24 Apr VBS Project for 2013

The Global Ministries Vacation Bible School Project for 2013 focuses on two areas of ministry in Jamaica.

Brumalia High School. This school is located on the campus of Regent College of the Caribbean in Mandeville. Most of the student have had problems in their lives—difficult home situations, trouble with the law–and other schools asked them to leave. For some, Brumalia is their last resort.

At Brumalia, they are taught basic subjects and also learn a trade, such as plumbing, welding, or agriculture. To become certified in their trade, they must take a written examination. Most of the student lacks good reading skills, so they struggle with the exam. Most read at perhaps the equivalent of a second or third grade level. They pass the hands-on part of the exam, but not the written.

We want to help with their reading skills. Funds raised through the VBS project will enable Brumalia to buy and teach a reading program to the students.

Children’s Literature. We will partner with Jamaica Conference to provide VBS and Sunday school materials for children. Most of the churches can’t afford to buy materials. So they either do without, or they use the same materials they’ve been using for up to 20 years. Sometimes the materials are so old that they can’t even be photocopied without falling apart.

We want to provide materials to help in the Christian education of children in our Jamaican churches.

Here’s what your VBS can do.

1. Encourage your children to give to both of these projects.

2. Donate any new or gently used VBS and Sunday school materials your church may have. Send them to the Global Ministries office in Huntington, Ind. We will then ship them to Jamaica. (Materials can be given at any time throughout the year.)

For photos, more information concerning these two projects, and ideas for introducing the projects to your children, please go to the Global Ministries website. You’ll also be able to download a PDF version of the poster on the right.

24 Apr Roger Reeck Undergoes Surgery

Roger Reeck, a Global Ministries endorsed staff in Honduras, underwent surgery on Wednesday morning, April 24, on his left ankle. Roger and his wife, Marilyn, serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators.

Twelve years ago Roger fractured his left ankle, and pins and other hardware were inserted. But of late, he has suffered a lot of pain. Xrays now show that two pins on the inner side of the ankle were out of place and almost protruding through the skin.

Last week Roger visited the American surgeon at a mission hospital where his daughter Chrysti works, with the plan that the two pins be removed. But after the doctor consulted with others, he decided that all of the metal–the plate, screws and the pins–should be removed.

This surgery happened Wednesday morning, April 24. Marilyn reported: “The operation went well, lasting around three hours. All the metal was successfully removed from the ankle area. One of the screws was difficult to find because it was embedded in a bone. These screws were putting pressure on a tendon sheath and a nerve. The doctors are hopeful that this will relieve a lot of the pain. Since the operation happened at a mission hospital, there were no costs involved and an extra bonus was that our daughter Chrysti assisted.”

Roger will stay with Chrysti for a while before moving back back to his home in La Ceiba.

Roger had planned to travel to Columbia on Wednesday to spend a few days checking a Bible translation for a group there, and then meet up with Marilyn in Venezuela, where she was leading a Multiplication One Story workshop. Roger’s travel plans were of course cancelled. Marilyn postponed her trip for a few days, but will soon head to Venezuela for the workshop. While she is gone, Chrysti will be able to periodically check on Roger in La Ceiba.

16 Apr Workers Needed in July for Jamaica Camp Building

The new dormitory at Malvern Camp, though unfinished, was used during Jamaica National Conference this spring.

Dwight and Patti Kuntz will return to Jamaica on July 2 and would like to take a small work team with them specifically to do some finishing work on the first floor of the dormitory building at Malvern. They need a team of 5-6 people for the week of July 2 – 9. The work will include tiling floors, installing fixtures in bathrooms, and other work.

Though the building is not yet completed, it was used to house pastors at the annual conference in March of this year. The photo above shows the project as it stands now.

14 Apr Observing a Surgery at Mattru Hospital

Dr. Martin Salia performing hernia surgery on a young boy.

In the surgery room.

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

While at Mattru Hospital during my visit to Sierra Leone in February 2013, I was given permission to observe a surgery. They gave me a surgical gown to wear, and set up a chair in case I needed to sit down.

The surgeon was Dr. Martin Salia, a Sierra Leonean doctor who comes from a United Brethren background. He works at a hospital in Freetown, the capital city, but came to Mattru for strategic planning meetings about the future of Mattru Hospital.

He was assisted by Mr. French, another Sierra Leonean. Mr. French is just a handyman, not a medical doctor, but seems to be quite skilled at surgery. Before the civil war, he assisted Dr. Ron Baker in numerous surgeries, and he continued his involvement in surgeries during and after the civil war.

They told me they would be doing hernia surgeries. I learned that hernia surgery is the most frequent surgery performed at Mattru. I asked about it, and was told that there seems to be a genetic weakness for hernias among the Mende people.

I expected the patient to be an adult, but it turned out to be a little boy, just a year old, who was screaming his head off. He had a hernia the size of a softball. The little guy was from a village, and was terrified; he’d probably never been out of his mother’s sight. Now he was being brought into this operating room with bright lights and strange people wearing masks—all new to him.

Then, when they laid him on the table, he saw me, a white guy with blue eyes. He may have never seen a white person before. That did it. Quickly, the anesthesiologist said, “Let’s put him under ASAP.” They did.

The surgery was quite amazing thing to watch. All of the staff were Sierra Leoneans. Christian worship music played in the background. Before any incision was made, everybody stopped what they were doing and gathered around while Dr. Salia led them in prayer.

Also in the room were five student nurses. They assisted to a small degree, but mainly just watched. I was told that student nurses regularly attend surgeries. They brought a chair or me, in case I became lightheaded and needed to sit down, but student nurses ended up using it.

The surgery went well. They said the boy would be running around the village within a couple of days.

12 Apr Sierra Leone: a Major Outreach to a Muslim Group

Jeff Bleijerveld (left) and Bishop Phil Whipple (second from left) with Sierra Leone leaders and workers.

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

During the coming weeks, Sierra Leone National Conference will conduct a month of outreach into the Pujehun Region and Liberia. This is primarily a Sunni Muslim area. The outreach will be led by Rev. Peter Kainwo, the conference director of Evangelism and Church Planting.

The outreach will include 16 days of Jesus Film presentations, plus community visitation among six communities of the Vai People.

In preparation, Sierra Leone Conference will conduct two days of training with 19 participants in soul winning, discipleship, and household evangelism. There will also be two days of follow-up and fact-finding for future outreach in Liberia.

Those participating are United Brethren members who have relocated their families to this border region in order to participate in planting new churches. Bishop Phil Whipple, Donna Hollopeter, and I had the opportunity to spend time with this amazing group of pioneer evangelists this past February.

11 Apr Getting Acquainted with Dr. Martin Salia

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

In February, I visited Sierra Leone to participate in strategic planning regarding Mattru Hospital. Also participating in those meetings was Dr. Martin Salia (right), a very skilled surgeon who works at a hospital in Freetown.

Martin comes from a United Brethren background. In the 1990s, Sierra Leone Conference sent Martin to Burkina Faso to participate in extensive training designed for producing medical missionaries. Every student was set up with a mentor. Martin was mentored by a missionary doctor with years of experience. The idea was not just developing Martin into a good surgeon, but into a follower of Christ.

The Sierra Leone Conference helped support Martin with this training, with the understanding that he would return to work at Mattru Hospital. But then the civil war occurred, and the hospital fell into chaos and disrepair. While decisions were being processed about whether or not to take him on at Mattru Hospital, Martin landed a job at the Kissie Hospital in Freetown.

Working at the same hospital is Dr. Dennis Marke, who previously worked at Mattru Hospital. Both Dr. Marke and Dr. Salia made tremendous contributions to the strategic planning, since they understand what makes an effective missions hospital.

03 Apr Teaching Position with Global Ministries

Global Ministries is looking for someone to teach elementary school children in a creative access country during the coming school year. If you have teaching experience and/or a TESOL degree, we invite you to join God’s work in this way. This paid teaching position with housing is available for at least one year. If interested, contact Frank Y in Global Ministries.

28 Mar Update from Bob and Lois Conway in Jamaica

Bob and Lois Conway, Regent College of the Caribbean, Jamaica

Bob and Lois Conway (right) have served at Regent College of the Caribbean (formerly Jamaica Bible College) since 2008. Bob is a teacher. Bob, an ordained United Brethren minister and a former UB pastor in Pennsylvania, is a Lecturer in the School of Bible & Theology. Many of the UB pastors in Jamaica are trained at this school. Here are excerpts from their March 2013 newsletter, which was sent by email on Wednesday, March 27, the first day of their spring break.

We have 37 Bible students. The first year students are older, ranging in age from 25-58. Most work at least 8-40 hours a week besides coming to college. Thirteen are married and have 1-5 children. Their dedication to learning God’s Word is admirable.

We rejoice at the way God has been blessing students that Bob has taught over the years. Kensworth is presently the associate pastor in a church of over 500 in Kingston. In September, he is being sent to pastor a smaller church, which is struggling. His wife, Rosemarie, is a graduate of our Business School and teaches school. They are expecting their first child in April.

During March, three other American couples from the Church of the United Brethren in Christ were on campus. Harold and MaryAnn Hancock have been here since September 2012 and will return to the states at the end of May, but plan to return in September. Harold teaches welding and agriculture, and MaryAnn helps in the library.

Dwight and Patty Kuntz came in January and returned to USA a week ago. Dwight has been supervising the building projects at Malvern Camp and the dining complex on our campus. They plan to return when sufficient funds are raised to continue work on both projects.

Jason and Donna Hollopeter were here for the 62nd Annual Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. Donna is the associate director of Global Ministries.

Twice a month, Lois has been doing Teacher Training Classes on behalf of Child Evangelism Fellowship. Approximately 25-30 have been attending. She continues to teach Boys Club at the Salem United Brethren church and Good News Club at Frankfield. Salem was recognized for its outstanding achievements for the past year. One of the many things was the church partnered with Jarred, a mission group from London, to supply used school furniture and many other items to 64 schools. There were a number of outreach programs.

We would be thrilled if more churches in the USA would support the building of the Dining Complex by sending financial help and work teams. Jamaica is a wonderful place in the winter to employ your skills and talents for the Lord.

27 Mar Bridger Fetters Concludes Global Ministries Service

Bridger Fetters concluded his three-year term of service with Global Ministries in mid-February 2013. He plans to pursue his secondary teacher’s license.

It has been an honor for Global Ministries to have Bridger Fetters serve with our team in Macau these last three years. He provided valuable ministry teaching in the English Language Program and working with the Living Water and Living Stones churches in Macau. We wish him well as he pursues a future as a high school English teacher here in the United States.