This will be her first Christmas in America, and it seems that many Christmases mark important times in her life.

At age 6, after she had accepted Christ, she celebrated her first Christmas in Bhutan. The gospel had traveled from India through a nurse and a doctor, and finally made its way to her family in Bhutan. The family invited friends and celebrated in their home. As they sang and prayed, the local authorities barged in and demanded that all men 18 or older come with them. The men left, and those who remained banded together in prayer.

Within a month, Dill and her family were on their way to Nepal. They sang and prayed, still celebrating Christmas, as they traveled to India with several families and all of their belongings crammed in two trucks. They had given many of their belongings away to family or friends. One of the pastors who had led them to the Lord wept as he heard the joyous singing of these displaced people coming into India. He helped them get onto other trucks and make it to the refugee camps in Nepal.

From there, Dill spent 19 Christmases in a Nepali refugee camp. Some of them involved Dill singing carols three hours a day for weeks in December. Her church group traveled the long rows of houses, singing carols in the open meeting places of the camps. They needn’t go house to house, for the singing drew crowds from as far as the sound could reach. The singing was interspersed with gospel preaching.

In 2008, Dill’s Christmas was spent on the Pakistani border. Because of her involvement in the local Bible school, she was invited to come to a school on the border to sing carols. Dill and her husband, Purna, along with other carolers from the Nepali refugee camp, traveled the long train ride to the border town. When news got around, many schools and government agencies urged them to come and sing for them as well. They spent about a month in this largely Muslim area, singing and sharing the gospel. This year, she is helping lead Christmas programs in Dallas, in the midst of trying to provide for her family in this vastly different culture.

Hearing about her Christmas stories gives me perspective. I know this Christmas, and hopefully the ones that follow, I won’t be thinking about the latest gadget or presents under the tree.

Matthew Johnston, a student at Wayland Baptist University, is serving as a Go Now missionary with Segue, a ministry to refugees.

But we usually try to fight it off and stay on our sleeping mats until 7 a.m. This morning was different, though. My partner, David, and I had been invited by our local friend, Tyson, to go fishing. So, as the sun was just coming up, we were heading out in Tyson’s boat with two other guys. 

Fishing here is definitely not a rod-and-reel exercise. These guys are spear fishermen. We parked our boat a couple hundred yards off the coast, and they went to work. Dave and I had brought along our own masks, snorkels and fins to watch the action. 

The guys were incredible. They had old masks and one homemade fin each and homemade spear guns. They would dive down to a depth around 50 feet and then just hang out at the ocean floor until they spotted a good one. Then, they would shoot their spear guns with deadly accuracy. It was pretty incredible to watch. We stayed out in the water for about two and a half hours, and all three fishermen got about 20 fish each.

Later that evening, all three of them came to our house for a Bible study. We taught out of Luke 5, where Jesus asked Peter to go back out on the water after he had not caught any fish all day. Peter obeyed, and he ended up almost sinking his boats because of all the fish he caught. We were able to share how sometimes Jesus will ask us to do things that don’t make sense, but we need to be able to trust him. 

It is always exciting when you can see a piece of the gospel fit in culturally and personally to people. The guys really related to Peter and the other fishermen, and they could see how it related to their lives.

Jared Jackson, a student at the University of Texas at Arlington, is serving with Go Now Missions in the Philippines.

The purpose of the camp was to love on the kids—and in doing so, show the Father’s immense love for them. Most of the children in the village of Rooigrond only have one parent, and most are alcoholics and indifferent as to whether the kids even are present. Many have never been told they are loved.

My purpose on this trip was to love on them and tell them of a Father who knows each of their names and loves them so much he would trade the life of his only Son for them.

I was so privileged to be allowed the opportunity to set a spark of hope in these children—hope in the truth that they are loved by Christ and have a purpose in him.

Melanie, a student from Dallas Baptist University, served as a student missionary worker in South Africa. Her last name is withheld for security reasons, because she anticipates possible future missions service in a restricted area.

We arrived Sunday morning, were welcomed into Dilli’s house, and found his entire family dressed up in Nepali dress or at least new clothes packed into the living room while the kids watched Scooby Doo. Shortly after we arrived, Grandma and the eldest couple set about lighting incense and preparing a plate of rice, money and flowers, which they sat on the coffee table.

The eldest couple and Grandma began blessing each person, beginning with the oldest and going down the line all the way to Umish. They sang in Nepali over each person, applied a Tika (a mixture of rice, yogurt and plant-based dye) on each forehead, and placed leaves or flowers behind the ears of each participant. Before we took part, we learned that the one being blessed should bow to the ones blessing; and, after being blessed, should place palms together and exchange “Namaste” with each person in the room. We took our turns, then joined the family around the table for a meal.

Dasara celebrates the defeat of demon giants by a Hindu god. The blessing, I later learned from Dilli, is for long life, happiness, and wealth.

As Christian missionaries, we have to ask a few questions. To what level do we participate in such rituals, if at all? Do we speak out against idolatry at the first mention of foreign gods, or do we learn about their customs and worldviews before we tell them they are wrong? Do we simply hold our tongue in order to be open-minded and tolerant, or do we hold our tongue in order for strategic purposes, awaiting the right time to share the gospel? Do we verbalize our objections at first opportunity for fear of being syncretistic? Or do we critique our Hindu brother because we love him and don’t want him stuck in idolatry and false ideology?

Jude 15 describes judgement of the ungodly as the Lord judges. In the same way, we should place judgement on that which goes against God. However, maybe there is a time and place for this. For missiological reasons, as well as in accordance with 1 Corinthians 9 and Romans 14, maybe we should first “become like” those to whom we are trying to reach and “stop passing judgement,” at least until we actually understand our friends.

We are still struggling through these questions at Segue, but are striving to live like Christ and share the good news as best we can.

Matthew Johnston, a student at Wayland Baptist University, is serving as a Go Now missionary with Segue, a ministry to refugees.

Those I am speaking of are the victims of human trafficking, or modern-day slavery as the mainstream media has named it. As I was there to share the freedom that is found in Christ and to witness God’s work in South Africa, I was confronted with the reality that 27 million victims in the world will never know freedom, life, or the love of the Father. I realized their cries often echo into silence, because there are few people working to battle one of the greatest human atrocities of our time.

I take comfort in the truth that God knows their pain and hears their cries. What I took from that experience is a challenge for me to give them a voice, to stand in the gap for 27 million lives and dare others to come alongside and lift them up in faith, hope and love.

Melanie, a student from Dallas Baptist University, served as a student missionary worker in South Africa. Her last name is withheld for security reasons, because she anticipates possible future missions service in a restricted area.

“My parents were very strict and they did not like the Christian people. And the others, who are believers, they were praying for our parents,” he said. “One day in Bhutan there was a political situation that was not good. There was a war between the Nepalis and the Bhutanese people. My father … went to one of the fellowships where the religious people were.”

At the time, Dill recalled, his father drank quite a bit because “he had no peace of mind.”  Some people feared him when he had been drinking, and Christians generally were afraid to share God’s word with him.

But that night, after the service, he followed a Christian leader home and asked him, “Can you tell me about Jesus?”

“The leader shared the word of God with him. That time was the right time for my father to accept Jesus. And he accepted Jesus into his life,” Dill said.

“He used to not sleep, but that same day he accepted Jesus, he slept the whole night. That changed his mind, and that changed his life.”

Dill’s father shared his newfound faith with his family, and all of them, in turn, became Christians and were baptized.

Praise God for his amazing deeds! Please pray that Dill can be a witness to the many Bhutanese who still do not know Jesus Christ.

Matthew Johnston, a student at Wayland Baptist University, is serving as a Go Now missionary with Segue, a ministry to refugees.

Paulo told us that he was teaching his friends at school all the stories and everything he was learning from us. After he started passing on his newly acquired knowledge his friends called him Apostle Paulo.

He was faithful to attend every time he could and really seemed to understand what we were trying to get across. After about three weeks attending Bible study, passing the stories along to his friends and inviting his friends to join us, his friends told him they could see a change. They confessed to him when he first began sharing with them, they were all talking about him behind his back. But now, they could tell it was something serious and important.

So, now we have several middle school-aged boys who come to learn about the Bible and discover how Jesus wants them to live—thanks to Apostle Paulo.

Jared Jackson, a student at the University of Texas at Arlington, is serving with Go Now Missions in the Philippines.

News had just reached Nanay Belin that her son had hanged himself. I don’t think I’ve experienced anything more sorrowful than that woman’s pain. It was terrible.

In the days that followed, Nanay Belin begged us on several occasions to pray for her dead son. Our team leader, Cecil, gently and lovingly said her son was in God’s hands already, and we just wanted to pray for her.

In the weeks since then, she continued to attend Bible studies and speak with Cecil. Then we had a little get-together in our house, and she came. Ernest asked the group if anybody to share something from God. Nanay Belin stood up, crying, and told how much God had filled her up since the death of her son.

On a recent Sunday, we had planned a baptism service for some of our neighbors who had accepted Christ. When the time came to head down to the water, the ones who already had planned to be baptized were joined by others—including Nanay Belin.

God really has been moving greatly in a short time.

Jared Jackson, a student at the University of Texas at Arlington, is serving with Go Now Missions in the Philippines.

As we ate, the couple shared about their various holidays and festivals. The father explained why Hindu people revere and respect the cow. He said that just as a human mother is the one who keeps her child alive with her milk, the cow keeps humans alive with its milk. Thus, they revere the cow as a sort of sacred ‘mother’ figure.

While I certainly do not agree with venerating a cow, I now have a better understanding about why Hindu people do. It was fascinating to hear from this family about their own lives, culture and religion.

The more we stop and listen—and genuinely care—the more we are able to share about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It’s amazing how God provides opportunities as we slow down and look for where the Holy Spirit is working.

Matthew Johnston, a student at Wayland Baptist University, is serving as a Go Now missionary with Segue, a ministry to refugees.

Summer’s behavior was out of the ordinary, because she normally loves coming to A+, the program I teach as a student missionary. In fact, when her parents come to get her, she always begs them to let her stay.

Summer stood by the green fence far away from the other students. After giving her some time to cry it out, I decided to talk to her. I ran over and scooped her into my arms. She looked at me holding back tears and then burying her head into my sweatshirt.

“I didn’t want to come to A+ today. I just want to be alone,” she said.

Once again, I was surprised one of the most playful and social students wanted to be left alone on the playground. Summer loved playing with her friends outside.

“Do you want me to put you next to the fence by yourself or hold you while you think about why you’re acting this way?” I asked her.

“Hold me,” she said and buried her face back into my sweatshirt.

Later that day, after having some time to think, Summer was back to normal self. When her mom came to pick her up later in the evening I explained to her Summer’s unusual behavior, so she pulled her daughter aside to talk to her. The mom came back and told our staff her daughter didn’t want to come to A+ because she didn’t want to eat the nuts left over in her lunchbox. The kindergartners come to our program right after lunch, and many of them do not finish their food. So, we have them eat what is left in their lunchbox when they arrive—always making sure they eat their healthy food first.

Summer didn’t want to come because she was afraid we would make her eat her nuts before she could go to the playground. She decided that she would have rather thrown a fit and been alone than face the problem.

Silly as the situation was, I realized my actions are not far from hers. As Christians, we tend to avoid God when we don’t like what he has for us to do. We throw a fit and avoid coming to him thinking he won’t understand. We know when embraced in his arms we will feel comforted and loved, but we’re so afraid of the conviction and being told we’re wrong that we simply don’t come to him. We want to be in God’s presence rather than be alone, but we still want to live in sin because it’s uncomfortable to do something against our will and follow his.

We don’t make the kids at A+ eat their healthy food first because we want them to be miserable and not come back to the program, just as God doesn’t ask us to draw near to him and ask for the forgiveness of our sins to make us feel terrible about ourselves. God does it for our good, so that we may have life and have it abundantly by having a close relationship with him.

I am endlessly amazed by how the Lord uses these children to remind me of his truths.

Crystal Donahue, a student from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, is serving as a semester missionary in Tahoe City, Calif., with Go Now Missions.

“What’s wrong with her?” Ava asked.“I don’t know,” Mikayla replied.

I looked at her crestfallen face and told her I was sorry. I urged her to be careful on her way there. As Ava and I waved goodbye to Mikayla, another student, Jake, raised his hand.

When I called on him, he turned to Mikayla and said, “I will pray for your grandma.”

His sincerity was obvious as he folded his hands tightly, squeezed his eyes shut and started praying for Mikayla’s grandmother right there on the spot. When he was finished, about five other students raised their hands and said, “I’ll pray for Mikayla’s grandma.”

In a matter of seconds, their soft whispering prayers filled the room. Mikayla smiled and grabbed her pink lunchbox as she headed out the door. Her expression said everything. She was thankful her friends had prayed for her grandma. I can only imagine the power of the prayers of that kindergarten class.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe not all of these children have been raised in church. It’s so amazing how the Lord used them and their sweet prayers to comfort Mikayla.

Children need prayer and love too. Jesus made that clear when he said, “Let them come to me.”  Sometimes the spiritual needs of children are overlooked because they seem so young and might not understand—or their physical needs take precedence.

But just as we train our children to eat their healthy food first out of their lunch or wash their hands after they use the bathroom, it’s important to teach them to pray for others when they are sick and show concern for their friends’ sorrows—lessons best learned by setting a good example. Nearly every day I’m surprised by how well many of them already do this.

God is doing a mighty work in the hearts of these kids in Tahoe, and I’m blessed to be a part of each of their lives.

Crystal Donahue, a student from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, is serving as a semester missionary in Tahoe City, Calif., with Go Now Missions.

His face glowed as he told me about the sun and all the planets he knew, but his favorite topic was meteors. I was impressed with the preschooler’s level of knowledge about meteors. Rorie grabbed a rock from the beautiful beach and stretched his arm up to show me what he had found.

“Look, I found a space rock!” he exclaimed.

He threw the rock into the sand as hard as he could, and it bounced two times, leaving a distinct mark in the sand from the impact. As Rorie and I looked at it, I longed to know what was going on in his little mind. He was so amazed by his “space rock” and even more amazed that meteors came crashing into earth leaving a dent.

I began thinking how amazing it would be if Christians were like meteors to their communities. That is my hope while on mission out here in Tahoe. I pray to be Spirit-filled, so as I come crashing into this town, I make a difference in the children’s lives. I pray that as a ‘space rock,’ I’m taken from my original location and challenged and moved to make an impact elsewhere.

It’s so encouraging when the Lord uses children to remind us of God’s power and the opportunities we have to serve him wherever we are with the gifts we have. It’s fun to imagine—like a kid—that we could be meteors for Christ.

Crystal Donahue, a student from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, is serving as a semester missionary in Tahoe City, Calif., with Go Now Missions.