A Note From Tom: August 12th, 2011

Good morning, everyone!

Or as they say in Seoul, “Anyoughi jumusheseyo!”…

Or as they say in Lorrach, Germany,  “Guten morgen!”

In Denmark they say the same thing almost. “Godmorgen!”…except by the time they’re saying it in Denmark, it’s lunch time in Germany!

In Lithuania, it’s” abas rytas!”

In Italy, “Buon Giorno!”…in Russia, “Dobroe utro!”…in France, “Bonjour!”…in Israel, “Boker tov!”…in Viet Nam, “Chao buoi sang!”…

However you say it, top o’ the mornin’ to ye, gov’na!

It’s amazing to think that around the globe, people wake up to a whole different world of sounds! Even animals speak foreign languages! In the States, we say roosters crow, “Cock-a-doodle-do!” In Italy they say, “Chi-ca-di-ca-di!” I wonder if they would understand each other if they got together in the same country…They’d probably get in a fight anyway…

What if someone read John chapter 10, verses 27 and 28 to you like this…” Mis ovejas oyen mi voz; yo las conozco y ellas me siguen. Yo les doy vida eterna, y nunca perecerán, ni nadie podrá arrebatármelas de la mano…”

Would you feel a little more encouraged about things? Or would you just be confused?

If you want some encouragement for your day and you’re not having the “gutemn morgen” you hoped you would, you can look it up in your language. John 10.27-28. Check it out and be encouraged!!

But what if you couldn’t?

What if you didn’t know anything about God’s love because you didn’t have the Scriptures in your language?

Yuck!

What if it was super-difficult to have the Scriptures in your language because instead of letters, your language looked like this…^)/<<>^^/_:: <><<++^::…?

What if John 3:16 in your language looked like this…

What if it looked liked that? Like nothing written down because your language has never been written down before. What if your people didn’t even know about writing?

We at “Triple C” have had the honor of helping supporting Tom and Juanita Matthews for years as they work in Africa, helping tribal groups have the Scriptures in their own language! Sometimes it involves helping them learn to write their own language! But after tons of sweat and labor, people who would have never had God’s beautiful, precious promises can hold them and read them in a way they understand!

I am soooo thankful that we can give so much money so that stuff like that can happen! Money you give to what God is doing at CCC goes to things like this! Your money goes to Sam and Joan in Italy, so men and women and kids can know all about Romans 5…” Giustificati dunque per fede abbiamo pace presso Dio per mezzo di Gesú Cristo, nostro Signore…”

…and our C3 bucks go to Paul and Karen, so they can help Alpine villagers in Pontcharra, France know about John 7.37 “Si quelqu'un a soif, qu'il vienne à moi, et que celui qui croit en moi boive!”

…and so a brave woman in Tanzania can help orphans hear with the heart 1 John 3.1…” How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”…They speak English there, but they wouldn’t know this without Melissa and her friends!

…and so Jim and Barb, can help high schoolers in Madrid know that no matter how tough it gets, Romans 8.39 promises that “nada puede separarnos del amor de Dios que esta’ en Cristo Jesus, nuestro Senor!”

…and so Victor in India and the Indian evangelists he trains, who travel on bikes from one  village to another can share Jesus with those who have never heard His beautiful name! They face hostility and threats but share His love week by week! Victor has baptized 6000 converts to Jesus himself! The Indian missionaries he oversees have started 350 churches! Wow!

…and so Bill and Maria,, after years of serving Jesus all over, can reach high school kids in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where Bill grew up, and fulfill the words of Jesus…”"Go home and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

…and so, closer to home (in fact, in some of our homes!) Devon and Erin, Jordan, and Virginia, and Erica can love with Jesus’ love, kids and leaders across our county, so that they can start out on their journeys without the hobbling and limping so many of us walk with, from the wounds and hurts we caused ourselves when we didn’t know Him…

…and so Glen and Jane, Jed and Halley, along with Ben, Kristin,, and Peter and Tasha …and coming soon, our very own MATT!...can tell ex-cons, ex-offenders, ex-thugs from the worst streets of Chicago the ex-cellent good news of Romans 8.35 in their own language…”Yo! Yo! Yo! God loves yous and you won’t eva lose dat!”

I’m so thankful for what we can do with the money you give to the work God is doing through CCC…

With all our heart we say…

Gracias!

Merci’!

Danke!

Grazie!

Thank you…

…so much!.

…for giving!!