Last night was another amazing night. We showed the Jesus Film! There were more people watching the movie at the vineyard than I can ever remember! There were well over 200 people there! It truly was a privilege to share with them after they watched the movie. The movie gave a clear presentation of the gospel message, the fact that Jesus died for our sins and wants us to know Him, to have a relationship with Him each day.

I then spoke for a while. I shared a few thoughts and shared about how Christ has changed my life. The people were so attentive to what I was saying! The gravity of the situation and the opportunity before me weighed on me. Not as a burden but as a big opportunity that not too many people get even once in their lives. I just realized the amazing opportunity that was presenting itself before me and prayed for the words to say.

We continue to go back once a week to the 2 different Vineyards that we have access to. The people come and listen, are attentive and do respond. We need more workers to come, there is so much more we could do with some more hands!

Pray for the Lord to send me workers into His harvest!

The picture below is of the group of people who gathered after I had finished speaking. They always listen to me on the microphone talking to the large group, then when I dismiss them, some come forward and gather around me and expect me to keep sharing. They just stand there and wait for me to say something. So I just keep going! Notice me at the rear of the picture with the hat on?

When this particular tower came down, debris landed on the home of three neighbours, causing some damage to these properties. We are grateful to report that no-one was hurt!

The staff at Radio Transmundial (Trans World Radio) were in action very quickly, assessing damage and beginning the clean up.

We are grateful for the neighbours who have all been very kind and understanding. There has been lots of cooperation in clean-up, and assessing and fixing the damage.

The estimated cost for repairs is $25,000. Until the repairs can be completed, central broadcasting is down in Santa Cruz. With the tower out of commission, other stations that count on rebroadcasting programming from this station are left without programming — the whole network is down. This was further exacerbated by a temporary city-wide power outage, also caused by the tornado, but it seems that power has been restored.

As part of the planned repairs, the new tower will be re-designed to withstand high winds.

If you would like to assist Jake and Dorothy with the rebuilding effort, you can use our donation page, select “other” and include this account code: 2-5024

Thank you for your prayers and your support!

Shaun and Söndi moved to a small town west of Budapest called Tapolca, for the purpose of beginning an evangelical church where there is none. They use English classes and camps as a means to reach the community.   “We hadn’t been able to find accomodation for Ron and Lynn Gamache who were arriving on a short-term mission to lead weekly Bible Studies,” Söndi recalled. Ron and Lynn would assist in helping connect students to English clubs. Two days before their arrival God provided a beautiful apartment for rent!

“When the owner heard we were going to hold English clubs, she asked us if we wanted to see the empty pub in front of the house on the street front. We checked it out, painted inside and used this area and the apartment to hold English clubs each week! God blessed us with a wonderful answer to prayer”.

We were blessed to have Ron and Lynn here for three months holding two small English Bible studies each week.  They did a fantastic job connecting students and helping the English club grow. In the fall semester 35 kids, 12 teens and 30+ adults were enrolled in the clubs.

There are five students coming with different levels of openness. One of the students attending enjoys the English but tells us the Bible is a book of fairy tales. We’re praying for all of them and we’re very happy they are open to reading and talking about God’s Word.

You can read about the Gamache’s time here and see pictures on their blog:     www.lynngamache.blogspot.com

With the help of some members from Kelenfold EFC, we were able to host an Advent wreath craft time on December 1st.  We held it at the Hegyesd village hall. We invited people from the village and also from the English clubs. We were pleased to have 50 + come make wreaths and to hear the Christmas message. On Dec. 13th, we had quite a few students come for the English Club Christmas party. They enjoyed the program and we shared about the amazing events of Christ’s birth and the hope He brings.

We’re very thankful to have Hannah Lawson, a university student from St. Peters, MI coming to help us with English clubs from January 10 – 25th.  We also thank God for leading David and Virginia Fairbrother from Vernon, BC to serve in Tapolca with the clubs from February 1 to March 15th.

We praise the Lord for two youth teams coming to serve in the Kids and Teen English Camps in July. Please pray for Pastor Daron from Salmon Arm and for Pastor Kevin from White Rock as they form and prepare their teams.

Short-term needs in Tapolca for 2013

We have need of an individual or a couple who’d be able to come teach in the Tapolca English clubs from March 16 – April 30, 2013. We’re also looking for short-termers who’d be able to help with the English clubs in the 2013-14 school year starting from mid September. If you know of anyone who might be interested in a short-term ministry opportunity like this, please let us know and we’ll be happy to send more information.

Prayer Requests

• Praise the Lord for the growing number of English students we have contact with. Pray for the Lord to be at work in hearts of the students.
• Praise the Lord for those coming to serve short-term in Tapolca this year. Pray that the Lord will lead others to join us in the work short-term and longer term.
• Pray for the small number of believers in the Tapolca area that we are meeting with. Pray that God will make us a bright light! Thank you for praying!

with Christ’s love, Shaun, Söndi, and family.

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If you would like to support Shaun and Söndi, you can use our donation page, and add in their account code:
2-2070

You can also get in touch with them directly by using their e-mail address:
shaunsondi@yahoo.com

I hope you’ll appreciate the honesty and humility in their latest blog post:

Discernment

Let’s take a look at what’s happening at MEMO now!

A MEMO trip was planned for June 2nd but had to be cancelled at the very last minute when the Cuban government did not send the special D1 visas the teams always travel with. There was no problem other than inter-departmental differences within the Cuban government. Finally the trip became a reality on August 18th. Talking directly to hospital directors and health officials is so helpful. We then know who needs what and what to put in each container. We asked specifically for permission to send 4 containers (one from Sioux Lookout and 3 from Thunder Bay) in the next three months.

On September 8th, container #45 was packed with 70 hospital beds for Cuba. The whole community is involved in the town of Sioux Lookout in the task of slowly and steadily packing the container with the medical equipment from their amalgamated hospitals and district ambulance services etc. They are now set to ship their third container to Cuba. We are astounded at what this town of 5,000 people has accomplished together to collect, pack, ship and pay for these containers under the direction of MEMO. Another miracle!

The month of September was busy with ongoing inventory of donations sent, shipping a container (the 46th!) and setting up a wheelchair repair shop in the our big warehouse.

The Big News:

The City of Thunder Bay has now taken ownership of the large warehouse we have been sharing with two other charitable organizations and has said we can continue in the building at least until late spring while just paying the utilities!

This year the MEMO dinner was held at the Airlane Hotel (as Jerome said “We kicked it up a notch.”) and all 280 seats were filled. “Our theme was “For Such a Time as This” and we were thinking of the comments made to us by several Cubans, that this is a critical time in the life of the Cuban government.”

The night of the dinner, the room was full, the meal was good, the crowd was expectant and Dariel was truly electrifying as he told of his familiarity with the hospital at Placetas (his mother was a nurse), shared the impact that the equipment from MEMO had on his family’s life, including the survival through childbirth of his now two-year old daughter. He thanked Canada, he thanked MEMO, he thanked Christians and he thanked God! There was a spontaneous standing ovation and the people opened their purses as well as their hearts. After expenses we had $18,000 to ship two more containers.

Another MEMO miracle!

If you would like to get involved in MEMO personally — and there is a mind-boggling number of ways that you can be — Jerome is eager to hear from you:
tjharvey@shaw.ca

If you would like to donate toward getting equipment and supplies to Cuba, you can use our donation page and under “Project” add this code:
2-5055

Recently, Wally embarked on a water project in Mojika, a small community down the road. On paper the plan seemed quite simple, however the work proved to be far more complex in reality. The first 2 weeks of November the mission team from Taber worked tirelessly to complete this water project. This community has a 90 year old 550 foot deep well in which they brought up water by the half barrel with oxen or horse. During the extended drought season this created a mountain of dust and animal feces (traces of it ending up in the water) not to mention the hours of labor it involved to get their daily water.

The project involved putting down 550 feet of pipe with a submersible pump and electrical to hook up to a generator (this community has no electricity). As well as building a water tower to hold the water from which it’s gravity fed.

We can honestly say, the response we saw in the people’s faces when the water finally freely flowed in their community, has been one of the most rewarding experiences we have had here in Nicaragua. They were laughing, crying, praising God and pouring water over themselves and each other, reminded us of a community baptism!

We are excited about great news coming our way! Brian and Eveleen along with their 2 children from Coaldale, Alberta are coming to join us here in Nicaragua.

We’re excited that our team is growing and praying for more opportunity to be effective!

We continue to be thankful to be salt and light here in Nicaragua.

Wishing you God’s blessings for 2013,
Wall and Esther.

If you would like to contribute directly to Wally and Esther to support their work in Nicaragua, you can use our donation page, and just ensure that you put in the their account code:
2-2883

Also you can get in touch with them directly by using the following e-mail address:
wewiebe@me.com

I had the pleasure of spending several days with Jason and Andrea and their five boys, and can testify that there is rarely a dull moment. Jason’s primary ministry is Middle School Chaplain and Bible Teacher at Faith Academy.

His passion for ministry is contagious and I often think of his enthusiastic statement:

“I can’t believe that I get to do this for a living!”

Since the students of Faith Academy are primarily MKs we might assume that evangelistic opportunities are limited. That’s not the case, as already this year several of Jason’s students have professed Christ as their Saviour for the first time!

Many activities fill their days: language learning, home-schooling, building friendships with locals and other expats as well as the day-to-day challenges faced by living in the Philippines. Pray for this family as they adjust to a new life and ministry.

You can read and interact with Jason and Andrea’s blog by clicking here.

This was the time to hear what God has been and is doing in and through the ministry of many of our Free Churches – and there are some very exciting things.  It was encouraging to hear and read reports of how churches are becoming more involved in their communities.  Some were actively ministering in ways that met practical needs – by handing out a cup of coffee or providing a food hamper.  Others were involved in outreach activities to young people through VBS events or soccer camps.  And some got involved in community events by putting a float into the local parade.

I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words when he wrote to the Corinthians:

“Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings” (1Cor 9:22-23).

I get the feeling the Free Churches in Canada have caught Paul’s vision for sharing the Good News.

Each conference was quite different.  How would I describe them in relation to the word “time”? Well, three conferences, but four “times”.  One was a bridging time, another was a brief time and the other a busy time, but all of them were blessed times.  And the blessings came in a variety of ways, including new and renewed relationships, too much very good food and great Bible teaching – spiritual food.

Wow!  Insightful, thought provoking, challenging, inspiring messages were a part of every conference. Allow me to share just one of the memorable insights that Dr. Lyndon Wall shared with us at the Alberta Parkland District conference.  His theme was “Jesus Sightings: Rediscovering the Living Christ.”  In John 20:1, Lyndon drew our attention to the fact that when Mary came to the tomb “the stone had been rolled away from the entrance”.  Something was out of place.  The stone was not where it should have been. Lyndon then challenged us to be on the lookout for “things” we see in our world that appear to be out of place because, just maybe, we are very close to a “Jesus sighting”.

I reflected back to last January, when Adele and I first met with the Director Team of the EFCCM.  We thought we were just meeting with them to have coffee.  That’s what was out of place.  They were busy, but took time to invite us over for a short “visit” to ask us to pray about the Church Partnership Director position. Since then we have witnessed numerous “Jesus sightings” which included the quick sale of our home this summer, finding a great place to live in Abbotsford and a wonderful new church family that have made us feel welcome.

Have you seen anything out of place lately?

This year, Dr. Jerome Harvey was honoured by the Ontario Medical Association by being awarded the prestigious Glenn Sawyer Award.

The Glenn Sawyer Award is given to doctors in recognition of outstanding contributions to the association, the medical profession or community.

In the 1960’s Jerome was a member of the OMAs committee on Accidental injuries which was influential in bringing in seat belt laws.

In the late 60’s he sat on the admissions board of McMaster Medical School. ln 1970 Jerome founded the Nipigon Coronary Care program which trained 1000 residents in CPR and established a coronary care unit in the Nipigon Hospital. Both achievments were unheard of in the early years of Coronary care. ln 1976 Jerome and family spent 4 years in Sub Sahara Africa.During this time he founded the Galmi Hospital Barefoot doctors program serving 16 surrounding villages to Galmi Hospital.

The program continues to this day.

In 2004 Jerome founded Medical Equipment Modernization Opportunity (MEMO). The purpose is to show God’s love to the Cuban people by recycling used but still useful medical equipment to worn out Cuban Hospitals and clinics (this is the basis for the strong connection between Jerome and the EFCCM). To date, 45 ocean containers full of equipment and supplies have been shipped!

As well 22 medical/surgical/technical teams have gone to Cuba to insure the appropriate use of the equipment.

Jerome is an executive member of the Lakehead University Centre for Health Care Ethics.

We are thankful to have servants like Dr. Jerome Harvey serving with us at the EFCCM. He is a man of remarkable courage, energy and commitment to Jesus Christ. It’s great to see him being celebrated in his field as well.

Update from Mexico

In a post from Mexico called Fruit is Coming!, Lane and Sheri are excited to share the next steps of a youth outreach ministry.

“My vision in this ministry was (and still is) to pour into the more mature youth in our church and train them to lead this ministry, which they are now doing.  Those first months after we started, really that first year, had its share of bumps along the road.  The youth who were running it weren’t very faithful in showing up and taking much leadership and the kids who came from the shanty town absolutely bounced off the walls!  Well times have changed!”

Update from Japan

Japan is still in recovery mode from the devastating tsunami ~1.5 yrs ago. Dale and Ann have been exploring a variety of community-generating ideas, and they landed on sewing sandbags for seaweed growers. Seaweed is an important part of the Japanese diet, and the sandbags are a crucial component of . These sandbags weigh down the ropes embedded with seaweed seeds, which keeps them stable in the ocean water in the growing months.

The manufacturers of these sandbags have not been able be nearly keep up with demand. So Dale and Ann’s group of sewers has added to what’s available — enough that the growers can at least look forward to a nominally better crop next spring. Read more about this project, and the future dreams of what it could lead to, by clicking here.