done so little to defend him. With the bailiff bearing down on her and contempt of court looming, the judge surprisingly agreed to let her talk. She stated how jailing David was cruel and unusual punishment, because he would have to be placed in solitary confinement throughout his incarceration in order to avoid any contact with Aryan gang members, due to his status as a hate-crime victim.

Moreover, he was in violation of driving with a suspended license only because he couldn’t afford to pay the fines; his injuries prevented him from being able to work in his chosen field to earn the money to pay those fines. Was driving with a suspended license actually worth three years of anyone’s life, or was there another agenda lurking in the courtroom that needed such leverage to pressure David into testifying against the assailants? Was it justice to, in effect, condemn him for the heinous crime of poverty?

The judge weighed the case and the next day released David on probation, warning him not to drive. Almost a year later, the DA is still hounding David by phone and subpoena, putting his life in danger by coercing him to testify. And where was Victims Assistance during all this horror? A Victim Witness Advocate told David, “I can’t help you. You’re on probation. Our hands are tied.”

Since David was a victim, he does not have the right to an attorney. He was due to appear in court on September 18, but the case has been postponed for a month. He plans to say in court that he will not testify because, “If concern for my safety is not addressed, I could die.” He expects to be charged
with contempt and, once again, to be put in solitary confinement.

Whatever you can do to help extricate him from this profane injustice would be most appreciated. His tormenters, DA Anne Masterson and her investigator Denise Urton, can be reached at (707) 565-2311. You can contact David at iamhollowreed@yahoo.com. I’m grateful to be in a position to communicate the details of this nightmare, none of which I would have known had David been able to play his flute after five minutes of laughing.

Paul Krassner is the editor of The Realist. His books include: Pot Stories for the Soul, One Hand Jerking and Murder at the Conspiracy Convention. He can be reached through his website:http://paulkrassner.com/

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I am a house wife and my husband is a trishaw driver, we have just enough to get by. My husband and I did not know the Lord Jesus yet, but after I listened to the broadcast of Radio Surya Sejahtera my heart began to be aroused. As soon as I heard the programs more and more my heart was being moved to wanting to know Jesus. Especially, during the program Love Bridge and Miracles.

On the 13^th February 2008, a Wednesday at 8.30pm, I encouraged myself to go and meet the prayer team for Loce Bridge and Miracles. At the studio of Radio SS the people who were on duty were Pastor Yahya Suwarno, Mrs Harmo and Ms Indah, so we met and I straight away explained my desire to know Jesus and activate my spiritual life. At that time I was prayed for. I was given some advice by Ms Indah that on Sunday I should come to church. Before I went to church I got permission from my husband, in fact, he gave me permission, but has a question for me, he asked, “Aren’t you ashamed or embaressed and feel inferior to go to church there with rich people and Chinese people, who all use cars for transportation, whereas you, a poor person whose husband is a trishaw driver?” But I said, “I am not ashamed how I travel, what’s important for me is that I desire to know Lord Jesus”.

The first week I went to church with a heart full of questions. Like that I entered the chuch, and I felt something I had never felt before. The second week I went to church again, I felt in my heart joy and peace…like I felt happiness. Week after week I went to church, and to the programs of the church like Women’s meetings, Discipleship classes, and prayer meetings. I was active in all of the churches activities, and felt that my spirit was turned on and my faith was restored but the power of Jesus, I feel that there is joy in my life. At the moment I am 58 years old, and with what’s left of my life I only want to get to know Jesus more. Every day I read the bible, although only one verse because my eyesight is already fading. But I always pray that the Lord would bless my eyes with light so that I can read the bible more and more. I think that is enough of my testimony, but my last words would be don’t forget to pray for the servants God at the church Isa Almasih so that I can get closer to God and be use by Him, become a blessing.

After I received Jesus as my Saviour, I began to share with my friends one by one about what I felt and how my life had been changed. I encouraged them to listen to Radio Surya Sejahtera. Eventually I also invited them to come to church with me. Since then, 12 of my Muslim friends have come to church with me and become Christians. They are now attending church and baptism classes.

From

Ibu Mariyani

]]> http://www.pauluswiratno.com/EN/?feed=rss2&p=4 http://www.pauluswiratno.com/EN/?p=3 http://www.pauluswiratno.com/EN/?p=3#comments Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:48:14 +0000 admin http://www.pauluswiratno.com/EN/?p=3 Humor helps keep life in perspective.

One Sunday in sacrament meeting, my four-year-old son was making a major disturbance. After several minutes of trying to calm him down, I picked him up, tucked him under my arm like a sack of potatoes, and headed for the nearest exit. Shocked by the sudden departure, my son looked up at me and said, “Hey, Dad, where we goin’?” His innocent comment caught me by surprise and defused my anger instantly. He had no idea he was in trouble. He thought we were going out to play.

I have learned that the ability to laugh at everyday family difficulties helps keep life in perspective. If we will learn to laugh and play more with our families, not only will we feel better but so will they. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine,” says Proverbs 17:22. Studies show that humor and laughter help people live longer, happier lives; be more creative and productive; and have more energy with less physical discomfort.1 Humor reduces stress, fear, intimidation, embarrassment, and anger.2 Laughter also has extraordinary healing power.3 When a person laughs, blood pressure decreases, heart rate and respiration increase, the body releases endorphins, and depression declines.4 After the laughter subsides and you relax again, that good feeling has a lasting effect, even until the next day.5 Not many medicines will do that.

Becoming More Childlike

On average, children laugh 400 times a day, while adults laugh about 15 times.6 Why the gap? Did we lose something? Have we forgotten the way we used to be? Why is it that children seem to cope with life’s oddities better than adults? Perhaps it’s because they do not fully understand. But I think it’s simpler than that—they laugh. As we grow older, we get far too serious. Watch children play. They don’t need expensive toys to entertain them. Everything is fun. They are spontaneous. Only when we become adults do we start to get boring. Do we need to cultivate a different attitude? Humor is in the way we see things, the way we think. It’s an attitude, not an event. Perhaps the key lies in becoming more childlike.

Years ago I saw through my kitchen window a grown man playing with his children in a sandpile at a small neighborhood park. He was right down there on his hands and knees in the sand, building an imaginary town with streets, cars, trucks, trees, houses, stores, and schools. I could see the father pushing a wooden block bulldozer through the sand, pretending to build a road. He even made the sound effects of the bulldozer engine. I remember thinking, “Now there is an example of a great dad who knows how to play with his children.” He was in plain view to every passing car. Was he embarrassed or ruffled? Not at all. He seemed oblivious to the people passing by. Does this mean we should play in the sandpile with our children? Absolutely. Laugh more, play more, swing out of familiar places, be more the way you were when you were a child.

Laughter and play are closely related. Play puts everyone on an equal footing, first by the nature of play itself, and second because you can change the rules to fit the situation. Play brings families together. It is a subtle tool for interaction and talk. It builds confidence because you can modify the rules to bring about success or any outcome you desire. Our inhibitions are minimized, and our real personalities emerge. Through play we develop relationships naturally. We tend to like people we have fun with. Play allows us to use our minds and break out of familiar molds. It allows us to explore more.

Creating Fun Family Relationships

Someone once said, “A little craziness once in a while perpetuates sanity.” When I return home from work each day, I consciously think about what I’m going to say the moment I enter the house. I actually practice my entrance a few seconds before I open the door. I usually shout some outlandish remark to get my family’s attention. A typical loud verbal entrance for me is “Hello, all you lucky people. I’m home.” Such greetings usually raise an eyebrow with anyone visiting our home, but for the rest of the family, they know that it’s just Dad. This may sound somewhat strange, but I find that it helps set the tone for a fun home and instantly puts everyone at ease. I’m sure that it occasionally embarrasses my children, but the good outweighs the bad. It also helps me to make the change mentally from work to home. I do not want to come home tired, ornery, or dull. Most of us try to be our best selves at work. Doesn’t our family deserve at least the same effort?

I think laughter is more important than a family vacation because it’s always available and it’s free. Vacations are not. Big family events and vacations are wonderful, but these will not replace the daily humor and laughter in a home. Laughter is like getting away without going away. It gives you a break.

Laughter improves communication and builds relationships because everyone laughs in the same language. Your children will remember your humor much longer than they will the things you buy them. Children are more receptive when they are having fun. Laughter helps us remember. And we remember what we feel.

One must guard against building a showcase home rather than a fun home. Early in our marriage, my wife said, “Let’s make our home more fun for our kids than any other place they could be.” Laughter and play are the best ingredients for that. We cannot duplicate Disneyland or any other amusement park, nor should we. A family firmly rooted in love and wholesome recreation is far better than that. In other words, home should be a fun place to hang out with family and friends.

Laughter makes us approachable. It removes barriers. If you want to talk to your children about a serious matter, try a lighter approach. Parent and child talks could often be more effective if play, laughter, and refreshments were added.

Humor in the Home

Humor, used with sensitivity, can unite spouses. While I was serving as bishop of a singles ward, an engaged couple asked me if they could have their wedding reception at our house. I quickly replied, “Of course you can.” I forgot to tell my wife. When she received their wedding invitation a few days before the big event, she happened to notice the address of the reception. When I got home from work she asked me if I had forgotten to tell her something important. After considerable thought I said, “No, not that I can think of.”

“Are we having a wedding reception at our house?” she asked. From the expression on her face, I could tell I was in trouble.

“Oooooh, you mean that reception,” I replied. At such times you hope your wife has a good sense of humor. I quickly helped her prepare the home for the wedding reception—under her able direction, of course.

Humor disarms most family tension. Once when I was talking to my children about some family issues, one of our teenagers crouched over, wrinkled up his nose, and with a tone of disapproval, blurted out some outlandish comment about what I had said. I was taken aback by his behavior. But suddenly I crouched over, wrinkled up my nose, and with a tone of disapproval, blurted out some outlandish reply, perfectly mimicking his behavior. The entire family burst into laughter, and the tension vanished.

Humor can be an effective tool when dealing with delicate matters. It allows you to walk among the sacred cows without disturbing the herd. For example, one year when Brigham Young University President Rex E. Lee was reviewing the BYU dress and grooming standards with the university community, he began by announcing that he wanted to show some examples of inappropriate dress and grooming standards on the huge screen in the Marriott Center. He caught us completely off guard. The slides were of him dressed in a variety of humorous, inappropriate outfits. He took a sensitive subject and presented it in a humorous way. We got the message. We never forgot it. You can do the same with your family.

When using humor, however, we must be careful not to offend, intimidate, or embarrass. We should laugh together rather than at someone. No one likes to be teased. No one likes to be the brunt of a joke. By learning to laugh at ourselves, we usually become safe from offending. Marjorie Hinckley appreciated this quality in her husband, President Gordon B. Hinckley. “He didn’t take himself very seriously and was often the first to poke fun at his own quirks.”7 We should also be careful not to use humor in settings where it could be disruptive to the Spirit or where it would make light of sacred things.

Many family difficulties, however, given enough time, can be a source of humor. The trick is finding humor in the event now. Does this mean we go around laughing all the time? Of course not. But we certainly could all laugh more than we do.

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