Bangladesh 2007

If we have calculated correctly, we have just completed our 21st mission trip since we began in 1996. The trips have varied in length—from five weeks to four and a half months. Our most recent trip to Bangladesh (our 4th) was one of our shorter trips—lasting only five weeks. Although the time was short, we were able to accomplish much of what we had set out to do while we were there. We are always introspective about the importance and value of our contribution to the institution we are supporting. We set goals and hold ourselves accountable, asking questions like: Has our work been worthwhile? Is it sustainable? Have the people we work with seen Christ in us? Have we been relational?

Our work primarily focuses on the development of libraries in small theological institutions that are struggling to produce pastors and other church workers for their congregations in developing countries. On this trip we continued to assist in the development of the library at the College of Christian Theology in Bangladesh (CCTB). The College only has thirteen students this year (Four M.A. and nine B.Th.). They are mature and serious Christian leaders who come from a variety of evangelical Bangladesh churches. Many are already pastors who want to gain more theological knowledge. Some have limited English knowledge, but they all have an energetic desire to serve God.

What did we do?
·Rearranged the library’s collection to make it more useful and accessible.
·Explained to the students how information is organized in the library. Some of the students knew almost nothing about libraries.

·Taught research strategies and the basics of writing a research paper.
·Had two-two hour work sessions with the faculty to teach them how to make better use of the library in their instruction.
·Quadrupled access to the Internet through the purchase of three new cell phones.

·Introduced the Internet to the students (and some of the faculty). Demonstrated how to use it and its value for finding theological information, including some in the Bengali language!
·Cataloged difficult materials, including books in the Bengali language with translation help from our Bengali library assistant.
·Provided materials to enable the College to develop policies and procedures for the library.
·Developed personal relationships with some of the students.

·Put the library’s collection information on the Internet. It can be accessed at www.Libraryworld.com/opac Library: type in CCTB (no password needed). Why don’t you take a look? Try searching a few theological words. Don’t forget to sign out when finished.
·In addition to our work at CCTB, we also spent two days cataloging and adding books to the CRWRC library collection. It is one of the finest collections of relief agency materials in Bangladesh. Two years ago we put the CRWRC collection on the Internet. Interested in looking at it? Go to www.Libraryworld.com/opac and type in CRWRC. No password is needed. Try searching words like sustainability or microenterprise. It will give you some idea of the content of the library. Don’t forget to sign out.

Were we good emissaries?
Was our concern for them and the love of Christ demonstrated in our relationships with the students? Have we made a difference in their lives? We believe we have, but that is not for us to judge. If we thought otherwise, we would not put ourselves out to work in the difficult circumstances we have had to deal with while in Bangladesh.

We really appreciate your interest, prayers and support of our mission work. Our heartfelt appreciation to the Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church Mission Committee and individuals who have helped provide financial support. We wouldn’t be able to continue our work without you! Next mission trips: Guam/Chuuk (Ray – March 21; Barb – April 2) and Kenya (RITT) in October.

If you are interested in partnering with us, contributions can be made to Christian Reformed World Missions, 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560. Indicate that your donation is for Ray and Barbara Bouma.

Blessings,
Ray and Barbara
http://rhbbdb.blogspot.com

I so often wonder how people who do not have a personal relationship with Christ keep their sanity amid all the chaos, suffering and turmoil of Bangladesh. Then again we have been asked the question, “Why do you keep believing in the Lord Jesus Christ when you see all the misery around you and there doesn’t seem to be anything or anyone who can do anything about it?” Two very different outlooks on life in Bangladesh. Do the two have any kind of common point? He never promised us that it would be easy did he? He never promised that we wouldn’t suffer, panic, get sick, be in situations of danger, etc. etc. I am just so glad that I do have a faith and a Savior who I can go to who will calm my fears, allow me to sleep in peace at night and wake up refreshed with a new perspective on things believing that I am in His will. Today, or should I say this week was one of asking, “Please, Lord, just get me out of here – I can’t take it anymore, I want to go home.”

Why? We learned this past week that our previous house-lady had died suddenly from a heart attack at a young age leaving two small children. She was such a wonderful Christian, person and mother – why Lord? We saw a lady get hit by a car crossing the street – she looked to be in such great pain – why Lord is the traffic so horrific? We narrowly missed hitting pedestrians and other vehicles while traveling to and from work – why Lord do we have to travel these roads, but thanks that we have a driver and don’t have to drive ourselves. There was a huge fire in a downtown office building. We still don’t know how may died or were injured – some jumped to their deaths, some were burned alive, some are suffering because of serious injuries. They don’t have the equipment here to fight the fire, or the equipment to rescue people. Thousands in the streets watched in horror and people were burned, suffered, screamed, jumped, etc. What was the meaning in all of this?

There are a lot of squatters in Bangladesh – both with houses and businesses. The gov’t is knocking down illegal structures even if it is just an awning that sticks out too far. Yes, laws are being broken but people and families are suffering because of this. Why? Beggars all over the place. We are told that a lot of them belong to an association headed by a person who used to be a beggar himself and now is a millionaire. These beggars have to pay this man 30 taka per day from their begging and he takes care of them. It has been reported that he trains them what to say, gives them rags to wear, gives them children to beg with.

We came home and were getting out of the van when we heard gun shots. Ray was already on the other side of the car and in the garage and I was just getting out of the car. A guy came running out of the garage across the street from us, turned around and shot back into the garage and then hopped on the back of a motorcycle, shot up in the air and they rode off. It must have been one of those robberies where the six robbers knew that the man had 200,000 taka on him. They stole it from him and then two of them drove off on a motorcycle and the other 4 hopped in a van and drove off. They were less than 25 feet from me. I just froze - I guess I should have dove back into the van but I was in a state of shock and couldn't believe what was happening so I kind of froze and just sat there watching - not very smart. Oh well, thank God they didn't shoot at either Ray or me. It was more scary thinking back about it than when it was actually happening.

We went to Kapot’s (library assistant) home for dinner. They ate early because of us. They usually eat at 10:30pm but that night ate at 8:30pm instead. We had a wonderful dinner and enjoyed their company very much. His wife, Munni or Jennifer, is a such a sweet young lady. You can tell that they are very much in love. She took such pride in showing us their home. His aunt, uncle and cousin were there also. The uncle is a Muslim and the auntie and cousin are Christian as are Kapot and his wife. The uncle, auntie and cousin just returned to Bangladesh after living in the US for 12 years. Their visas expired and they stayed on illegally for a while and then had to leave. They are truly wonderful people. The 23 year old cousin is having a horrible time adjusting to life in Bangladesh again. She was only 11 years old when they left so most of her years were spent in the US. She was a sophomore at Oklahoma State. She just wants out of here and back to the US. I can’t say I blame her at all. Facing life here on a permanent basis with the way it is, living under restrictions where young women can’t go out in groups at night, wearing the Bengali dress, would be a disaster. We wish we could think of some way to get her out of here but she really needs to get a proper visa to get back to the US. We are praying that she will find a way.

The meal that Kapot and Munni prepared for us was delicious. Rice cooked with sautéed onions and garlic plus some green chili. Chicken, beef and fish cooked in wonderful sauces, spiced vegetables, fried egg plant – my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Then for desert we had diced fruit in a wonderful coconut type sauce. We are taking them out this week to dinner at a restaurant because we do not have any cooking facilities where we are.

What's my conclusion? I am happy, I am in God's will, I am being blessed abundantly in so many ways with meeting so many wonderful people (both Christian and Muslim), I am making a difference in a small way which is my goal in life. God is good all the time.