We learned earlier today that Ajiax Wo, superintendent of Hong Kong Conference, was granted a Honduran visa this morning during a visit with the Honduran consulate in New York City. He won’t be able to make it to Honduras until noon on Tuesday, January 12, and then has a three-hour ride to La Ceiba. But at least he’ll be able to attend part of the conference.

He may still have some difficulty getting through immigration in San Pedro Sula–the same problems Theresa Musa, from Sierrra Leone, encountered. Theresa and Ajiax received their visas from the same person in New York City.

The elder team at Elem3nt Church, Blissfield, Michigan, announced yesterday that Gayle Ruble, Jr. will be taking the helm as senior leader after serving as interim Teaching Pastor since September 3, 2009 when Dave Riddle stepped down. Prior to that, Gayle had served at the church as its Adrian, Michigan campus pastor and Group Life Pastor. He and his wife, Leslie, live in Adrian.rublejr_gayle

Juanita Chavez (standing, left), superintendent of Honduras Conference, speaks to everyone before the breakfast meal.

Juanita Chavez (standing, left), superintendent of Honduras Conference, speaks to everyone before the breakfast meal.

Francisco Raudales (far right) with Jeff Dice, UB nontraditional missionary currently studying Spanish in Costa Rica. The rest of the men at the table are from several different Central American countries.

Francisco Raudales (far right) with Jeff Dice, UB nontraditional missionary currently studying Spanish in Costa Rica. The rest of the men at the table are from several different Central American countries.

L-r: Winston Smith (Jamaica), Brian Magnus (Canada), Phil Whipple (USA), Oliam Richard (Haiti).

L-r: Winston Smith (Jamaica), Brian Magnus (Canada), Phil Whipple (USA), Oliam Richard (Haiti).

On Sunday morning, the General Conference delegates and guests ate breakfast at a beautiful retreat center in the hills surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. Just stunning. A buffet breakfast–fruit, pancakes, eggs, sausage, ham–was prepared for us.

After eating, we moved to another building for a service. All of the attending delegates and guests were introduced. The delegates from Mexico hadn’t yet arrived, and Ajiax Wo, from Hong Kong, was still stuck in New York City. But most everyone else was there.

Then we heard a message from a Central American who had been giving the keynote addresses during the Honduras National Conference. Although he spoke good English, endorsed missionary Roger Reeck translated for him. It was a superb message, taken from Colossians 4.

Donna Hollopeter spent a good share of Thursday trying to obtain travel visas for Theresa Musa (from Sierra Leone) and Aaron Lim (Philippines) for the General Conference meeting in Honduras January 10-14.

Very disappointing news today: the US Consulate in Manila, Philippines, denied a transit visa for Aaron Lim, son of Superintendent Prudencio Lim. He had his visa for Honduras, and just needed a visa to pass through an American airport on his way to Honduras.

Global Ministries made heroic attempts to procure this visa. They met all of the requirements, jumping through every hoop, plus all the hoops that kept being added. Yesterday, a letter from a US Congressman was sitting on the desk of the consulate officer in Manila when Aaron came for his interview. The officer’s reason for denying the visa: the letter didn’t include the cost of the hotel in Honduras. Huh?

The denial applied only to Aaron. His father, Prudencio Lim, had all the necessary documentation, having traveled before (he came to the US in 2005 for General Conference). Nevertheless, neither of them will attend General Conference, which is a big disappointment to them and to the General Conference.

Meanwhile, the Honduran consulate in New York City said Theresa Musa’s information was in order. The officer said he would grant the visa…if Theresa was sitting there in his office. He needed to see her personally. Unfortunately, Theresa was in Huntington, Ind., in Donna’s office.

So Thursday night, Theresa flew to New York City and stayed with friends there. This morning, she will meet with the Honduran consulate officer who promised that if he could see her in person, he would grant the visa. Then she’ll fly back to Indiana in the evening. The flight to Honduras begins at 6:30 Saturday morning.

Let’s hope and pray that Theresa returns to Indiana with a visa in hand.

UPDATE (10:55 am, Friday): Theresa got her stamped visa! Praise the Lord for that!

Alan Simbo, Theresa Musa, and Billy Simbo

L-r: Alan Simbo, Theresa Musa, and Billy Simbo. They arrived in Huntington today to begin the journey to Honduras for General Conference. On Saturday morning, they’ll travel with the United States contingent. Billy is Bishop of Sierra Leone Conference, Theresa is the other delegate, and Alan, Billy’s son, is tagging along as an observer.

Donna Hollopeter is working on getting a visa to Honduras for Theresa. Likewise for Prudencio Lim and son Aaron, from the Philippines. Phone calls are being made to Congressmen and government agencies. A little prayer couldn’t hurt.

Honduras Conference started Wednesday, January 6, in La Ceiba, Honduras. This will be the first conference presided over by Rev. Juanita Chavez, who was elected superintendent of Honduras Conference in January 2009.

The conference will conclude on Sunday morning at the Bethel UB church in La Ceiba. Then, a service on Sunday night will kick-off the international General Conference.

Each national conferences can send two voting delegates–the highest leader in the conference, plus one other person. Here is our list, albeit incomplete, of delegates.

Canada
Rev. Brian Magnus, bishop of the United Brethren Church in Canada
Paul Plato, layperson and Missions Team Leader

Guatemala (applying as a new national conference)
Rev. Francisco Najera Ventura, superintendent
Rev. Rolando Valenzuela, pastor

Honduras
Rev. Juanita Chavez, superintendent
One other delegate

Hong Kong
Rev. Ajiax Wo, superintendent
Karis Wong, pastor of Living Water church in Macau

Jamaica
Rev. Winston Smith, bishop
Rev. Isaac Nugent, pastor

Mexico
Rev. Denis Casco, bishop
One other delegate

Nicaragua
Rev. Juan Pavon Pavon, superintendent
Rev. Henry Osorio, pastor

Philippines
Rev. Prudencio Lim, superintendent
Mr. Aaron Lim, layperson (son of Prudencio Lim)

Sierra Leone
Rev. Billy K. Simbo, bishop
Mrs. Theresa Musa, layperson

United States
Rev. Phil Whipple, bishop
Rev. Jeff Bleijerveld, Global Ministries director

Several invited guests (without vote) will also attend.

  • Donna Hollopeter, Associate Director of Global Ministries
  • Steve Dennie, Communications Director
  • Jeff Dice, Global Ministries staff (currently in Costa Rica doing language training)
  • Jason Hollopeter, Donna’s husband
  • Rev. Oliam Richard, superintendent of Haiti (our Canadian churches, who have primary oversight of Haiti, are working to get Rev. Oliam Richard to the meeting)
  • Rev. Erik Gonzalo Roas Ramirez, superintendent of Costa Rica, a mission district of Nicaragua Conference.
  • Mr. Carlos Quesada, a layperson in Costa Rica.

Brian Magnus, as chairman of the International Executive Committee, will preside over the General Conference meetings.

Phyllis Cherry, wife of retired UB minister, Herb Cherry, passed away on Tuesday, January 5, 2010. Her funeral arrangements are as follows:

Visitation: Friday, January 8, 5-8 pm

Location: Chas. J. Burden & Son Funeral Home, 1806 E Michigan Ave, Jackson, MI 49202-3646 (517) 784-3104  www.dignitymemorial.com

Funeral: Saturday, January 9, 11 am. Visitation 10-11 am

Location: Eden UB Church, 1938 Eden Road, Mason, MI 48854 (517) 676-1376

Herb Cherry’s address is: 3913 Sage Court, Bloomington, IN 47401

Phyllis Cherry passed away around noon today (Tuesday, January 5, 2010) in Bloomington, Ind. Her death resulted from complications involving cancer. She was the wife of Herb Cherry, a retired United Brethren minister.  They had been living in Bloomington.

We’ll post funeral arrangements when they are set. We’re told that the funeral will be held at Eden UB church in Mason, Mich.

Please keep Herb and their two children, Colette and Nathan, in your prayers. Herb Cherry is the brother of two other retired United Brethren ministers, Harold and Howard Cherry, and the uncle of Kevin Cherry, pastor of Heart O the Lakes UB (Brooklyn, Mich.).

Al Carter resigned as senior pastor of West Pleasant Hill UB church (Rockbridge, Ohio) effective December 31, 2009. He had been the pastor since August 2003.