For the week of April 21, 2008
Vol. 12 No. 16

"On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.”— Ezra 7:9-10


Africa

TOGO

Steve and Mary Jo Mills (furlough) will be packing two 40-foot sea containers over the next two months with supplies for the hospital. Mary Jo returns to Togo on July 1 to help with the anesthesia coverage and also continue with the ministry she has to all the ladies who come in for prenatal care. Unfortunately, Steve will have to stay behind in order to take one more class. He will attempt to sell their car and then catch a flight on August 6 for Togo.

Annette Williams. All ten nursing students passed their exams and will begin the next semester of training in a week. Between April 13 and April 29, part of the ABWE team will be filming for a new evangelistic movie in Togo using some of the Togolese believers as actors. Videos are shown at the hospital in the waiting areas or patient care areas and also taken out to towns and villages for open air evangelism. They serve as a powerful tool to tell people about Jesus. The film team arrived at the hospital on April 15. Please pray daily for the whole team—Cheryl Gayle and a team of over 30 Togolese who will be working on this project.


Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico

MEXICO

Antonio and Diana Navarrete are planning a baptism for Sunday. Carmen, their coworker, received a cancer-free pathology report. The Navarrete’s daughter has symptoms of chicken pox. The church has been given permission to make improvements on an empty lot. They hope to be holding their services there by the time a mission team from Emmanuel Baptist of Toledo comes in June. They are looking at a property on the north side of Mexico City that would be suitable for a training center. There are 12 communities in the area that need a church plant. Pray for the finances to purchase this property.
 
NICARAGUA

Andy and Diane Large report progress in two difficult marriages. They have seen both husbands (both doctors) respond to counsel by praying to make Christ Lord of their lives, and both marriages are seeing improvements, as they are forming the habit of reading the Word and seeking the Lord’s help daily. Two other couples have similar needs in their marriages. Another buyer is interested in the property their church would like to purchase. Pray that money would be provided quickly or that the property would remain available.


Eastern Europe

ROMANIA
 
Bob and Betty Sullivan are praying that God will arrange for them to help Mike and Mary Lou Rummey this summer in their ministry. Bob has completed his business English certification and Betty has completed certification in teaching early learners.

Andrew and Leah Postema are planning this summer’s camp with national partners. Pray for progress in learning Romanian. Grace turned eight on Saturday. They are thankful their children are adjusting well, enjoying school, and enjoying living in Romania.

Mike and Mary Lou Rummey had a great course in evangelism this month with Doug Martin. They are amazed at the good attendance in two villages for English classes (18, 36). Pray that they will be able to develop ongoing relationships with the children and teens who are attending the English classes. Pray especially for two unsaved girls, Roxana and Antoaneta.

RUSSIA

Leon and Donna Duell. New laws in Russia limit foreigners to only ninety days on Russian soil. Two of the three families on the ABWE/Russia team are in the States right now because of these new regulations. The good news is that the local authorities have received their applications for three-year living permits and the families are optimistic that they will be approved in July. The Brauns have another year before they will need to apply for a five-year residency permit. The Markwell family will return to Russia on April 17 and the Duells will return on July 1. They should know if they will receive the three-year living permits by mid-July. Leon is writing a course for training pastors and preparing material which will be used in evangelism.


Europe

SPAIN

Keith and Jody Hudak had about 50 kids attend their children’s outreach in a local park. Their friends and neighbors came and also brought their friends for this annual event. Jody’s scrapbooking class is moving on to other crafts. Pray for opportunities to talk about God and that this class will lead to the formation of a Bible study. Plans are being made for summer English camp. They are praying for 45 students in Torrejón and 30 students in Alameda. A team of five teachers are coming from the US to help.
 

Far East

PHILIPPINES

Dave and Lora Beverly (furlough) hope to be back in the Philippines by early August so their children will be ready to start the new school year there. They currently have 82 percent of their support. Baptists For Life (BFL) has been helping to provide funds for the Beverlys’ Pregnancy Care Center ministry so they can purchase a used ultrasound machine and remodel their building.


North America

INDIANA

Rod and Angie Stucky’s church elected new leaders. Pray God would grant them wisdom and direction as they guide the church in participating in the Pastoral Support Experience Program, and ultimately toward the goal of church graduation. The Stucky family is burdened with several medical bills. Angie’s lung disease requires regular monitoring by a pulmonologist, and recently she was diagnosed with a cystic mass in her body which requires gynecological visits. Their children, Seth and Jessica, are seeing medicals specialists as well. The international Bible study led by Tim Hesler averages six people a week, and continues to be an open forum for the attending students to ask probing questions about the Bible and God.


South America

BRAZIL

Steve and Mendi Everett are building relationships through a sports ministry. A number of couples at church are having serious marital problems. Rosi and her family are struggling with poverty and several health issues, yet she happily serves the Lord through Awana and Sunday school ministries.

Roger and Marcy Smith. Over 700 people saw the church’s Easter drama. They visited three national missionary couples seeking to plant churches in Brazil’s outback. Pray for Chico and Dalva’s new work in Triunfo. Jorge and Josy are asking God to show them where to serve in the Outback. Carlos and Dinalda are overseeing the Ingaziera ministry and model farm.

Lynell Smith is team teaching the beginners Sunday school class with a church member. She is also preparing materials for the children and teens Sunday school. It will help them learn the same chronological Bible lessons that will be taught to the adult classes. Please pray for Lynell’s neighbors to respond to the invitation to do an evangelistic Bible study using The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus: Marilene, Selma, Mrs. Benta, Fernanda, and Maria Luiza.


PARAGUAY

Rich and Beth Donaldson. National elections will be held on April 20. This is the first time in recent Paraguayan history that a liberal, socialist party has been close enough to challenge the reigning political party. In light of what has taken place in other South American countries that have gone that direction, this is a cause for concern and much prayer. The Asuncion Christian Academy is in a transition and has staff needs for next year. Pray for the board as they review the vision, mission, and core values; map the future for ACA; and for wisdom, discernment, and guidance.


Home Office

Carol Bibighaus’s trip to ABWE’s South America conference in Colombia brought an opportunity for personal interviews with each of the seven single women who attended. She also had opportunities to encourage some of the couples. Carol and a colleague will travel to Colorado Springs to receive training in debriefing (April 27 – May 2). Carol writes, “For us at ABWE, debriefing just means sitting down with missionaries who have returned from a term of service and asking them how things really went. We have about 12 categories of questions that we ask, and each interview takes about three hours.”