12 Jul Weber’s Writings

Doug Weber, Global Ministries staff with HCJB Radio in Ecuador, has a blog, Weber’s Writings, which he updates periodically. His two most recent posts deal with:

• Persons who come to Ecuador during the summer as short-term missionaries.
• Using social media (like Facebook) in missions.

08 Jul Good News from Jamaica

2010 graduates of Jamaica Bible College

Owen Gordon (right), a UB minister in Jamaica and president of Jamaica Bible College, sent this note:

“It has been a couple weeks since I requested special prayers for our lovely island. Thank you for being faithful in upholding us in your prayers! God continues to come through for us. The Security forces continue the relentless effort of putting the criminals out of business. Christopher Coke has been captured, extradited, and is now facing trial in New York. The evil forces of destruction continue to retreat as the law enforcement agents continue in the effort to restore this country to peace and quietness.

“Amidst the external turmoil, Jamaica Bible College is experiencing one of its best years. On Sunday, July 4, we graduated 54 students from our various programs:

• 7 from Bible.
• 10 from Business.
• 12 from Pre-College.
• 25 from Early childhood.

“We had a great day with Dr. Las Newman, president of Caribbean Graduate School of Theology, giving the main address.

“It was an added delight to have Dr. Joyce Thornton along with six friends from Union Chapel (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Dillman UB (Warren, Ind.) churches as special guests at the graduation.”

08 Jul Jenaya Bonner Leaves for Macau

Jenaya Bonner has begun her service as a member of the Global Ministries staff in Macau. She left Fort Wayne, Ind., on the morning of July 6. She will teach English as well as build relationships with local youth and assist as a teacher trainer.

Jenaya grew up near Huntington, Ind., and attended Emmanuel Community Church in Fort Wayne. She graduated from Huntington University in 2009 with a degree in Educational Ministries with a cross-cultural focus.

29 Jun An Oliver Tractor in Sierra Leone

A post nearly two years ago told about the Oliver 1850 tractor that Randy Fennig took to Sierra Leone in 2008. But now you can hear Randy tell the tractor’s story in person in this two-minute video. The tractor is used in agricultural development in Sierra Leone.

21 Jun Medical Team Back from Honduras

2010 Honduras Medical Team (click to enlarge)

The 19 members of the Honduras Medical Team returned to the States Saturday night, June 19. Co-leader Robert Cassidy called Donna Hollopeter in the Global Ministries office with an updated report.

• The team conducted five clinics during their week in Honduras, treating over 3100 people.
• They not only gave medical treatment, but prayed with people and were able to meet some other needs for various families (for example, provide funds for future surgeries that the team couldn’t handle, or arrange for ongoing medical assistance).
• Several members of the team hadn’t participated on the previous Honduras medical trips. They testified that it was a life-changing experience for them.
• Some persons, not being medical personnel, weren’t sure how they might be used. But everyone found a valuable role and kept busy all the time. Some took blood pressure, though they’d never done that before.
• One woman dispensed all 600 of the reading glasses she took with her, and could have given out hundreds more.
• The team stayed at a very nice facility in San Pedro Sula, the nation’s second-largest city. It was very secure and very clean, and the owner spoke English. Every morning they were fed breakfast, and at the end of the day, after a tiring clinic, they were able to jump into the pool. All of the clinics were held near San Pedro Sula.
• The two largest clinics were in areas that were basically suburbs of San Pedro Sula. They treated 830 people in one, and 750 in the other.
• The 19 participants came from these states: Kansas, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, and Ohio.

17 Jun Another 800+ People Treated in Honduras

Donna Hollopeter received a call this morning from Robert Cassidy, co-leader of the Honduras Medical Team which is currently at work in Honduras.

On Wednesday, June 16, they held their fourth clinic, this one in the seaside city of Puerto Cortes. They saw 804 people. That brings the total persons treated thus far to 2328.

One member of the team brought 600 pairs of eye-glasses. They are all gone.

Robert reports that everybody is in good health, that the clinics are well-organized, and that Rev. Benulda Saenz, the Honduran district leader in whose district these clinics are being held, has been terrific to work with.

Today, June 17, the team will hold their fifth and final clinic in a small village outside of San Pedro Sula.

16 Jun Honduras Team Sees over 700 People

Donna Hollopeter received an update this morning (June 16) from the Honduras Medical Team. Yesterday, June 15, they had the largest clinic they have ever had, seeing over 550 patients. An additional 200 persons came for glasses (there are a couple people who do nothing but dispense reading glasses).

Everyone is doing well. Today, June 16, they hold a clinic in the seaside city of Puerto Cortez.

15 Jun Prayer for a UB Mother in Haiti

Jeff Gordon (left), a UB member from Canada, with Mrs. Michel (right) and her son.

The Michel family are members of our Delmas UB Church in Port au Prince, Haiti. The apartment building where they rented a small apartment was destroyed in the earthquake last January, so this widow and her son are living in a tent, unsure of what the future holds. The son has served as a capable translator for Canadian visitors on several recent trips (Canada Conference provides primary oversight of Haiti).

On Wednesday, June 16, Mrs. Michel will undergo a serious surgery. She will be away at a distant hospital (having to travel there by bus) for at least three weeks. Her daughter will remain with her during this time.

This surgery is possibly only because generous people helped with the finances.

Pray for a successful operation and complete recovery, and for the sons leftb ack in Port au Prince who will not be able to visit their mother. Also, pray for the daughter as she gives care to her mother at the hospital.

15 Jun Spencers Coming to the States on Furlough

Dave and Becky Spencer, Global Ministries endorsed missionaries serving in Brazil with Wycliffe Bible Translators, leave Brazil today (June 15) to begin their furlough.

10 Jun Jessica Hollopeter to Start with OMS June 28

Jessica Hollopeter is pleased to report that she has reached 100% of her pledged support. She is now preparing to move to Greenwood, Ind., by the end of June to begin her service with One Mission Society (formerly OMS International). She will then begin a month of cross-cultural training to prepare her for missionary life on and off the field.

Jessica’s two-year contract with OMS begins June 28.

She writes, “Please, please keep praying for me. This is a huge transition for me, and just knowing that I have people thinking and praying about me is such a humbling and awe-inspiring feeling. I feel a great debt to everyone who has taken this journey with me and your prayers, letters, and e-mails do mean so much to me.”