(260) 356-2312
Thirteen people from the Mt. Pleasant Church (Chambersburg, Pa.) are headed to Zacapu, Mexico, July 15-26. They are beginning a partnership with a sister United Brethren in the Mexico National Conference. During their 11 days in Mexico, they will do some construction on the church and run a week of Vacation Bible School. A Facebook page is devoted to the trip.
Donna Hollopeter received a call this morning from Robert Cassidy, co-leader of the Honduras Medical Team which is currently at work in Honduras.
On Wednesday, June 16, they held their fourth clinic, this one in the seaside city of Puerto Cortes. They saw 804 people. That brings the total persons treated thus far to 2328.
One member of the team brought 600 pairs of eye-glasses. They are all gone.
Robert reports that everybody is in good health, that the clinics are well-organized, and that Rev. Benulda Saenz, the Honduran district leader in whose district these clinics are being held, has been terrific to work with.
Today, June 17, the team will hold their fifth and final clinic in a small village outside of San Pedro Sula.
Donna Hollopeter received an update this morning (June 16) from the Honduras Medical Team. Yesterday, June 15, they had the largest clinic they have ever had, seeing over 550 patients. An additional 200 persons came for glasses (there are a couple people who do nothing but dispense reading glasses).
Everyone is doing well. Today, June 16, they hold a clinic in the seaside city of Puerto Cortez.
Jeff Gordon (left), a UB member from Canada, with Mrs. Michel (right) and her son.
The Michel family are members of our Delmas UB Church in Port au Prince, Haiti. The apartment building where they rented a small apartment was destroyed in the earthquake last January, so this widow and her son are living in a tent, unsure of what the future holds. The son has served as a capable translator for Canadian visitors on several recent trips (Canada Conference provides primary oversight of Haiti).
On Wednesday, June 16, Mrs. Michel will undergo a serious surgery. She will be away at a distant hospital (having to travel there by bus) for at least three weeks. Her daughter will remain with her during this time.
This surgery is possibly only because generous people helped with the finances.
Pray for a successful operation and complete recovery, and for the sons leftb ack in Port au Prince who will not be able to visit their mother. Also, pray for the daughter as she gives care to her mother at the hospital.
A recent survey of the Huntington University Class of 2009 showed that 72 percent of the 159 graduates surveyed had acquired fulltime employment within eight months after graduation. Another 15 percent are attending graduate school (an increase from previous years), and another 8 percent have found part-time employment.
“Considering this economy, I think our graduating students did very, very well finding jobs,” said Martha Smith, associate dean of student development.
Contact was made with 146 graduates for the survey.
In just two years, the number of HU students attending graduate school has increased from 5 percent to 15 percent. The largest areas of graduate studies for the Class of 2009 were counseling, social work, and theology.
Dave and Becky Spencer, Global Ministries endorsed missionaries serving in Brazil with Wycliffe Bible Translators, leave Brazil today (June 15) to begin their furlough.
I received a call this afternoon (June 14) from Robert Cassidy, co-leader (with his wife, Fonda) of the Honduras Medical Team which arrived in Honduras Friday afternoon, June 11. Here are some notes from our conversation.
The group will return to the States on June 19.
As mentioned previously, one family at Mainstreet Church (Walbridge, Ohio) was hit especially hard by the June 5 tornado, which crashed through their home and took off the second floor. The four members of the Walters family all asleep in upstairs bedrooms when the home was flattened to its foundation.
Mary Walters, 36, and her son Hayden, 4, were both killed. Husband Ryan, 37, and daughter Madison, 7, were hospitalized, Ryan in critical condition.
On Sunday night, June 13, Ryan Walter passed away. Madison was released from the hospital on June 13, but continues recovering from some broken bones. Now she faces life without any of her immediate family.
Other news from Mainstreet:
Bishop Phil and Sandy Whipple are currently visiting churches in the former Midwest Conference–Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas. On Sunday, June 13, they were at the Sabetha, Kansas, church in the morning and Trinity UB in St. Joseph, Missouri, at night. On June 15, they travel on to the church at Garnett, Kansas, then on to Abilene on June 16.
The Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team has approved the following:
