Spring 2002 Facing Bench

Unfolding The Rose

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the younger preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.

The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact...It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do.

Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem...

     It is only a tiny rosebud,
     A flower of God's design;
     But I cannot unfold the petals
     With these clumsy hands of mine.
     The secret of unfolding flowers
     Is not known to such as I.
     God opens this flower so sweetly,
     Then in my hands they die.
     If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
     This flower of God's design,
     Then how can I have the wisdom
     To unfold this life of mine?
     So I'll trust in Him for leading
     Each moment of my day.
     I will look to him for His guidance
     Each step of the pilgrim way.
     The pathway that lies before me,
     Only my Heavenly Father knows.
     I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
     Just as He unfolds the rose.

My friends, let us each ask our loving and compassionate and gracious and merciful Heavenly Father to unfold the moments of our lives and make us the fragrant flowers of His kingdom, in this life and in the life which is to come in Eternity.

Printed from Winona Friends Church Newsletter
Author of Poem, unknown.

Sisters of the Harvest

Destination: Hong Kong

It began as a dream of Dave and Cindy Aufrance. An all women's missionary team coming to minister to the new Filipino Outreach in Hong Kong.

During a trip to the U.S., they spoke with Joyce Sams and all three began to pray. God opened the doors along with the hearts of twelve women from Eastern Region. The result? A powerful, life-changing missions trip in February.

Sisters of the Harvest were invited by David and Cindy Aufrance of the OMS Headquarters in Hong Kong to come and participate in the ministry of Faith Fellowship.

Faith Fellowship Church reaches out to Philippine Domestic Workers living in Hong Kong. There are over 140,000 Filipinos living and working in Hong Kong. Many have left families - parents, husbands, and children - to earn income for their families. Many come willingly, but some are not so willing and are forced to do so by families. The team ministered during the Chinese New Year because most domestic workers have time off from their jobs. It is the Year of the Horse, and there were great celebrations throughout the city.

While in Hong Kong, they were involved in three different ministry opportunities:

First, they learned about the ministry OMS has with the Chinese in Hong Kong through their United Christian College and Seminary and through the Chinese churches situated throughout the city.

Secondly, they were introduced to the Chinese culture and also the religious aspects of Hong Kong as they prayed and walked through the city.

Thirdly, they initiated evangelism in parks and malls, inviting women to come back to the worship center for free haircuts, crafts, snacks, music, and fellowship. God worked in the lives of many women. All agreed the trip was a "blessed time" filled with God-introduced ministry moments between the women of both cultures.