"A farmer went out to sow his seed."
(Matt. 13:3)

Dear Friend & Partner,

I have just returned from my annual "farmer's trip" to Sudan and Ethiopia.  It is one of my favorite mission trips.  While I am more of a spiritual farmer than a physical farmer, the parallels are unmistakable in the Bible.  That's why Jesus taught some of His most practical parables around farming.  He likened this oldest of all vocations to how His Heavenly Kingdom of God comes here on earth.  "The Kingdom of Heaven," Jesus said, "is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.  But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat." (Matt. 13:24-25)  

Adam was the world's first human farmer.  And unlike us, he is the only farmer who experienced gardening in Eden -- a perfect environment with no aphids, germs, bacteria, blights, weeds or crab grass!  His first garden knew nothing but balance, bounty and beauty!  But because of sin and his expulsion from the Garden, all of the rest of us have had to farm "East of Eden" -- weeds and all!  And in addition to all of the natural blights, we face the "enemy" who hates the Kingdom of God!  So he craftily and constantly "…sows weeds among the wheat."  That's why all farming and gardening since Eden has been by the"sweat of our brow." (Gen. 3:19)

One of the greatest farmers I ever met was the late Aart VanWingerden.  He was the founder of Double Harvest, a practical agricultural ministry that sought to help people "double their physical harvest" while experiencing a "spiritual harvest" in the process.  After the Lord called him and his wife, Cora, home, their 16 children took up their mission mantle and mandate to continue to expand the philosophy of Double Harvest.  It has been my joy and privilege to be in partnership with them for over 3 decades in Developing Countries like Haiti and the Bahamas in the Caribbean, as well as Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Mali, Ghana and Zimbabwe in Africa.  

Another partner in this practical and compassionate agricultural ministry is Dick Chapin, known as the "father of drip irrigation" in the world -- who is a great Christian entrepreneur.  Through his ministry, Chapin Living Waters, his various drip irrigation kits are made available to people for their backyard kitchen gardens.  These kits have now gone into more than 150 countries of the world!  It has been my joy to network and install them in virtually every country of the world I travel and minister in.  Mr. Chapin is now 93 and still going strong for the Lord!

Across the years and decades, I have learned so much from mission entrepreneurs like these men.  They are dedicated, visionaries, bold, creative, generous, patient, persistent and tenacious!  They just will NOT give up!  Aart used to say: "JL, we do not have the option of failure -- because when we fail, God fails in people's eyes!  So we MUST succeed regardless of how long it takes or how much it costs!"  I love that spirit that his sons continue to manifest through Double Harvest projects in many countries.  This report focuses on two of those countries: Sudan, which is a fledgling new project; Ethiopia, which is a mature project over a dozen years old.  I know you will be blessed and encouraged by the following pictures of both.

But before you start the slide show, I want you to start praying for me as I leave for Asia.  On Monday, Nov. 7th, I fly to India and Nepal -- after just one week turn-around from Africa.  Unfortunately, I came home with a bad cold and cough that I have now passed on to Patt!  So please pray for her.  While I am on the upswing, she is on the downswing.  So please pray for Patt for a quick recovery so she can get back into her regular schedule -- especially her grandmothering routine!

As always, I will be a "pack-mule for Jesus" on this next trip -- which is getting harder with air line restrictions!  Here are some of the items I will be carrying in to bless our partners and strengthen their ministries:

• A Digital Recording System for our Tibetan partners 
• 20 'Solar Digital Players" with the Bible in Nepali
• A new laptop computer and camera for one of our church-planting partners in the Mt. Everest region
• A digital video camera for one of our partners
• Drip irrigation kits for one of our Children's Homes on the Bhutan border
• Trekking boots for one of our "yacks for Jesus"
• A suit case of clothes for one of our children's homes in Delhi, India
• Gifts for one of our pastor's who is having his "40th Ministry Anniversary" that I will speak for;
• Copies of as many of my books for as many pastors as I can take in

So pray that I will be able to carry ALL of this in on this trip and that the luggage scales will be broken at the check-in counter!

For His Kingdom & Glory in partnership with you,

JL

PS:  Finally, PLEASE take a moment to click on this brief newsletter of our new Anugraha Children's Home in Delhi -- which will be my first stop.  We need 6 people who will "adopt" one of these needy Nepali children for just $30 a month ($25 for the child; $5 for the staff).  It would add great thanks to your Thanksgiving -- and to theirs!

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.