15 Sep A Temporary House-Raising

The Myers Mission House

Things are a little “up-in-the-air” this month at the Myers Mission House in Huntington, Ind. Work has begun to raise the house and replace the basement walls, which had begun to cave in quite significantly. The decision to have this work done was a difficult one, as it will entail considerable expense, but the house is used on a regular basis by furloughing Global Ministries’ staff. Selling the house “as is” was not an option. Contractor Mike Tribolet says the work should be completed by mid-October. The Myers Mission House has provided a home-away-from-the-field for countless Global Ministries staff over the years.

14 Sep Sept 14 Update on Mamei Simbo

Billy Simbo sent the following update on his wife, Mamei, on Tuesday, September 14. Billy is serving a three-year term with Global Ministries in Sierra Leone, where he holds the title of Bishop of Sierra Leone Conference.

Mamei is still in the Coronary Care Unit at Abington Memorial Hospital (Abington, Pa.). They are keeping her because her heart rate is too fast and her blood pressure too erratic.

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14 Sep New Website for Global Ministries

After a year of planning and development, Global Ministries has launched a brand new website at UBGlobal.org. This new website replaces the former site located at UBMissions.com (which now directs people to UBGlobal.org).

The site contains:

• Updated info and photos for all Global Ministries staff.
• Information about each country in which we have United Brethren churches.
• Over a dozen videos you can view online.
• A complete list of projects, which you can sort by cost, region, and category.
• A host of recommended books, videos, training events, speakers, and more.
• Much information about work trips.
• Many ways to “Get Involved” in the work of missions–giving, volunteering, supporting projects, or entering missionary service.

Take a look at UBGlobal and browse around.

08 Sep Update on Mamei Simbo

Billy Simbo sent the following update on his wife, Mamei. Billy is serving a three-year term with Global Ministries in Sierra Leone, where he holds the title of Bishop of Sierra Leone Conference.

• The strep bacterial infection didn’t show in the latest blood cultures taken. Mamei will continue receiving antibiotics.
• Though there is still an infection spot on one of Mamei’s heart valves, no damage shows. The surgeon said Mamei is too weak to withstand surgery now or in the near future (she has not got out of bed for 12 days). To prevent the infection from spreading and causing a stroke, they will continue aggressively treating her with antibiotics.
• The oncologist will keep Mamei one more night in the Coronary Care Unit just for monitoring, and then move her back to the Oncology unit. He hopes to resume the chemotherapy treatments again for multiple myeloma, so it doesn’t get out of control. Her last treatment, on August 26, was given through a vein; an oral drug is also an option. There is no talk of putting in another port until the infection issue is settled.
• The immediate goal is to address the excruciating pain in her legs. Because of the pain, she has resisted all efforts to receive physical therapy, which is vital to her recovery. She is also not eating because she says she has no appetite. Since she is taking very potent pain medications, she needs food in her stomach.
• At this point, Billy plans to return to Sierra Leone on September 14. Son Alan and Katerina Simbo have agreed to have Mamei stay with them when she leaves the hospital.

Please remember Mamei in your prayers. Also pray for Billy. He writes: “Pray for me as I return to do all the things that have been interrupted by my absence from the field. I do a lot through emails and telephone conversations, but there is a pile that needs to be tackled as we prepare for the all-important conference in December to transition to a new Bishop and his administration.”

02 Sep Testimonies and New Life in the Philippines

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries, is currently on a trip to the Philippines and then on to Macau with Donna Hollopeter, Kathy Bruce, and Barry Skinner. He wrote the following on September 2.

We’re on our way home from Tarlac, having visited seven or so churches in this farming province north of Manila in the Philippines.

The reception was very positive and we were impressed with the work of the pastors and congregations. One pastor rides his bicycle about 30 km to preach at a new church plant and also oversees all the other pastors in the area. Talk about commitment. In the rainy season he’s soaked with rain, and in the dry season soaked with sweat.

While we were meeting at one church, we were sharing a number of things and I asked if some of the newest believers would share their testimonies. I’ve done this in other places and have always been thrilled with the response. So three people shared, and then I also had Barry Skinner share his. We wrapped up some time later, but one couple that had joined us from the community stayed to ask for counsel – they wanted to receive Christ.

We were surprised but very pleased. We thought we were there to encourage pastors and a few of the church leaders. God had something else in mind.

02 Sep Prayer Needed for Mamei Simbo

Mamei Simbo, wife of Sierra Leone Bishop Billy Simbo, was admitted to the hospital on Monday, August 30. The Simbos live in Abingdon, Pa., north of Philadelphia. Rev. Simbo, serving a three-year term with Global Ministries in Sierra Leone, is currently in the States with Mamei.

Tests revealed a bacterial infection in the port used for her chemotherapy for multiple myeloma. She also has infection in her right knee, which underwent surgery last summer. In addition, Mamei has also passed kidney stones, which was the cause of tremendous side pains.

On Tuesday, August 31, the port was removed and she was taken to surgery for orthopedic work on her knee. X-rays showed the knee had terrible arthritis, but since knee replacement surgery is not an option, they cleaned out the infection and applied local antibiotics. She is on anti-biotics for all of the infections. The early guess is that bacteria from the port caused the infection in the knee and blood stream.

Right now, the chemotherapy treatment is on hold.

Billy Simbo writes, “The underling problem is to get her to take fluids to fight the dehydration and kidney problems which are there anyway due to the multiple myeloma. She also needs to start moving right away or it will get more painful and the recovery will be much slower.”

Mamei will need to either go to a rehab facility or have in-home health care. The family is looking into options.

Billy says, “We are relying on the Lord to provide the help and answers for Mamei, for us as a family, and for the medical staff as they treat her so that this infection does not become a recurring affair. Dealing with the original sickness of multiple myeloma is tough enough without the additional stuff that limits her mobility and causes her such pain.”

Please remember Mamei Simbo and the Simbo family in your prayers.

You can write to Mamei at this address:

Mamei Simbo
1822 Erlens Rd.
Elkins Park, PA 19027

31 Aug UB Foursome in Asia

Four persons left the US on Monday, August 30, for about two weeks in the Philippines and Macau:

• Jeff Bleijerveld, director of Global Ministries.
• Donna Hollopeter, associate director of Global Ministries.
• Kathy Bruce, chairperson of the UB Women’s Ministry Team (from Emmanuel Community Church in Fort Wayne, Ind.).
• Barry Skinner, pastor of Kilburn Avenue UB in Rockford, Ill.

25 Aug Haiti: October Work Trips to Rebuild Churches

In October 2010, Global Ministries will send a series of work teams to help rebuild Haitian United Brethren churches that were flattened by the earthquake last January. These churches are crucial in our efforts to rehabilitate their communities.

We need you as part of a team.

We will send teams on these dates.

Team 1 – October 3-10
Team 2 – October 10-17
Team 3 – October 17-24
Team 4 – October 24-31

Honduras Conference has committed and raised the support to send one volunteer. More are needed.

Cost: $500 per person plus airfare to and from Port Au Prince.

Contact Donna Hollopeter for more information.

25 Aug Kline Family Returning to Macau

David and Melissa Kline, along with children Mia and Brandt, are on their way back to Macau for another term. They had been in the States on furlough since early March.