God Dots

GOD Dots The Mango Tree Centre serving Tonga

By Jim Day

Editor's note: This is the final column about a group's mission trip to Tonga. If you have not read the first two columns, you will find them online at www.christianlivingmag.com.

All of the wonderful things that God started in Tonga through a small group of dedicated prayer warriors in 1994 are still in place today. The culture of Tonga was changed dramatically.

Old superstitions faded away and were replaced by a strong faithfulness in God and His plan. I am blessed to know Joe and Mary Weddle.

I am also blessed in that God provided me aconnection with Rev. 'Amanaki Kim (Kim In Kwon) to provide up-to-date information on the Mango Tree Centre. Volunteers from all over the world come to work and help in any needed effort – some (like Joe and Mary) not even knowing why they come. They just show up. It is a calling from God. A divine appointment. It is a 'God Dot'.

Here’s a link to a video from 2012 about the work of with all of us! We are the Bride of Christ!the Mango Tree Centre: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=yQtYyI4rskI

After reading Joe’s journal entries from 1994 (the first prayer trip), the reoccurring theme of unity of faith across denominational borders emerged. One of the events that occurred during that first trip was the March for Jesus. The March for Joe and Mary took action and just look at what our God did.Jesus in 1994 brought together all of the Christian churches in Tonga. It was a monumental spiritual experience of unity in Christ. The repercussions are still being felt by Christians and churches throughout Tonga. And, it just happened to occur during Joe and Mary's first trip.

Joe’s notes say: “The Church is the Body of Christ The Church belongs to no man The Church belongs to Jesus The Church is His Bride Pray for the Church!”

Believers (the Church) are called to unity in Christ. We look at all the bickering and division in our nation and wonder why. Maybe we should be looking at the division of believers by denominational doctrine and asking the same question.

If you believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God; that Jesus is God; that He came and died on the cross for your sins; that He rose on the third day and ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God; and, that He is coming back to judge everyone – well, if you believe all of these points, we are brothers and sisters in Christ and should start acting more like family, offering grace in our differences and loving one another and praising our Lord and Savior. Then, we will see revival and change.

The evidence of a caring and loving God is all around us, but most can’t see it because they are looking through the lens of the world and we (believers) can get sucked into that as well. Pray, ask the Lord to remove the scales from our eyes. He lives! He loves! He wants to have a personal relationship with all of us! We are the Bride of Christ!

Here is a link to a YouTube video from 2015 showing some of the many projects and activities at the Centre: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=67UkE71IfP0

Part of developing eyes and ears for seeing and hearing the Lord is taking action when He calls us. Doc, Charmayne, Joe and Mary took action and just look at what our God did. God loves to use ordinary people in extraordinary ways.

I pray that the Lord blesses you all in miraculous ways so that your grace for others will overwhelm any other emotion and you will experience a divine appointment – A.K.A. a God Dot!

Here’s a link to another video. Watch and be amazed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMllcM-yMnI n

If this series on Tonga has moved you, you can be a part of what God is doing there. Inquire at Mango Tree Centre for People with Disabilities, P. O. Box 2540, Nuku'alofa, The Kingdom of Tonga.