Around the World in Twenty Days

The following article was written by Regional Field Officer, Mike Urwin, who recently undertook a Gideon international assignment (May 2-21 ,2011) in the South Pacific.

In 2011 the International Outreach Committee (I.O.C.) assigned me to visit seven Gideon camps (branches) in six countries in twenty days which involved sixteen air flights and over thirty-one thousand air miles! 

Travelling alone, the countries I visited were: French Polynesia, Tonga, Samoa, American Samoa, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Thankfully, I chose the "cooler season" when the temperature was only around 34 degrees C plus 80% humidity!

This brief report is not intended to be exhaustive  but rather just "a snapshot" of a few of the encouragements and challenges experienced.

French Polynesia:
Flying from London - Los Angeles - Tahiti (which is French speaking) I arrived at 5am on May 4 expecting to be met by local Gideons. After an hour or more as nobody had arrived I spoke to a courier who kindly phoned one of the Gideons who had overslept and, somewhat embarrassed quickly appeared.

The Gideon Camp in Papeete is struggling with some members being elderly and becoming  inactive. In addition, some schools and a large modern hospital are closed to them. A member arranged a meeting for me to meet the Administration Director of the hospital and after  some discussion she agreed  to a New Testament being given to each of the five hundred patients (which will reoccur as all patient rooms are cleared on each patient's departure) plus seventeen hundred Medical Testaments to the staff – what an answer to prayer!

Other camp members joined us for the distribution along with the hospital chaplaincy team and once the task had been completed it was wonderful to hear hymns of praise being sung by the chaplaincy team in the hospital corridors.

Tonga:
My first impressions on arriving in Nuku 'Alofa were of a friendly people living in a beautiful tropical country where the main languages spoken are Tongan and English.

Whilst there are many Christians (41% being Protestant) sects and cults are making inroads. In addition, when young people finish their schooling most will leave the country to find employment – which means that eventually the country will be mainly populated by older people.

Since being formed in 1986 to date there is still only one Gideon camp with a handful of  members. It was a joy to be able to have fellowship with them and to be able to review ways in which the ministry might grow. 

On one occasion, after two of us carried out a number of scripture distributions we visited a school. The classroom was built in the middle of a field constructed mainly of tree branches covered in polythene sheeting. The Head Teacher, who was a Gideon asked me to speak to the pupils about the Testaments they were to receive and also to share the gospel! On moving outside for a photograph a pupil approached me and asked "how can I become a Christian?" - what an opportunity?  On returning to the class the teacher announced that the class wanted to sing two choruses in  Tongan (in the most wonderful four part harmony) followed by "Take my life and let it be" in English (to the traditional tune) then to a most moving Welsh tune.

New Caledonia: 

Arriving at Noumea Airport late Sunday afternoon I was met by two Gideons who drove me the thirty five miles to my hotel so that I could put my cases in the room. They then rushed me to a large A.O.G. church (the largest church in Noumea) at which there were over seven hundred people present. After sharing about the Gideon ministry the pastor announced that the next Sunday morning (when around a thousand would be present) they would take up "a special offering" for the Gideons – the outcome was amazing! 

Despite this early encouragement the Noumea Camp was small with the members all coming from the same church and efforts are now being made to broaden the membership base.

Despite the influence of sects and cults, some poverty and the need for additional members God is blessing the Gideon ministry as members faithfully carry out the work to which they have been called. Feedback since returning home suggests that some of the actions I put in place are already starting to bear fruit.

Please pray for each of the countries I had the privilege of visiting that the members might be encouraged and the ministry might grow in order that many might be won for Our Lord Jesus Christ.