News
January 21, 2010
The year started with me coming up with a video presentation for my seminar at Missionfest 2010 in Vancouver (Jan. 8-10). Many hindrances, especially finance wise, happened the two months I devoted to preparing. In spite of hindrances I was able to show my no budget video at the seminar. The topic: ‘How do Missionaries Tackle The Issue of Family Abuse In Their Missionfield’. It was well received. I was told that i had a very good video message; as well, that my speech touched people’s hearts. I am thankful to the 7 people that volunteered their help to make this a success.
The last months i have been working on my book again (revision 6). It was edited by Meg Johnstone and returned to me. After I make changes it will be sent to the substantive editor. I am not sure when the book will be published. I am hoping that it will be done in a very few months. But, once I made revisions on a chapter, i have been giving the paper copy (with Meg’s notes) to immigrants from various countries. These younger people (both men and women) have become really excited about my writing. Every one so far has said that they could not wait to get my book; that the chapter they read was so suspenseful that they need to know what happened next. Also, that they could relate to some of the things I was saying in the book. Since they are not of my faith, i have had a chance to dialogue with them about faith.
Other news: Winter Olympics 2010 is here in my city (Feb 12-28). Everyone is gearing towards taking part in something involving the games. Many Christians under the banner of ‘More Than Gold’ organization is preparing to reach out to the world in our backyard. I have submitted my name as a volunteer with ’More Than Gold’ as well as with the mission organization i worked previously (they are bringing teams from different parts of the world: to do anything from praying for people, to handing out coffee and hot chocolate at the subway stations, to helping out local ministries to street people, to giving out information booklets). I am dialoguing and attending orientation to figure out where i will be helping. ‘More Than Gold’ is encouraging people to write their testimonies and give it to strangers during this time (exactly like what i have been doing with the chapters of my book).
I am thankful to say that prayers are being answered regarding my family (parents, sisters, and niece). Their lives are changing for the better, little by little. We have not found answers for our health trials yet…..but in many other areas change has come. [Any family that has gone through violence has many harsh issues to work through. But people have to be willing to do the hard work (including getting counseling) to bring in change]. A few of my family members are now willing to do their part to bring in resolution to their suffering. At times tough love needs to be practiced (even with much tears); but amazing change is happening. I am trusting that the rest of my family will also experience positive in the areas they are stuck.
My wish for you, the reader, is that you have great faith to move mighty mountains. So…..start taking steps to increase your faith. The bible is the best mountain mover (to bring hope and breakthrough).
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April 20th 2009
Was able to have a booth at ‘We Can’ (end the violence) event; held at Roundhouse Community Centre. Organizations like Oxfam, Social Justice arm of the BC Teachers’ Union, Amnesty International, Coalition of Transition Houses etc. also had booths there. Participants included BC Lions football player Jerome Dennis, Olympic Champion Daniel Igali, and a list of others.
Article about this event (and about the organizer ‘We Can” agency) in Metro Vancouver newspaper dated April 21, 2009 titled “Celebrities target violence against women’ by Sam Smith. (page 4).
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March 8, 2009
I am glad to share that in January the poster was featured by the Dalith Mission (Ministry to Untouchables in India)…their booth at Missionfest 2009. It was given to people that sponsored a child through the Dalith Mission/Ministry. One of the main speakers at Missionfest 2009 was the head of this ministry….hence a lot of foot traffic to this booth… it was featured prominantly. ( 35,000 or more people attend this event)
Yesterday (March 7th) 2 posters were given to a Christian radio station to auction off at their fundraiser. One poster went for $60 (unsigned)……..and one went for $200 (Signed by the artist).
Still other posters have gone to more countries (Mexico, Cambodia, Philipines….).
On another note: I have been fasting and praying and pressing in for breakthrough for my whole family. Books have helped me see that healing is mine….and that i have to take it by faith. (Books: Christ the Healer by FF Boxworth. John G. Lake’s books. God’s medicine bottle by Derek Prince). I am seeing that prayers get answered in unexpected ways, at unexpected times. (This has been my experience in all areas of my life). That i have to be yielded even regarding the timing, and how the prayer is answered. And that finances don’t have to define me……that i can pray and take steps of faith…..and do my part….and wait. Sometimes it has been a long wait. Other times a short one. If i don’t see anything yet…..i get into the bible and start believing, living, etc. the bible. Some people say to me “did God say to you to fast” etc. It is already in the bible. Many answers have come this way. If we passively do nothing then we don’t see answers.
I am believing and taking steps to see greater miracles/answers to prayer in my life, family, ministry, etc. I declare to the heavenlies that God will prevail in my life in spite of difficult circumstances. That my destiny and the destiny of my family will fully be accomplished before we die. That many will come to know Christ’s love and healing through us (as has been spoken many times to me by many people from many countries).
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April 13, 2008
As his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part [spoils/blessings] be who stays by the supplies;they shall share alike (1 Samuel 30:24).
I am very thankful that the poster ‘Advocate and Friend’ is going to a few different countries as a result of friends paying for postal fees. So far 40 posters each are going to Calcutta (At the Well Ministries: ministry to prostitutes and street children), Bangkok (Nightlight Ministries: to child sex slaves, prostitutes}; Singapore, Pakistan, etc. A few have already gone to some African countries…and one even to Alaska. It is also in some prayer rooms and ministries from Vancouver Island to Ottawa ……and in Seattle. Thankfully i have been hearing of how this poster deeply touched people (one of the accounts was from a Sikh young woman telling me how she always gazed at this poster because something in it affected her in a very positive way each time. A muslim woman asked me if her son could have one because ’everything in this poster is what her son has gone through and he wants one to put on his wall’ )
Heidi Baker and Brian Doerksen were also happy to receive this poster.
BC Christian News published an article about the poster in the May 2008 issue – for Asian Heritage Month in Canada. http://www.canadianchristianity.com/bc/bccn/0508/index.html (on pages 1 and 11 of the May issue).
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Feb. 1, 2008
I was able to have a booth at the Missionsfest 2008 event in Vancouver Canada.(, http://www.missionsfestvancouver.ca/) . My main goal was to get the poster i commissioned by Steve Stanczyk to be seen by people ….and be sent to different parts of the world. This poster: ”Advocate and Friend’ [Jesus for the Nations' ] is a message of hope for people that have suffered. You can see it at http://one2one.trideja.com/poster.html.
This poster originally debtued at Todd Bentley’s Secret Place 2008 conference (The artist had a booth there…..and i was able to sell some of the posters….and share with interested people what this poster means)
August 29,2007
If you have not heard from me recently it means that I have been going through some health trials. I am so thankful for the many people that have been keeping me in their prayers. And I am so thankful for the encouragement I have received through people giving me the exact right book about healing or the right tape or the right word at the right time. It has helped me persevere in spite of difficulties. But my book (my life story) is going ahead in spite of hindrances. Linda Gilden and I have been working hard re-writing this book. Editors, market research people etc. are in place, waiting for the re-writing to be finished. I am thankful that finances for my book … a few thousand dollars … came in.
Time and again when circumstances seemed impossible, answers have come. They have come at the time they were meant to. Sometimes when I had given up. Other times within a few days.
(A photo that Darrel Braun took in India)
January 6, 2007
When I attended a Christmas party at a friend’s house, I met (for the first time) a professional writer neighbour of theirs by the name of Susan Main. After overhearing me talk about my TV experience with another guest, Susan approached me and wanted to know more. She became very interested and asked if she could write about me on her very popular blog site, ‘Super Citizen Showcase’. Here is the web address for the story she wrote about me: http://supercitizenshowcase.blogspot.com/ I am hoping that we would be able to submit this story to some magazines, etc. She has very successfully captured my passion and emotion regarding speaking out against violence and especially trying to open people’s eyes through my story.
November 21, 2006
Because of some unfortunate incidents that happened in the Lower Mainland area (three Indo-Canadian women murdered by their immediate family members), a huge forum re. South Asian family violence was organized by Radio India. This forum was attended by about 1,500 -2,000 mostly Indo Canadian people as well as a huge amount of media (TV, newspaper and radio reporters). People shared their stories of family violence … and politicians and leaders of the Indo-Canadian community voiced their opinion … basically that we as a community should not just watch and do nothing any more when we see violence. Realizing that this violence is against the law, we were encouraged to report any such incidents, talk about such issues, and make it safe for the victims to open up and share and get help. They mentioned that no longer should victims have to suffer in silence because of cultural shame and saving face. It was also mentioned that it is not acceptable for the onlookers to turn their eyes and ears the other way when they see someone suffering from violence. It is not going to be tolerated in the Indo-Canadian Community any more.
This event opened the door for me to have two short radio interviews (CKNW radio) as well as to share part of my life story on a TV special (Zindagi TV on the Shaw Multicultural TV station). This TV special is going to be aired about three times (once as a 1 hr special, then the special divided into 2 – 1/2 hr specials and each 1/2 hr aired 2 times). Also the producers hope to distribute it to schools etc. as a learning tool. Police, psychologists, etc. are going to be interviewed as well.
June 5, 2006
Please check out the article that was published today about me in “The Canadian Immigrant” magazine (written by Meg Johnstone).
On January 22, 2005 I had a two-for-the-price-of-one movie event at the IMAX theatre to fundraise for my book (to pay for editorial help). The event went well. About 250 tickets were sold or given away to people, and it was well attended. I gave out a copy of the tentative first chapter of my book Out of Brokenness and asked people their opinions. Overall good comments and suggestions came out of it. And many people came and told me that I was a very good public speaker (since I had shared a little part of my life story at the event). My desire is that once the book is published that doors would open for me to share my life story, pass on life lessons I have learnt through my experiences, and especially speak against violence and be an advocate for others that are going through similar situations. And since many developing countries do not have laws to protect children, either that or laws are not enforced, I would like my book to open doors for me to get laws enacted so that more children are safer from violence from adults.
Since some things (articles, poems, etc.) I have written in the past have been published in some newspapers, I am hoping to write more articles regarding social justice topics, the healthcare system in BC, etc.
Through the last few years many people have come into my life that are amazingly caring. Especially when I was facing things like surgery these people went out of their way to do practical things for me. A hearty thanks to them.