21 June 2005

Imagine this: Take five Aussies ranging in age from 2 to 42. Throw them in a van. Add faith, prayer and, oh yes, medical supplies. Drop the motley crew into the middle of Bolivia's stunning Andean valleys and what do you get? PROJECT WALKABOUT. The hoped for results: church growth and better health care. Mission today is innovative, faith-packed, and sacrificial. Can you see yourself in this picture? We hope so.

Back to the story. Lawrence and Liling Tan heard God's call to missions. Dr. Tan is a doctor. That's easy—medical missions. But Lawrence and Liling pushed the boundaries. After working in Bolivia's capital of Sucre for four years, they became increasingly aware of critical and unmet needs in outlying areas.

Dr. Tan explains, "With the backing of the Bolivian Department of Health, I was able to visit various country hospitals and help the doctors. After visiting the hospitals, I took the opportunity to visit local church leaders. I had many opportunities to encourage them, care for them medically, and pray for them." In other words, enormous needs presented themselves to Lawrence and Liling. So they prayed. They listened. They read Scripture. They did a lot of blue sky thinking. They wrote it down on paper. They consulted wise people around them. They prayed again. An idea hatched. That idea is on the verge of being implemented in the second half of 2005. It goes like this:

Take one cheap, second-hand bus. Gut it. Install a mini-laboratory, ultrasound machine, and GPS system. Mark out spaces for sleeping and home schooling. Factor in the dirty basics: portable loo and solar shower (solar panels not yet purchased, brrrrr). Invite a team of volunteer Bolivian church workers and health professionals. Then, drive the whole contraption over bumpy mountain roads for three weeks out of every month!

With God's blessing, the impact of Project Walkabout will unfold in two ways: church growth and better health care. As the sun sinks behind the peaks of the Andes Mountains, Lawrence and Liling, along with church workers in their caravan team, will gather with rural church leaders to encourage, pray and disciple. Dr. Lawrence and Liling Tan aren't theological giants; they've simply experienced Jesus and have been called to share that experience with others. That's all any of us are called to do.

YOU So what about YOU? What are you doing with your time, talents and creativity? Maybe you don't believe you have much to give. That's impossible. You have life in Jesus who died and rose again for you, and for people in your world. What will you risk like the Tans? Will you follow hard after Jesus?

Not every mission venture becomes a success in the way the missionary thought it would be. That's okay too. Project Walkabout may develop in ways only God can see. The point is daily obedience and sacrifice to Jesus.

Just as we're all about partnering with Bolivian medical professionals and church leaders, we're keen to partner with YOU. If you would like to talk with someone at SIM about ways to serve in world mission, then we'd love to hear from you. If you're not ready to talk, but want to check out a few of our opportunities (warning: there are hundreds of potential positions, not all listed here), then have a look. Please know that although we don't know your name yet, we are praying for you! That's our motto: By Prayer. Whenever you are ready, we'd love to hear from you!