“Bank home and away,” and “We’ll help you to stay connected to your money when you travel.”

That’s what you can read on the wall at our local ANZ Branch here in Kaitaia, in the Far North of New Zealand. You don’t even need to go inside, the writing is also visible from the outside through the window.

I really like that, because I know from a sad experience how important it is to stay connected to your money.

Missionaries making known in THAILAND what he has done

Picture / Alan Collingwood

From 1966 – 1979 I worked as a missionary in Thailand. During that time I went to Malaysia for a holiday. I used to live north of Bangkok and on my way back from Malaysia arriving in Bangkok I somehow could not get hold of my money and had to borrow a certain amount from another German who worked as a missionary in Thailand with another missionary society. It is good to have friends.

As you can see I know how important it is to stay connected to my money. But I know also that it is even more important to stay connected to the living God.

I have actually two birthdays. My second birthday was not long ago and I have been connected to the living God for more than 63 years. After three years at Bible school I applied to a Missionary Society, went on deputation all over Germany and after working in Thailand, as mentioned already, I did more studies at the Bible College of New Zealand, as it was called in 1980, and continued after that to work as a missionary in Kaikohe / New Zealand for almost 25 years (United Maori Mission).

Just as the Bank helps me to stay connected to my money, the BIBLE and PRAYING helps me to stay connected to the Lord Jesus Christ. I remember staying in Bangkok during my time in Thailand and it must have been in the hotel called “Europe” where I remember reading James 1:1,2 in my Bible, where it says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, …”

And remember to take the BIBLE with you when you travel!