22 Sep Sierra Leonean UBs Respond to Ebola

John Pessima (right), Bishop of Sierra Leone Conference

It all started in May this year when Ebola entered Sierra Leone through Guinea and Liberia. We appealed to Global Ministries for help, so we could do sensitization and prevention training in the Sierra Rutile and Mattru communities, where the majority of the United Brethren schools and churches are located. We targeted our pastors, teachers, and medical practitioners—persons who have large constituencies. We knew that if they stood before their congregations or students and talked about the disease, the information would get around quickly.

We thank God that Global Ministries responded immediately to our cry.

We put together a team of professionals who conducted a workshop on sensitization and prevention of Ebola. This occurred September 15 in Sierra Rutile, and September 16 in Mattru. Altogether, we trained 165 people, who were then instructed to train others in their own communities.

After the two days of training of trainers, participants were provided with a T-shirt, materials on the causes and prevention of Ebola, and a bucket containing medicated soap for their schools and churches (it is now a routine to wash hands with either soap or chlorine before entering homes and public places, including churches). The programs were successful. Participants returned home fully aware of what to do to prevent this virus.

Bonthe district is the location of Mattru Hospital, a nursing school with over 450 students, two high schools, and many primary schools. This district is not too affected for now. As a precautionary measure, the tuberculosis ward at Mattru Hospital has been prepared in the event that it is needed to treat Ebola patients. On September 18, there were 29 current cases of Ebola in the district. However, this only reflects confirmed cases. Many more may exist but have been kept hidden.

The total number of deaths for the whole country is 483, an alarming number that rises each day. We have a moral responsibility as a church to continue with the intervention and to help our people with food and other relief items. Businesses have closed temporarily, churches have suspended services, and schools have suspended classes. Imports and exports have been halted. The crisis is far from over.

Kenema is still quarantined. They need food and other related items which they cannot easily get.

We want to conduct similar sensitization and prevention programs for the members of our various churches in Bo and Freetown, the country’s two largest cities. The virus is spreading quickly because of the influx of people from Port Loko in the north. We are still continuing with our appeal and prayer request for these two conference districts.

We also keep getting requests from our brethren in Liberia. Please don’t forget to keep them in your prayers, as this is a new congregation that is also suffering from Ebola.

As a church, we believe in reaching out to people in need just as our Lord Christ Jesus went out preaching the Good News, giving hope to the hopeless while also healing the sick and feeding the hungry.

Sierra Leone’s economy is down, but we still have hope in the Lord that He will bring this to an end very soon.

17 Sep January 2015: Jamaica Work Trip

Global Ministries is sponsoring a trip to Jamaica during January to work at the Malvern Camp. The team will continue work on the new dormitory at the camp. The first floor is completed, but work needs to begin on the second floor.

Dates: January 3-10, 2015.
Team Leader: Dwight Kuntz (right).
Cost: $750 per person, plus airfare.

The $750 includes in-country travel, food, lodging, supplemental health insurance, and cost of materials.

17 Sep Day 11 Update on Reina Casco

Denis Casco, Bishop of Mexico Conference, provided this “Day 11” update on his wife, Reina, who suffered a brain aneurysm. She is hospitalized in the Los Angeles area, where they live.

“Reina is out of ICU to start recovery for a few days more in the hospital. She started walking, small steps, with the help of the physical therapist. Reina is a very strong woman and very soon she will be back to her normal life and her pastoral work, which she has always done with dedication and devotion to God.

“I thank everyone for your prayers and support in this very difficult time of our life. We’ve been feeling much strength when we read your letters and many messages of solidarity.”

Reina is pastor of a church in Glendale, Calif.

Reina Casco
2427 Rochelle Avenue
Monrovia, CA 91016

15 Sep Day 10 Update on Reina Casco

Denis Casco, bishop of Mexico Conference, reported Monday morning (Sept. 15) that his wife, Reina, is improving steadily from the brain hemorrhage she suffered ten days before. “It’s amazing how God is working in her recuperation day by day. Probably this week her doctor will move her from ICU to a regular room to continue her treatment. All tests show that she is getting better. We are thankful to God for this miracle in Reina’s life and we hope that very soon she will be at home.”

Reina Casco
2427 Rochelle Avenue
Monrovia, CA 91016

11 Sep Day 6 Update on Reina Casco

Denis Casco, Bishop of Mexico Conference, posted the following on Facebook on Thursday morning, September 11. His wife, Reina, is in the Intensive Care Unit of Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, Calif.

Reina received a dose of morphine at 11:30 pm to calm her severe pain from the the cerebral hemorrhage she suffered five days ago. She looks very vulnerable; her face is like a helpless child that makes me literally shed tears of pain in the bottom of my heart. I know God is with her and that his angels are taking care of Reina.

Tomorrow she’ll probably have a second surgery to put a catheter into her brain to drain and help reduce the severe headache. I am trusted in God that this will help a lot and she will be able to sleep a little more.

Last night I went to church to pray with my brothers and sisters, and also to comfort them because they are also suffering from Reina’s disease. We were helping each other, as God’s Word commands. These have been difficult days, but I felt the support of hundreds of people like my family, pastors, friends, and churches in many countries that are praying for Reina. I have received hundreds of phone calls, messages, emails etc. I have not been able to answer until today.

10 Sep Update on Reina Casco

Reina Casco, wife of Bishop Denis Casco of Mexico Conference, entered a Los Angeles-area hospital on Sunday with an aneurysm. The Cascos live in Monrovia, Calif. Bishop Casco posted the following (with some editing–English is his second language) on Tuesday, September 10.

Bishop Denis Casco, Mexico Conference

Today Reina is talking a little more than yesterday, and that’s a good sign for recovery. I’m counting each day as a gift of life for all my family, because today I learned more clearly that we can die in a second, and that’s what would have happened with Reina. Aneurysm is highly dangerous if not treated immediately. Reina could have died, but God did not allow it because it is He that gives life and takes it away.

Reina is slowly responding. She continues in ICU under strict medical care. Pain will be in her head for a few days, so they have to deliver morphine.

Everyone here in my family is very grateful to all of you for taking care of me with your text messages, phone calls, visits, and especially for your prayers. God has listened carefully and responded to all of you with such love and mercy for Reina. Please keep praying for Reina. This is a very critical period for her.

Address:

Reina Casco
2427 Rochelle Avenue
Monrovia, CA  91016

09 Sep Honduras: Three Days of Fasting and Prayer

Jeff Bleijerveld (right), Director of Global Ministries

Juanita Chavez, superintendent of Honduras Conference, wrote about a conference-wide three days of prayer and fasting. It stretched from 6am-6pm on August 25, 26, and 27.

Some leaders met together during this prayer summit, but all members of their 115 churches were encouraged to join them. They were inspired by the example of Moses, Aaron, and Hur who climbed to the top of a hill in Exodus 17:10-15, and together held up Moses’ hands so that the Israelites would prevail over the Amaleks.

So what did they prayer about?

• A revival throughout the church as a result of hearing and obeying the Word of God.
• Willingness of their leaders to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit, recognizing the Lordship of Jesus over His church.
• Reestablishment of the “family altar” among their families, so that Christ would be evident in their family lives.
• Bethel School and its financial needs.
• The Retreat Center and the projects underway to complete it.
• Their country and its leaders–that the fear of God would awaken in their hearts.
• Wisdom from God for the difficult decisions and situations that we see around the world in these times of crisis.

They also shared their anticipation in joining with others from September 30 to October 20 for the 21 Days For Global Harvest. This is the first year that Global Ministries has invited our worldwide body to join this prayer campaign for fulfilling the Great Commission in this generation.

08 Sep Reina Casco Undergoes Brain-Related Surgery

Reina Casco, wife of Bishop Denis Casco of Mexico Conference, underwent surgery on Sunday, September 7, for what Bishop Casco described as “brain bleeding.” The surgery was done at Huntington Memorial Hospital in the Los Angeles area, where the Cascos live.

Denis later wrote: “Reina’ surgery was successful. She is doing well,. She is in Intensive Care Unit for her recuperation.” He expects her to remain hospitalized for another ten days.

Reina is pastor of a former United Brethren church in Glendale, Calif.

Address:

Reina Casco
2427 Rochelle Avenue
Monrovia, CA 91016

27 Aug January 2015: Work Trip to Jamaica

Global Ministries is sponsoring a trip to Jamaica during January to work at the Malvern Camp. The team will continue work on the new dormitory at the camp. The first floor is completed, but work needs to begin on the second floor.

Dates: January 3-10, 2015.
Team Leader: Dwight Kuntz (right).
Cost: $750 per person, plus airfare.

The $750 includes in-country travel, food, lodging, supplemental health insurance, and cost of materials.

27 Aug Supplies for Ebola-Ravaged Kenema

Kenema, the third-largest city in Sierra Leone, is at the center of the Ebola outbreak. The city has been sealed off by government troops. The Kenema hospital is the primary hospital for dealing with Ebola. A number of healthcare workers there have contracted the disease and died. One was a United Brethren pastor’s wife.

On Saturday, August 23, Bishop John Pessima of Sierra Leone Conference took rice and other food items to Kenema for United Brethren pastors and members in that area. He was accompanied by his four superintendents. Three of them were stopped at a checkpoint. However, Bishop Pessima and Superintendent Peter Kainwa were allowed into Kenema with the items.

Bishop Pessima writes, “On behalf of the conference, I want to thank Global Ministries for their support during this crisis, Dr. and Mrs. Jusu in Kenya, Faith UBC Church at Lumley, and many more that are supporting us. It is not yet over. We are still raising more food for Kenema, because it is really had for them at this time.