Tim and Judy Heath

Southeast Asia

Report from Nepal 4/2/13

How Much is a Soul Worth? By Judy Heath

Judy Heath, TCM missionary to Malaysia, writes about a journey she and her husband Tim took from Malaysia to Nepal to find a former security guard at their apartment complex whom they had befriended. The journey required blind faith, with no guarantees of success or safety. But their love for God drove them to seek out this man so they could make sure he had a chance to clearly hear the gospel. This account evokes the question, how much does a soul matter and, as ambassadors for Christ, what are we willing to sacrifice to communicate to others the life-saving message, Jesus saves.

Tim and I developed a relationship with a couple of security guards at our apartment complex last year. Most guards are hired from Nepal. They work here two years and send money back to their families. One guard in particular, Surya, wanted to learn how to pronounce English better so after work we would invite him to our apartment. Tim used the gospel of John to help him read and pronounce English. Then he would explain what the words meant. Surya seemed interested but as a Hindu he didn't want to pursue it any further...just practice his English.

Surya became a dear friend. He met Mom Eunice during her visit and always gave her hugs. He also helped Tim get down the elevator and to the car during his attack of vertigo. We had him up several times to use our Skype so he could talk to his son in Kathmandu, at the university. And one time his family arranged to have his wife get to someone's home that had a computer so they could talk on Skype together. He had not seen her for four years because he didn't go home after the normal two years. He was overjoyed to see her and talk to her. It was such a joy to bless him with our Skype!

The other guard, Aniel, came up to our apartment when I invited all three guards for dinner. Tim shared the gospel and Aniel said that he was Hindu but that his brother was a Christian. His brother is Bishnu, the director (and father) of an orphanage. That same evening, while Aniel was there, we called Bishnu on Skype in Nepal. After talking to him we really sensed he was a believer. He was thrilled that his brother had contact with Christians in Malaysia. He also invited us to visit him in Nepal. He and Tim began emailing back and forth about the orphanage and their needs. He asked if we could help with a donation for batteries, but Tim didn't feel like giving money until he actually saw the orphanage. At that time, we had no plans of visiting.

After visiting Kuantan, Malaysia for a few days we returned home to discover Surya was gone. All our guard friends were gone because our apartment complex had changed administrators, which we weren't aware of, and they had hired a different guard company with different guards. We discovered later that Surya had left before that happened because he got news that his younger son had been killed in a motorcycle accident and several of the residents here had given him money to get back home. He was well liked by everyone. We were so sad and concerned and tried to find him and contact him somehow. Tim called the one phone number we had but it wouldn't go through.

Finally, Tim found another number that had been entered into our Skype account and called it and it was Sury! We started praying about whether to go to Nepal to visit the orphanage and also locate Surya and visit him...to comfort him and share the gospel again. The more we prayed, the more we felt God tugging at our hearts.

After Tim received approval from Ben Anderson to visit Nepal he contacted Bishnu about visiting the orphanage. Bishnu said that there were several pastors who would enjoy a little conference and Tim could share with them. Bishnu is also a pastor whose church meets at the orphanage. So Tim said he would like to teach about the Rapture and about dispensations. Bishnu said it sounded great and that we would also need to pay for the pastors to eat for the two days, which we were happy to do since they are so poor. So, we planned our trip to Nepal and let Surya know and he was elated!! Surya and Bishnu did not know each other and lived several hours apart but we gave them each the others’ phone number and they made arrangements for us during our stay.

When we landed in Kathmandu, Bishnu, Surya, and Surya's older son, Jay (who is attending college in Kathmandu), all met us at the airport. Surya waved to us through the crowd and yelled, "Hi Boss. Hi Boss!" It took about 4 hours through a winding mountain pass to the orphanage in Bharatpur. It was dark when we arrived but all the children were still up and so happy to meet us.

Aniel was also there at his brother's because he had gone back to Nepal when the guards were let go. Aniel and Surya did not know each other in Nepal. Tim had shared with both Surya and Aniel that night the reason we came and that we didn't want to lose contact with them. He said he wanted them to know God loves them and he explained the gospel again.

We spent the next day with the 32 orphans, along with Surya, so we could get to know the children and try to learn some of their names. The following day began the two-day conference with 45 pastors & wives and visitors and some of the older orphans attending. All the food was prepared on an open fire with a clay oven/stove, and a propane burner.

Surya and Aniel sat through all the meetings without knowing anything about the Bible. But Tim had started his teaching time by going over salvation first, since he didn’t know who were truly Christians and also for Surya and Aniel's benefit. Tim's translator was the director of Voice of the Martyrs of Nepal. He reviewed salvation several times over the two days. During breaks, different pastors were also talking to Surya knowing he was not a believer. At the end of the conference and after all the pastors had gone, we noticed a difference in Surya's countenance. Tim told Surya that he wasn't going to push or pressure him about making a decision. He wanted to let all the information sink in and allow the Holy Spirit to work in his heart.

Three days later we left by bus for Surya's home after visiting some of the local pastors. The grace message was well received and the pastors had a lot of questions. One in particular, who is a teacher at a small Bible school, seemed to really understand what Tim was teaching and wants to learn more.

Surya had contacted a local pastor near his village to come meet us when we arrived. When the young pastor came we visited awhile and then Surya said to him, "I accepted Jesus." We all looked at him in amazement! So he asked, "Do you believe me?" The pastor said, "Yes, I believe you." But Surya seemed to think the pastor doubted him. I asked, "Surya, when did you make your decision?" He said, "During the meetings while Tim was teaching." We were overjoyed! He confessed his decision without us prompting or pushing him. He did say it was going to be difficult because his whole family and village are Hindu.

The pastor asked Tim to speak in his church on Saturday. They meet on Saturdays instead of Sundays because school is in session Sunday-Friday. Surya said he wanted to go to church with us. Before we left Saturday morning, he came into the room we were staying at his very humble home, and held a straight-edge razor in his hand. He wanted to denounce his Hinduism in front of us. He took his one long lock of hair and cut it off. We all had tears in our eyes....it was a huge step for him. He was proving to us and God that he was turning to the one true God from idols and from his past! He went to church with us and sang and clapped. Whenever we ate a meal, he always made sure we stopped and had Tim pray to thank God for the food and said that he wanted to try to pray before we left Nepal...and he did! We witnessed his heart for God and a desire to know more about Him!

The day before we left, Surya’s wife Gita and several of the ladies in the village had dressed me up in one of Gita's sari's so they could take pictures of me. Most of the village came to see what was going on. After all the pictures, Tim said he would like Surya to translate for him so he could tell the village why we came there and proceeded to share the gospel. What an opportunity!

Afterward, some of the people told Surya that this Jesus seemed to be a good man and our God must be good because He brought us all the way there to meet all of them! Lots of seeds were planted. We were also able to share the gospel with Surya's son, Jay, and his roommates when we returned to Kathmandu to fly back home.

Gita doesn't speak English although she understands some. We are praying for Surya and Gita as he desires to share with her what his decision has meant to him. He is well liked in his village and could have a huge impact. Please pray for him. One thing he said that meant a lot to him was when Tim said, at the conference, that when we become believers in Christ we are all one in the Body of Christ and there is neither Jew nor Gentile. Americans and Nepali are one in the Body of Christ. That made a big impression on Surya and he began calling Tim "brother" instead of "boss" like he used to.

Surya escorted us back to Kathmandu on an overnight bus ride where we visited with his son for a couple days. He stood in the airport until he couldn't see us any longer; and then he began the long bus ride back home to his village.

Neither Surya nor the pastor near his village own a computer, but Tim will be in contact with them by mail and phone. The trip was hard physically but so rewarding!

Email Update 12/15/12

December 15, 2012

Dear Christ-follower,

We are overly blessed with the “sounds” of Christmas! Regardless of a person’s views on the commercialism of Christmas, we have missed the freedom to share about Jesus Christ openly. Being in Leavenworth, WA, where they have “Christmas Lighting” each weekend of December, we were able to be among about 30,000 people, who were there to see the lights. A prayer was given and carols sung and I had the joy to shout into the crowd around me, “Jesus Christ is King!”

With some disappointments with recent national elections, we still worship the One and Only Hope and Savior of mankind! We have the joy of telling those we meet, “Merry Christmas” or “Have a wonderful Christ-filled Christmas!” And so, as we celebrate our Savior’s birth and enjoy our family, we trust that your Christmas will be supernaturally blessed by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Singing together of His Love, Tim & Judy

Email Update: Holiday Blessings

November 24, 2012

Dear Family Members of His Body,

The Apostle Paul can often be depicted as a strong, unfeeling person, who just talks about doctrine. But his epistles often open or close with endearing statements: “I long to see you”; “I thank my God always concerning you…”; “That you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.”; “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you…”. Paul really cared for people and saw them as vital to the spread of the Gospel. So it is with you. You are loved and appreciated for your part in our ministry in SEA.

So, a little update: Our email was down for a time and I did not tell you how it went in Kuantan in our last visit there, before coming to the states for our 2 months here.

The pastor in this little church asked me to speak that Sunday on Evangelism, which I did. Then we had a break and he allowed me to share again, which I was happy to do. There are a number of churches in Kuantan who feel that “works” need to be done to get saved or to stay saved. As I shared the Word with these people, it is very freeing to simply say, “What does it say?” God’s Word speaks for itself and as we read it, the Holy Spirit will teach us. Our time with this dear couple was an opening into Kuantan of encouragement and clarification from the Word. Thanks for praying for these people and this city.

Judy baked and prepared an “American Thanksgiving Dinner” for our church in KL. I helped some but she was the energy behind it all. We had about 30 out for dinner and a time of singing and sharing around the Word. People were encouraged and the church is reaching out to others. That was last Sunday evening, and the next morning we drove to the LRT (monorail), then to KL Central (where one of our hand bags was stolen, when Judy was looking for a bank and I was distracted by a man asking for directions). From KL, we took a bus to the airport and then enjoyed the return to the states and seeing some of our family.

We are stateside until Jan. 17th and hope to see some of you in the California and Washington regions. We don’t have a cell number yet but when we get it, I will send it out and if you would like to contact us, we would be blessed.

May your holidays be filled with the reality of God’s presence and the potential of His soon return. Our hope is in Him and that hope gives us something real to share with those around us who are feeling hopeless and uncertain of the future. Share His love with confidence in Him. As always, we so appreciate your prayers and gifts to our ministry.

In His Grace,

Tim & Judy

Email Update 8/14/2012

Missionary Call & Ministry

From the time I was 18 years old, I had an interest in missions, mostly because I was on a mission field with my parents, Bill & Eunice Heath.  Through the years, leading up to the present, I was involved in missions at Grace Bible College, leading several teams of students to Europe and Mexico.  In each church I pastored, Judy and I led our youth on a number of mission trips and when going myself, doing seminars in the different countries.

Earlier this year I was pondering the fact that I would turn 60 years old in June and would like to be more free in ministering to missionaries, especially when they asked us to come and encourage them.  I thought that maybe I could pastor part time, with someone else preaching part time, thus allowing me to travel more.  I never dreamed that in order to do that I would resign from my present ministry and go into missions full time. 

But how did this big change occur?  It really culminated at the Things to Come Mission board meeting – my first in quite a few years.  The Director of TCM, Ben Anderson, was simply giving the board his report of the recent trip to SE Asia and the opportunities that were opening up in these countries.  I was aware of the new fields being opened in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, adding to the two countries that TCM has been working in for many years (Philippines and Indonesia). 

As Ben read/talked through his report, he focused on 5 or so key areas of future work and expansion in SE Asia.  Each of these points seemed to describe what God had not only been doing in my life for many years but what He was planning for us to do in the future.

#1 – TCM will open the first foreign office of the mission in Southeast Asia(That sounded interesting to me) having a permanent missionary resident there.

#2 – TCM needs an older person (I fit that need), who has a good grasp of the Word of God and Grace Theology.

#3 – To do this work a person would not need to learn a language!

#4 – Bible institutes in the Philippines and Indonesia would like an American missionary to come periodically to teach 2 to 3 week courses.  This would be key to enhance TCM’s relationship with these countries.

#5 – TCM would like to develop a greater “Missionary Care” emphasis, for TCM’s missionaries are the greatest asset that TCM has.

#6 – A permanent presence in this area would allow better contact with every work in every country in SE Asia, thus reaching the target of TCM, to have a missionary team in every country of SE Asia.

As each of these points was brought up, I felt the Lord telling me, “You can do this for MY glory!”  As Judy and I prayed about the need, our hearts were moved because, through us, God could meet that need.  I hope to be used of the Lord, as well as being an encouragement to TCM and to Ben, the director, in every way possible.  We feel this new chapter in our life is totally from the Lord.  We are excited to begin the process of turning our present ministry in Leavenworth over to the new pastor and traveling around to the many churches with the privilege of sharing this new ministry.

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©2012 Things to Come Mission, Inc.