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Ambassadors for Christ, International – USA

1355 Terrell Mill Rd, # 1462, Ste 100, Marietta, GA 30067-5496 Revival in, evangelism through, and discipleship of the church… among the nations

Preach Christ Edify HIS church Glorify God .

JayOrvis@Gmail.com

BrendaOrvis@Gmail.com 14 Dec 2016

Let us BOW before, PRAISE, seek, celebrate and lift up our God – .

in joyful adoration, confession, thanksgiving, worship and supplication

Orvis News 5407 Chesterfield Dr., Camp Springs, MD 20748

(to activate any hyperlink in this letter, press control as you click the link)

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Beloved,

India 2016 (Sept 23 – Nov 9) concluding report and “what’s up” since return:

Weds, 26 Oct – we prepared for Assam trip to visit Karbi Anglong Baptist church leader seminar in Hamren. Revisited Meren Enkong’s widow for some hours, and, using Toshi’s new SIM card, was able to Skype Brenda. Back home (at Caring Neighborhood Ministry, CNN, in Aoyim village), internet map indicates 5½ hours journey. Spent much time downloading and printing sections of journey map. Hoping for 8 a.m. departure. American missionaries first came to the Karbi in 1835, taking river boats, walking, riding elephants in 20 ft high saw grass…

Thurs, 27 Oct – wheels up, 08:30. PTL, car started (starter solenoid is balking more and more). Took an hour to cross the city (7.5 ? miles), then 30 kilometers of VERY rough road. Journey was nearly 7 hours with traffic, and an unexpected enormous meeting in Dongkamukam for the Assam Chief Minister (governor). Maybe 10-15,000 attended. PTL, we were just short of the venue when the meeting ended which meant OCEANS of people walk- ing for miles along the roads, motorcycles, bicycles, buses, trucks full of people, etc. Climbing into the hills, we finally arrived! Tired, and glad to be on site for sessions beginning tomorrow. Of course, always expect the unexpected, and yes, an unscheduled evening service was on. Spoke from Ephesians 4:1 – live a life worthy of the

calling you have received; 4:17 – you must no longer live as the

Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking; 5:1 – live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a

fragrant offering and sacrifice to God; 5:8 – Live as children of

light; and 5:15 – Be very careful then, how you live – not as

unwise but as wise… This led to Rev 2 where the Lord exhorted the Ephesian church to repent and return to their first love which they had forsaken, lest He remove their lampstand from its place…. In west Turkey today the church has no visible presence, its’ lampstand gone…. Of course, the Lord Jesus is building HIS church (muslims, world around, are coming to Christ in large numbers) and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. But HE is not mocked. May all return to our first love.

Following the service there was high activity preparing our humid room in the adjacent Jubilee House (at left in photo above), built in anticipation of their 2018 golden jubilee. Wooden slat beds, ½“ mattresses, some musty and very solid, pillows (sort of like soft bricks and one of the girls kindly sprayed some sort of perfume all over

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them. Praise the Lord for CPAP machine – I could breathe!!) arrived, followed by mosquito nets and poles, which required assembly. All was accomplished pretty quickly by 5 or 6 energetic souls. Eventually even quilts showed up. Thought they were certainly not needed, but as the night wore on, it was sure nice to have them!

Friday, 28 Oct, two 8-12 a.m. sessions, then a session from 2:30-5:00. Toshi took sessions 1 and 3 through the day, doing a fantastic job! Everyone attentively asked and answered questions. After supper, local members

filled the church for the evening message, and having been mostly off the feet for many days it was nice to rest after all was said during my second session and the evening message!

Saturday, 29 Oct, had both morning sessions. By 1:15, after removing a screw in front tire, we reached Dimapur at 7:15 p.m. These journeys are not anything like riding on an interstate! We travelled about 120 miles (avg 20 mph). Total vigilance is required as roads are deeply pitted and pocked. One weaves from side to side, sometimes going off-road to pass particularly deep holes. Everyone does same thing, in

both directions, thus a “hold on!” (sometimes violently bumpy) dance. Assam roads are better than Nagaland, with many smoother patches along the way.

Sunday, 30 Oct, preached at Kachurigaon Nagamese Baptist Church (13 tribes attend) on the other side of Dimapur (14 mile round trip took 1½ hrs). Hymn before message was “When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there” (same melody!) The Lord sent a warning question: “Will YOU be there?” In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus says 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me

you evildoers!’ Noah, our ancestor, did all God commanded him to do, took warning, and found safety in the ark… Our saving ark today is Jesus. “That day” of which He spoke is coming. Will you, like Noah’s contemporar-ies, laugh, scorn, mock and ridicule, or will you get in the ark? Will your name be called from that roll?

Toshi translated and led singing of “When the roll is called up yonder” again, at conclusion of the service.

Pastor Akang (left) and his wife hosted us briefly for tea in the women leader’s home (she was at a convention somewhere), and her often drunken husband came in, loaded with pan (pronounced “pahn,” this mild narcotic blackens the teeth like betel nut and floods the mouth with red saliva), so he was difficult to understand. He said he is Paul, a contractor and catholic, and all gods, hindu, muslim and christian are the same. We prayed with Paul that he will search for the Truth before the flood overtakes him and that, like his namesake, he will acknowledge God, his creator, the ONE Who asks (Isaiah 40:25) “’To whom will you compare me?

Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One.” HE continues in Isaiah 45:5 “I am the Lord, and there is no

other: apart from me there is no God.” In Isaaih 48:11 emphatically: ”… how can I let myself be defamed: I will not

yield my glory to another.” Please pray for Paul. The God of the Bible is not equivalent to any other god.

“Home” again, no electricity (= no fan) all through the night and into Monday morning. Unusual. Generator ran out of fuel after 3 hours, and the inverter took over for another 2 hours, but at last, all were used up. So we continued as throughout the centuries….

09:00 a.m., Monday 31 Oct, electricity returned, so began preparation for Doulos Theological College (DTS) sessions dealing with how to identify false teachers, aberrations, cults, abusive leaders, etc.

Tues, 01 Nov, continued preparing DTS and baptism classes (3 candidates), and helped Toshi compose a letter to his supporters. Toshi and Tainla attended another funeral. Answered some email. Skyped Brenda.

Weds, 02 Nov, worked to repair CNM vehicle tail lights, and continued preparation of DTS and baptism classes. During these days had several in depth conversations with their 15 year old about his future career … seminary?

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Thurs, 03 Nov, edited Toshi’s support letter, and went into Dimapur to meet with Dorjee (black coat on left. We traveled and prayed together in Arunachal Pradesh last year but had to cancel trip there this year). On the way home we visited a nearby retired pastor (has cancer) to encourage and pray with him. Conducted 1st baptism class. 5 showed up, 1 said she didn’t want to be baptised but wanted to learn what it’s all about.

Fri, 04 Nov, Doulos Theological College morning sessions (picture at right),

Visited a nearby bottled water factory, got a tour and we bought more drinking water.

Conducted 2nd baptism class in the evening. Asked each candidate to confess any known sin and fully commit their lives to the Lord when it was time for them to go to bed.

Sat, 05 Nov, rested and presented 3rd evening baptism class, clarifying (again) that baptism does not save, and does not prevent one from sinning, but it is a symbol, like a wedding ring (which they don’t use, so had to ex-plain the significance of my own ring), of a commitment made to love, follow and serve the Lord Jesus.

Sun, 06 Nov, Toshi and Jay baptised all 5 in a terrific downpour. The “only curi-ous” one shyly and joyfully gave a lovely brief testimony. After the baptisms, spoke at the Nagamese Community Church, and Toshi presented each candidate with a certificate.

Mon, 07 Nov, Heading home tomorrow. Throughout our weeks together have had many good conversations with Toshi and Tainla about the orphanage, their plans to build a permanent dormitory for the kids (existing bamboo building is now in very poor condition), succession when they reach that point. They have 4 kids in col-lege, and about 10 between 2½ and 15 years old.

Tues, 08 Nov, finished drying clothes with the fan (it was still raining), put some on still damp, and flew away at 1:30 p.m., reaching DC at 0730 a.m. on Wednesday, just after the election. Brenda picked me up. It was great to get home, showered, and some sleep. SINCE THEN, while jet lag passed, orthopedist said “Diagnosis was cor-

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rect, Pre-patellar bursitis, with no residual damage, but x-ray reveals bone on bone in both knees, meaning eventual replacement may be near.” Hmmmm.

Mike drove up from Georgia and Josh, Nichelle, and Ben all came for Thanksgiving dinner.

Yard work (a

friend graciously painted most of the fence posts and removed old chain link while Jay was in India). Dec 1-5 we buried 290 feet of drain pipes (directing water away from the house), now must finish back fill. Dec 13th we picked up new chain link.

Last couple of weeks, oldest brother Pete and Jay have been phoning for our brother, Woody, in Michigan who seeks a ramp and scooter to get in and out of his house for dialysis 3 times weekly. He hopes to have his knee replaced (4th time) in 2 or 3 months, with a fixed knee, which means he will not be able to bend his leg. Who would have thought it? Digging, raking and hoeing has provoked carpal tunnel syndrome. Need to look into it this week. Seems as if “the old gray mare ain’t what he used to be!” A WW2 veteran neighbor, who fre-quently accompanies Jay to Monday Bible study, enjoyed telling people that he has “been 22 four times” (now tells them he has “been 30 three times”). The other day Ben said: “I used to work 50 minutes and rest for 10, but now I work 10 minutes and rest for 50.” He bowls 3 times per week – occasionally scoring 200! Resumed regular weekly Bible studies and speaking in homes. Dec 3 our bi-monthly (Saturdays) “Gathering of friends” came to our home for Bible study (and sang Happy Birthday – #73). Brenda made a great carrot cake. Jay anticipates attending annual AFCi-USA mid-January retreat in Georgia and will see Mike then, too. Upon re-turn, Jay and Brenda expect to renew contact with international students at University of Maryland through a weekly Friday evening dinner organized by International Students, Inc., friends.

Much about which to pray and praise the Lord. May HE, the Ancient of Days, comfort and be in you as we celebrate His loving, sacrificial, condescension, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.

Glory to HIM alone! “That day” approaches.

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long, This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Farewell again. Glad to be back.

We bless HIM for your on-going prayer, e-mail, smses,

smiles, friendship, care, etc. Thank you! Jay and Brenda <o///<

301-643-8647 & 301-643-1783 ambassadors … AFCi-USA

BOWing before Him to PRAISE, seek, celebrate and lift up our gracious God –

in grateful, joyful adoration, confession, thanksgiving, worship and supplication.

Jay operated

the trencher!!