Good News from Central Asia

Bern and I received an encouraging note from Woody Busse this week. His wife Barbara was instrumental in taking us to Central Asia in 2006 where we taught Biblical Peacemaking for two weeks. The following is a report from the Presbyterian Church USA Missions prayer guide about results from the work we did there. God certainly blessed that short time among the people, many of whom are of another faith but who were willing to receive biblical truth.

Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study, Friday, August 21
Republics of Central Asia

Rashid felt torn. For the past several days he and his colleagues at a development organization in Tajikistan had been participating in a workshop on biblical conflict resolution taught by a team from a Presbyterian church in California. During the workshop, they had learned practical biblical principles and skills for dealing with personal conflict. Rashid was one of the few Christians on a mostly Muslim staff, and he felt the Holy Spirit tugging on his heart to deal with a conflict with a colleague.

All kinds of excuses came to his mind - it happened a long time ago; most people in the office don't even know about it; this isn't the right time or place. But God spoke to his heart: "If not now, when?" So Rashid stood and announced he wanted to apologize for disrespecting his colleague several months previously.

As he was speaking, the other man stood up and received his apology and the relationship was healed. Over the next weeks, several other staff members experienced reconciliation in strained relationships as they put what they learned into practice.

Yusuf realized for the first time how he had contributed to a feud that had been going on for years. He realized that his negative thoughts toward a neighbor had kept him from seeing anything positive about him. So he decided to invite the neighbor to a party at his home where they ate and talked together. In Tajik culture, eating with someone is a sign of friendship and acceptance, and through this act the two were reconciled. As a result of these experiences, staff members began insisting that this training be shared with other villages, and they incorporated it into their project proposals.

Gracious and loving God, may the Prince of Peace reign in our hearts and in the hearts of the people of Tajikistan. Help us to be effective peacemakers in our personal relationships as well as in the larger conflicts throughout the world. Amen.