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.

25 Aug New School at a UB Church in Haiti

New school at the Delmas church in Haiti

Construction of a new school at our Delmas United Brethren Church in Port Au Prince Haiti is nearing completion. It will accommodate up to 160 children who currently lack any access to education.

Of these children, 32 have sponsors through our partnership with CH Global. This sponsorship provides nutritional, emotional, social, educational, and spiritual opportunities for the children and their families. The school is operated by our United Brethren members in Haiti and has a tremendous impact for Christ on their surrounding community.

05 Aug Germany: Week One Comes to a Close

Getting started with a session.

Lunch time.

The team tours Heidelberg.

Today (Friday, August 6) ends the first week of English Camp for the Germany Missions Team. They taught 34 kids during the first week.

Team co-leader Cathy Reich writes, “We have come to love these kids so much and cannot imagine saying goodbye. Many of the team will be going to new homes next week.”

On Thursday, for the “taste of America,” they had hot dogs and salad, and for dessert, Twinkies and oatmeal cream pies.

Some of the team visited Heidelberg, where they saw the lovely city and toured a very old castle. You can see a lot of photos on the team’s Facebook page.

04 Aug 13 Pennsylvanians and a Week in Mexico

The Mount Pleasant people are excited to be in Mexico.

Bobby Culler with some of the VBS kids.

Pastor Heriberto and family

Thirteen persons from Mount Pleasant Church (Chambersburg, Pa.) flew to Mexico City on Thursday, July 15, arriving with all of their bags except one (which was delivered to the hotel the next morning).

On Friday, they rode a bus seven hours to Zacapu in central Mexico, where they would be conducting a VBS for a United Brethren church called Iglesia Adonai. They are starting a three- or four-year partnership with this church, having just completed a partnership with another UB church in Mexico.

On Saturday, July 17, they helped the church leaders prepare the place for VBS on Monday. That included building two bathrooms—two shelter frames wrapped in canopies, a box with a hole in it, and two holes in the ground.

The Sunday worship service was held at 5 pm. The congregation meets on a loading dock in the marketplace. The 13 Pennsylvanians joined 30 Mexicans in worship. Bobby Culler, youth pastor of Mount Pleasant who was heading up the trip, talked about the partnership God was creating between Iglesia Adonai and Mount Pleasant.

VBS began on Monday  morning…and the children poured in. They had 118 people the first day, and 21 people accepted Christ as Savior. Denis Casco, Bishop of Mexico Conference, arrived that day, along with his wife Reina, daughter Pamela, and their friend Ana, to spend the rest of the week with them.

The next day, 159 people (children and adults) showed up for VBS, and 34 more people accepted Christ as Savior. That night after supper, several team members played soccer with eight young boys. When they were done, they huddled the boys together and told them the Gospel story using the colors of the soccer ball. Seven of the 8 boys asked Jesus into their hearts!

On Wednesday, attendance swelled to 216. The 6-8 year-old class had 57 kids, and the 9-11 year-old class had 73. Another 28 people gave their lives to Christ.

Thursday saw 256 attend, and another 13 people accept Christ. When VBS ended, they got organized for their “Give Away Day.” They filled about 8 tables with toys, clothing, and other gifts. The children and adults filed in and were able to pick one item. Enough items were left that everyone was permitted to make a second pass.

They ended the week on Friday just short of 300, with 286 people attending.

“The place was packed,” says Bobby Culler. “During the week, 122 people gave their lives to Christ. The seeds have been planted, they’ve been watered, and now God must make them grow.

“We came with some preconceived notions of what the week was going to be like, but when we got here, we threw all that out the window and simply followed the leading of the Lord. No wonder it was a successful week.”

He adds, “Here’s another cool thing. All of the Bibles we brought and all of the extra VBS supplies and materials were divided into 4 piles for four different UB church here in Mexico. So our ministry to Zacapu has been multiplied and expanded among four churches. The pastors of these churches were so very thankful for their gifts.”

On July 24, the group said their goodbyes to Pastor Herberto and his family. Bobby Culler writes, “We were able to give them some money for all the food that they bought for us, plus another $1000 that will go toward the construction of the church. When we handed this money to them, they broke down and began crying. This was such an emotional thing for them to realize the support that Mt. Pleasant Church is giving them.

“Now here’s the cool part: when I handed the money to Pastor Herberto, he said that this money is not his but the Lord’s. Then he held the money out in his hand and asked all of us to lay our hands on this money, and he prayed and asked the Lord to multiply it and bless it for His glory and honor! What an incredibly humble man he is!”

The group then traveled the 6.5 hours to Mexico City, and headed to Domino’s Pizza for supper. They spent a relaxing Sunday visiting the Aztec ruins, climbing to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun, and witnessing an Aztec worship service. Their final dinner in Mexico was at Chili’s. They then returned to Pennsylvania on Monday.

The Mexico group will share about the trip on August 29 during all three morning services at Mount Pleasant Church.