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Three Michigan brothers from Morenci, ages 9, 7, and 5, have been missing since Friday, November 26. A widespread search was called off on December 2.
Ron Evans (right), senior pastor of Kunkle UB church, located across the border from Morenci, wrote on December 2: “We had a prayer service last night for the three missing boys. This service was open to the public, and we had 85 who gathered to seek God’s intervention and help for them.”
Former bishop Paul Hirschy, now on staff at Huntington University, sends out a monthly email newsletter spotlighting prayer concerns regarding the college. Here are three items from his latest newsletter, sent on December 1.
Economic Stress
Pray for the Huntington University community (faculty, staff, students, and families). The tight economic situation is impacting all of us in some way. Pray for guidance as leaders address several needs that were suspended from the budget. Pray that morale will remain high! Please pray that our demonstration of faith in God will be a positive example to all who observe us!Faculty Searches
We have faculty searches for mathematics, psychology, music, and librarian. Pray that God will direct the right people to apply for these positions! Pray for the people who are doubling up to cover these needs.Nursing Program Accreditation
The university should receive word in April 2011 if the accreditation has been approved. Pray for the nursing faculty and staff as they follow up with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education for this important accreditation.
If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, you can subscribe here.
The 2006 movie “The End of the Spear” told the story of five American missionaries who were killed in 1956 by Huaorani Indians in Ecuador. One of those men was Nate Saint, whose son Steve later returned to live among the Huaorani. This video shows what Steve has been doing lately–a fascinating invention intended primarily as a missions tool. While it’s not a Global Ministries thing, we thought you might be interested in knowing about it.
After spending four months in the United States caring for his wife, Mamei, who was hospitalized for much of that time, Bishop Billy Simbo has returned to Sierra Leone. He arrived on November 24.
He reports, “I had a debriefing meeting with Rev. John Pessima, the Bishop-Designate, and I am very happy to report that he took care of things during my absence.
“I am adjusting to the heat, and the sweet (LOUD!) sounds of Freetown, and I know the next two months are going to be busy.
“One of the many things I enjoyed doing whilst I was in the US was attending the Abington at Edge Hill Rotary Club meetings for breakfast every Thursday morning. Tomorrow I get to go to my home Rotary Club, The Freetown Rotary Club after 4 months of absence. I am looking forward to it.
On Saturday, November 27, he and John Pessima headed up-country 200 miles for a church dedication the next day.
Women at Zion United African Church in Philadelphia, Pa.
At the end of October and into November, I spent several weeks in Pennsylvania.
On October 31, I spoke at Zion United African Church, the UB church in Philadelphia where Joe Abu is the pastor. That was an interesting and fun experience. They had dubbed it as sort of a rally day. Some other ethnic churches in the area came over. The building was packed–and it’s quite a large building—with what I guessed to be several hundred people.
Bishop Phil Whipple speaking at Zion United African Church.
They had special African garb for me to wear. They warned me that there would be dancing. I’ve been to Mozambique, in Africa. The shuffle common in Mozambique was the same that the folks from Sierra Leone do. It was a very fun experience.
I spoke at Franklintown UB church (Franklintown, Pa.) on November 7, and then at Prince Street Church (Shippensburg, Pa.) on November 14.
About 35 pastors attended the Mid-Atlantic Resource Day, held November 7-8 at Rhodes Grove Camp in Chambersburg, Pa.
I saw a lot of pastors and had some very productive conversations. I sensed that pastors were thankful to see me on their terms, at their place, to hear their heart and see their ministry. In the past, annual conferences were the connection bishops had with pastors. The National Conference is a great experience, but it’s not conducive to meeting people beyond a handshake. Part of the need of the bishop’s office is to get out and meet our pastors on their turf. It’s helpful to speak to them when there is not a problem, to get acquainted when things are going well.
I’ve now been in 105 churches since taking this position. I’ll visit the Pixley UB church in California in January, and visit the Florida churches later. During the summer, Sandy and I took a 26-day tour through the west and visited 11 churches. By comparison, I saw more churches during my two weeks in Pennsylvania in a much shorter span of time. My hope is to have been in every UB church in the United States by National Conference in July 2011. I think it’s doable.
Fonda Cassidy with a Haitian boy
Fonda Cassidy
Fonda Cassidy, a nurse, is from Mt. Olivet UB church in Mt. Solon, Va. She has led or participated on UB medical trips to Honduras and Sierra Leone. Here, she writes about going to Haiti in October with Samaritan’s Purse.
In October 2010 I left for Haiti to work with Samaritan’s Purse. I did not realize until I arrived that there was an outbreak of cholera. This is a bacteria that spreads by contact or contaminated water. None of the 5 doctors nor myself had worked anywhere where we have witnessed this. Once you see it, you truly do not forget.
They came with fear frozen in their eyes, drawn up and over with incredible abdominal pain, with profuse emesis and diarrhea. What you soon realize is that the little ones and the older generation will soon die if not cared for properly. They need oral hydrating salts and/or IV solutions to replace their fluids, and an antibiotic.
So we ran cholera camps where we were treating only cholera. If they did not get treatment within 12 hours, they usually died. It is so hard to see death where you are working. Sometimes we would start treating someone, but it would be too late. They would have to be taken out right away and buried. At each clinic we did a lot of teaching and had a pastor to pray with the people.
I worked in 4 different locations in Haiti. One clinic took us about 2 hours to reach. Others were closer. We were able to share Christ with our patients. Personally, I was blessed to lead about 4 of my patients to the Lord. There would be follow-up by a Haitian pastor.
I was able to visit 4 orphanages that were run by Samaritan’s Purse. I taught in about 4 different classrooms about cholera–how it spreads and how to prevent it from happening. I will gladly return to Haiti to help in any capacity that God would want me to.
We have 22 United Brethren churches in Haiti. I was able to meet with the leader, Pastor Oliam Richard. He was a very precious man. He took me to two sites in Cite Soleil where there had been two churches. They now are rubble. Both toppled in the earthquake. There are plans to rebuild.
Safety and security is very important in Haiti. Each time we left the secured compound we had to radio a safety code, and when we arrived at location we also had to radio that we were at our destination.
I witnessed people dying and I witnessed a person being killed by rocks as he tried to steal–the police stoned him to death. Haiti is very rough, but there are thousands of people living in that country that God loves and cares for. He has asked us to be his hands and feet in ministry. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve.
Billy Simbo, bishop of Sierra Leone Conference, will return to Sierra Leone Monday night, November 22. On Saturday, November 20, he sent this positive report on his wife, Mamei, and her continued recovery after spending three months in the hospital.
Mamei has gone from just making progress to actually recovering from all of the things that have happened to her over the past three months. This week, she reached several key.
The first milestone came on Thursday when the speech therapist cleared Mamei to take liquids by mouth and eating solid food for the first time in over two months. Mamei must have anticipated this by faith, because last Saturday when her cousin, Julie (Beah) Williams was visiting, she told her she wanted Julie to prepare a special kind of rice for her. She told her what sauce to cook with the rice and then Julie was to add some green leaves to the rice to make it slippery. Anyway, today Julie came with the rice and Mamei ate a small portion! The first time she had eaten rice in three months. Now those of you who know us Sierra Leoneans, especially a Mende person, you know that is a long time of suffering.
Her spirits are up, and her speech and thought patterns are much clearer than they were a week ago. She still gets a little confused sometimes, but she can put thoughts together and actively participate in conversations and discussions.
But the biggest milestone came this afternoon. As I sat next to Mamei, she suddenly started to clap.
The annual Winter Slam youth retreat is coming up February 4-6, 2011. This annual retreat, which has been held for about 20 years now, will take place in southwest Pennsylvania at the Laurelville Mennonite Church Center near Mount Pleasant, Pa.
You can read all about it on the UB website–schedule, speakers, musicians, how to register, etc. There are a variety of items you can download.
Bring some teens from your youth group for fun and spiritual inspiration.
Jennifer Blandin, Global Ministries staff in Macau, returned to the States on November 3 for an extended furlough. Beginning in January 2011, she will be available to speak to United Brethren churches and other groups about what has happened in Macau during the past three years.
Jennifer also plans to complete her Masters degree by August 2011, which is the reason her furlough is being extended.
This building at Jamaica's Malvern Camp needs to be rebuilt.
This is what the new building at Malvern Camp will look like.
As already announced, a series of work teams will head to Jamaica in January and February 2011 to help rebuild the dining hall/activity center at Malvern Camp. This is a 50/50 partnership between Global Ministries and the Jamaican churches.
These dates remain available for volunteers:
January 22- 29
January 29 – February 5
February 5-12
February 12-19
We’re looking for team leaders and about 7-8 people per week. Cost per person will be $225 plus airfare to and from Montego Bay. Contact Donna Hollopeter for more information.
