28 Feb Two Organizations Come Alongside Centennial School

Rotary International, in partnership with Engineers without Borders, has signed a five-year agreement with Centennial Secondary School in Matttru Jong, Sierra Leone. They will rehabilitate damaged buildings, and provide electricity and water supply. The school was ravaged by rebel forces during the civil war of the 1990s.

According to the online Awoko Newspaper, a team of experts from Engineers without Borders recently visited the school to assess the existing facilities. Diana Dunn, the team spokesperson, said they intend to install a solar lighting system and repair roofing (the school foundations, she said, appear sound). She also noted that the one shallow well on the campus usually dries up during the dry season.

20 Feb Jane Baker’s Return to Sierra Leone

The medical team and national workers. Jane Baker is in the middle (red top), with Ron right behind her.

Ron Baker performing surgery at Mattru Hospital.

Jane Baker sharing Scripture with a Sierra Leonean.

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

Dr. Ron Baker led a team to Mattru Hospital in Sierra Leone, January 18-28, 2011. While Ron has made several trips back to Sierra Leone over the years, this was the first time his wife, Jane, has returned since they left the field in the 1980s. Accompanying them were Luke and Shannon Brown and Roger and Denise Cable. Ron and Shannon were the only medical personnel on this team.

I wanted to share a bit of what I heard from Jane Baker. Jane is legally blind, and so returning to Sierra Leone was a particular challenge for her. She and Ron had talked about it a number of times, but she was both nervous and concerned that she would be a burden. Then one Sunday morning the message was from Isaiah 6, and when the pastor read, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Jane knew in her heart that the Lord was speaking to her. So she responded, “Here am I, send me.”

While some of the team did medical work at the hospital and others helped with maintenance, Jane was led from house to house to encourage, admonish, and share God’s Word with everyone she met. She was able to catch up with old friends, meet some who had come to faith in Christ since they left Sierra Leone, and share the Gospel with those still on a journey of faith.

I’m reminded again of the old adage, “God doesn’t care as much about our abilities as he doees about our availability.”

19 Feb Summer Mission Opportunity in Spain

Global Ministries has been asked by Ron and Brenda Anderson, endorsed missionaries in Spain, to send a team of four persons to do a family English Camp outside of Madrid July 15-17, 2011. Departure date would be Tuesday, July 12, and they would return on Tuesday July 19.

Dates: Tuesday, July 12, through Tuesday, July 19.
Cost: $500 plus airfare.

The camp would focus on the Two Toledos–Toledo, Ohio, and Toledo, Spain. There would be several opportunities to teach conversational English to the participants through workshops, childrens sessions, and special activities. Teaching credentials are not a requirement for this ministry opportunity.

If you are interested, please contact or by calling toll-free at 888-622-3019, ext. 305.

18 Feb Update from the David Datema Family

Dave and Cathie Datema and children.

Dave and Cathie Datema are endorsed missionaries serving with the US Center for World Mission in Pasadena, Calif. Dave is General Director of Frontier Mission Fellowship, an umbrella organization for a variety of related ministries.

Here are some pieces of their February 16 newsletter.

• Dave is still working on the challenge of leading Frontier Mission Fellowship into a post-founder era (following the death of Ralph Winter). Much of his time is spent reading, meeting with others, and praying. Please pray for Dave and other leaders here as they seek God’s guidance.
• Dave continues to work alongside other leaders within the FMF family of organizations to re-tool them for greater effectiveness. He has spent most of his time with leaders at the US Center for World Mission (Dave is presently serving as USCWM Executive Director). Significant progress is being made in implementing a performance management system.
• Dave spent a weekend in Detroit from January 23-25. He visited some FMF members there, preached at a local church, and met with the leaders of Send International. He also enjoyed spending some down time with friends from his previous life as a pastor. He did NOT enjoy the brutally cold temperatures.
• On January 20, son Cuyler suffered another seizure, his 5th in a year’s time. It lasted quite a while, so an ambulance was called. We’re thankful that he was released from the ER without having to be admitted. Please pray for God’s mercy, grace, and healing, and for God to be glorified in Cuyler’s life.
• Callie (12) and Jill (8) are enjoying being homeschooled part-time, and taking some classes at the Judson International School on campus. Jill is playing on a Parks and Recreation soccer league for the spring and summer.
• Over the Christmas holiday break and into January, we enjoyed a number of activities with the girls including sledding in the local mountains, ice skating, visiting Chinatown in Los Angeles, and going to the zoo. We enjoyed attending the Tournament of Roses parade.