01 Apr Progress in India

From February 16-19, pastors and delegates from our church planting region in India were able to attend a family conference organized by the UB people. Three guest speakers gave excellent teaching, and 35 delegates were encouraged and refreshed.

Our couple in India were excited about this opportunity because of the increased challenges facing our pastors through persecution from the Hindus and the threat of a new anti-conversion law. The state’s ruling party is threatening to pass a law that would prohibit a person from changing his religion, and would outlaw baptism. This has already been passed in three of the neighboring states.

Despite the difficulties, through the church planting ministry 189 more people have accepted Christ as Savior, and out of these, 124 have taken the significant outward step of baptism.

01 Apr VBS Funds Help Build India Churches

The new Punpeta church in India, built with VBS funds.

The Vacation Bible School Project for 2003 was to help build a church and provide a place for children to worship in the tribal areas of India. Over $8500 was raised through the generous giving of children. Because of this, the following has happened:

• One church has been built, and the people are worshipping in it and praising the Lord for the facility. This church is pictured.
• A second church is under construction in another location.
• At least three pavilions will be built to house new church plants with the remaining money.

The funds have been a big blessing because there was a great need for people to see a church being built in villages that are predominately Hindu.

01 Apr New Books for Sierra Leone

Schoolbooks for Sierra Leone Schools

The schools or Sierra Leone were blessed with the arrival of a container which includes a large number of schoolbooks obtained from a school in Michigan. At least five boxes of books were given to each of the three UB secondary schools (high schools). This photo was taken in the Bo Secretariat building.

01 Apr Klines on Their Way to Macau

David and Melissa Kline are on their way to Macau. They sent this email to their supporters just before leaving on April 1.

“The last few weeks have been crazy for us. David has been busy finalizing business stuff and I have been hugging boxes for two months. In between all of our packing appointments, we have tried to fit in as much time with family and friends as possible. Now we can finally say that our packing has come to an END!

“We leave for Chicago in four hours and we take off at 8 pm Chicago time. By 11 pm Friday evening (US time), we will be standing in Macau!

“God has blessed us so much this year! Thanks for all your prayers. Thanks for all your financial support! Our support level is currently at 100%

“Please continue to pray for us and our ministry in Macau. Pray for our families as we leave today. Pray for our first few weeks in Macau as we are busy finding an apartment, dealing with Immigration, and meeting with old friends.”

09 Mar Update from Jennifer Blandin

Jennifer Blandin writes from Macau:

“With Chinese New Year falling at the end of January, that allowed us a chance to offer some different types of English classes. Right before Chinese New Year I taught an English and Craft class. To be honest, not much English was used, but the ladies came up with some nice-looking crafts. It was fun to see how creative each person could be!

“The beginning of February had Nellie Birdsall teaching a Kitchen English class. This was only a four-lesson class, which I got to sit in on and help. Students learned how to make some American food and the rest of us got to taste test what they made! Not too bad of deal, I must admit! The ladies enjoyed the cooking class so much, that they are currently setting up other times to learn how to make pizza (and other foods) and to teach us teachers how to make some Chinese food.

The Chinese New Year is one of my favorite Chinese holidays. It’s one holiday where families have time together and everyone is excited for the coming new year. This is the year of the Monkey. Due to the economy doing a bit better than the previous few years, more shops and restaurants closed for an extended holiday break, which was also nice to see people relaxing.

“Two things that always go with Chinese New Year are fireworks and firecrackers, especially when the clock strike midnight and the new year has officially arrived. Every year I think my heart must skip a few beats because of the loud bangs coming at various intervals and from every direction. While Macau has never experienced snow, for a few weeks over the Chinese New Year holiday, Macau is blanketed in red paper from the firecrackers that people have set off from their apartment balconies.

“The ELP’s regular term of English classes began on February 17. A huge praise is that attendance has increase some over the last term. Another praise is that more people seem open to discussing and learning about God.

“One woman who has been attending Sunday evening English Bible study has begun attending worship services at Living Water Church. She continues to want to learn more about God and the Bible, which is exciting to see! Pray that she will continue to seek God and accept Him!

“January saw the return (for the 6th time) of Russ and Nellie Birdsall! It has been fun having them back as volunteers. They’ll be here till May.”

24 Feb Swartz Family Leaving Australia

Steve and Beverly Swartz have been missionaries with Wycliffe since 1975. They spent most of those years in Australia working on the translation of the Bible into the Warlpiri language, a task which was completed in 2001 with the publication of the Warlpiri Bible. Now, they have decided to move on to something else, and away from Wycliffe. Steve explains:

“Since the Warlpiri Bible dedication in October 2001, I have continued on in my administrative and consultative roles within the Branch, but in all honesty it has been more out of a sense of duty/obligation than of call, at least not such a call that saw us come into Wycliffe in the first place in 1975 and then to Australia and the Warlpiri people in 1978. Perhaps we missed God’s signal to move on to other things in late 2001, but regardless of that, Bev and I now feel that it is God’s time for us to move on from Wycliffe and into something new.

“What does this mean for us? Wycliffe Australia has graciously allowed me six months leave commencing December 1, 2003, and I have appreciated the time thus far to get some extra R&R. However, beyond that, it is our intention to take formal Leave of Absence (LOA) from Wycliffe at a time not yet determined, but which may be in March or April of 2004. We cannot be certain of the future, but our current intention is to eventually resign from Wycliffe. LOA leaves the door open for a return to full service within five years should Bev and I choose to do so. Once we move into LOA status, we are allowed to receive support donations for a further three months from the commencement of LOA.

“In addition to this, after a brief and intense job search, I found and accepted a position at Yirara College (the same place Bev has worked as a tutor) as Executive Secretary to the Principal, the Business Manager, and Assistant Principal. I commenced work on January 19 and am confident that the Lord has opened up this job for me and that I can both handle and thrive in it in the long term. At the time of writing this letter, I completed my first full week of work and thoroughly enjoyed the job and the people I work with.

“It is not at all easy to write these words to friends and family who have prayed for and supported us, who have struggled our struggles and dreamed our dreams, who have laughed and wept and rejoiced with us and the Warlpiri people for these last 25 years that we have lived and worked in Australia. We owe each and every one of you more thanks and credit than we can ever give or repay. We know for certain that anything we have accomplished for the Lord here in Australia has been your accomplishment as well, and we praise and thank God for you all.

“Bev and I stepped out in faith in 1978 when we first came to Australia, and we have tried to walk by faith since then. Now, once again, we step out in faith into something quite different and unknown. But we do so stepping out into the hands of a faithful God.”

24 Feb Update from Macau

Jana, director of the Macau Mission, sent the following on February 21.

• Pastor Karis Vong from Living Water Church had a healthy baby girl this past week. Praise the Lord for this precious addition to our team. Pray for Lawrence and Karis as they adjust to parenthood.
• Please pray for Pastor Connie Sung from Living Word Church. She was hospitalized recently with stress-related health problems. She is now back to serving in the church. Pray for wisdom as she considers how to adjust her ministry.
• English Language classes began last week. Enrollment has increased some over last term, and there seems to be a more “upbeat” atmosphere. Praise the Lord for answering prayer in these areas.
• Pray for Helen, Ronald, Miss Cheong, Grace, and Duong–all non-Christians who are attending English Bible Studies and seem to be sincerely seeking to understand God.

24 Feb Gary and Diane Brooks Back from Costa Rica

Gary Brooks reported on February 11, “Diane and I just returned from a visit to three UB churches in Costa Rica. Our group was led by Joe Leighton, youth minister of the UB church in Lancaster, Ohio. One of those who preached in Costa Rica was the senior pastor, Bill C. Pitts. We were all impressed by the dynamic worship services and the commitment of the brethren at the Fe Abundante UB Church who are working hard to construct a permanent place of worship.”

24 Feb Death of Jen Blandin’s Grandmother

Jennifer Blandin’s maternal grandmother passed away on Tuesday, February 10. Pastor Ron Ramsey, Pastor of Main Street UB in Walbridge, Ohio, writes, “She was 92 and was a faithful believer since she was 10 years old.” Jennifer came back to the States for the funeral, which was held February 14.