18 Sep Update from the Deliks in Poland

Arek and Donna Delik are endorsed missionaries serving with Operation Moblization in Kutno, Poland. Donna is originally from the UB churches in Hong Kong. Here are excerpts from their September 2003 newsletter.

“After two wonderful weeks in the United Kingdom, we returned home safely last week. We did quite a lot of traveling this time and I am really proud of Arek for he drove on the other side without a single accident. We are so glad that we could attend the OM conference in Keswick, which was specially dedicated to our founder, George Verwer. The conference itself was both inspiring and challenging. OM has entered into an new era under the leadership of Peter Maiden.

“During our Global Challenge campaign, the outreach team went to four different towns, ministering to people through street evangelism as well as a gospel meeting. In the second week of outreach, half of the team ran a children’s English workshop in Kutno, which went really well. Despite a rumor that some kind of ‘sect’ may use English teaching to ‘convert’ people, the feedback from the parents was very positive and we got the chance to share with some why we did this workshop.

The local believers were encouraged by their enthusiasm and hard work as they realized that Poland was not forgotten. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with pastors who faithfully reach out to those forgotten towns in Poland. The soil is hard, and we need to keep praying that God will soften the hearts of those we have shared the gospel with.

“A girl named Marta gave her life to Jesus during the Global Challenge campaign. When her mom, a Jehovah’s Witness, learned that she came to our meeting, she got really mad and beat her up. She also took away Marta’s cell phone. Now we have no access to Marta and are afraid that she will have more trouble if we try to contact her. Before all these happened, she wrote to us once and joyfully shared with us her excitement of discovering how much our Father God loves and cares for her.

“Our focus for the next few months will be in these areas:

• Visiting churches, especially those showing interest in the ship ministry. We hope to build a better relationship with the Polish churches and promote OM’s worldwide ministry.
• The IFES conference at the end of October, where George Verwer will be the main speaker. We are invited to take part during the conference. Pray that many students will be challenged for missions.
• Locally under the church plant in Kutno, we will start our English school in two weeks time. In mid-September, we would like to start our first Youth English club on Saturday afternoon.

“By God’s grace we will have a full team by the beginning of October! Anu-Riikka returned to Finland after three busy months with us. Caroline (British) and Sylwia (Polish) have settled in very well. At the end of the month we welcome a retired missionary couple from Holland, Theo and Tinneke, who will join our team for two months. We definitely need someone to help us to teach English in the next semester when Caroline returns to UK.”

18 Sep Update from Luanne Brooks

Luanne Brooks sent this update on September 15. She is a UB missionary serving with OMS International in Haiti.

“A few weeks ago I attended the Haitian National Convention for United Brethren in Christ. It was held in Port Au Prince, and was a great experience. I was able to address the conference in Creole and was very happy with the response I received. I sang with a Haitian choir, because I just happened to be wearing what they were wearing. They approached me and asked if I would sing with them, and of coarse I was happy to add my voice in praise to our Savior.

“Coming home to Cap Haitian, I was very ill, but I received a note from a prayer supporter in Michigan, who in the middle of that night answered Gods request to pray for me. Because of that prayer, I was able to sit through the OMS annual field council meetings and participate. I was elected to the position of Social Coordinator and placed on several committees. I will also be the editor of the field newsletter that I will start this month.

“At the council meeting, I learned that I would soon be sharing my house with a young lady from Indiana who would be teaching at the Cowman school. Later that week, Erica Thompson arrived and we have been settling in. She is new to Haiti and is having her anxieties, just as I did. Having a housemate is a new experience for me. I have been Queen of the hive since I was 17. Now for the first time I am sharing that top dog position. Please pray for me that I will remember that I am Erica’s housemate and not her mother! She is a sweet young lady who is looking for God’s will in her life.

“I have my reservations to come home for Christmas, December 18-29.”

18 Sep Update from Dave Datema Family

Here is a September 12 update from Dave and Cathie Datema, endorsed missionaries serving in Pasadena with the US Center for World Mission.

• “The INSIGHT students have finished their 3rd week and are now studying ancient civilizations and the beginnings of the Old Testament. They seem to enjoy each other and are working hard to finish their assignments and readings. We are happy to have 16 students here on campus from Wales in the UK, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Kansas, Oregon, North Carolina, New York and California. One woman is from a United Brethren church in Harrisburg, Pa. She came after hearing Dave speak at her church last fall.
• “Cathie has agreed to be a mentor for one of the female INSIGHT students. Most of the students are away from their families and friends so this relationship is intended mostly to provide friendship. They meet for one hour, once a week.
• “Dave recently returned from a weekend in Colorado, celebrating his aunt and uncle’s 50th wedding anniversary with other Datema relatives.
• “Cathie and the girls are traveling to Ohio this week to visit friends and family.”

18 Sep Update from Jana

Jana sent these items from Macau on September 13.

“Our ELP classes started in early September with VERY FEW students. This is discouraging for all of us. Pray that more of our students will return during the next couple of weeks. Pray for wisdom on how to handle the situation. Pray for a sense of peace that this is God’s ministry, and He’s in control. (To be honest, I’m feeling more stressed than peaceful right now.)

“Lamar and Karen Crumbley arrived safely, with their arrival nicely timed between two typhoons, so that their flight schedule wasn’t affected by bad weather. They’re getting settled in and finding their way around. Pray for them as they continue to adjust to Macau and develop relationships with our Chinese friends.

“English Bible Studies started again after the summer break. Several women returned. A few others are planning to come after their children get settled into their new school year. Pray for Tiffany, Miss Cheong, Carmen, and Pansy. All of them are non-Christians who have returned to our English Bible Studies. Pray that their lives will be changed as they study God’s Word.”

“Our ELP secretary, Michael, is taking come church-related courses this year. He thought that his class schedule wouldn’t affect his work schedule with us, but it ends up that there are a lot of time conflicts. He will decide by the end of this month whether to continue working for us with fewer hours or whether to just quit the job and focus on his classes. We’ve appreciated his commitment to our ministry on Taipa, and we want to encourage him as he seeks God’s will for his future. Either way, we’ll need to find another part-time secretary. Pray for God to lead us to the right person.”

“My financial support is now at 99% for this term. Much of this consists of one-time gifts, so I will continue to be in need of monthly supporters in the future. I also have teammates who are still in need of monthly supporters. However, I am thankful for God’s provision for this term.”

03 Sep Hendricks Family Settling Into Spain

The Troy and Julie Hendricks has arrived in Spain, where they will serve as missionaries with Send International. They are settling into an apartment in Azuqueca. They report, “All of our boxes that we sent air freight arrived safely. We are becoming very familiar and comfortable with Azuqueca. It is a wonderful, friendly town.

“Hannah and Ethan continue to adjust well. They will start school at a public school in Azuqueca on Monday, September 8. Next Monday, September 1, we will visit the public schools here in town to see which has space available for our kids. We have talked to parents from our church here who have recommended which school to request, but at this point in time there may not be space available. We really feel that attending public school will be their very best way to adapt to the culture and learn Spanish.

“Today, Troy went to Alca-Lingua to register for the intensive month-long language course. It begins September 2 and runs through the month of September. It is a very fast and very intense foundational course. He will take the train from Azuqueca to Alcala every morning, about a 13-15 minute ride. It is a 20-minute walk from our apartment to the train station in Azuqueca. Then from the train station in Alcala to the language school is about a fifteen minute walk. So the whole process of getting to language school should be a little less than an hour commute. Julie will begin formal language study in October, after the kids are settled into school.”