IN HIS NAME

Faith Promise Coming February 10th

2012-02-03T15:48:00.000-05:00

A week from today on February 10, 2013, Wesley will celebrate all that God has done this past year at our Annual Faith Promise Banquet. If you are interested in attending, there are still some spots available. Contact Peggy Ball at jbpeggyb@yahoo.com. Cost is $10 per individual or you can sponsor a table (of 8) for $75. There will be great food, scrumptious deserts by the UMW, some incredible stories of how God has used Wesley Memorial for His purpose this year, special music from our praise band, and an inspiring keynote address from Bishop Alfred Gwinn (Bishop of the NC Conference),

Wesley is a missional church whose desire is to reach the lost, the impoverished, the hungry, and suffering people of the world for the glory of Jesus Christ. It is, after all, about Him!

Saving vs Serving

2012-01-09T17:20:00.000-05:00

I was reading KissesFrom Katie, a story about Katie Davis, a young 22 year old woman, who gave up her comfortable lifestyle in Brentwood, TN to go serve thepoor in Uganda. She describes, in greatdetail, the extreme poverty and hunger of the people (primarily children) sheserves there. She says, “In our fear,even many of us who claimed to believe in Christ were failing to do what He saidfor the least of His people.” (p.100) Then she tells the following story from HenriJ. Nouwen that I found ratherdisturbing. I, sometimes wonder whatJesus would say about the way we, who have so much, treat those who have solittle. James 1:27 says it this way: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Oncethere was a people who surveyed the resources of the world and said to eachother. “How can we be sure that we will have enough in hard times? We want to survive whatever happens. Let us start collecting food, materials, andknowledge so that we are safe and secure when a crisis occurs.” So they started hoarding, so much and soeagerly that the other peoples protested and said: “You have so much more than you need, whilewe don’t have enough to survive. Give uspart of your wealth!” But the fearfulhoarders said: “No, no, we need to keep this in case of an emergency, in casethings go bad for us too, in case our lives are threatened.” But the others said: “We are dying now, please give us food andmaterials and knowledge to survive. Wecan’t wait…we need it now!” Then thefearful hoarders became even more fearful, since they became afraid that thepoor and hungry would attack them. Sothey said to one another: “Let us buildwalls around our wealth so that no stranger can take it from us.” They started erecting walls so high that theycould not even see anymore whether their enemies were outside the walls ornot! As their fear increased they toldeach other: “Our enemies have become sonumerous that they may be able to tear down our walls. Our walls are not strong enough to keep themaway. We need to put bombs at the top ofthe walls so that nobody will dare to even come close to us.” But instead offeeling safe and secure behind their armed walls they found themselves trappedin the prison they had built with their own fear. They even become afraid of their own bombs,wondering if they might harm themselves more than their enemy. And gradually they realized their fear ofdeath had brought them closer to it.

Come learn how you can get involved in Missions

at WesleyMemorial

Faith PromiseBanquet

Friday,February 10, 2012

YOU CAN Make a Difference - Find a Way to Get Involved!

2011-12-20T17:58:00.000-05:00

Celebrate Missions

Wesley Memorial Faith Promise Banquet

Friday, February 10, 2011

Keynote Speaker: Bishop Alfred Wesley Gwinn, Jr.

North Carolina Conference

THIS COMING SUNDAY-REMEMBER THE CHILDREN

2011-11-03T19:06:00.000-04:00

ORPHAN SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2011

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

James 1:27

Orphan Sunday 2011 from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.
.

Sharing God's Blessings

2011-10-29T09:25:00.000-04:00

This is a story about "missions" lived out in a very real, every day, lifestyle. Susan, the daughter of Sharon and AQ Smith, grew up in the youth group at Wesley Memorial. She met Patrick when they were both students at N.C.State. After graduation, Patrick was commissioned as an officer and became a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Although their lives have been anything but stable with children and several moves, as a result of Patrick's career, they have found a solid foundation through their love for each other and their mutual love of Jesus Christ. This is a letter that was sent from Susan sharing some personal experiences as they try to be obedient to God's leading. Last year, Susan and her home schooled children, personally prepared over 100 shoe boxes for Samaritan's Purse.

Aloha Friendsand Family,

It's hard tobelieve that two years ago (Oct 26th, 2009), God placed

this beautifullittle girl, Caili, into our arms. Wewere in China and loved beingthere! God showed us that so manychildren need a Forever Family -someone to call mommy and daddy. Cailiwas placed in my arms with ablank look on her face - no smile, nocrying, no throwing afit. Her face very much showed that shehad been crying.

Aswe were leaving the Civil Affairs building and walking back across the street toour hotel, Caili showed us her first smile. And then little by littlethe smiles would come - from time to time. And then the crying, thelonging for the place she had known as home for her short life. Each day God continued to work in her littlelife and he continues to doso today. She is filled with joy andpeace and she knows that she is loved! Iask her all the time if she knows that I love her and she says, "Yes, youtell me over and over." And I just smile.

She is a happy,confident little girl who loves to be mischievous. And she has anincredible little giggle. She loves tobe snuggled and she is thrilledto be the "baby" of the family. Although she can do everything thather big sisters can do - or so she says. She loves Anna andCaroline and they love her just as much! God has blessed our lives more thanwe ever thought possible!!

November 6 isOrphan Sunday. There are sooooo manychildren (143 million or more) that need a Forever Family - a mommy and daddyto love them…A family to call their own…A mommy and daddy to read to them and snugglewith them and tuck them into bed each night…A mommy and daddy to teach themabout the Lord Jesus Christ. We lovetalking about adoption and sharing our story and experience. Please pray and see if God is leading you toadopt one of these beautiful children.

Another passionof ours, as many of you know, is Samaritan's Purse's

OperationChristmas Child (shoeboxes). We lovethis ministry and love

sharing aboutit. We encourage you to pack a box, or 2,or 10 or more.

Have a shoeboxpacking party, get your family involved, get your church

involved.

It is such ablessing to us and our girls LOVE packing shoeboxes - they tell everyone thatthey know about shoeboxes. They cutlabels, fold and wrap boxes, man the info table at church and they love PACKINGSHOEBOXES.

You can find out more info atthe Samaritan's Purse website- www.samaritanspurse.org

We love you alland thank you for the many prayers for our family as we adoptedCaili, traveled to China to bring her home, and have now moved to Hawaiifor the adventures God has in store for us here.

Love from all ofus,

Patrick, Susan,Anna, Caroline, and Caili

"Kisses From Katie" (A must read)

2011-10-17T11:28:00.000-04:00

When I went to Catalyst last week in Atlanta, I experienced three incredible days of praise, worship and inspiring speakers like David Platt, Francis Chan, and Jim Collins. Being a fan of many of their books, it was such a treat to see and hear them in person. There was one speaker, though, that I barely knew anything about and she proved to be the "special something" that God had for so many of the attendees. Her name is Katie Davis and she is a beautiful 22 year old American girl who is mother of 14 Uganda girls, feeds 1600 children each day and has started a ministry in Uganda called Amazima. Her story is so powerful but, once again, underscores the fact that all God asks of us is to be obedient.

Take a moment to watch the video below and, if you would like to read the first chapter of her new book, "Kisses From Katie," please see me in the church office for a complimentary copy.

Crop Walk 2011

2011-10-15T18:00:00.000-04:00

On October 9, 2011 Wesley had more people participating in Crop Walk than we have had in a long time. It was a beautiful fall day and walking around Hugh MaCrae Park with friends raising money to feed hungry people was a perfect way to spend Sunday afternoon. Please click on the arrow on the slideshow to view.

SENSATIONAL SENEGAL

2011-10-10T20:28:00.001-04:00

I have a very productive and successful life but yet there seemed to be something lacking inside, some void. Projects-Abroad appeared to offer a solution so I took a two week placement at St. Louis, Senegal, and had one of the most deeply personal experiences of my life. This lead to another placement, to Togo, a small West African country not far from Senegal. These placements have a profound affect upon our lives. As we become part of a local family, as we do volunteer work in their community, schools and orphanages, as we work to improve their quality of life, we find that it is we who have learned from them, that we have become the pupil and they the teacher, that it is we, not they, who have benefited the most. We go to give and leave enriched. We learn that there is actually only one world nation. The needs and wants and aspirations of everyone in the world are always the same, not changing according to skin color or geography or religion. We are the same everywhere, we and our brothers. This is the first, and most important lesson, that a volunteer learns from a Projects-Abroad placement.

In St. Louis I lived with a black West African French speaking Muslim family that totally welcomed me into their family. I had never before felt such an excitement as I became more and more emersed into this vibrant culture. My two weeks there were an unbroken steady bombardement of the senses that was at times near overwhelming but always intense and wonderful and very personal. So many memories: the pain of such devastating poverty; the endless street children too young to have any understanding of the hopeless future that awaited; the hundreds of colorful fishing boats pulled up on the beach, nets bursting with fish; the steady pounding of the waves on a marvelously pure white beach that disappeared off into the far distance as strong Atlantic winds buffeted the crying sea birds above; the black clarity of the equatorial night sky set ablaze by the shimmering Milky Way; the bright tropical colors of the flowering robes and turbans worn by the trim black Senegalese women, their beautiful black skin made all the more striking as it contrasted against their robes; the mosques everywhere with their calls to worship chanted loudly above the noisy clatter of everyday life, these calls to Allah that I found so comforting as it turned my attention to my own faith; the crumbling of once grand French villas that recall those past times of French glory and harsh subjugation but that today have only a faded elegance that speaks sadly of a faltering economy; the wild goats everywhere, roaming around eating garbage, like unpaid street cleaners, keeping the city of St. Louis as tidy as can be expected.

What indelible impressions! But today, what do I remember most, when alone and quiet. Now, four years later, I feel these emotions as intensely as if it were yesterday. I don't think about the dirt and decline but instead I remember the beauty of the people, their smiles and their welcome, as they worked so hard in their struggle of daily life. I remember beautiful bougainvilleas everywhere, a wonderful sprawling plant that seemed to be trying so hard to gloss over the dirt and pain. I remember these deeply religious people so proud and dignified as they faced their adversities. But, my most intense experience came one Sunday morning when, instead of the usual Muslim chants filling the air, I heard church bells. I followed these to find a wonderful old stone church built by the French 150 years prior. It was beautiful inside, with every corner colorfully tinted by a bright African sun streaming in through striking blue stained glass windows, giving a soft glow that fell upon crosses and elaborate woodwork and huge vases of tropical flowers. The service was conducted in the beautiful French language and the music was a chorus of striking soprano voices that contrasted wonderfully against the deep rich sounds of African drums. A congregation of a hundred Christians sang the hymns that I knew by heart. All this was so unexpected and seemed so out of place as to make it all the more beautiful, all the more moving, all the more my life's most unforgettable experience.

Cliff Lewis

Wesley Memorial UMC

Wilmington, NC, USA

Getting Ready for Catalyst

2011-10-03T15:20:00.001-04:00

The older I get, the more I realize the importance of finding time for rest and renewal . I'm talking about spiritual renewal, as well as, physical. That is why I am headed to Atlanta for the 2011 Catalyst Conference. When I saw the promo and all the "big names" who are going to be there. I became a little excited and convinced myself that I should spend some of my own money and go. After all, these were the people who I had already spent a lot of my money on buying and reading their books. People like Francis Chen, David Platt, Mark Driscoll, Andy Stanley, etc.

While I was investigating who all was going to be there, I read about a young lady, 21 years old, who was going to be talking about the ministry she has started in Uganda. Her name is Katie Davis and her ministry is called Amazima. After graduating from high school, she convinced her parents to let her go to Uganda for 10 months to teach in a pre-school. She fell in love with the people and she heard an overwhelming call from God to return and minister to the needs of some of the children, especially those who were orphaned.

In her words, "God doesn't ask Christians to take care of widows and orphans. He demands it." Needless to say, God has used her in an amazing way.

Click on the Amazima icon and check out what God is doing through her and, keep in mind, she is only 21 years old.

Is God trying to get your attention.? There are lots of opportunities to serve Him even right here in Wilmington.

DON'T FORGET
CROP WALK (Next Sunday)
OCTOBER 9TH
1:30 PM Shelter 5
Hugh McCrae Park

Blessed to Be a Blessing

2011-09-20T12:55:00.000-04:00

During the week of September 12, 2011, 25 volunteers from Wesley Memorial UMC in Wilmington, NC built two handicap ramps and made alterations to another. This work was in cooperation with W.A.R.M. (Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry). Although we originally wanted to do a house renovation, we came to appreciate the importance of these ramps to the individuals they served. As the week progressed, we got to know our recipients better and better. At the end of the week, at the end of each project, we tearfully left new friends who knew that they were loved and finally were able to safely leave their homes.

We also learned that our plans (house renovations) are not necessarily God's plans (handicap ramps) but, in the long run, God's plans are better because He sees the larger picture. As Christians, to pursue happiness is to pursue the whole reason for our very being. That means that we are meant to find fulfillment (be blessed) in our obedience to Him to bless others.

“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing."

Genesis 12:2

Wesley W.A.R.M. - 2011

View more presentations from wesleyinhisname.

Restoring Homes and Hope

2011-09-16T15:30:00.003-04:00

Wesley Memorial volunteers completed three W.A.R.M. projects this week. Two of the projects were handicap ramps which restored the homeowner's freedom to go and come as they pleased. The third project involved adding stairs to an existing ramp that allowed the home owner access to their backyard.

W.A.R.M., (Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry) was started 15 years ago as a response to hurricane damage and, has since, completed over 500 projects for low-income families. The emphasis of W.A.R.M. is to provide safety to those they serve within Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties. The work is done primarily through volunteers from various organizations (like Wesley Memorial) and the community. Over 25 people from Wesley volunteered to take part in this week's projects.

The handicap ramp being built in the video (News Channel 14) was built for David Dunbar who is blind and has suffered the effects of a stroke. During an interview by a reporter, he was asked what he thought the first time he walked down his new ramp. He responded, "Free, I really felt freedom and being blessed by God and these people."

One of the volunteers said, "It felt good to put my faith into practical service for someone who would have virtually been a prisoner in their own home. I felt like our actions were, in some way, showing those we were serving that God loves them and cares about them. I definitely will do this again."

Jesus said it this way,“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free..." Luke 4:18

Wesley Folks Strip a House!

2011-09-11T10:28:00.000-04:00

Thanks to all who could make it... we had a great showing. We helped Mr. Jenkins with his "new" house... We removed all the siding, floor coverings, porch railings, appliances and countertops... Mr Jenkins will be able to put "his" touches on his home now. The only glitch we had was removing the countertop - it got wedged for a moment, but, after a good talking to, it released it's grip on the walls.

We were done in an hour and 45 minutes - remarkable showing. Brent was extremely grateful (he swears the reason we were done quicker was because his wife, Terri, was there - I say it was because everyone knew Debbie Orrell brought chocolate chip cookies.)

The highlight of the day - we got to see exactly what Drew Brown does for a living - he showed up almost exactly when we were finished. (Bill says he was hiding around the corner.)

A big thank you to all of you for your help and your prayers.

Next up - W.A.R.M. projects get underway Monday morning. We got a variety of things happening across the area. Bill Parker and Chip Chiappisi have details. Keep the work crews in your prayers this week - and remember Who we serve.

Yours in Service - Steve Moore

An Opportunity to Make a Difference and Have Some Fun

2011-09-09T18:05:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone!

Hunger is an issue that is very important to us and we have decided to get involved! We are walking in the CROP Hunger Walk and we need your help.

Our donations will provide reliable sources of food and water for hungry people around the world. Join us and our family and friends as we work together to solve this world-wide challenge.

You can be the difference. Visit my personal page, where you can make a secure online credit card donation or volunteer to join our Wesley team and walk! Your gift can help save a life!

Thank you!

Lisa and Keith Baxley

Sustainable Lighting

2011-08-23T18:35:00.000-04:00

As I was shopping for light bulbs the other day, I was overwhelmed by the cost of the "new and improved" version of light bulbs which are "guaranteed" to last hundreds of hours. I began thinking about people in third world countries who don't have the same choices that we do. In fact, many don't even have electricity.

Specifically, my thoughts went back to the house our team built a couple of years ago outside of Maua, Kenya for a young orphan and her siblings. It was, basically, a board and batten structure consisting of two rooms with a wall in between. There was no kitchen, bathroom, nor even electricity and the rooms were very dark during the day because the only opening was a door located in each room leading to the outside. I started thinking how grateful the young family was because, as she put it, "I never dreamed that God would someday give me a floor of my own to sweep."

And here I was trying to decide which light bulb I could buy to bring light into my house. I started doing some research on solar power with the idea that maybe the next time we build a house during a mission trip we could make their home a little brighter. It was during that research that I found the following video. What a cool idea to recycle plastic bottles to bring light into dark rooms.

And then, God's not so still voice reminded me that there was an object lesson in these recycled bottles for all of us. Just like the bottles take in the sunlight, magnifies it through the water, and disperses the light to fill the dark room, we are to take God's light into our lives and, through our lives, "spread His light" to others (Genesis 12:2).

That could be called "missions" but I prefer to call it being a "sustainable light" unto the world.

2011-08-16T15:07:00.001-04:00

"58:"

COMING TO WESLEY MEMORIAL IN OCTOBER!

WANT MORE BLESSINGS FROM GOD?

READ ISAIAH 58

AND KEEP WATCHING FOR MORE DETAILS

Some More Pictures of Our Honduras Team

2011-06-08T10:56:00.002-04:00

Jill doing clinic
intake in Honduras

One of the most hectic aspects of medical missions is "intake." Here, patient information is gathered and, unlike in the U.S., there is likely no formal records available to help with patient history and diagnosis. It is important, however, because if the doctors determine that the patient needs medication from the pharmacy, age, height, weight, and history can be critical information to have.

Mike takes a break
after lunch

Because there is usually so many people who seek medical attention, there is very little time during the day to take a break from all the excitement. When those short breaks do occur, they are taken advantage of to catch your breath and get ready for the next rush of patients. Long days and short nights make these little "down times" even more valuable as the week progresses.

Ivey "hanging out"
with a new friend

In Honduras, there seems to never be a shortage of children and one of the most important things to do, on short-term missions, is to build trusting relationships. So, it's just natural that you spend time with children letting them experience the love and grace of Jesus Christ that He has sent to them through you.

Please remember to keep our Honduras Mission Team in your thoughts and prayers this week.

Mission Team Arrives in Honduras

2011-06-07T17:38:00.003-04:00

View of Tegucigalpa
from the Mission House

A team from Wesley Memorial, consisting of Dr. Ted Winneberger, and Mike, Jill and Ivey Newsome left last Sunday, June 5, 2011 to fly to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to take part in a short-term medical mission. They wasted no time getting starting bringing medical care and the love and grace of Jesus to the local Hondurans.

Mike Newsome working in
the "pharmacy"

They are staying in a mission house run by Sam Feasel and his family, old friends to many of our Wesley family, which overlooks the city of Tegucigalpa. Each day they leave that facility to bring hope and healing to the local people. This mission house is where a team, which included 6 members from Wesley, were kept safe a couple of years ago when political turmoil erupted while they were there on a short-term medical mission.

Please continue to keep all the members of the team in your thoughts and prayers this week. They will return next Sunday.

Where is God in Tragedy?

2011-05-26T09:49:00.000-04:00

My brother-in-law lives in Jackson, Missouri and knew some of the people who worked at St. John's Hospital in Joplin that was devastated by the recent tornado. He said, "The hospital is a total wreck. The tornado, with winds estimated at 200 mph, literally sucked a 300 lb. patient out an upper floor window and two nurses out windows as they tried to evacuate patients. They’re all dead. People have been finding x-rays 70 miles away. They are asking for people that find records just to not read them and hold on to the records until they figure out how to retrieve all of them. It's a nightmare."

St. John's Hospital
Joplin, MO

Windows of St. John's Hospital
after the storm

One of his co-workers has ties to people who attend St. Mary's Catholic Church in Joplin and sent the "before" and "after" pictures of the church that you see here.

St. Mary's Catholic Church,
Joplin, MO before the tornado

St. Mary's Catholic Church
after the tornado

We cry out, "Where is God?" in disasters and crisis like the tornadoes that seem to be plaguing the Midwest. And then, just as the giant cross at St. Mary's was standing before AND was still standing after, we are reminded of what Jesus said, "I will be with you always, even until the end of the world." (Matt. 28:20)

May we all remember that, when the storms of our lives seem to blow us away, Jesus is still there.

USING STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

2011-05-16T18:10:00.000-04:00

The United Methodist Women of Wesley Memorial are always looking for ways to make a difference. One UMW group, the Christian Networking Circle, decided to make a difference by holding a fundraiser to support Mary Gitari's Adolescent Girls Health at Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya.

Mary, the wife of Stanley Gitari, the hospital administrator in Maua, spoke at Wesley last year. With God's help, this remarkable woman changes the lives and futures of young girls in Kenya. To raise support funds, the CNC decided to hold an "Ole Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake Social" on Wednesday, May 11, 2011. The event lasted from 6:30 PM until 8:00 PM.

There was plenty of pound cake, ice cream, whipped cream and, most importantly, fresh picked strawberries for all. The event was by "donation only" and people of the church and community responded both in numbers and donations. There were, also, many home made items to buy or bid on through a silent auction.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by "Walker Ballard and the Bluegrass Allstars," a bluegrass group made up of intergenerational members of the church. Everyone seemed to have a great time of food and fellowship and, most importantly, raised over $1,300 for Mary and her program in Maua.

Thanks to everyone who had a part in making this event such a success and a special "THANK YOU" to the ladies of the Christian Networking Circle.

Watch the highlights!

Prison Ministry Opportunity

2011-05-10T12:52:00.000-04:00

This missional opportunity has been forwarded by Sam Hamilton to Rev. Bill Adams at Wesley Memorial.
If you would like to know more about this opportunity, please contact Bill at 791-4092 or billa@welcometowesley.com.

Gentlemen:

Below please find a letter from Jill LaCour who facilitates the Family in Crisis program at Pender Correctional Institution in December of each year. This program enables selected Pender residents (much like Kairos) to celebrate Christmas with their children. Jill is requesting assistance in another program designed to be implemented at the New Hanover Correctional Facility in the near future.. This program entitled, "Building Dads of Strong Character", is an opportunity for our Kairos team members to expand their time and effort in assisting those less fortunate and who struggle with their family relationships while incarcerated. Please read Jill's letter and if you feel the spirit calling, please contact Jill and volunteer for this program. Should you have any questions, please call me at 910-259-7133.

Your Brother in Christ,
Sam Hamilton

****************************************************************************************************************************

On any given day, there are more than a million children whose fathers are in prison or jail and millions more whose fathers have been or will be incarcerated at some point during their growing up years. With few exceptions, fathers in prison have been out of sight and out of mind of community organizations concerned with family life and children's well-being. Men in prison have not been encouraged to maintain relationships with their children and have not been supported in carrying out parenting obligations or commitments.

Below is a brief description of a new program that Families In Crisis Prison Ministry will be bringing into New Hanover Correctional Facility this summer. This will be a weekly program held at the New Hanover Facility and a bi-monthly program when we go into the Pender County Correctional Facility, (hopefully in the fall of this year).

Right now we have four (4) 12-week sessions in mind, with a one week break between each session. The Bible Study for each class as well as the other material used in the program will be provided for the instructor/teacher. After reading the description of the program below, please be in prayer as to your calling by God to be a part of this effort to teach incarcerated dads to become the fathers they were meant to be and help them maintain relationships with their children.

Building Dad's of Strong Character

The Building Dad’s of Strong Character program is designed to encourage, equip and help inmate dads become the father's their children need them to be. In this 12-week session, they will discover what scripture teaches about the God-given role of fatherhood. They'll also learn how to leave a legacy of faith for future generations. And they will discover that the strength and wisdom they need to parent their children comes from God.

Malachi 4: 6a ...he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers...

Parent-child relationships during imprisonment are tenuous at best as fathers seldom see their children and have few opportunities to provide emotional or social
support to them. Interviews and conversations with prisoners’ children and the children’s mothers indicate that there is a strong desire on the part of many children to see their incarcerated fathers, even if the children’s mothers do not want the children to visit them.

One of our objectives is to help these dad's connect or maintain a connection with their children. We will do this by:

1. Asking them to begin praying daily for their children.
2. Encourage them to write their children at least once a week. (or call, depending)
3. Providing greeting cards that they can pick out and send their child on birthdays, special occasions or “just because”. For example: getting good grades, making the team, trying and doing your best, or I am proud of you!
4. Occasionally bring their children into the program for a special time together.

Each class is 1 hour and 45 minutes. Here is the tentative schedule:

1.Prayer/ShareTime/Praayer Jar
2. Bible Study
3. Open questions
4. Dad’s Tip
5. Break-out into smaller groups and prayer
6. Time for picking out greeting cards
7. Begin letters to children

Hopefully, these studies/classes will give theses dads the tools needed to mend broken relationships with their children, or maintain an already good connection with their children. They will even have the opportunity to begin to spiritually train their children while still incarcerated, and continue to do so once making their transition back home. We believe this will help break the cycle in their family and make a difference for generations to come.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Once again, please be in prayer about helping with this program. We also have a list of supplies our ministry needs for the program if you or your church would be interested in helping that way. And of course, monetary donations are most welcome any time. (we are in the process of applying for our 501 (C)3.

Please feel free to contact me by email, jill.lacour@charter.net or 910.604.1345 or Elizabeth Creech at familiesincrisis@yahoo.com or 910.612.0034

Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love,Jill

An Update from Uganda

2011-03-31T09:17:00.003-04:00

Hi-ya from Kampala!

It’s hard to believe March is already coming to an end. It has been another full month. I’m happy to say I now have more of a routine schedule and feel quite settled into life in Africa.

Here’s a rundown of what’s been going on over the past month:

· In home follow up visits with all the families in our FDM (Family Development Ministry). Over the past two weeks I, along with the help of each family’s Sojourn “Champion”, have visited 21 different households. During the visits we reviewed each child’s grades/behavior thus far in the term, discussed the upcoming community service event the families will be participating in and got updates on what is going on at home. Almost all of the children in the FDM have not studied for several terms, couple that with a late start this term and there is a lot of catching up to do. With additional funds that were available in the Plant:Uganda general fund we have arranged for all of the students at to attend Saturday morning review and tutoring time, offered at the school. The students are eager and the teachers feel with a little extra help most all of them will be caught up by the end of the term.

· Our Thursday program at Wabigalo Primary l is still going strong! Currently we are looking for several of the Ugandan nationals from within the Sojourn community to commit to serving with us and being a part of the school program team.

· Monday evening Bible Study offered to the girls at Wabigalo Primary. For over a year Sojourn has done the Thursday program at the school. At the beginning of the month we began holding separate boys and girls Bible studies (level P4 and above, no little kids) on Monday evenings for those who were interested in learning more. I’ve had a pretty regular group of 20-25 girls, we are going through the book of John.

· The ABC/123 class is going very well. We have anywhere from 20 to 40 kids each week. Crazy!! Recently a number of the moms have begun to hang out with us through the hour instead of just dropped their children off. It’s been great to engage more with them too. Loring and I have been so grateful that our friend Mary has agreed to become a co-leader of this program. Mary and her husband, Richard, have been with Sojourn since the first of the year. When we started the class Mary was coming with her 2 year old son, Joshua. She has become a true asset, helping to interpret for the kids who don’t speak any English, teaching occasionally and always leading the singing portion of the day.

· The Sunday afternoon Bible study Loring and I are leading is also going very well. We have even added several girls in the last month. All of them have started to engage more in conversation, asking tough questions and even studying/preparing throughout the week. Loring and I are hosting a “girls night” for them at Sojourn at the end of the term. We plan to watch a movie, order pizza (which a number of the girls have never had before) and paint each other’s nails. In this culture all too often kids don’t get a chance to be kids. We are all pretty excited!

· Relationships continue to grow at Wabigalo Primary. It has really been awesome the amount of freedom and welcome I have received from the administration at the school. One of the neatest parts is the Bursar at Wabigalo Primary, Eunice, is an orphan and was sponsored in school (through university level) by Watoto. She has been such a help to me and seems to be quite an advocate for our FDM kids. Also, I’m organizing an event to host an end of term dinner and time of fellowship for the teachers and staff at Wabigalo Primary.

· Filled paperwork with Ugandan Internal Affairs for work permit. As I mentioned before, this office has a reputation for giving people a hard time and is supposedly the most corrupt governmental office in Uganda. Yikes! Thankfully they accepted my paperwork without giving me any trouble, well not any major trouble. I have to wait three weeks just to get a file number and then who knows. Depending on the speed of the paperwork being processed it could take long enough that I would have to get a “special pass” while I am waiting. It would be awesome if I was able to avoid the additional cost, but it may end up being necessary.

· Started working with a Luganda instructor two weeks ago. Learning the native language is something I feel is a crucial part of building deep relationships. Although, the majority of people in Kampala speak some English, it’s primarily surface level and I’m not able to hold in depth conversations without having someone interpret. There’s a great quote from Nelson Mandela that I love, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.

· I’m asking that people will consider making a commit to ongoing financial partnership. Throughout the whole process of leaving my job, raising support and moving to Kampala I have been so encouraged by the Lord’s provision. It has been really cool to see such generous response from you, my family and friends (some of whom I’ve never even met before)! Currently the majority of individuals and families who have partnered with me in the form of financial support have done so by giving one-time gifts. I realize this is a preferred way of giving for a number of you and I completely understand. That said, in reviewing my account: taking the one-time gifts I have received, monthly support pledged and spreading that sum over the next two years I am short by roughly $750 per month. Looking on the bright side, I am fully funded for this year!! J At the same time I am a bit anxious about the shortage in funding for the duration of my time here. I ask that you would consider making a pledge of monthly support. Please know that regardless I am exceedingly grateful for your support of me in whatever capacity you are able. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Pledge form: https://vintage21.wufoo.com/forms/plantuganda-support/ One-time or Online giving via credit card: https://pay1.plugnpay.com/payment/pay.cgi

Folks, I am so thankful for all of your prayers, support and encouragement. Please continue to pray for favor in the above areas, but also just for my service here in general, that it would be effective and God glorifying. Dan and Loring put together an awesome daily prayer guide when they first got here. If you’re interested in checking it out just follow this link.

Much love and big virtual hugs to you all!!!

Rosalie

How Far For Water?

2011-03-29T17:45:00.000-04:00

On March 17th, my wife Susan and I had the pleasure of hosting Steve Rife from Covenant United Methodist Church in Port Orange, Florida. Steve had ridden his bicycle across the United States to bring awareness to the shortage of clean water in Kenya and to raise money to allow his home congregation (Covenant) to drill clean water wells in Africa beginning with Gaitu, Kenya where they previously built a middle school. Having raised $59,000 of the needed $75, 000 on his cross-country tour, he was now on his way up the Atlantic Coast to Augusta, Maine to raise the balance. As he shared his personal story with us at supper, after riding into Wilmington that day from Myrtle Beach, SC (75 miles), it became obvious that this was a young man God was using in an incredible way to accomplish His purpose.

Steve said he got involved with missions at Covenant because some older men in the church asked him to become involved. Having grown up in the church, he had kind of grown away but was in the process of returning and getting more involved. After hearing of the plans to build a clean water well, Steve, who had never ridden a bike much, heard God's leading to ride from California to Port Orange, Florida to raise money for the project. He shared his vision with his pastor and church staff and their reaction predictably was "let's pray about this." Several weeks later, a man walked into the Covenant church office off the street and told them, "I don't go to church here, but I have a strange feeling that I am supposed to buy someone a bicycle at this church." The pastor called Steve and that's how he got his start.

He prepared himself for the ride by riding for a month back and forth between Daytona and Ft. Lauderdale. He rode one way, stayed all night with friends, and then rode back the next day. Steve quit his job as a bartender and he, and his bike, flew to San Diego, California. On January 2, 2011 he left San Diego for Port Orange, Florida arriving on February 27, 2011.

He was praying while riding one day in Alabama, when he says he heard God ask him , "What road are you on?" Steve said he answered God philosophically which prompted God to answer, "No stupid, what road are you on?" Not really knowing what road he was on, Steve looked for a road sign and he saw, "Cal-Maine." He called that night to his support in Port Orange and said, "I think God wants me to ride from California to Maine." The reply came, "Just make it back to Florida and let's talk about this."

A few days later, Steve called to his support again and told her that he and his host from a couple of days back had prayed that she would understand what Steve needed to do. She said, "What time were you guys praying?"

He answered, "About 9:30 am."

"OMG," she said, "That was about the same time that morning a huge semi-pulled up next to me at a light and I looked up to see what kind of truck it was. It said, 'Cal-Maine" and I have never seen that company before."

Steve rode back to Port Orange, stayed a week, shared his story on Sunday. and took off for Maine Monday morning.

What a blessing it was to host this young man who describes himself as "just being obedient to God's direction." He rides about 70-100 miles per day on a bike that weighs, with luggage bags, around 60 pounds and prays like he's done it before...often.

Before he left Wilmington, I took him past the bike shop for supplies and to Fastsigns where Steve Moore, who had heard his story the night before, made him a special sticker for his bike which looked like a street sign and read, "Cal-Maine." If you ask him why he is doing this, Steve would say, "To bring glory to God and help raise money for missions."
Amen!

MARCH 16, 2011 - VIDEO FROM The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, SC //Click to view

If you want to donate to Steve and How Far For Water, check out the website at www.howfarforwater.org.

Providential Relationships and a Birdhouse

2011-03-24T16:43:00.000-04:00

In the Men's Wednesday Night Bible Study, we are studying Andy Stanley's "Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith." Last evening's lesson was on "Providential Relationships" and, simply put, these are relationships God puts into our lives that are pivotal in our spiritual development. Today, I became acutely aware of one of those relationships through the building of a bird house.

Because there was only a half day of school today, I picked up Kaw and Thei at noon instead of the usual 2:30 PM. For the past two weeks, walking home through the playground, Kaw has pointed out several bird houses that students have made and installed around the school property. I had asked the boys if they would like to build a birdhouse sometime and put it up in their own backyard. They both agreed, with beaming smiles, that that would be a great idea. Since today was a half day, I decided this afternoon would be a good time for our adventure so, after I dropped the boys off at school this morning, I proceeded to Lowe's where I found a nifty little "Red Box Birdhouse Kit."

When I picked them up at noon, I told them that, after lunch, I would come over and we would build a birdhouse. Needless to say, they were excited. The pictures tell the rest of the story. The beauty of the "Red Box" kits is the fact that everything is provided, pre-cut, and pre-drilled so the kids really can do most of the work. I learned all kinds of things like "ooh, the glu come out really quick," and sticky little hands should not take pictures with your good camera but, as they say, "the experience was priceless."

When I met these two little boys, almost a year ago, they were just two shy little parts of a refugee family who had experienced so much of the bad in the world and simply needed our love, support, and a little shot of God's grace to make a safer, better life for themselves. Never did I think of them as possible "providential relationships" inserted into my life by God to build my faith. Isn't it strange how God uses such little things, like building a birdhouse with two tiny boys, to teach us such powerful lessons?

To Maua Methodist Hospital With Love

2011-03-13T13:19:00.000-04:00

This is a re-post of part of an e-mail I received from Jerri and Bill Savuto, two UM missionaries we met, who serve at the Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya. This is the hospital Dr. Ted's Medical Team served a couple of years ago and the hospital out of which the Giving Hope Program is administered. Dr. Ted has been involved with a program at New Hanover Regional Hospital called Mission Ready which sends "out-of-date" surplus medical supplies to Third World countries who, otherwise, would not have access to these type supplies. The supplies are perfectly good but, for some reason like U.S. laws, can't be used and would, otherwise, be discarded. The UM Merci Center, in Goldsboro, is partnering with NHRMC to house and pack the surplus materials. When you read the following re-post, you can get a sense of the excitement that was generated by this gift from NHRMC and the Wilmington Medical Community. Also, you can see how deliberately God answers our prayers to give us just what we need.

In the last two weeks so many good things have happened at the hospital that we have been “happy dancing” for joy! On Tuesday, 1 March, a 40 foot container arrived and was unpacked. The container was from New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington Medical Community and The Mercy Center and Dr. Ted in North Carolina. There were so many things that we needed and some desperately. As I watched and Bill help unload the container with Mary and Stanley Gitari, who had visited this hospital and were the two people from our side that made it happen, I was so excited it was hard to stand still. There are too many pieces of equipment and supplies to mention them all but I wanted to share the two that meant so very much to the hospital and to the quality improvement department and one that is so precious I must share it.

The first items were 55 Rubbermaid, red trash cans with a foot pedal openers. We have been trying for two years to buy red waste bins, as we call them, to be in compliance with the Kenyan Infection Prevention and Control guidelines. The Government of Kenya can buy them for their hospitals but we cannot and have never found anyplace in the country that sells them. Thus our Infection Control program could never be in compliance. When they unloaded the first red trash can and then stated there were 55 more I could only praise God and thank Mary and Stanley and Dr. Ted and his team.

The second item was a wonderful trolley. Since we returned to Maua Methodist Hospital in January 2007, I have been asking the hospital to purchase the Mortuary a covered trolley. There has been money in the budget but for years we couldn’t find anyone that sold them in Kenya. We have called other hospitals and our purchasing officer has called and visited numerous places throughout Kenya. Early last year a small team visited the Kenyan hospital supplies and equipment firm in Nairobi that we often purchase items from and saw a trolley that they said they could have someone put a metal cover over. It wasn’t what we wanted at all. On the 22nd of February when the Hospital Quality Improvement Team did our quarterly Self-Assessment we found the trolley in the mortuary in desperate need of paint and it was so noisy you could hear it coming from quite a distance. Our new mortuary in-charge shared with our team that what he really needed was a hydraulic trolley that could lift the bodies to the top level of our cold storage area. I had priced those and thought he might as well ask for the moon. But God knows our needs and there were several trolleys and they were wonderful, quiet, and using a foot pedal could be lifted quite high. We allowed the mortuary in-charge to choose the one that would work the best for him and he was so excited and I was dancing and singing. The goodness of God never fails.

The third item was an examining table for children that has a molded bottom in the shape of a turtle. When we carried it to the Pediatric Ward it changed the entire ward and made everyone smile.

We continue to receive cards and greetings reminding us that we are in your prayers. Thank you so very much.

In His grip,

Jerri & Bill Savuto
Maua Methodist Hospital
P.O. Box 63 -- 60600
Maua, Igembe South
Kenya, East Africa
0728451643

Rosali's Video Update from Uganda

2011-03-10T11:02:00.000-05:00

I received a wonderful e-mail this morning from Beau Simcoe. Most of us have been friends with Beau for years but some might not know she is the mom of Rosali, one of our former youth who is a missionary we are helping support in Uganda. This support is only made possible through your generous Faith Promise pledges. I thought you might want to see exactly what she is doing and where she is doing it. I would agree with the "TIA" acronym. The conditions look very similar to the ones we encountered in Maua, Kenya. There is so much need throughout the world. Please pray that Rosali and her team find the strength and ways to touch the hearts and lives of those they meet in the name of Jesus.

Beau wrote:
"This is Rosali's first attempt at video. It is a tad shaky in places, but so stunning. I was so glad she ended it on a positive note, the school children again, because I was totally depressed with the conditions!! (plus she had just posted on Twitter that she was on the back of their couch because there was a rat in the house!) Alas, the Morris family helps her have a good attitude and perspective about all this. The rat thing is – TIA = This Is Africa."

Rosali wrote:
"The initial shot was taken on a walk from our house at Ssali Stage through Wabigalo to Sojourn. The final shot is of 22 of the 26 children we have helped get off the streets and into school this term."

God Likes to Keep It Read (reposted from team5morris.com)

2011-02-04T15:29:00.000-05:00

This was a post by Sojourn Ministries that Rosalie Simcoe recently joined in Uganda.

by Loring Lee Morris on Friday, February 4, 2011 at 1:10pm

Okay so the last month has been fraught with ups and downs. On the upsides: Our NGO renewal went through and we recieved a three year renenwal for Sojourn Ministries. Such an answer to prayer and as I look back over the struggle and drama it took to get our paperwork approved last year and I am so grateful for the ease of this renewal. Also, Rosalie arrived in January to begin her two year journey here in Uganda. She is two years younger than me, funny, a hard worker and fits into our family well. What more could I ask for? Ok, I had hoped she'd be really fat and ugly so I could feel better about myself but no such luck. She is all around fabulous. And I'm grateful for God intertwining our lives here in this way.

The church is thriving and exciting things are happening. We are about to offer membership classes and inductive bible study and the Family Development Ministry is kicking into gear with Rosalie's arrival. We have three awesome churches back home cheering us on and supporting us spiritually, financially and emotionally. One of these churches has offered to put Dan through an online course ,kind of "seminary-esque" called Porterbrook. I mean life has been pretty darn good.

But to quote the famous theologian Rosalie Simcoe, "God doesn't just leave us in our comfortable places". And so we start the descent into the lows and drama that living here can often bring. Yesterday Dan was given a letter hand delivered by an auction company. Apparently the building and land that we have rented and built on for our church plant is about to be auctioned off becuase the landlord has defaulted on the loan. They told us we basically have 14 days to get out or buy it ourselves. Kind of shocking, I'm not gonna lie. So the comfortable place that our church was headed is now upended and we face the possiblity that Sojourn Ministries may be homeless in two weeks.

Right about now is when I usually start freaking out and despairing and bargaining with God. But this time, it all just seems SO IMPOSSIBLE that I actually find comfort in knowing we can't do this alone. God has to step in and work this out for His glory and I am confident that He will one way or another. Basically we need about $25,000-$30,000 in about two weeks to buy this land and building that has become Sojourn's home. I KNOW in my heart that God can do it but I sure could use some pretty fierce prayerson our behalf.

The well used quote of Matthew Henry is still a comfort in times like these: "Anything that causes us to cry out to God is a blessing to us". So this is me crying out to God and expecting His perfect will to be done. I mean this is just God, keeping it real. I can't wait to see what happens next....

2011-01-20T10:57:00.000-05:00

Don't Forget!

Mission Movie Night

Tomorrow, Friday, January 21, 2011

6:30 PM Sanctuary, FREE

John, Daniel, and Panther are three young men who have grown up in Kenya's Kakuna refugee camp after their families were evacuated from Sudan at the height of the country's civil war. The U.S. government has given the boys a chance to start a new life in America, and this film follows them as they get jobs, try to adjust to the enormous cultural differences, and miss their friends and family back home.
GOD GREW TIRED OF US won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.

(SPONSORED BY WESLEY MEMORIAL MISSIONS COMMITTEE)

A Prayer for Rosalie and Uganda

2011-01-15T12:46:00.000-05:00

As Rosalie grew up in our youth group, we remember her energy,her focus on the things she deemed important, her love for people, and her incredible smile. Now, as a young woman dedicated to going where God is leading her, we cover her, and will continue to support her, and those she will meet in Uganda with fervent prayer. May she daily feel God's presence and may He bless her as she brings His love to people who may have never experienced love of any kind.

Come Join Us For a Day of Prayer for Haiti

2011-01-05T20:24:00.000-05:00

A December Update from Ben Foster

2011-01-05T15:50:00.001-05:00

Ben Foster is a young engineer working with LOTI (Least of These) to bring a better way of life and the love of Jesus Christ to people all over the world. Ben, and his sister Alli, grew up in the youth group at Wesley and is the son of Mike and Sally Foster. His missional work is partially supported by Wesley through your annual giving to Faith Promise at Wesley.

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year and are adjusting quickly back to your daily schedules. I returned from Kenya just before the holidays and had a fantastic trip. I'm back in Charlottesville now, writing up reports and gearing up for a new year at LOTI. I was able to thoroughly test the biogas system, complete a solar and energy survey, and provide support to PA on the solar project.

The biogas system is working extremely well. I learned a lot about how it is operating and was able to introduce some changes to optimize the gas production. We also started to look into ways in which we can store the gas, which would eliminate the cost of piping and open up some business opportunities, and ways to use the gas as a fuel source for a community bakery.

The surveys provided useful information with regards to the success of the solar project and how energy is used and obtained for lighting and cooking in the village. One of the most encouraging parts of the survey was finding out that nearly all the owners of the solar systems knew of a technician we had trained and many had used those individuals to repair their systems. When we arrived all the systems were working; most of them as well as when they were first installed! Its incredible to see the ways in which God is using and directing our work and building the community's confidence in their own ability to affect change.
I'm excited for the new year and want to thank you all for your prayers and support. Here is a video update I recorded in Kenya.

FYI: It is a little technical (although I tried to make it interesting) and about 5 minutes long.

God Bless,
Ben Foster
Environmental Engineer,
EIT Least of These International
910) 233-1342

Kenya Dec 2010 Update from Ben Foster on Vimeo

God Can Open Any Door

2010-12-08T10:06:00.003-05:00

If you are a student of Biblical history, you probably understand the importance of the infrastructure and power of the Roman Empire in aiding Paul's missionary journeys and the spread of the gospel. We might be witnessing a similar event in our own lifetimes.

Another, rather unlikely, world power may, again, help spread the gospel to unreached people groups. China, a Communist country, has added the word "religion" to the Communist Constitution. A few years ago, a leading Chinese economist, Zhao Xiao, was sent to the U.S. to study our economy and determine what it was about our economy that made it so strong and stable.

While here, he decided that the "key" to our economy was the virtues and beliefs of the Christian people. He wanted to know more. So, he got a copy of the Bible, read it, and became a believer. When he returned to China, he reported his findings to the Communist party. Instead of being imprisoned, the Communist leaders decided to open the country's doors to religion. Although, to be honest, it was State sanctioned religion. Protestant "underground" churches were still persecuted but remain the fastest growing churches in China.

A Chinese Christian vision called, Back to Jerusalem, has been set in motion. Chinese missionaries are either working in, or planning and preparing to go to every nation between eastern China and Jerusalem.. Many are using, or planning to use, the old "Silken Road" trade routes that were so important in the days of Marco Polo and which China is rebuilding for economic purposes.

Isn't it awesome when we see God opening doors and working in people's hearts to bring about His will to reconcile His world.

"This good news about the kingdom will be told in all the world. The people in all countries must know about it. And then the end will come."

Matthew 24:14

Do you have some doors in your life that He needs to open?

He can....and He will!

How Did This "Mission" Idea Ever Get Started, Anyway?

2010-12-03T15:28:00.005-05:00

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you:

I will make your name great, and YOU WILL BE A BLESSING......and ALL PEOPLES ON EARTH will be blessed by YOU."

Genesis 12:2-3

"Tell us, they (the disciples) said, 'WHEN will this happen, and WHAT will be the SIGN OF YOUR COMING and of the END of the age?'"

Matthew 24:3

"And the GOSPEL of the kingdom WILL BE PREACHED in THE WHOLE WORLD as a testimony to ALL NATIONS, and THEN the end will come."

Matthew 24:14

"Therefore go and make disciples of ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the the age."

Matthew 29:19-20

Some Thanksgiving Day Thoughts

2010-11-24T08:27:00.002-05:00

On this Thanksgiving, let us take a few moments of our life to ponder, and take inspiration from, the words of Mother Theresa:

"There should be less talk; a preaching point is not a meeting point. What do you do then? Take a broom and clean someone's house.

That says enough.

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;

it was NEVER between you and them anyway."

May you become acutely aware of how God has blessed you this day so that you, in response to His blessing, become a blessing to others!

The Rest of the Week!

2010-11-22T13:55:00.013-05:00

Preparing to leave the job site, the full moon rises above the mountains. A reminder of wonder of God's creation from a land that once held unimaginal beauty in its most pristine form.

The end of day four, the building is almost finished. Just a few more loose ends to tie up.

Bishop Al Gwinn drives home the final screw as we finish our final work day in Haiti. "Now thank we all our God!"

Yvon stands in the doorway of a new building as well as the doorway to a new future for the children under his care. "The joy of the Lord is in this place".

Preparing for the first worship service in the new chapel. This space is available because on the new building.

Mrs. Helen Little reminds the congregation how the orphanage came to be known as the Ryan Epps home for Children & to share Ryan Epps' story.

Rev. Jon Strother sings "Sweet Little Jesus Boy"

The cross in the chapel at the Ryan Epps Home for Children

Sunday Afternoon

Today, we visited the ruins of Hotel Montana, the spot where Sam Dixon died. The view from the site is so beautiful it is almost indescribable. The mountains on one side & the Bay of Port Au Prince on the other. Who would have ever believed that there was such a view in a land in which had seen such stark poverty for the last six days. It truely looks like paradise. I guess that one could say that Sam went from paradise to Paradise as he gave his life to Lord and for His Kingdom. We had prayer in this spot and praised God for His precious gift we knew as Sam Dixon.

This is the view from the ruins of Hotel Montana. That is the Cape of Port Au Prince in the distance.

Haiti Update

2010-11-18T19:11:00.003-05:00

Yvon, Claudelle, Boaz, Patrick, Helen, and Gwen discuss future plans for the orphanage.

It's coming together!!

How a DS Prepares for Work......in Haiti

2010-11-18T11:55:00.003-05:00

Ready for work, Thursday am. Doing fine. Hope to finish the building today.

NC Conference Leadership Answer Call to Haiti

2010-11-17T16:46:00.003-05:00

Bishop Gwinn and members of his cabinet (i.e. District Superintendents) left last Monday morning for Haiti. They were to build an addition on an orphanage about 50 miles north of Port-au-Prince. In light of the recent earthquake, hurricane, and cholera epidemic, the importance of safe housing is an important way of showing God's love to His people. When finished, the building is rated to withstand a Category V hurricane.

Among those going is our own Wilmington DS, and former pastor, Francis Daniel. Francis sent the following picture and description. Please pray for their safety and that the seeds that are planted will produce a bountiful crop in God's Kingdom.

This is Bishop Gwinn, Tim Russell, Dennis Goodwin putting up a new section of "hat channel" for the roof. Sam Wynn, Jon Strother, Leonard Fairley are handling scaffolding duties.

Beau and Ron's Daughter to Serve in Uganda

2010-11-10T20:55:00.003-05:00

Olyotya! (Hello!)
I have some great news and I would love for you to share in the excitement!! This January I will be moving to Kampala, Uganda to fulfill a two-year commitment as a missionary with my church, Vintage21. I will be serving with Emily Harding, also from Vintage21. This endeavor, called PLANT: UGANDA, is in collaboration with a new church plant in Kampala: Sojourn Ministries. My responsibilities will cover a multitude of areas; such as volunteering in the school, coordinating after school & weekend activities, spending time with the families of these children and leading a children’s program at Sojourn. A primary focus is caring for the children of one particular slum, Wabigalo. Emily and I will be coordinating all of the on the ground logistics to get a church supported child sponsorship ministry up and running.

WABIGALO

• Thousands of displaced people populate the slum: widows, victims of unsustainable business, and orphans (primarily of war, AIDS, illness and alcoholism)
• 60% of the slum population is under 14 years old, and most residents eat only one meal per day
• Average Ugandan woman has more than 6 children
• Average adult salary is $1-$2/day, while school is about $25/month, not including uniforms and other supplies
• Disease is rampant, medical care is limited and child mortality is high. Many children die before reaching the age of 5

You have received this news because I would love to have you as a partner with me in this mission. There are two ways you can get involved; through prayer, through donations, or both. As I take on this role, my church will provide a portion of my salary. However, I am responsible for a majority of the funds required to live and serve in Kampala. $14,000 per year ($1,200/mo) is needed (for two years), plus $1500 to cover initial costs. God provides for all our needs and I ask that you would pray over what your involvement may be. If you are interested in partnering financially, important information is below. Wanting to support PLANT: UGANDA and me through prayer? Reach me via email/phone.

I am thankful for all of the support and encouragement I have received from you, my amazing friends and loved ones. My hope is that this letter would simply be the beginning of a conversation. There is so much more I would like to share with you regarding how God has put this call to Uganda in my life. I would love to catch up over – coffee, dinner, phone, Skype, email, whatever your pleasure! This is my heart; I am incredibly passionate and excited about this opportunity that the Lord has laid in my path.

Grace and Peace,

Important Stuff!
• Talk to me: heyrosa@gmail.com
• Phone: 919.649.9261
• I blog! Keep up with the happenings: http://soulshinesister.tumblr.com/
• Donate to me, Emily, the endeavor: https://vintage21.wufoo.com/forms/plantuganda-support/

Church Beautification Project Update

2010-11-09T14:51:00.001-05:00

Thanks to all who showed up on the 6th to rejuvenate the College Rd front of the church property. It was a very tough job, tougher than I (we) had anticipated. It took about 50 man-hours to get to where it is now and will require at least 50 more.

To that end we will need your help again on the 20th of this month. We will tackle the left side this time. To ensure a one day success path we will need about 10 or 12 folks. Please let me know if you can make it so that I will have the needed hands and not have to overburden anyone’s back, arms, legs, neck etc.

Pitchforks, gloves, shovels, axes, and picks were the tools of most value. Milk crate was great too, Bring one if you have it. Thanks Jimmy for the idea!!!

Once grown up in a few years it will be a nice addition to the church façade there. I’d like for you to be able to say that you helped make it possible.

Love you guys

Chip

Your Help Could Be Life-Changing!

2010-11-04T09:33:00.003-04:00

Spaghetti Dinner for Haiti

2010-10-26T15:31:00.008-04:00

You're invited to a Spaghetti Dinner for Haiti! Laurel Weeks, a senior at J.T. Hoggard High School and an active member of Wesley Memorial's youth, is hosting a delicious spaghetti dinner complete with spaghetti, salad, bread sticks, dessert, and drink as her Senior Project. The purpose of the dinner is to raise awareness of the plight of the Haitian people who are still suffering after the earthquake that devastated their country in January 2010. Haiti was considered one of the poorest countries in this hemisphere before the earthquake. The people who live there are not strangers to hunger, poor healthcare, and poverty, but their situation recently got even more critical with an outbreak of a deadly strain of cholera.

All proceeds of this dinner will go to rebuild a roof on an open air church and homes that need to be rebuilt. Thousands of Haitians currently live in tent cities throughout Port au Prince but, in spite of their situation, the Haitian people have great faith.

The event will be held Novermber 6, 2010, 5-7:00 PM in the Wesley Memorial UMC Activity Center. The cost is $5 and tickets will be available at the door. However, to assure having enough spaghetti and to be good stewards of the resources, Laurel would appreciate buying your tickets in advance on Sunday morning before or after every service. Also, you may reserve tickets by contacting Laurel at laurelweeks09@yahoo.com or by calling the church office at 791-4092.

If you can't attend, or if spaghetti is just not your thing, donations of any size will be accepted.

When our mission team returned from Haiti this past summer, we heard stories that just broke our hearts of the tremendous burdens that so many of the Haitian people are enduring but the team also told of incredible, and even miraculous, things that people were doing to aid the Haitians. A little goes a long way in Haiti. Won't you help show God's love for the Haitian people, and support for our youth, by attending this dinner. There will also be entertainment by the Wesley Youth Praise Band.

Thank you for your support

Stop Hunger Now - UNCW 2010

2010-10-18T19:11:00.007-04:00

Dear Friends,

The Stop Hunger Now Meal Assembly Event at UNCW (Hanover Hall) is scheduled this year for Saturday, November 13th. This marks the 3rd year in a row at UNCW and is going to be an exciting time.

Currently there will be three (3) shifts of volunteers assembling meals.

9:00 am
12 noon
3:00 pm

to volunteer for a shift - click on and then click on "Register To Volunteer".

to donate www.stophungernow.org/university--then click on UNC-Wilmington

Volunteers are encouraged to make a donation to help purchase the meal ingredients.

You can also write a check to Stop Hunger Now and mail it to me at the address below.

We want to make sure that the funds you donate to SHN go to underwrite the UNCW Event.

Some more good news that should add even more excitement to the event. We will be shipping directly from the event to Leonarda’s Home of Hope in Honduras. Ken and Peggy Hook will be present with information about their ministry. We will load the meals directly into the container as we package, and when finished, it’s off to the port. This adds another element of excitement and direct involvement when the volunteers know the meals are leaving campus and headed straight to the destination.

Murrie and Teresa Lee

To learn more and see a video about Stop Hunger Now, click on the link to the right side of the blog.

***********************************

Murrie & Teresa Lee

214 Robert E. Lee Drive

Wilmington, NC 28412

Home Phone: 910-799-1324

His Cell Phone: 910-232-2980

Her Cell Phone: 910-512-5121

How Are They Doing in School?

2010-10-08T16:14:00.006-04:00

One of the most frequently questions people ask me is, "How are the boys doing in school?" Of course, they are talking about Kaw and Thei, our second and third grade children of the Karen refugee family we are sponsoring from Thailand. I thought I might take a moment and bring you up to date.

I received an e-mail from one of Kaw and Thei's teachers at Winter Park School telling me what sweet kids they are and what all the different teachers are doing to help the boys adjust to their new school and new surroundings. I can tell you without hesitation, the Winter Park faculty and staff have welcomed them and given them the best educational experience they could get anywhere.

When Lynn or I pick them up at 7:20 AM each morning, they are always dressed, ready and eager to get to school. I think they pretty much take care of themselves in the morning. Lah goes to work before 6:00 AM and Sha has the care of both infant girls. Even though practically every article of clothing the boys have are "hand me downs," they are clean and, ironically, when they get to school they look no different than any of the other kids.

They are doing well in school and their English is getting better and better. They have been on field trips to Downtown Wilmington and the aquarium. You should have seen Thei's grin when he was telling me how big the fish were. Their teachers have introduced the Karen culture to their classes and brought in special cds, books, and audio visuals to help everyone understand. Kaw wore his Karen shirt today (see above) and one of his teachers took a picture and sent it to me via e-mail. The following video is from a linc one of the teachers forwarded to me via e-mail. Hope you enjoy it, as I did, and I hope it gives you a little flavor of the Karen language and people. The sub-titles are in the Karen language so you can see the difficulty in learning English. They had to learn a whole new alphabet as well as sounds, words, meanings, and syntax.

It is no secret that the gospel of Jesus Christ can change people and give them hope but it is just so incredible to see the physical, mental and spiritual changes that have occurred in the last six months in the lives of Lah's family through the actions of the community of believers at Wesley Memorial toward this family. By being the hands and feet of Jesus, six refugee's lives will be changed forever. That is what Wesley Missions is all about!

My Day, Today, Was a Good Day

2010-09-28T07:58:00.004-04:00

My day, today, was a little different than I had planned. I started my day thanking God that Peggy and John had planned for Lah Lah to be taken to work and picked up this week after hearing of him being threatened at the bus stop.

I woke up at 5 am to thunder and rain and knew that Lah was not riding his bike to work. I was very thankful. As it turned out, they did not have to work today because of the weather.

Then, I got a phone call from Ehlia at 10:30 telling me that Sha Pee was needing a breast pump that she was in pain. I called the Health Dept. and begged for an appt. today since Lah would be home and able to babysit. They gave me 30 minutes to get there. I rushed to the house only to find the house surrounded by 10 inches of water...pouring rain and Sha Pee was waiting at the door. Lah immediately took off his shoes put Sha Pee on his back and waded to the car with her on his back and put her safely in the car. She was giggling like a school girl. It was so sweet. We got to the HD and I was able to sign her up for the WIC program and 3 hours later we got home with pump, vouchers, and, I'm sure, even more engorged breasts. He immediately came out to the car and picked her up and carried her in.

Lah had told me that Kaw was sick (he told me his neck had pain) and did not go to school today. I walked in his room when Sha Pee and I got back, and Kaw immediately got up and hugged me. (Made my day...again). He was burning up with fever. I told Lah I would come back and we would take him to the doctor.

We took him into the Children's Clinic. What a great place. Everyone knew them. He has a virus and we got Motrin and came home via the Saigon Market. Lah went in and came out with two bags. He gave me one which had a six pack of energy drinks. I told him no, and he insisted. He said, my family come to USA, the church helps us all...and named us all by name. It was a very special moment. He had asked me to write a word down when I first got there. I wrote what he told me....Thramu. He said that Mr. Bill and I were Thramu....He told me to call Ehlia and ask her what it meant. I did and she told me it meant "teacher...mentor...but much more", she said it was a very big compliment.

Well I have to tell you, I don't need to be called Thramu, but just to hear him try to speak in English and to see how far they have come in 6 months is worth more than any words I know. He has so much to tell and is bursting at the seams to tell it. We will all be blown away when he is able to communicate his story.

Just wanted you to know what happened to me today. It was a good day.

Lana

2010-09-20T09:53:00.002-04:00

Last Friday, Dr. Ted Winneberger and I went to lunch and, as we talked, the conversation eventually turned toward a common interest, Maua Methodist Hospital and the Giving Hope Program. He asked me if I had heard of the devastating shortage of nurses at the hospital and I told him that I had not. We discussed several ways they might address this problem. Little did we know, the Holy Spirit, as usual, had already planted the seeds for yet another miracle. Read the following e-mail from Bill and Jerri Savuto, United Methodist missionaries at the hospital. It never ceases to amaze me what God can do when people listen and obey.

19 September 2010

Dearest Friends and Family,

“Don't believe in miracles - depend on them.” Laurence J. Peter

In Maua, Kenya we depend on miracles. We look for them and see them happening around us and yet I am often surprised by the incredible love and care of God and His children around the world. As most of you know, we have been watching a miracle take place to help us with our nurses shortage.

Our nurses began to leave to join the Government in February of this year. At first in very small numbers but by July sixty-seven nurses had left Maua Methodist Hospital. We knew that all mission hospitals were affected as the Kenyan Government has hired 8000 nurses in 2010 and since the nation only trains and graduates 1200 nurses a year, the other 6800 had to come from mission or private hospitals. As a 275 bed hospital, the only full service hospital in the region, serving 700,000 people, the loss of 67 nurses out of a total of 149 was devastating.

The major reason for the nurses leaving was financial. The Government pays RN’s $1062 a year more that we do. Because we pay staff, buy drugs and food from our patient fees and 30% of our patients are unable to pay for their hospital stay – approximately $180 for a 7-day stay – we have a huge debt. As the word in our community went out that we had lost more and more nurses, fewer patients wanted to come and our bed occupancy dropped significantly. That had a good side in that we did have fewer nurses to care for our patients but a bad side in that we were unable to pay salaries much less increase the nurses salary.

That is where Rev. Danny Sanders, the leader of our first team of this summer, came into the picture. Rev. Sanders is the pastor of a 200 member United Methodist Church in Canadian, TX. Canadian, TX is a town of 2233 people located close to the Oklahoma border in the Texas panhandle. Canadian FUMC has supported the hospital and Bill and me since 2005.

Rev. Sanders wrote after his team arrived home from Kenya that he was interested in sending money to help increase our nurses salary and was hopeful to raise a significant amount of money in his church and wanted to write the leaders of other teams to ask for their help. He had set a goal of $125,000 as that would pay the additional $1062 that was for the nurses for one year. When we received Rev. Sander’s first email we were amazed again at how God works. The Canadian FUMC team came from the smallest church and town that sent a team this year to the hospital. Could Rev. Sander’s church with the help of other UM churches really raise the amount of money he had suggested? Would he be able to inspire others to give? Well, we certainly have received the answer over the past months.

First, Rev. Sander’s reported that members of Canadian FUMC and the church had raised $85,000 – no, I haven’t made a mistake – that small church sent $85,000. Then we began to receive emails from members of the different work teams that had come this summer sharing that they personally were sending funds. From a couple that came with the Friendswood UMC Team we received a donation of $3000. One member from that same team but with her membership at Heath UMC in the Dallas area sent $2124 and shared the need with a nurse who was a friend of hers who sent $1000. Then one of our supporting churches, FUMC White Rock, New Mexico, a church which is smaller than Canadian FUMC, raised $14,000. A birthday gift for me of $500 was sent and then two other couples sent donations of $1500 and $250. Chapelwood UMC in Houston Texas recently wrote and said they were sending $10,000. Muleshoe FUMC has set a goal and we will soon know if they were able to meet that goal. They have $5000 right now and again FUMC Muleshoe is a small church in West Texas, our home church between 1989 and 1992.

If you are adding as you go you will know that the amount raised right now is $121,474. As I just wrote that figure I am in total awe of God, Rev. Sanders and Canadian FUMC and all the other churches and individuals who have given so generously to help us in this very difficult crisis. What an amazing miracle.

Last month, August 2010, the nurses at Maua Methodist Hospital received a raise in their pay that puts them at the same salary as the Government nurses. Because a raise was promised we have not lost any nurses since the end of July.

This coming Wednesday our Hospital Management Team will begin interviews to hire more nurses. There are 4 – 5 students who have applied and should have received their exam results this past week and a few other nurses from elsewhere. We are only able to start interviewing and hiring nurses thanks to the funds that have been sent.

LOOKING FOR GOD IN ALL SITUATIONS

2010-09-13T15:14:00.004-04:00

Jerri and Bill Savuto are our missionaries at the Maua Methodist Hospital in Maua, Kenya. When we were there last year, we enjoyed their hospitality one evening in their lovely home on the hospital grounds. I recently received their latest newsletter and wanted to pass along one of their stories. The story is exciting but please look past the story to how Christians in Kenya respond to events, even when the event may be violent. I hope this story will remind you, as it did me, that God is with us and we can rely on Him in all situations.

"In my last email I shared with you that Boniface Lema, the man who had been our primary contractor for building and maintenance at MMH for about 30 years, had died suddenly in his sleep. His funeral here in Maua took place on Thursday 30 August at 3pm. Members of his family in Tanzania had traveled to be in Maua at his funeral and then a large group of people, his family, friends, co-workers, church members and Maua Methodist Hospital staff were to travel to Tanzania for the funeral there on Friday 31 August at 1:30pm. On Sunday 5 September, Mr. Justus Mwenda, the Deputy Accountant at Maua Methodist Hospital, shared the following story with St. Joseph’s Church. He told the story with so much thanksgiving and joy which is so typical of the Christians in Kenya.

The vehicles carrying the people and casket did not leave Maua until after 6pm. About 20 miles from Nairobi, the vehicle carrying the casket and some family members from Tanzania, church members, friends and MMH staff suddenly had to stop due to flat tires on one side of the vehicle. It took the driver about 100 meters to be able to stop the vehicle. When they did the people inside the vehicle piled out and when they realized that both tires on one side were flat they begin to expect foul play. Fortunately, two family members crossed to the other side of the road and climbed a tree before several men carrying panga’s (machete type knives) approached the vehicle and told all the people to get down on the ground. They then robbed each person taking their mobile phone, money, rings and all the drivers documents which included papers to allow the vehicle to cross the border between Kenya and Tanzania. Over 120,000 Ksh ($1500) was taken

The two relatives hiding in the tree called the police who arrived but too late to apprehend the robbers. The vehicle had one spare tire but needed two. One of the church members was carrying two mobile phones and only lost one so he was able to call the hospital and others for help.

The Police Chief was very helpful. He arranged for a second tire and wrote a letter explaining to the border authorities and Kenyan police that this vehicle had been robbed and lost all its documents and even the driver’s license. Thus, after many hours this vehicle was back on the road. Miraculously the driver was never stopped at a police check in Kenya and asked for his driver’s license and the authorities at the border accepted the letter from the Police Chief. They arrived at 5pm in Tanzania for the funeral. Everyone there was so thankful for all the people of Maua had done and rejoiced that they had arrived safely.

As Mr. Mwenda concluded his story, he shared how God’s goodness had been with them each step of the way and how all the people in the vehicle had rejoiced and sang songs of joy on their way from the robbery to Tanzania and back. His final statement was regarding the goodness and care of God and how fortunate each person was that they were alive and no one was hurt.

As Bill and I sat listening to this story we marveled at the way Kenyan’s always look for God in all situations and find Him there. Are you and I looking for God in ALL of our situations and finding Him and rejoicing in His goodness regardless of what is happening?"

Please remember Jerri, Bill, and all those at Maua Methodist Hospital, and the Giving Hope program in your prayers.

Maua Methodist Hospital Receives Award

2010-08-26T09:34:00.003-04:00

The Maua Methodist Hospital is an oasis of healthcare in an, otherwise, barren landscape. Last year, they hosted a medical mission team from Wesley and other Wilmington area churches. Our experience there, with the ZOE Giving Hope Program, underscored the quality, intensity, and need of their delivery system in Maua and the surrounding area. Once again, they have received formal recognition for their work.

Mr. Mailutha, the CEO at Maua Methodist Hospital, Stanley Gitari, the Community Outreach Coordinator and Mary Gitari, the Nursing Officer In-charge, have received their visas and left to the USA to receive the Living Award for Inspiration in Faith and Health from The Methodist Healthcare System in Memphis, Tennessee. Jerri and Bill Savuto, our MMH missionaries said, "We are all so excited about this award and that three of our leadership team will be there to accept the award."

Jerri and Bill also related the following story which those of us on last year's mission team found to be typical of the wonderful work done by MMH, "Two weeks ago we admitted a precious 5 year old girl, Jacline, with Guillain-Barré Syndrome. (This syndrome is marked with ascending paralysis. The loss of motor function begins in the extremities and may quickly rise to include the respiratory muscles causing respiratory failure and death.) The staff of the Pediatric Ward watched as daily the paralysis moved up her small body.

I saw her on Monday and Tuesday of last week and was so concerned as her respiratory rate was increasing as the paralysis moved up. On Thursday, the nurses arrived on day shift to find Jacline moving her limbs. On Friday, during a round, I saw Jacline seated on the side of the bed with a huge smile on her face. She is now able to move her legs and arms, wiggle her toes and weakly grasp my finger. There is much celebration happening on the Pediatric Ward."

Please pray for Mr. Mailutha and the Gitari’s as they travel to the USA and back and during their brief stay in the Memphis area. Also, pray for the work of Bill, Jerri, and the entire Maua Methodist Hospital as they continue to bring hope, healing, and the love of Jesus to people who are hurting so badly.

The First Day of School

2010-08-25T18:20:00.008-04:00

Today, was the first day of school in New Hanover County. It was exciting to see the looks on children's faces as they came to school with their new clothes, new supplies, and new backpacks and met their new teachers.

At 7:20 AM, Lynn Weaver and I arrived at Kaw and Thei's home. As they hurried to let me in, their excitement was evident as they scurried to get their shoes on. Lah also accompanied us as we crossed the busy street and walked the block to Winter Park Elementary. This was "their" first day of school too, except it was their first day of school EVER in the United States. As we walked to school, Kaw smiled and said, almost to himself, "School!" It sounded almost like he had finally achieved his American Dream.

Kaw is in the third grade and Thei is in the second grade. Both have wonderful teachers and were welcomed warmly into their new classrooms. When we picked them up this afternoon, they were all smiles and talked to each other all the way home. Can you just imagine the excitement they must feel. This time last year, they were in a refugee camp in Thailand. Today, they started their new school year at Winter Park Elementary halfway around the world. Isn't God incredible?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11

Thoughts, Praises, and Prayers

2010-08-10T13:04:00.003-04:00

Morning,

Its been a while since I have been able to write something to y’all in the form of prayer requests and praises.

Many praise to our UMY group on their mission to Helen Ga. I was blessed to serve along side them and be an eye witness to their (the youth’s) commitment to Jesus Christ and His teachings, to WMUMC and our mission and to themselves and their integrity. Brought me to tears once or twice. I pray that you all could see it someday.

Many praises and admiration for our Haitian team with their most difficult task of existing in a historically impossible situation. Despite that the team reported that hope was everywhere in the form of Jesus’ name graffiti’d all over. Much good was done in a short period of time; we’ll never know how much but a few loaves and fishes did feed the multitudes.

Please remember those on the Haitian team that have gotten ill since their return. It is some kind of flu bug and may now be forever known as the Haitian flu!! Thanks Susan!!

See Ya tonight
Chip

Meditation:

[Jesus:] "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."
--John 4:48 (NIV)

Quotation:

Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you yourself shall be the miracle.

... Phillips Brooks (1835-1893), Twenty Sermons, New York:
E.P. Dutton, 1887, p. 330

The Empy Chair

2010-08-02T17:10:00.005-04:00

(written the morning of leaving Haiti)

It’s been another week constantly amazed by God. It’s always like this on mission trips when I leave my comfortable existence with all the distractions associated with it. I refer to A/C, clean water and food any time I want it, safe housing and all the other ‘givens’ we in America live with, thinking this is ‘normal’, as distractions because they are just that.

It’s all of these that distract us from our only real reason for being here and that is to be amazed by and to worship God. Haiti has once again graced me with this gift, this re-realization of this simple fact and the situation in Haiti provides none of these items I’ve listed. In Haiti, without them, God is on full and glorious display. From the written messages of ‘Merci Jesus’ seen on the walls in red on crushed buildings to the full color displays of Bible verses on the tap-taps (buses….sorta), to the hymns that spontaneously come from the people and the stories of miracles in this disaster.

And now we’re leaving…..and I’m guiltily relieved as I always realize on these trips how evident it is that I’d have a difficult time living the life of any of these, our brothers and sisters, who suffer so much in their lives.

But I’m also saddened at leaving and find my self in tears as I always am when I’ve felt so touched and close to our Father as happens when I am with His suffering children, doing as I am supposed to do, share His love with all that He’s given me.

Now, I’m sitting here with the final day’s favorite picture stuck in my head. It’s the empty chair. It came in being carried by two of our team members and in it was a man who had been sitting in it since the earthquake with a crushed and partially amputated right foot. He’s been in it so long that his hips and knees have become accustomed to that position, this ‘existence’. But because of God’s love and grace, he walked out of our clinic, adjusting to the new freedom that has come from that love in the form of our team, fitted shoes, and crutches.

Surely this is a wonderful story, but the empty chair to me also embodies my prayer for me and all who came here and all who have had this blessing/experience. That is, by being here and having been so touched by His grace, we will now rise and walk, each step being transformed into a more loving, less distracted child of God. My prayer is that we will not go back to that empty chair of ignore-ance of God’s blessings and the promise of all we can do if only we’ll remember, and only if we’ll ‘rise and walk’ with renewed confidence in His love and presence, our hearts remaining broken for all that is breaking our Father’s heart seen everywhere here in Haiti. My prayer is for us to have the determination to continue to walk in humble service, true to this love and His blessings.

In Genesis 12 God told Abraham that He would bless him and he {Abraham and all his children, i.e. us} would be a blessing to all nations. Living here in the US, having seen how the majority of the world lives, yes the majority live like Haiti on a good pre-earthquake day, I am overwhelmed by His blessings on me/us/our country. I pray we never forget God’s simple request of us in this verse.

Often on returning from one of these trips, folks come up and want to say good things about our efforts, about us. My final prayer for this trip is that, when this happens, we and all of us remember the one creole phrase that sounds like the following;

“Benny swallowed the nail” which means, “To God be the glory”.

-ted

The Last Day

2010-08-01T23:41:00.005-04:00

This blog was supposed to be posted last evening but, try as we did, the internet server did not cooperate probably due to a pretty good electrical storm and, as they say when things don't quite go as expected in Haiti, "TIH."

This morning we again rose early (5:30 am) to the crowing of several roosters in the compound. After breakfast, we provided a small clinic for the people who live and have served us this week in this compound. Then, we boarded Elohim (our magic bus) and headed up the mountain to visit a small town where almost every person cuts and pounds out pieces of art from 55 gallon oil cans. The art and hard work involved was awesome. Most of us bought at least one piece to bring home as a reminder of, what can only be described as, an incredible week.

After our “shopping experience” we reloaded onto our bus and proceeded up to Tim’s house for lunch. Several hours later, we abandoned our plans because of the traffic congestion and the heat. One of our team members, Nichol Kidd, from King’s Mountain NC, had to leave the bus due to the heat and received some help from our fantastic medical staff. We arrived back at the compound at 4:00 pm. Everyone was relieved to be able to cool down and re-hydrate.

One of the real treasures of this trip has been the friendships that have developed between us and our translators. These young men and women have gone way past what they are getting paid for. They meet us in the morning, spend all day with us, and then return to just “hang out” and play soccer, talk, or play guitar and sing. Tonight, John and Gardy played guitar and sang praise songs with Will, Allen, and a number of the team on the porch while other team members danced with the Haitian kids from the compound. We will all miss them all when we return tomorrow.

Margeuritte, our cook for the week, prepared a very special supper of “Pumpkin soup.” The story is that when they were slaves, the slave owners would never let them eat the pumpkins. Every January 1st the people of Haiti eat pumpkin soup to celebrate their freedom from slavery.

We have seen 800 patients of all sizes, shapes and conditions. It has been exhilarating and, at the same time, heart breaking. It has been emotional on every level. The love of Christ can truly be summed up in the relationships that we make along the way and the deepening of those relationships as we serve Him together even if it requires us to be uncomfortable.

This week we have experienced God in so many ways. We have seen lives changed physically and spiritually. We have literally seen the lame walk, lives saved, and hope restored. It has truly been a week of stories and miracles.

We are coming home tomorrow but part of our hearts will always remain in Haiti!

--2010 Haiti Medical Mission Team

Tent Call

2010-07-30T22:01:00.003-04:00

I have been elected to write the blog tonight not because of my literary prowess but rather because of the circumstances as I have a story to tell… I have heard multiple times on mission trips “God qualifies the willing”.

My story began yesterday when I was presented with a sick infant. Her name was Lovena and she was 3 days old. She was born in a UNICEF tent on a hillside amongst the rubble of her town. Her problem was that she had a fever of 100.9. Thankfully the infant’s vitals and exam was otherwise normal. In the US this child would have received a work-up that would have included a spinal tap, blood culture, urine culture, multiple antibiotics and a prolonged hospital stay.

The infant was with her God-mother as her mother was too weak to come to the clinic. This was very concerning as she is the only source of food for this very sick infant. This child really needed to be hospitalized and the mother’s condition needed to be investigated. We assembled a small team (Mary Turnbull, Franklin Jones, myself, and Robert (the translator) and went to the families tent. We followed the God-mother through dusty streets for about ½ mile into a tent city of roughly 80 tents. During our journey we crossed the rooftops of fallen homes and dodged trenches cut between tents for rain water drainage.

We met Ilionise who is the mother of Lovena and fairly quickly understood why she did not come with her daughter. She was very pale and obviously anemic, her bleeding had slowed from her delivery but the lack of ventilation and oppressive heat were contributing to her fatigue and dehydration.

The tent was very neatly kept with cooking utensils and extra clothing piled up in corners. The tarp on the ground was very clean and I felt bad not taking my shoes off as I entered. The tent was partitioned by a tarp and a single cot was in the back.

I examined Ilionase and other then being very anemic and dehydrated found her to be well. We explained to her that the baby’s temperature and immature immune system was a cause for alarm and the baby needed to be in a hospital for medications and monitoring.

Tim DeYoung who is our host here knew of a local hospital (Hopital Espoir) “Hospital Hope”, where he called and told them she was coming. We left and finished afternoon clinic and returned to our mission house. Mary and Kristi Hass decided that we should pack the family a care package and deliver it to the family tent the next day.

Today, after morning clinic, a group of us went back up to the tent city to deliver the care package. When we arrived, we found the now 4 day old Lovena with Ilionise and Olpison(dad) who is a local mason. We could tell that the infant’s condition had worsened. She was very dehydrated, remained febrile and her pulse was well over 160 (normal is less than 140 in this age of child).

The families had taken Lovena to the hospital and were unable to afford the deposit so they brought her home. We gave the family the care package, injected the infant with another dose of antibiotics and prayed with the family. We returned to the clinic but prior to leaving the tent city were asked to see 2 more infant girls that were born on the same day as Lovena.

The team was determined that Lovena needed appropriate medical care. We spoke to Tim who made multiple calls. We picked Lovena and her family up and after several stops at hospitals and winding drive through Port-au-Prince’s broken streets we arrived at University of Miami Hospital.

We met a 3rd year Family Medicine Resident from California who sent us directly to the pediatric ward where we met Leah a 2nd year Fellow in Neonatology who had two words for us “No Problem”. We left the family in excellent hands. So, tonight, we are thankful for the resilience of a little girl named Lovena and the University of Miami Hospital for giving this child in need a safe place to land.

As I wrote this, I was reminded of the parable of the lost sheep. Lovena was a child we all cheered for here but there are so many stories of loss and so many miracles that we were touched by. Here in Haiti there are a lot of lost sheep that have been found and still others that need to be searched for. Keep Haiti in your prayers as there is a great deal of suffering but know that God is at work here.

Howard

Up Close and Personal

2010-07-29T21:13:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I got to ride next to the driver in the cab of our “bus”. His name is Renel and he is the brother of one of our interpreters. He is, without a doubt, one of the best drivers I’ve ever seen.

I say this, because, traveling in Port au Prince is not for the faint of heart or anyone with poor reflexes. Our destination yesterday required about an hour and a half to go a distance of probably 20 miles. If you aren’t slowing down for potholes or rubble, you are inches away from colliding with just about every car or truck around you.

Yesterday was particularly difficult not to notice the living conditions of countless people and families. At one point, the road became four lanes….well sort of….and there was a 6-8 foot median in between the road. But instead of grass or trees there were tents lined up one after another, no space to speak of between the tents.

Now to back up a little, tents are everywhere in town. Down alley ways, in front of collapsed buildings, in places that once used to be open space is filled with tarps and tents. But this was different. These tents were on a very busy street. At one point, I saw a little girl standing in the door of her tent, one foot from big trucks whizzing by. This literally took my breath away.

To ride through this city it seems the earthquake happened yesterday not six months ago. Debris is everywhere. None of the collapsed buildings have been touched, yet life goes on. Everyone is busy doing something. Either, they are selling something by the street, walking somewhere, going to school, cooking…whatever it is, it is evident they are not waiting for something to come to them. They are strong, hard-working, generous people. Life has never been easy, but even in the wake of this tragic event, they have not given up, and from all the signs and painted words on cars speaking of Jesus, their faith has to be the reason why.

I hope this always takes my breath away.

Lana

Laws of Relativity

2010-07-29T21:04:00.001-04:00

As humans, we naturally compare ourselves to others and, as sinful humans, we covet those who seem to “have” more than we. In Haiti, this universal law applies as it does in most other civilized countries. On this trip, the team has witnessed first-hand these “degrees of relativity” which exist clearly post-earthquake. As indulged Americans, we feel the sting of the differences even more so than the Haitians.

Witness our arrival on Sunday; throngs of beggars on the streets approached us as we headed for our team bus. Amputees, obviously ill children, women with babies shared the same occupations of vagrancy and day to day existence. Behind a large locked wall, our “compound” became our home—dorm-style cots with tile floors, air conditioning rationed by a generator, and four bathrooms for 23 people (all with toilets of varying levels of flushing cooperation).

As bedtime approached, the air faltered and the rooms became saunas, many team members relegated to moving mosquito nets to the airy porch, where the temperature was a mild 85 degrees through the night. Yet, we had plenty of home-cooked food and strong coffee the following morning, so we were “relatively” happy.

On Monday, we held a clinic in a large one-room church. The heat, consistently reliably hellish, climbed through the day. The pace was quick and unrelenting; both patients and team members sweated equally and voluminously. We sipped out lukewarm water and chatted about our comforts from home—iced tea, pools for quick swims, exercise routines. The patients were certainly poor, but on the “relative” scale, were coping with their problems as well as could be humanly possible. In the streets, Haitians hustled with expert entrepreneurial skill, despite the broken streets and toppled building surrounding them. As a team, we returned to a wonderful dinner, then the lack of cold air until God delivered a blessing in the form of generator power at 2am. The next morning, we compared horror stories of our discomfort—silly Americans!

Day two on the road, 90 minutes of rough riding to the remote, bayside village of Carrefour. The earthquake destruction was, in “relative” degrees, breathtaking and sickening. The fetid smell of fresh sewage filled the streets, running in rivulets directly under the piles of fresh fruits and vegetables piled for sale in the market fleas. Piles of trash abounded, competing only with the crushed concrete architecture which has remained untouched since January. Farther into the villages, the inhabited tents we had become accustomed to seeing in Port-au-Prince became, in relative comparison, posh accommodations—shanty shacks of corrugated aluminum, 8 by 10 feet or so, housed multiple people. Women concocted oily foods in pots above coal fires, swept around their homes with discarded cardboard, and drank dirty water with abandon. The hoards of patients were notably sicker and many babies needed hospitalization—all we could do was fix the immediate needs and give each person a dose of Christian love, knowing that their situations would not improve but that we would return to food and cold showers.

Today, another open-air church served as our clinic. The ride to our location was shorter bit no less rough in the impassable roads which meandered into the village. Thousands of tents along the way, bunched together, literally atop one another, some directly on the roadside—virtual reality for so many in this country. More corrugated shanties, more hungry people, more earthquake injuries, more dehydrated babies, yet as in days before---people happy to receive prayer from our team spiritual leaders, smiling broadly upon receipt of pillowcase “dresses,” delighted to get treatment for infections and skin maladies which they would otherwise have indefinitely. Relatively speaking, another successful team day.

Of the hundreds of poor and sick people we have seen thus far, none have failed to thank us with a sincere smile and heartfelt “merci”, wishing upon us God’s blessings as we complete our work here. We will return in three days to our comforts, knowing we have made a difference in the lives of a few displaced and unfortunate people. Our homes will be cool, our bellies full, and our stories ready to share…but in a relative sense, will God see our work as having filled His will? Will the work we have done meet His criteria for loving “the least of these?” With salvation, nothing is relative. In our indulged American lifestyles, surely we know that, don’t we??

Evelyn Fitzgerald

Carrefour….near the sea

2010-07-28T23:19:00.006-04:00

This morning we awoke after a night of great sleep. We climbed into our bus and some climbed into Tim’s truck for the drive to a town close to the epicenter of the earthquake and close to the ocean. Without a doubt this was true. On the drive to the town of Carrefour, we saw the many buildings destroyed by what seemed to be random power of the violent earthquake we all read about so many months ago. There never is anything like seeing something for yourself…I am sure that we all were at some point in the hour drive to the Church where we would hold clinic, thinking and wondering about what we would experience today.

We arrived at the little shell of a church…Ted quickly evaluated the area and realized it would not work for the volume of patients we expected. We moved to a very large area upstairs in what appeared to be the main area of the church. The pews were wooden and metal. Within about 30 minutes, we had 4 areas for the Docs, rehab and PT area for Jane and Kristi, a triage area for Mary and me, and the wonderful prayer area for Judy and Allen. Bill was at registration with a few of the local kids…he was up to his usual pocket of tricks to make things more interesting, and of course interjected the words of God. There are so many opportunities to pray here. I will go into that more in a bit.

The day started quickly. We saw a range of rashes, skin infections, healed injuries from the earthquake . We listened to many stories of where people were and who in their world of family and friends were no longer on this earth. Despite the anguish that keeps them from eating and sleeping, the amazing resilience and hope of the people of Haiti humbles us all. We heard the story of the young mother losing her children, and at age 28 suffering a stroke, following their deaths.

We laughed and played with the little girl who no longer has a left arm or a right hand, but showed us proudly how she could uncap a pen and scribble some letters on paper. Our PT station helped her with a few more exercises to help with the motion and use of her barely distinguishable hand.

Some might say that this is futile, that the meager 23 people that flew here from the States cannot make a dent in the suffering or future of this country. I disagree, as I am sure the rest of the team would…we heard words of thanks, we celebrated words of prayer, and we spent time in what feels like a place of hope...the difference made was all around us.

The trip back to the place we are staying was a reminder of what was gone…broken buildings… crushed cement and rebar exposed to the sky. Layers of buildings that I could not help but think surely had buried families below them . The trash in the streets is nothing less than remarkable. Styrofoam, and plastic, tires and rubble lines the streets of Port au Prince. There obviously is no system for trash. No system for a people who are in a country that once was the prime tourist destination for the Carribean.

And so I get back to the prayers. As people came in for treatment and we heard their many stories. There were moments of prayers that we will never forget. There were faces we will see in our dreams, and there are new friends that we have made. This is what we are on the earth to do for each other…and no…it is not futile.

It is stunning to see the smiles. It is heartening to feel the embrace of these wonderful people. Today, we treated 191 patients. Hopefully, teams will continue to work to restore Haiti.

Haiti, we will never forget you.

Bernie Drabik Medeiros, RN

A Riot of Beauty and Need

2010-07-27T21:07:00.004-04:00

Haiti is a riot of beauty and need. Every sense is assaulted. There are crows from the many roosters that begin at about 5 am, bleating horns from the tap taps – these colorfully painted mini open air bus sort of things and the noise of crowds pressing way too close to the unbelievably chaotic traffic.

Our second day in the same location was smooth, intense, humbling, hot and amazing. We began by praying and singing the song “Sanctuary.” We were, after all, in a church. The patients lined up as we sang. Yesterday, I met many people, practiced my Creole and handed out small trinkets to the children.

Today, I began by asking a woman if I could pray with her. “Lapriye?” I began to pray in English as my translator was occupied and as I prayed she joined in Creole. I understand from those standing nearby that she raised her hand over me as we prayed. It was a holy moment and it pretty much set the tone for the day. I was wrecked.

We heard some horrific stories today from some deeply wounded but amazingly resilient people. There was the woman who lost her husband in the earthquake yet was praising the Lord for sparing the life of her then 5 month old daughter. Her beautiful daughter is now 11 months old and already beginning to walk.

There was the man whose wife was killed in the earthquake leaving him with two children. He has no job and no home. He told us that he often goes up into the mountains to pray for his children – he worries that he will not be able to provide for them.

He is having trouble finding enough food for them. He was so thin. I prayed with him and he told me that he didn’t know how to thank us for coming to Haiti. He said that many people came to help with physical things but he was so grateful that we also came to pray with them.

We met a very old man whose house was “broken” in the earthquake. He is now homeless and sleeps in the streets. He asked that we pray that he will find a home.

I could go on and on and on. It was an honor to kneel before these precious people and cry out to the Lord on their behalf today. Theirs is a prayer that has no amen because prayer is their hope.

Our missionary , Tim, shared his experience from the night of the earthquake this evening. It is a story that was not reported in America. The first sounds during and right after the tremors were screams of terror. The people who were able to, ran outside and sat in groups in the streets.

As darkness fell, they began to sing hymns. He said they could be heard all over the city. Their voices would tire and the song would fade until an aftershock would come and then the song would rise again. This went on all night. In the morning they rose to dig through the rubble. At dark, the singing began again. This is the heart of so many Haitians. They know the source of their strength and their faith has encouraged us all this day.

Judy

Our First Day in Haiti

2010-07-26T20:17:00.002-04:00

We arrived in Haiti in the early afternoon on Sunday. We had been told to not pay any attention or even make eye contact with all the people who met us outside of customs each one wanting to help us with our luggage. Having been told that, we were still not prepared for the hundreds of men shouting at us and each other.

After walking about a half mile dragging and carrying our luggage in really hot sun, we were met by our missionary contact, Tim DeYoung. He had helpers with him who loaded our luggage onto a bus that looked like one of Dave Ervy's creations named "Elohim." The trip was hot, curvy and bumpy but we finally made it to our compound.

The rest of Sunday was spent settling in and preparing equipment and medications for our Monday mission. We went to bed early because of our long day (getting up at 4:00 AM to leave for the airport, long lines, airports, etc.)

About 9 pm we lost electricity due to the government's elective power grid. Most of us could not remember EVER being THAT hot. One of the locals who lived in the compound came to our rescue and threw the switch for the generator at 1 or 2 AM.

The people here are so kind, hospitable and loving. They enjoy trying to teach us Creole which is coming along very slowly. We have wonderful translators and comfortable living conditions for what time we are in them at night. We just "Thank God" for the opportunity that He has given us to be a small part of His plan for the people of Haiti.

As the sign said at the church where we worked today, "Avec Jesus tout va vien!" (With Jesus everything is good!)

Keep your team in your prayers. They have been powerful as we have encountered many obstacles along our way that only the power of your prayers could have helped us through.

Thanks and good night from Port au Prince, Haiti.
Merci and Bon Swa

Bill and Lana

Some Thoughts On the Eve of Going

2010-07-23T16:23:00.009-04:00

Tomorrow afternoon we leave for Raleigh, NC and then, Sunday morning for Haiti. There will be 23 going and we will meet one more along the way who will join our team. There is excitement, anticipation, and just a "little" apprehension. We are going to answer a call from God and a desperate need from the people of Haiti. We hope to be able to share this experience with everyone through our mission blog. However, we don't know if we will have internet access or, for that matter, electricity.

Jesus said to "love your neighbor as yourself," and the people of Haiti are certainly our neighbors. Then, there is the huge need. I don't believe this team can fill that need. That need is too great, too huge, too complicated but it is a need that must be addressed by someone. So, why not us? There are those who have asked, "What difference can your little team make? The obvious factual answer is "not much" but I have learned, from years past, that our task is not to solve an overwhelming situation but to simply help individuals, who ever and where ever, deal with their personal pain, suffering, and hopelessness through loving care in the name of Jesus. "What difference can we make?" All the difference in the world to those individuals who, finally, see a doctor... finally, get a little relief from pain... finally, have someone who will listen to their personal story and bring them a word of hope from the gospel.

We have already experienced setbacks that will limit our conditions, our resources, and our opportunities but we know that this mission is not OUR mission but GOD's mission to fulfill His purposes. All He really needs from us is to be obedient to His call. We may not know exactly what He has planned for us but, we do know, He is already there and is waiting for us. So, we go to join Him in His work!

Please keep us in your prayers,

The 2010 Haiti Mission Team

2010-07-18T11:26:00.003-04:00

Dear Wesley Family,

Well it's been almost 3 months since Lah Lah and his family stepped off the plane from Burma. There are now 27 Karen refugees now living in Wilmington. Lah Lah's brother, wife and 5 children arrived in Wilmington last Wednesday. They were all smiles walking into the airport. There were many friendly faces to greet them. They are all very supportive of one another and do not hesitate to help out with each other's children. They too, came with only 2 small bags. It was very different for Lah, as they were the very first to arrive. They may not have had many other Karen faces other than Ehlia and her family, but they had us. Jamie told us last week he has asked over 200 churches and organizations and non of the other refugees have sponsors as of last week.

English class is going well and every week we see them grow in vocabulary and confidence. We are now working on money and phrases. They have a good comprehension of time and days of the week. We laugh at every lesson. This one was no different. Bill decided they needed to work on "things we do"...we taught them 'we jump', 'we run', 'we walk', and of course we demonstrated each one...then he got to 'we kiss'. After saying the phrase, he and Lah had the same thought at the same time and both turned immediately, one to the right and one to the left and yes you didn't have to be there...they came close to kissing right on the lips!! We all laughed and laughed.

Peggy and John took Lah Lah and Ehlia's family downtown to see their first fireworks on July 4th. She said they were amazed, and all sat still with their eyes wide and mouths open. She has also taken them to her neighborhood's pool a few times and the boys just love it.

Sha Pee is now looking pregnant. It is good since she is due September 4th. It is going to be another girl. Let's be on the lookout for cute 'little' clothes. We will be compiling an on call calendar so that when the time comes they will know who is available to take them to the hospital. We will be letting you know more about that soon.

One of the refugees, Lawring, got his bike taken last week when he was downtown visiting his friends. He was on it at the time. He was very upset, but knew that it was better to let them have his bike. He and his wife, and their two children walked all the way from Market Street where they live to visit Lah and his family today. They joined us for the English class today, and it was interesting seeing how much they knew. They all want to learn so badly. Lah has his Karen to English dictionary and does not hesitate to pull it out when he doesn't understand something.

Their garden in the backyard is one to behold. It is growing and they work in it daily. Chip taught Lah how to use the lawn mower and he was very happy. The back room is coming along, and close to completion.

Lah goes to an Employment class downtown tomorrow that Jamie will conduct. He now has his ID, thanks to George, and has all of his papers he needs to get a job. If you have any ideas or contacts please pass them along. I can guarantee he would work very hard and learn quickly. God Bless to all the transporters, mentors and prayer warriors for this family.

Blessings,
Lana

2010-06-14T12:54:00.000-04:00

Good Morning,

I hope you have all had a nice weekend. Mine was busy but, in my world, busy is good cause I gots a lot to do and little time to do it; just like you all!!

This meditation’s underlying tone speaks to the importance of associating ourselves with fellow Christians we can trust to think, and act in Christian spirit and truth. I know I am a blind man who needs my Wesley family to lead me so I don’t “fall into the pit”. I feel certain our church family is a righteous family planted by God to lead others and fulfill a small part of His purpose in this world (and to lead me when I go astray). As we continue to grow and thrive and serve His will, we will all need one another to be successful in this endeavor. Thank You for your leadership to me, to the Wesley family, and to others we are in contact with on a day to day basis.

Peace
Chip

Prayer concerns:
World: Our servicemen in the world (Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan). Enjoying your freedom today?

Nation: Camping flood victims in SW Arkansas (Friday). A lot of misery for the survivors.

Local: Churches struggling to make budgetary deletions and to still serve Him.
Wesley: Jane Harshbarger (surgery on Tuesday), Tony Young’s father (hospitalized again), Mayo family and their 11 year old son/brother who was found to have dire internal problems discovered after a minor accident requiring medical attention. (this request made by Chase O’briant)

Praises:
Bo Simcoe’s daughter Rosalie has heard the calling to build churches in Africa. (Bo is not entirely happy about it though!).
Myanmar refugee family is progressing and assimilating well. Accolades to those involved with their success.
Second Giving Campaign is making good progress as God has spoken in big and small ways to our Wesley family to give a little more from their worldly (yet God-given) coffers.

Meditation:
Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?"
He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."
--Matthew 15:12-14 (NIV)

Quotation:
God takes men's hearty desires and will, instead of the deed, where they have not power to fulfill them; but He never took the bare deed instead of the will.
... Richard Baxter (1615-1691), Directions and Persuasions
to a Sound Conversion, in The Practical Works of
Richard Baxter

God Hears Them All

2010-06-08T17:36:00.001-04:00

We want our prayers to be noticed above all the rest. In the frailty of the human limitations of understanding we think God prioritizes them according to the passion expressed of their request or how sincere and lovely they look and sound when prayed. God hears them all and they don’t overwhelm God (like they did to Bruce in Bruce Almighty!). He is all powerful!

Please remember to pray today for all those on our own hearts, our own special requests to God, our own burning concerns. God knows everyone of them and even though we cringe when we think we forgot to mention one of them to God, God knows it and knows it as unspoken. He is all knowing!

Meditation:
May my prayer be set before you like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening
sacrifice.
--Psalm 141:2 (NIV)

Quotation:
No erudition, no purity of diction, no width of mental
outlook, no flowers of eloquence, no grace of person can atone
for lack of fire. Prayer ascends by fire. Flame gives prayer
access as well as wings, acceptance as well as energy. There is
no incense without fire; no prayer without flame.
... E. M. Bounds (1835-1913), The Necessity of Prayer

--blessings,
Chip and the Mission Committee

Why Youth Missions Are Important

2010-06-08T12:58:00.006-04:00

What a blessing it is to see our former youth grow up to serve God in very real and positive ways. Wesley Memorial has had so many of those "blessings" through the years and they continue. During Ben Foster's UMY days, we all realized that he was gifted but, today, God is using those gifts to make a positive impact in the world. I'm not sure if Ben was dreaming about what he is doing today back when he was working on UMY construction mission projects but you never know where God will lead you or how He will use you if you are just obedient to His call.

The following is an update on what he has been doing since graduating this year from the University of Virginia. Please remember him in your prayers as he shares God's love with the world through his projects. Isaiah 61:1-2

Dear Friends and Family,

Last summer, through a set of circumstances that can only be described as providential, I was able to intern for a small non-profit organization called Least of these International (LOTI). LOTI’s mission is to show the love of God by meeting the basic needs of rural and urban communities in developing countries. We do this through the research, development, and application of appropriate and sustainable technology in partnership with indigenous organizations.

After working for a couple months last summer, I was asked to go to Kenya, where we implemented some of the projects I had been working on all summer. In Kenya, we taught on biogas, biochar, and solar as household energy sources along with personal finance and business. We continued a solar lighting for education project that LOTI has been involved with for 5 years now and constructed a biogas digester for cooking. After the summer, I continued to work with LOTI on my thesis—rainwater catchment design for a community church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti—and did some consulting work in Guatemala on affordable housing design, efficient stoves, and biosand water filters for a missionary organization. I will be working full-time at LOTI as an environmental engineer for the next year before I head off to the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina in the fall of 2011.

I write to you now from Kenya, where I will be for the next few weeks before returning to Charlottesville to raise support for the next year and continue work on distributed water provision in Port-au-Prince. Along with that project, I will be supervising an undergraduate research team and serving as a design and project engineer on other LOTI projects. Find more about our work and ministry at www.lotint.org. I will update you soon with ways in which you could partner with me in this ministry through both prayer and finances.

Shalom,

Ben Foster

Environmental Engineer
Least of These International
www.lotint.org
ben@lotint.org

How the Rest of the World Lives

2010-06-08T11:05:00.002-04:00

The Interfaith Refugee Ministry is the agency we are partnering with, and who provides direction and support for, our missional ministry to Lah, Sha Pee, and their family. Please come out to this celebration and find out more about what's going on in Wilmington, the U.S., and the world. Bring your children. It will be an awesome learning experience for you and your whole family.

Hello Everyone!

Interfaith Refugee Ministry-Wilmington will be having an event on Saturday June 19th, from 10am – 2pm. at Hugh Macrae Park in Wilmington. This is a time to celebrate the bravery and accomplishments of refugees that are forced to flee their home country and rebuild their lives here in Wilmington. The entertainment includes food, music and speakers. This is an opportunity to meet refugees, learn more about refugee resettlement and human rights; all while enjoying food from different parts of the World. This is a family-friendly and free event! I have attached a flyer with more information. I hope to see everyone there! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Sarah W. Kingsley, MSW
Co-Sponsorship Developer/Volunteer Coordinator
Interfaith Refugee Ministry-Wilmington
25 South 3rd Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Voice: 910-538-0714

Opportunity to Serve

2010-06-02T17:47:00.002-04:00

Hey Everyone,

We will be in need of steady hands for this work.

Wesley needs tapers and painters, cut-in painters at first, to paint the ceiling in the 210 house in the Great Room on Saturday 6/12.

We also need 8’, 10’ and 12’ A-frame ladders; mostly 10’ and 12’. If you can supply either equipment or manpower, please let me know as soon as possible.

Also if you don’t own a ladder but know someone who does please enlist their ladder to help us.

Chip

PS. The UMY will be there (weather permitting) to work on the garage in the back yard on that same day.

Refugee Family Update

2010-05-23T13:12:00.004-04:00

Dear Wesley Family,

Tomorrow will be the one month anniversary of Lah and his family coming to Wilmington. Much has been happening in their lives and I hope to relay some of their adventures with you if you were not there to observe it firsthand.

George has been busy organizing much of the volunteers and every time he turns around it seems there is a situation which needs his attention. The second week, we found the air conditioner was not completely wired for use...the family didn't seem to mind the 'warm' conditions, but we sure did. After that, Ehlia, the translator, called us to let us know that she didn't think the refrigerator was working properly. Bill and I rushed over to check it out and sure enough, the thawed chicken along side the unfrozen ice cube trays of water in the freezer were a sign that things were not as they should be. Within 3 hours Jay Ferguson had a replacement frig in it's place...(I did pray that they would not get salmonella).

The third week started a little busy. They had so many doctor's appt's I don't know how Diane and Peggy kept up with them all! Then we received a call from Ehlia that the whole family was getting bitten by bugs. Thankfully, Chip was there to investigate and found that fleas were in the beds next to the house. They apparently hitch hiked inside and made themselves at home. We had to immediately evacuate the family to have the house bombed and yard sprayed...they got to stay at the beach for 2 days...we considered it part of their cultural sightseeing plan....the kids were so excited to see the beach. They pulled Lah out to the deck to see the ocean. They all were grinning from ear to ear.

That same week five of us from Wesley took the ESOL class so that we can begin their English language classes. Our first class was great. Everyone can say their abc's and count up to at least 20. Lah knows a lot of words, but they all have trouble 'hearing' us speak it, as well as say it. They are very eager to learn. Bill has already purchased lots of interesting learning tools.

After our first session, Lah and Sha Pee gave us juice and an appetizer. Apparently, they had been to the grocery store and purchased some things they had no idea what they were. Sha was putting raw biscuits from a can into a bowl and handing them to us to eat...I didn't know what to do, but thankfully the tutor from the Cape Fear Literacy Council stood up and decided the English class was over and it was time for a cooking class...they actually laughed when we showed them how to cook them. I don't think they have ever used an oven. Then, Lah grabbed a can out of the cupboard and showed me a butcher knife he was using to open them. I showed him how to use the can opener and then he did it...he was so glad to know how it worked! After that we decided to check their cupboards to make sure nothing in them needed to be refrigerated. We found a dozen eggs, another can of biscuits, and opened jam...they will be needing lots and lots of mentoring.

Yesterday, Bill and Susan brought them over for a cookout and swim. Elhia and her family came as well. Everyone ate hamburgers, baked beans, watermelon and Peggy's homemade strawberry shortcake. Kaw got into a little trouble when he realized the deep end was over his head, and he yelled "Help!" I immediately jumped in and, after a few tears, he was ready to go again. Later, two of Elhia's kids had trouble keeping their heads out of water in the deep in...they also yelled "help!" and, again, for the secon time that day, I jumped into the water fully clothed to assist them. I think next time we will hire a lifeguard.....

So, in one month, they have survived food poisoning, flea infestation, near drownings and lots and lots of medical appointments.....

AND out of the mouth of Lah last week....."COMING HERE IS A DREAM"....

Please introduce yourself when you see them at church. They came over by themselves to the 8:50 service last week.
Lah, Sha Pee, Kaw, Thei and Moo Star....

Blessings,
Lana

A Story of Hope from Z.O.E.- Giving Hope

2010-05-17T11:34:00.006-04:00

This is a video showing what the Giving Hope Program is all about. We heard success story after success story last year in Kenya while working with the Giving Hope crew. It is still so amazing that this kind of change can occur in a life for as little as $30/mo over a two-three year commitment.

Giving Hope is NOT a feeding program. It is an empowering probram that teaches people how to feed themselves and others. They not only develop skills, they restore their dignity and self-esteem. Each of the young people we met last year were so grateful to God for what little they had that it humbled those of us who came to help. Take a look at this story and then clich on the Z.O.E. Giving Hope Program link on the right side of the page for more information or to make a donation. When was the last time that YOU gave hope to someone else?

A Psalm for Today and Eternity

2010-05-17T11:08:00.003-04:00

Interesting, when I first read this Meditation my thoughts were more in the present day, the here and now, the time spent on earth. But after meditating on it a little I realized it speaks to the future, way in the future, into eternity and to the times when the “meek shall inherit the earth”. I guess we’ll know we are righteous as our offspring will be there too! I find a lot of solace in that. It gets back to the “hope” musings of mine last week. There will be justice. Keep the faith! Show the love!

Church: lets pray for those youth at Wesley graduating at all grades not just those disembarking from the “world of formal education ship” and embarking into the “world of the informal, hard knocks education ship” Pray for financial relief for Wesley and that each member will do a small part to make it happen.

Local: Those looking for work.

National: Nashville Tn. flood victims, Gulf Coast residents who make their living on those waters, WVa coal miner families (it was only a month ago). Tornado victims in OK.

World: Christians everywhere that need to be uplifted with our prayers and our encouragement. Think of the trials and tribulations that Paul endured to keep the early church going. Not just against the enemies of the “church” but the followers too. Praying for each other is imperative. Prayer is the least we can do.

Meditation:

For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
They will be protected forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;
the righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.

--Psalm 37:28-29 (NIV)

Quotation:

It is true that the New Testament uses the term ekklesia
for the spiritual reality of the body of Christ and also for
the assembly, in which the genuineness of the spiritual reality
of every individual professing member cannot be known. To this
extent, the exact membership of any individual church and the
universal church at large cannot be known and is thereby
invisible. But even this invisible membership is very visible
in the reality of life. As for membership in an invisible
church without fellowship with any local assembly, this concept
is never contemplated in the New Testament. The universal
church was the universal fellowship of believers who met
visibly in local assemblies.

... Robert L. Saucy, The Church in God's Program, Chicago:

---Chip

FIVE NEW TEACHERS

2010-05-15T10:26:00.005-04:00

Millions of immigrants and refugees from all over the world cross our borders, fleeing poverty and violence , persecution and war. They come to the United States hoping to live a better life. Such is the case of our newly adopted Karen family of five, soon to be six, from Burma.

Now, five new Wesley Memorial ESOL tutors will help them develop their English speaking, reading and writing skills which they will need for their re-settlement. The tutors were certified on Thursday, May 13, 2010 after completing training by the Cape Fear Literacy Council. They received training in techniques to teach English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and will immediately begin their tutoring duties teaching the members of our Karen refugee family.

The training at CFLC is directed by Barbara Beeba who, not only spearheaded the program but, has been a great help in offering additional resources, training, and advice to the new tutors. "You don't have to speak the other person's language to teach them how to speak, read, and write English," she said, "but, it takes 5-10 years for a person who doesn't speak the language to become fluent."

Those who were certified and who will now begin the task of teaching our family to communicate in English are: John Harris, Bill Parker, Susan Parker, Bree Wakefield, and Lana Winneberger.

Please pray for them and those they will work with.

Hope Is Eternal

2010-05-10T14:07:00.006-04:00

Good Morning Mission Committee,

I hope and pray that you have gotten off to a good start for the week.

The word hope is a powerful and supportive word. That which we truly have hope in will never fail. It can’t fail because hope is eternal. You can always have hope as it comes from trust in God. Trust that He will give you what you need, He will. Trust builds endurance, endurance strengthens character and character produces hope!

This has nothing to do with the meditation and quote below but it is something on my heart this morning so I thought I’d express it to you all. Maybe in the future (I hope) I can try to tie the meditation and quote to some personal thoughts on the subject.

Keep the faith and remember to trust and always hope.

Prayer concerns:

Nashville flood victim recovery

Gulf coast oil slick mitigation efforts

Myanmar family assimilation

New indirect talks in the Middle east (Now there’s an example of hope!)

Meditation:

[Jesus:] "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

--Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

Quotation:

We must become "narrow" in the right way--"narrow" in the
sense that we live only for Christ. I do not mean at all that our lives should
show more religiosity. There is no one as broad-hearted as the crucified Christ,
whose outstretched arms seek all men. It is a matter of decisiveness in one's
heart, of living only for Christ. If we have this decisiveness, we will have
broad hearts, though not, of course, in the worldly sense of tolerance for
anything and everything.

... J. Heinrich Arnold (1913-1982)

2010-05-05T18:02:00.003-04:00

Hey You’se Guys!

It's been a long, last couple of months here at work but I hope now that things are settling back into place for me (us). I am still going to try to offer up prayer concerns for whomever as they arise and so, to that end, as you know of any, please provide them to me. We all listen to the news and are privy to the knowledge of the world, nations, and local needs but I would like to focus on Wesley.

WESLEY, OUR CHURCH IS IN NEED OF PRAYER. Budget concerns. ‘Nuff said! But as individual needs arise, that you hear of, please let me know so I can make them public to lift up as a community.

Prayerfully,

Chip

Meditation:

[Jesus:] "Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."

--Luke 13:30 (NIV)

Quotation:

Now if thou compare deed to deed, there is difference betwixt washing of dishes, and preaching of the word of God; but as touching to please God, none at all: for neither that nor this pleaseth, but as far forth as God hath chosen a man, hath put his Spirit in him, and purified his heart by faith and trust in Christ.

Let every man therefore wait on the office wherein Christ hath put him, and therein serve his brethren.

... William Tyndale (1492?-1536), "Parable of the Wicked Mammon" [1527]

ONE DOCTOR TO SERVE 22,000

2010-05-05T16:54:00.005-04:00

Dr. Ted Winneberger recently returned from his second tour of duty in Haiti since the earthquake literally destroyed the island. When I say destroyed, I'm not just talking about the obvious physical destruction of homes and buildings. I'm talking about an area of the world, including its indigenous population, that was literally flattened to the level of primacy.

In the face of this continuing tragedy, hundreds of volunteers, governments, NPOs, and churches across the globe have offered their help. Much of the debris is gone or, at least, being cleaned up but the physical, mental, and emotional scars left on the people will take much longer to heal.

To help in this effort, a team of doctors from Wilmington, NC recently traveled to Haiti to do what they could do with whatever they could get their hands on. Bob Townsend, a well-known Wilmington journalist and TV reporter went along. This was his second trip to Haiti.

He writes, "...What little money these people have is usually spent in their weekly street market and health care is virtually non-existent. Most of the medical attention has been focused on Port-au-Prince, but so much more medical help is needed. There is only one doctor to serve more than 22,000. One. Can you imagine?

Hundreds of people waited for hours on a Saturday to be treated by the Wilmington doctors I traveled with. The doctors were able to treat nearly 500 people, but there are so many more people who were left in need.

Despite the disorder and turmoil the country has faced since the earthquake, the church is one stable factor in most Hatien communities, with the pastor serving like a town mayor. They say God brought them to Haiti to take care of people and have a lot of faith – faith that touched me and changed a part of me.

After being witness to the people and children in the country, I have a desire to reach out and help them however I possibly can...."

A medical mission team from Wesley Memorial and the Wilmington area will return to Haiti in late July of 2010. Please lift them, and the Haitien people, up daily in your prayers.

For Bob Townsend's full story and video report please go to WECT-TV6 at http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=12425687

M.O.M Dental Clinic Huge Success

2010-05-02T20:22:00.004-04:00

This past weekend's M.O.M. Clinic. held annually at Wesley Memorial was, arguably, the best ever. Would you believe, people started lining up to see the dentists at 4:00 PM Friday afternoon. They spent the night at the door of the church to begin "triage" at 6 pm Saturday morning.

The flow was constant over the two day event. The numbers of people and the nature of their problems was strong evidence supporting the lack of quality health care for a large portion of our citizens. To qualify to be seen at the clinic, a patient had to have no access to health care and meet make no more than 200% of the minimum federal poverty guidelines for their family size.

Preliminary results indicated 700 patients were seen, 23,082 procedures were done, and 509 x-rays were taken on a brand new, one of a kind, digital x-ray van. Not one penny was accepted as payment for the work done. Additionally, new air conditioned tents helped provide comfortable accommodations while completing paperwork and waiting to see the doctors.

The community really came together to help make this dental clinic happen for so many. Hundreds of volunteers from across the community also played a large role. Even child care was provided for children while parents were "in the chair." Thanks to everyone who contributed to making this event, not just happen but, even bigger and better than last year.

M.O.M Dental Clinic

2010-04-29T12:41:00.005-04:00

The 5th Annual M.O.M. (Missions of Mercy) Dental Clinic will be held at Wesley Memorial UMC this coming Friday and Saturday, April 30-May 1st. Last year, more than 650 people received free dental care during the two day event which was originally started at Wesley as an Eagle Scout Project of Michael Plage. Michael became an Eagle Scout and went on to college but the event has continued each year. Dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, and volunteers both local and around the state come at their own expense to serve during the two day event.

The intent of the clinic is to provide dental care for people and families who do not make more than 200 per cent of the Federal Poverty Level Guidelines. Registration begins each morning at 6:00 am with actual treatment beginning at 7:30 am. The clinic ends each day at 5:00 PM.

There are some "upgrades" that have been added this year. Several large tents have been donated for "triage" and to help people keep cooler in the sun (or dryer in the rain). There is also a new state-of-the-art digital X-ray van which will be in operation for the clinic.

The entire church and community come together each year to make this an incredible, very practical, example of God's love for people. Even the children and youth of the church get involved providing child care and activities for young children while their parents are receiving care.

Refugee Family Update

2010-04-29T12:37:00.001-04:00

Greetings Wesley Family,

Our Burmese Family seems to be adjusting to life here in the U.S. We know they have used the microwave, stove and clothesline, as well as Diane's clean tub :)

Monday, Peggy and I took them to get their SS# and downtown to St. James to look for clothes. Unfortunately, they didn't have many clothes in their size. Then we took them to a Chinese restaurant as Indochine was closed. They had rice and all seemed pleased.

Tuesday, Diane took them to the health dept. for shots. It was a long wait and they all had to have several shots each. Diane said they were so good...but tears were flowing. She took them home to rest and then came back and took Lah to the grocery store....had to stop at the Saigon market to search for special veggies :)

Yesterday, Wednesday, Peggy and I helped move the full bed out, and king bed in....another refugee family is coming and they needed a bed for a small apt. The bed sure looked big, but I wonder if they don't all sleep there anyway...the boys beds and crib looked nice and neat....
Today, Diane will take them to have their TB tests checked.

Lah seems to be using more and more English words. It is really interesting! We gave them a donated cd/boom box today, complete with Christian CD's! He seemed very excited about that.

Clothes are coming in, and if the furnished house is any indication of what to expect, the family will be overflowing with every needed item of clothing known to man in no time!

Well just wanted to keep you informed on how their first week is going.

Please let's communicate. With all the volunteers, they would never have a quiet moment if we all just "drop" by. Belinda has offered to take them to an outing at Hugh McRae on Sunday afternoon. Bill P. is heading up their language classes and school. Bree is coordinating all the incoming clothes.

Just got an email saying we now have a lawn mower for the mission house! Now, who wants to teach Lah how to mow??? :)

The mentors will be helping them soon with life skills that will help them to adapt to their new surroundings.

(You would think we have a congregation of 3,000! You send out an email and within a day it appears! God is providing for this family in big ways!)

God Bless all of you,
Lana

Dear Wesley Family

2010-04-25T17:51:00.001-04:00

We picked up Lah, Sha, Kaw Th Yu, Thei Mong, and little Moo today at the airport. Bill Caster was able to get the interpreter, David and Jamie (Head of the Refugee Ministry) to meet the family in the concourse when they departed from the plane. There were about 10 from Wesley as well as other Burmese people that were waiting in the lobby to greet them. David had a huge sign made up that said "welcome" in their native language....we were all hoping it really said that.

They were very, very tired from their journey, but the boys faces told us that they were excited to be here and they were eager to take David’s hand as he picked up their 2 small bags and led them to the van. The Burmese interpreters came with us to help tell them about their new home. Upon arrival, the children ran to the front door and without hesitation they all removed their shoes and left them at the door...we all followed them with our shoes on. (I wonder if they thought we were rude).

The boys and the other Burmese children were absolutely thrilled with all the toys. They immediately started playing with them. Sandy Kirk was there waiting with a warm meal from Indochine. They may not have everything they need, but I know they will have enough rice, as I was told to purchase a 50 lb bag...and that it would last about 2 weeks.

The family is very slight in stature, as we assumed they would be. But what hit me right away was how small these children are compared to the ones who have been bought up in the U.S. (they were approximately the same age). They appeared to me to be about 4 and 6 compared to 7 and 9....the 1 year old looked to be about 6 months old....it was very apparent that health has been a struggle and they will be needing much in the way of dental and medical attention.

When I left the house, I caught the eye of Sha, the mom, and waved goodbye. She looked up and for the first time smiled and I knew that it was all she could do to let me know that she was ok. Lah came over to me and, for the first time, grabbed my hand with both of his and bowed his head and smiled. It was a moment I'll never forget.

I admire their courage and know that they will need our prayers and our help over the following months. I have been touched by all the members of Wesley coming together and making the "mission house" a home. The place was transformed from uninhabitable to unimaginable in less than 2 weeks. I give God all the glory .

Yours in Christ,
Lana
(Chair, Wesley Missions Committee)

NOTE: Here is a website that is very informative about the culture, customs of the Burma people. Burma has eight distinct ethnic groups. Our new family is of the 'Karen' ethnic group, which has distinct differences from other groups. The website has information on these differences. Enjoy!

http://www.cal.org/co/publications/cultures/burmese.html

GIVING MORE HOPE

2010-04-24T15:01:00.010-04:00

News from Jerri and Bill Savuto, our missionaries at Maua Methodist Hospital in Maua, Kenya.

On Tuesday, 13 April, the ZOE Ministries (what we call our Giving Hope Program) had a very important happening at St. Joseph’s Methodist Church. The event was attended by many local Government Officials: Chiefs, Youth Officer, Children’s Officer, District Officer, District Drought Manager and the list goes on and on. It was to give 100 households in our Giving Hope Program needed equipment, tools or trees to help them support their households.

I have been telling you about the Maua Methodist Hospital ZOE Ministries, Giving Hope Program for years now. We are so proud of this program and how the hospital has supervised it, the superb leadership given by Reegan Kaberia, Halima Dhema and a new social worker, Florence Muthoni, and for Stanley Gitari who is overall director of the program. We are most grateful to Greg Jenks and the ZOE Ministry out of the North Carolina United Methodist Conference for their support of this incredible ministry. (For information: Reegan Kaberia will be going to the USA on 28 April – 17 May to help train a new person in the Houston area that will be working with ZOE Ministries – please pray for him.)

The primary goal is giving hope to the youth through the love of God so that they can formulate their own life goals and eventually obtain employment to support themselves and often their younger siblings as well. The program strives to protect the rights of and to provide support to orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS with the hope of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The youth will be empowered to manage their own well being and the stability of their families, to participate in the spiritual, social and economic development of their communities, and to live in the shelter of hope.

ZOE Ministries is a development program that works with the youth to help them in numerous ways including interventions aimed at sustainable self-employment; increased respect of rights, spiritual guidance, self-confidence, and primary school completion; improved access to secondary education, hygiene & sanitation, medical care, and diversified diet; and the reduction of frequency of illnesses to mention some of the impacts and goals. But if I had to sum up the ZOE Ministries, Giving Hope Program in a few words, I would say it prepares and helps young adults (usually 12 – 21) who are head of their household, to support their family economically, socially and spiritually.

Thus on April 13th 100 households received banana trees to plant on their land. These are not normal banana trees for this area but are drought and insect resistant and yield more, better and larger bananas.

2 young men receiving banana trees and 4 of the 16 receiving sewing machines

Along with the trees the following were given to individuals that had been chosen by their groups:
16 received sewing machines plus 5000Ksh ($65)
8 received a hair salon kit which includes a dryer and other hair supplies plus 4000Ksh ($52)
3 received carpentry tools and 3000Ksh ($39)
2 received a mechanics kit and 2000Ksh ($26)
The money is given to rent rooms to work in, buy material and other necessary items

Our new CEO, Mr. Mailutha, was there to give out some of the equipment, kits and supplies to the youth.

2 of the 3 teens receiving salon kits

Following the presentation of trees, equipment, tools and money, Eunice and Janet, who are both successful tailors (seamstresses) shared their story with the others. They spoke with great enthusiasm and were certainly inspirational and hopeful. Janet shared how she had started with one sewing machine and now has four and has trained 2 Giving Hope teens who were given their own sewing machines and is training 2 other Giving Hope teens and has volunteered to train one more teen as a gift to the program. Volunteering is not the norm here, so for this young woman to be willing to do this as a volunteer is astounding.

Eunice shared that she has been able to buy land, ( 1/5th of an acre) and has constructed a house with the money she has earned as a tailor.

One hundred plus households changed that day as they were given the ability to work and support themselves. These young adults are changing their villages and communities. They work hard and are usually very successful. They don’t take anything for granted as they have known life with no hope, As they succeed through trust in God, hard work, and careful management of funds, they are modeling new behavior. Most amazing is their willingness to help others rather than to hold tightly to what they have. Watching hopeless, helpless young adults become productive, caring, and sharing members of their communities reminds us “That nothing is impossible with God.”

The ZOE Ministries, Giving Hope Program, just keeps giving and giving. In June they will have a similar program in Tharaka – a very dry, difficult area around 3 hours from Maua (in the dry season, impossible in the rainy season) where the program is also working. Already some of the young people have been successful farmers in that area selling 10 bags of maize (200 pounds per bag), 3 bags of black beans, and 4 bags of dengu or green grams. If you would like to support ZOE Ministries you may – write your support check to your UMC and put it in the collection plate with this note at the bottom: Advance # 982023 – ZOE Ministries”

or write your check payable to “Advance GCFA” and send it to: Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068, GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068. The “Memo” line should contain this note: Advance # 982023 – ZOE Ministries”

Is God Calling YOU to Serve?

2010-04-24T14:47:00.002-04:00

Normally, our mission blog is more for glorifying God and providing information and wonderful stories about what God is doing through the missions of Wesley Memorial UMC but the following e-mail appeal deserves to be aired on a much broader appeal than selected individuals.

The information below, from Lana, describes assistance we need to support our adopted family. Please check with your classes to see if there is anyone who could help. Transportation is covered for now. Please have them email Lana or call her if there are any questions..... lanawin@aol.com or call the church office 791-4092. God has blessed us with this opportunity to serve in a special way. Please be in prayer for this family & our church family as we serve Him with our hands & feet. Together we humbly serve Him who has blessed us abundantly so we may help His children.

Our "adopted" family arrived LAST Friday, the 23rd at 5:30 pm. A group of individuals from the church welcomed the family at the airport and brought them to their temporary home. We need volunteers in place ASAPto meet their needs especially through their first week. Pray about your involvement, then let us know as soon as possible where you can help.

Please pray about the opportunity we now have to help this family of 5 from Burma.......here are the many ways.....

Father-age- 35 Lah Lah
Mother-age- 35 Sha Pee
Son-age- 9 Kaw Th Yu Soe
Son-age- 7 Thei Mong Mong
Daughter-age 1 Moo Star Soe

This family has been trying to flee Burma for almost 10 years. They have been living in a UN Refugee camp near the border of Thailand. The father speaks some English, and I have been told they are Christians. Their customs, language, prior living conditions, as well as the food they eat have nothing in common with our daily lives. Yet, we are their sponsors. This is missions in our backdoor. Below are the areas of help we will be needing. Please let us know where you want to be plugged in. We are looking for a coordinator and helpers for each area...George Pidot and I will be coordinating the volunteers.

1) Employment- Help IRM (Interfaith Refugee Ministry) with assisting Lah in procuring a job. This will begin after the appropriate government cards have been completed.

2) Transportation- Help transport the family to the Social Security Office, medical appts., groceries

3) Education- Help coordinate getting the children enrolled in Elementary School. Help provide English tutoring to family, one hour or more per week.

4) Financial- Provide hands on help with the family setting up checking acct., helping them with a budget, income tax.

5) House/Mentor- Helping them understand the functions of the house ( air, washer/dryer, microwave, stove, yard, mail) Also, help family learn about the local community and American culture...

6) Clothing- The family will need clothing. The IRM has donated clothing at their office. This group would be responsible for taking them down to pick out clothes as well as stores for needed items that cannot be used...underwear, and socks)

7) Medical- Help set up necessary medical appts. with appropriate specialists in coordination with their insurance.

In Christ,

Lana Winneberger

"I was a stranger, and you welcomed me..."

2010-04-15T11:39:00.006-04:00

The conditions at the mission house are being greatly improved by volunteers who are working to get the house ready for our first refugee family who will arrive on Friday, April 23rd. The family is from Burma. The father, who speaks some English, and his pregnant wife have two sons, ages 9 and 7, and a 1 year old little girl. They have been living in a United Nations Refugee Camp for the past year.

The members of Wesley Memorial UMC will be their loving hosts: providing a home, transportation, and physical support till they are established in this country. They will receive temporary living expenses from other sources.

God has given us an awesome opportunity to serve Him right in our own back yard. But, we do need your help. We need help this weekend to complete the house, which is located behind the Activity Building. We need painters, helpers, cleaning crew and others who would volunteer some of their time and talent. If you can help anytime this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday afternoon, please call or e-mail the church to let us know.

Please help us to be God's hands and feet so we can welcome this family to a wonderful new home and show them God's love. Together we serve the Lord who has blessed us abundantly, so that we may serve His children.

Going Out on Faith

2010-04-08T17:49:00.003-04:00

Earlier this year, we sent one of our own young people, Alex Weaver, to Morroco to serve in the Peace Corps. Our update report is that Alex is doing well acclimatizing himself to the environment and is getting to know the local family he is temporarily living with. Here are some recent pictures sent to his family.

The Lord had said to Abram," Leave your country, your people, and youir father's household and go to the land I will show you,..I will bless you...and you will be a blessing."
--Genesis 12

Please keep Alex, and all those serving in foreign lands, in your daily prayers.

Natural Disaster or Part of God’s Plan?

2010-04-01T15:26:00.002-04:00

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
–John 15: 12-13

I was privileged with an opportunity to serve and be served by Biloxi, Mississippi during the week of spring break. Our team consisted of 9 college students, 2 teachers, a construction leader, and a team leader. Just getting to know and spending time with these amazing people for a week would have changed my life, but I was even more blessed to serve our creator with this group of people. This was the first trip I have ever been on where it was just a random open sign up, but I realized that it wasn’t so “random” after all. Only God could put a group together that clicked and worked so well with one another. The one thing that brought us together was what God has done for each one of us, and that’s all that mattered!

We left DARK and early on Sunday morning, and after 14 hours of travel we arrived at our home away from home at Lemoyne Baptist Church. Most churches in America claim to be mission minded, but Lemoyne doesn’t have to claim anything, the fruit from this church spoke how much they love and care for people in need. Before Katrina hit there were 300 members at Lemoyne and they had a $160,000 budget. The storm caused 1/3 of their members to leave the area, but they now have over 400 members and have cycled over 3 million dollars into the community through home reconstruct and relief projects!

After 5 years, their funds have unfortunately run out, so we were the last team to go through Lemoyne. Because it is unwise to start something that you can’t finish, there were no new housing projects for us to work on when we got there. We ended up partnering up with a couple, Bev and Clive, who started a free medical clinic ministry immediately after Katrina hit. Bev and Clive started this ministry in tents right outside a demolished grocery store, and eventually moved into a small trailer. Recently they were informed that a casino is being built where the clinic is located and the government has relocated them and bought them a bigger nicer trailer. Needless to say, the new trailer needed to be renovated, so that was our main project during the week.

We stripped out all of the carpet and prepared the floors for hard wood laminate flooring, cut and laid the flooring, primed and painted all of the walls, put the vinyl skirt on the trailer, touch up painting on the outside, built a porch/loading dock for the medical supplies to come in on, transported furniture from the old location to the new, and God conveniently put a college student on our team that has experience with electrical work to be our electrician. Most of us have had very little if any experience with this kind of work and yet God still used us to accomplish so much!

Bev and Clive’s ministry was so refreshing and encouraging to be a part of. Almost all of the hospitals that have been rebuilt in the area are private so they are not required to see patients if they don’t have health insurance or enough money, so you can imagine the need for the sick. Bev and Clive have seen this need and are doing everything in God’s power to meet it, and this is now their life. They don’t ask for any information concerning income or status, they simply love and accept every person that comes to them. This truly reflected God’s unconditional love and character to me. When I heard about this ministry I began to look at my own life and how I love others and was instantly convicted. Just something as simple as the homeless coming to me in need, I instantly start thinking “what are their intentions?” “What do they spend their money on?” “Are they actually in need?” while Jesus tells us that whatever we do for the least of His, we are doing for Him. God has shown each and everyone one of us unconditional love, so why should we pick and choose the people we want to love?

Some of our team had the opportunity to do some touch up work on Rocky’s house. I only had the privilege of meeting Rocky once when I was picking up a trailer from his house, and he is one of those guys who you can just tell needs people to talk to. It wasn’t until later that I found out his story and why he desires people to talk to so much. Rocky’s wife left him for another man several years before the storm and the man that ran off with his wife ended up leaving her. Rocky did everything in his power to accept and go back to his wife, but she was too ashamed of herself and ended up committing suicide. Shortly after, Katrina destroyed his house, but he collected a fair amount of money from insurance so he began to build his house himself. About half way through the completion of his house he had a massive stroke and lost the use of his right arm and hand. So, between medical bills and physical disability, he couldn’t finish his home. That is when Lemoyne Baptist stepped in to finish his home. On top of all of this, Rocky’s youngest son was diagnosed with child diabetes that eventually blinded him. Rocky’s story completely broke me and opened my eyes to suffering that is going on all around us. I am guilty of being negative and complaining about my circumstances that don’t even compare to Rocky’s and so many others in this world, and it was so humbling to see his attitude after hearing what he has been through.

The stories were countless in Biloxi; everybody had a story to tell and they were all stoked to tell it. Many of them broke your heart, and others made you jump for joy: hearing how God has been glorified, countless lives have been saved, and the church (the people) has been unified through this storm. It was also incredible to hear the stories of our team members, how their lives have been changed by the gospel, and the way that God uses other people’s stories and “storms” to encourage and further my faith. God promises us that there will be “storms” in life, and Jesus Christ is the only place where comfort and peace are found.

I have made some AMAZING friends and have been blessed in so many ways through this mission trip and I pray that I will incorporate these memories into the life that God has before me and never forget what God has taught me. I have heard so many times how awesome it is that I took my spring break and spent it serving God and others, but what I find amazing is the fact that God made a way through Christ for sinful and broken people like me to be able to serve such a powerful and amazing God. There are so many situations in life where no joy can be found… UNTIL Christ is in the picture, and God paints the picture with us in it. We are the hands and feet. We weren’t saved to sit on our butts and go through the motions, we were saved to go! So let’s go make Him known!

---Alan Barnes, UNCW

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” -Romans 5:1-5

It's Time to Plant!

2010-04-01T11:42:00.005-04:00

Missions are not just for adults. Seeds that are planted early, and nurtured to maturity, is the best way to grow a beautiful and productive garden. Teaching children about missions and actually getting them involved in missions can be a daunting task for parents and teachers. One Verse provides wonderful mission resources for children. You can go on-line at www.oneverse.org/kidsdiscover to view other resources or sign your child up. The following is one of the stories printed about translating scripture for deaf people in Africa. Parents, it's time to think about Spring planting.!

"Olivia had never listened—at least not with her ears. But even though she was born deaf, she'd understood how her family felt about her. Frowns and scowls on their faces were all too common, whenever she was around. Not one had ever stopped to hug her or offer a kind smile! Olivia felt cursed. She didn't have to hear the words—their expressions told her enough.

But recently as grown-up Olivia watched the computer screen, tears streamed down her dark, smooth face. For on the monitor, in her Kenyan Sign Language, a Bible translator told God's story. Olivia could hardly believe it. God had not cursed her. Instead, He really, deeply loved her!

Deaf people speak with their hands and faces. In Kenya's Deaf churches, worshippers use Kenyan Sign Language to "sing" along to heavy drumbeats. And when someone prays, others listen with their eyes, not their ears. If they closed their eyes, it'd be rude!

Just this year, Deaf translators finished a story version of the Bible in Kenyan Sign Language. The process looks like this: the Deaf translators carve the air with their hands as they excitedly discuss how they'll present each story. Then one of them stands in front of a video camera and signs the Scripture story onto a DVD. The storyteller has to be careful to use the right facial expressions. If the story is sad, his face must show sorrow. If is exciting, surprise or joy must glow in his eyes and his smile. It takes several weeks to do all the corrections and prepare each DVD for Deaf congregations to use.

For the first time, Olivia and her friends have real hope for a good future as they view God's Word in their language. And the Vidunda need God's Word in their own language, too, so they can also fully know the good news of the Bible. "

A Story to Celebrate

2010-03-26T14:00:00.005-04:00

This story comes from Bill and Jerri Savuto's newsletter. They are missionaries at the Maua Methodist Hospital where a group from Wesley served last Spring and where the Giving Hope Program we support is located. When you read stories like this you can't help but give God praise for using the people at this hospital in Maua, Kenya is such a powerful way. Please pray for the Savutos and the Maua Methodist Hospital.

A 14 year old boy, we will call him Stephen, from a near-by village was admitted with a head wound. He had been playing with other boys when he was hit with a large stone on the top of his head. He had been taken to a private clinic where the wound was cleaned and sutured. Approximately a week later he returned to the clinic and was told to come to the hospital. On March 11th, two days after being referred to the hospital, he was brought by his father with his head wound oozing blood and pus, having a foul odor and swelling on the face, especially around the eyes. He was taken to surgery for wound toileting (cleaning and debridement of the wound) and started on antibiotics though his family had brought very little money to pay his fees. During surgery the wound was opened as it had been sutured. They found a depressed skull fracture and a septic wound with much necrotic tissue. The wound was well cleaned, necrotic tissue removed, the skull bone carefully examined and then the wound packed and dressed with dressing changes daily. He was discharged March 14th. His recovery was amazing and his story one to celebrate.

The pictures in this story (top to bottom) shows Steven when he first arrived at the hospital, his infected wound that was treated, and Steven right before he was released from the hospital.