12 Feb Death of Maritta Fiedler’s Father

Maritta Fiedler, a Global Ministries staffperson serving in Germany, is mourning the death of her father. Hansjakob Wiederhold, 83, passed away at 1:50 pm on Tuesday, February 12. He had struggled with cancer for several years.

Galen Fiedler wrote of his father-in-law, “During the morning he was aware of us but struggling with his breathing; he left quietly with a smile on his face and with us around him.” That would include his wife, Ruth Wiederhold.

Galen says his father-in-law was one of the early pioneer missionaries in both East Africa and Papua New Guinea. “In a time when he wasn’t even recognized as a ‘real’ missionary (because he worked in agriculture), he was serving the Lord whole-heartedly. There is much rejoicing in heaven today because of this humble man who made such an impact on those around him.”

Condolences can be sent to Maritta Fiedler at Galen’s email address: [email protected].

12 Feb A Visit to the Danville Church in Sierra Leone

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

Jeff Bleijerveld is currently in Sierra Leone with Bishop Phil Whipple and associate director Donna Hollopeter.

We came through the Rutile mines and visited three churches. All three have a little more than 300 in attendance, operate schools, and support their own pastors. However, visiting Danville Church was probably the highlight of our day.

The Danville Church was the first United Brethren mission station, established in 1861. The original block house is still there and a church is located beside it. Quite a few gathered with us at the missionary cemetery a short walk through the bush. The first grave I saw was that of Betty Harvey. She arrived in 1861 and died in 1866. They told us the majority of missionaries died of malaria within a very short time. We also saw the grave of Dr. Dewitt Baker’s son who drowned when a barge overturned in the Mattru Jong River, which was their only route inland at that time.

Later we met Charlie Harvey. It was no coincidence that he bears the same name as Betty Harvey, whom I mentioned earlier. Her family took one of his ancestors into their family and gave him their name. Charlie, a layperson, was responsible for planting the Kissy Road Church in Freetown. He served there for 12 years until Bishop John Pessima became pastor.

Before we left, the members of the Danville congregation who joined us at the cemetery sang “Guide Me Oh Thou Great Jehovah” in the Mende language and with a local flair. It was a beautiful yet troubling time as we considered the incredible cost some paid to serve God, and the relative ease we face today. Can we ever take it so for granted?

Anyhow, it was a good day. Tomorrow (Wednesday) we meet to discuss and plan for the future of the Mattru Hospital. The paramount chief, local health officials, conference leaders and hospital board members will be present. Pray for me as I seek to lead them through this process, and that what we conclude and commit to will indeed take place. Half measures will not be enough. We need doctors, surgeons, administrators, and community health workers who will demonstrate the same passion to follow God wherever he leads and at whatever the cost.

11 Feb Progress on UB Dormitory in Nicaragua

The new dormitory under construction in Masaya, Nicaragua.

Here are a couple of photos of the dormitory project in Masaya, Nicaragua. While there are no teams there at this time, the conference continues construction on it own. More work teams will travel later this year.

The dormitory will eventually serve as housing for short-term teams visiting the country and as a training center for the conference’s more than 35 pastors and churches planters. The dormitory will house multiple classrooms and space to house 45 guests quite comfortably.

10 Feb Four Hoosiers Arrive in Sierra Leone

Bishop Phil Whipple brings greetings to the Sierra Leone National Conference during the concluding service of their annual meeting in Freetown on Sunday morning, February 10, 2013.

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

Just a few hours after our three-day journey to Sierra Leone, we had the opportunity to bring greetings to the national conference of Sierra Leone at their closing service being held at the Kissy UB church in Sierra Leone.

We look forward to meeting with the Mattru Hospital board, conference leaders, and regional health officials to continue work on a strategic plan to carry the hospital forward with the assistance of outside medical, administrative, and community health workers.

However we’ll also visit a number of UB churches and the region where the Vai People–124,000 Sunnis Muslims–live on the border between Sierra Leone and Liberia.

But first we might get a little sleep.

NOTE: This message was sent about 7am Central Time, which would be noon in Freetown. There are four travelers: Bishop Phil Whipple, Global Ministries director Jeff Bleijerveld, associate director Donna Hollopeter, and a physician from Auburn, Ind. Read more about the purpose of their trip.

08 Feb Sierra Leone Travelers Delayed by Weather

L-r: Bishop Phil Whipple, Global Ministries director Jeff Bleijerveld, associate director Donna Hollopeter, and a physician from Auburn, Ind.

As mentioned yesterday, four Indiana travelers–Bishop Phil Whipple, Jeff Bleijerveld, Donna Hollopeter, and a physician from Indiana–were to leave for Sierra Leone on Thursday, February 7. Unfortunately, because of snow in Chicago, they weren’t able to leave Fort Wayne, Ind., and had to change all of their travel plans.

Originally, they were to fly from Chicago to Brussels, Belgium, and then on to Freetown. Now, they will leave Fort Wayne around 4:30 pm today (Friday, Feb. 8), fly from Chicago to London, and then on to Freetown.

They are scheduled to arrive in Freetown at 5:20 am on Sunday. Ferries from the airport to the city don’t start running until 8 am. The meeting of Sierra Leone Conference ends at noon, in Freetown, so they probably won’t make it for much (if any) of the conference.

This is Bishop Whipple’s first visit to Sierra Leone, though he previously traveled to Africa when he was a local church pastor.

07 Feb Bishop Whipple and Others Headed to Sierra Leone

On Thursday, February 7, four persons from Indiana left for Sierra Leone:

• Bishop Phil Whipple, who has not yet visited Sierra Leone.
• Jeff Bleijerveld, director of Global Ministries.
• Donna Hollopeter, associate director of Global Ministries.
• A former doctor at Mattru Hospital in Sierra Leone.

They will attend the annual meeting of Sierra Leone Conference and tour United Brethren churches and ministries in the country. They will also devote considerable time to the work at Mattru Hospital.

A few months ago, the doctor traveled to Sierra Leone, at his own expense, and initiated an extensive assessment with hospital staff and some national church leaders. This laid a foundation for the meetings that will be held during this February 2013 trip.

They will meet with various groups involved with Mattru Hospital—administrators, the medical board, Sierra Leone Conference leaders, representatives from the Wesleyan Church (which has a good hospital), and officials from the country’s health services.

“We hope to come up with a strategic plan, with action steps, that will take us into the next ten years,” says Bleijerveld.

“The hospital probably won’t be able to function properly in the next 10 years without outside staffing,” he says.

When we pulled out our missionaries in the 1990s during the civil war, it happened so quickly that there was no time to mentor Sierra Leoneans. After the war, the hospital was severely crippled. The buildings were looted and damaged, the hospital staff scattered.

“It’s been difficult to create a sustainable model,” said Bleijerveld. “So what we’re trying to do in bringing in these groups together is to determine, What is a reasonable model for Mattru Hospital? What do we need to do in the next decade?”

They will also visit the Vai people, a largely unreached group of 124,000 Sunni Muslims who live on the border with Liberia. Sierra Leone Conference has been sending teams to do evangelism and other work among the Vai. One Global Ministries project involves providing funds to cover travel costs for these teams.

They will also visit the Bible college outside of Freetown, some of the high schools and primary schools sponsored by Sierra Leone Conference, and individual United Brethren churches.

“Over 10,000 students attend United Brethren schools in Sierra Leone,” says Bleijerveld. “We have 78 churches, and I think we have just under 50 schools, all of them funded by tuition and government subsidies.”

Update: They were delayed, and now won’t leave until around 4:30 pm on Friday, February 8. Their travel arrangements will take them from Chicago to London, and then to Freetown by 5:20 am Sunday. Ferries from the airport to the city don’t start running until 8 am. Sierra Leone Conference ends at noon, in Freetown, so they probably won’t make it for much (if any) of the conference. This is Bishop Whipple’s first visit to Sierra Leone, though he previously traveled to Africa when he was a local church pastor.

06 Feb Canada/US Team in Haiti

A team from Canada and the US ministered in Haiti from January 25 – February 4. They mostly did construction work, plus a quilting ministry among Haitian women.

Joan Sider, from New Nope UB church in Toronto, Ontario, sent daily reports from that trip. Those reports have been compiled into one long record of the trip. You can read it here, on the Features section of UBCentral.

A second team from Canada is now in Haiti, February 5-12, 2013. This one is a medical team. They are in Les Cayes, in the south, holding medical clinics.

05 Feb Feb. 5 Update on Gonzalo Alas

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

After some initial confusion as to whether it was Rev. Gonzalo Alas (right) or his father who had a heart attack, we learned that it was indeed Rev. Gonzalo Alas, pastor and church planter in El Salvador. The confusion came as his son, Gonzalo David Alas, used his father’s email to send us the first prayer request.

Today, I spoke with Pastor Gonzalo’s wife, Gladys. She reported that he is home and will not be requiring surgery. They said all the tests came back fine, and he was told that he simply has a weak heart. He is being treated with medication. The heart episode took place on Sunday, February 3, and he returned home today (Wednesday, February 5).

The family would appreciate your continued prayers for his continuing recovery.

04 Feb Thailand Part 2: Sunday on the Mountain

The Global Ministries staff on the church platform (click to enlarge).

Brian Magnus, bishop of the United Brethren Church in Canada, under the church sign in Lo Mah Village.

Bryan and Emily Gerlach (right) with some Thai youth.

Jenaya fascinates some Thai children with her camera.

Sunday on the Mountain

On January 20-24, a Global Ministries Staff Summit was held in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Attending were 28 persons, most of them Global Ministries staff serving in various countries. Jeff Bleijerveld, director of Global Ministries, and associate director Donna Hollopeter sat down a few days after returning to talk about the event. Previously, they talked about the sessions they had together. Here, they talk about the opening day–Sunday, January 20–when the entire group worshiped with the United Brethren churches high in them mountains of northern Thailand.

Donna Hollopeter: On Sunday, we went up to the mountain churches, where we have two churches and one church plant. It was about a two-and-a-half hour drive in a van, with very steep and narrow roads, one curve after another. We left about 6:45 for the 10:30 service.

Jeff Bleijerveld: At one point, we stopped and looked directly across the border into Myanmar. Even where the church is located, you’re within a mile of the border with Myanmar. It’s quite a porous border, which is a concern for the Thai authorities. They have the drug traffic fairly well controlled, and have tried to stamp it out. But some of the other countries don’t have the same capabilities.

Donna: The Thai churches all combined in one location for that Sunday morning service. We had a very good worship experience. Jeff spoke. Interestingly, his words went through three translators who were on the platform with him. He spoke in English, the next person translated into Mandarin, the next person translated from Mandarin to Thai, and the last person translated from Thai into Akha, the language spoken by the people in that village. So you have four different people up there saying the same thing (we hope)

Jeff: I have no idea what the Akha people heard me say. I tried to stay with a simple narrative—Jesus and the disciples and the storm on the Sea of Galilee, and how God is greater than the waves.

Donna: People came to church in their traditional tribal dress. They were very welcoming and gracious, and invited all of the guests to come up front. The women had made bracelets for every person attending. Some got two. Each bracelet had the words, “I love you.”

The people were intrigued with the Kline children, because the weren’t used to seeing three blond-headed kids. The kids came away with a lot of loot. They made a purse for Mia Kline, bracelets, and a necklace. The people kept rubbing their hair, because they were intrigued by how wavy and curly it was.

The church sits on a hillside. After the service, we went down the hill to a vacant lot where they played their own version of soccer—a little bit different than the soccer we know. Brandt and Mia Kline played soccer with the Akha kids.

Jeff: In the mountains, when you kick a ball out of bounds, it goes way out of bounds. The Thai kids were careful to keep it in bounds.

Donna: After that, we were invited back to the home of one of the pastors for tea and fruit. Then we went to see the other church building. Finally, before we left, we went to Pastor Lee’s home for lunch.

04 Feb Good Principle, Flawed Translation

Frank Y, associate director of Global Ministries, found this sign in a Hong Kong market. He thought it would be perfect for his own boss, Jeff Bleijerveld. After Frank returned to the office on February 1, he presented it to Jeff. (That’s Frank in the background, and Jeff holding the sign.)