• And how is your string?  If you don’t know how to answer, click here (Mali).
• Why the violence?  And why are leaders so silent about it? (Nigeria)
• I don’t know, how often do you ask for a cat at a gas station? (Hungary)
• Here’s a chance to give input at a blog – what kinds of posts would you like to see here? (Taiwan)
• Can I be content without – all this stuff?  Good question. (Brazil)
• "Could you tell me About Jesus, just briefly?"  Wow, where would you start? (Thailand)
• Why not just teach them all English?  Really?  People actually ask you that? (United Kingdom)
• This is certainly a favourite question for missionaries – what is your schedule like? (Chile)  Of course, it’s different for everyone – and changes once a week…
• What are you doing to support healthy family life?  This is kind of neat. (Bolivia)

Though they’re not included in the main blog lists and aggregator, I like to write once in a while about short termers, missionaries that travel frequently in and out of other cultures, and blogs that simply don’t fit in any other category.  That’s our theme today!

• Romania – Wednesday – The final night of the crusade was exciting. Again new children and families came to participate in the children’s program. It was such an honor to introduce children to their creator…
• In Bangalore, India, some thoughts from students and about students in Doctoral Student’s Study “How Cultures Work.” and Using Critical Tension for Outreach
• Coming back from a trip – Don’t forget us when you get back.  How could I?  Read Saying Goodbye in Nigeria.
• From the other side, here’s someone getting ready to go.  Check out Kevin and Melissa’s Life in a Nutshell as they make their final preparations to go to Kenya.
• Just one more – let’s visit Zambia and other countries in Africa in – The Whirlwind and other posts at Laura Staszewski’s blog

Do you like to browse missionary blogs just so that you can take time to pray?  Let me save you some time – here are some missionaries who are asking for prayer for various things.  Let’s take a quick tour and pray for these things – maybe there’s even a way you can be a part of the answer!

• From Honduras – Just a note for prayer. The well drilling is not going well…
• There are a few prayer requests here, but just listen to what’s happening in Nepal!  Now, under a new government, Nepal is opening up for Christian radio via local stations (more accessible and convenient than shortwave)…
• Moving to Guinea!  But there’s so much to do before then.  Thanks very much for your prayers, continue to pray for us as we go through all these preparations.  We can’t wait to be done with them.  They seem never ending!
• Terrible tragedy in Bangladesh.  Five of our projects seriously affected due to cyclone Aila.  We are providing dry food, Water purifying tablets, and ORS….  There’s a family to pray for here.
• Helping AIDS orphans in Ukraine… God has a marvelous [sic] way of pulling together just the right people at just the right time…
• A missionary that won’t be returning to Nigeria.  I was able to surrender last week and every minute since… I am in the midst of intense grieving… a death has happened… and yet, He promises strength and peace, which I receive and praise Him for…  Please pray for Erin.
• This from Greece – Please continue to pray for our ministry, our refugee friends, and the Greek government.  Why?  Read (and watch the video) Misery Meets Greece’s Migrants
• Does God really care about copy machines?  Of course!  I ask that you pray that God will make His plan clear for us. (And yes, really, I DO think God cares about our copy machine issues.) (Ukraine)

Today Missionary Blog Watch is proud to bring you some posts from 7 of the most populous countries in the world (not the top 7, but 7 of the top – get it?).  As a matter of fact, the people from these countries alone make up almost 50% of the population of the world!  Here’s the latest:

• China:  Learning Mandarin Chinese isn’t so easy – apparently it’s all about Learning to curl the tongue.  Next, check out the Jubilee Filipino Fellowship at 2 years old (yes, in Hong Kong, China)
• India:  Some of the goings on in the effort to see new churches in south India.  And a video update – how cool is that?
• Indonesia:  And a video on … well, rocks!.  Also a boy with appendicitis, who is now recovering.  The last link also talks about a recent tragedy.  Finally, a wild pig hunt!
• Brazil:  Reaching Germanic peoples in south Brazil – Tradition Versus Christ.  Also, check out a Brazilian Birthday Party, and find out why Andrew thinks it’s his fault.
• Nigeria:  "Sitting on a concrete block in the ruins of the burned out church yesterday, listening to the members singing songs of praise and devotion…” (continue)
• Russia:  News of a growing church, and being in Korea in the middle of Russia.
• Japan:  A full week – especially interesting is the story of the "Returnees".  Another post with lots in it, including exciting news about a Japanese pastor.  Finally, some quick videos from Japan.

And how about some thoughts from Nigeria … who could resist reading a post entitled May Erin always be fat?

And a post from Paraguay.  What would you do if this happened to you (by the way, a warning in advance – this is a spider related post)?  Enough is Enough!

And some familiar challenges are alluded to in this brief update from Peru.

Oh, let’s end where we began, in Thailand – A few fun facts you might not know about Thailand!  Yep, there was a lot I didn’t know!

• Quirey Life (Brazil) has more life than ever – they’ve been celebrating the birth of Jackson Turner Quirey.
• The Poulette Family(Mexico) has been writing lately about Jesus, His death and Resurrection.  Of course, the Poulettes have another newer blog – Mexico Movies, which has given many of us a great introduction to vlogging over the past 3 years.
• Carroll Chronicles (Germany) is a bright family focused blog, writing about things like Married at the age of Five!? and Please DO Feed the Animals!
• Comings Communiqué (Brazil) is a blog with rich variety.  Read recent thoughts on prayer and some news items.
• AGENText (Argentina) used to be mexiText.  Still going strong with a fresh change of country, you can read about The Unexpected and Lacking Rhythm, Not Life
• Erin’s Entry (Nigeria) is actually new around here, but not new to the blogosphere.  Erin recently wrote about In Sickness and in Health…, and the post Last Friday… is long but not to be missed if you want to learn about Nigerian culture.
• I have to give honourable mention to The Happenings in Madrid, which, although there hasn’t been a post in a while, has been a long time familiar face.

Photo courtesy of Visentico/Sento

But today I wanted to highlight doctors and nurses who are serving full time in another culture.  I probably missed some obvious ones – I’ve never taken the time to catalogue which people are in which types of ministry.  So if you can think of more, please leave a comment!

Photo courtesy of Kyle and Kelly Adams

The Miller’s ministry says it all – While tending to people’s physical and spiritual needs, the Millers desire to demonstate what a difference Jesus makes in every area of our lives.

May we all have a part in that mission!

Read these blog entries from friends of the family, and if you can think of anything to say – maybe just say a prayer and tell them you’re praying.  I’m including links to contact info for both these bloggers, in case you want to send a note of encouragement to them or through them to the family.

For more on the medical and cultural challenges in Nigeria, check out this post from Kids’ Doc in Jos, entitled Resistance (Paul).  Again, a longer post and parts of it somewhat technical, but if you’re interested in the details of dealing with HIV this will give you some insight.

• From the people who introduced you to the jet towel, we present SQJ Taipei!
• Over 2 months in Madrid now, it’s My Life (as I see it)
• Find out what a real cheese hater is thinking about at Thoughts on life and the Kingdom of God
• Boy, did they have snow.  Check out The Mattingly Times
• We wish you could post pictures too – but the time will come.  Meantime, check out the text at Servant Style.
• Eyes that really see – check it out at The Sims Family in Honduras
• On the brink – just about to leave for Nigeria.  Go visit Esselinks (almost) in Nigeria.

Also, let me give you one short term blog – these guys are heading to Brazil – The official FOCUS Team Blog.  They’re going in May to work with the Comings family.