Michael wrote, "Every day since we arrived, we have found ourselves in all kinds of little situations where things go terribly wrong and all we can do is laugh. We say the wrong things. We do the wrong things. We act the wrong way. Sometimes we probably even look the wrong way. Through all of these little embarrassments we are learning to take ourselves pretty lightly."

Each embarrassing situation, each cultural mistake brings them closer to understanding the culture and language of the Indonesian people so that eventually they can effectively give the Gospel message in a clear, culturally relevant way.

After a month in Indonesia Michael and Amy are beginning to learn the lesson of finding themselves funny. "It helps that all our friends and neighbors are the first to laugh," Michael wrote.

Recently Michael mixed up the words for wedding and funeral, and sister and neighbor during a conversation with a store clerk in his neighborhood. The resulting conversation left everyone chuckling. But, it also gave him insight into Indonesian culture and helped him relate to his friends.

Pray for diligence for Michael and Amy as they continue studying the culture and language. They also asked for prayer that the light of Jesus will shine through their lives.

About 20 Semandang families make up the small church and recently they began an outreach to area children. Last week so many attended there wasn't enough room in the church to hold all the children who came.

The outreach, started by three Semandang believers and missionary Darcy Berglund, grew rapidly to more than 90 children.

"The attendance keeps going up each week," Darcy wrote. "When I left it had gotten up to 93, then over a hundred the next couple of weeks. Last week they had 170 children."

Two young women have joined the three who helped begin the work but five leaders are not enough to adequately handle all the children.

Darcy reported, "They are very well-behaved and quiet during the lessons, skits, etc. and are really growing in their understanding of the theme of God sending them a Redeemer. Pray for a clear understanding of their need of a Savior and of God's love for each of them."

Pray for the five believers who are teaching the children. Pray also that many children will understand the Gospel message and trust Christ as their Savior.