Mission Updates

Pacific Islands

Greetings to all our loving co-workers this month in the Marvelous name of Jesus Christ, who is “the Lord” (John 21:7).  I joined up with brother Stacy Ferguson in Fiji and off to the main island of Efate in Vanuatu we traveled to join up with Aaron Baker.  From the main island of Efate, we traveled by a twin otter airplane to the “BALI HAI” of the South Pacific – the island of Ambae.  The island is a clear blue pyramid shaped island rising from the ocean in the early morning light.  At the small airport, we were greeted by lovely smiles of the local inhabitants and my beloved family from the mountains of northern Ambae.  We traveled by a four-wheel drive up a gravel road for a short way that quickly turns into nothing but a track.  This will carry us further up the mountains through coconut plantations that are fenced for cattle owned by natives. At each gate we stopped, one of the native brethren jumped out of the back of the truck and they laughingly call this a traffic light.   We traveled further up and deeper in the mountains of northern Ambae and the track gets rougher as we go further up into the rain forest.  We finally came to the end of the road.  We now travel by foot with native brethren and people carrying our and supplies.  As I come into the Ambanga and Duviara area, people start calling out my Ni-Vanuatuan name which is "Anga Garea".  Some of them call me by my chiefly custom title names at this point which are “Moli Anga" and “Moli Dailure.” 

For ten years, I have been patiently studying with some people in these villages.  On this trip we were able to see the value of planting and watering the seed.  What a joy it was for me to baptize the seventy-seven year old mother of Paul Vuhu.  Paul is like a brother to me, because I have been adopted into their family.  Paul's sister Emina was also baptized, as well as Elseva Garae who is also in my extended family.  – Robert and Mary Martin

Massena, New York

We are pleased to share that Anne Marie Jules was baptized into Christ on Friday morning, June 27, 2008.  This was a bit of a surprise to us as we had only just met Anne Marie the previous Sunday.  She is the mother of Alens Abelard who we were privileged to baptize about 9 months ago.  They are from Haiti.  Alens has attained his citizenship, but Anne Marie is still here on a “green card”.  She is in town visiting with her son and came to church with him and his family.  Then, when I stopped in at his 6 year old daughter’s birthday party on Thursday afternoon, Anne Marie asked if she could get baptized.  Evidently she has been studying and discussing it with her son since his baptism.  I arranged to meet with them on Friday morning and had a short study.  Pray that she can hold strong in her faith and be an influence where ever she is.

On a “cute” and heart-touching note, we have one very poor family that has been attending.  They have 4 children, and I am sure they do not get much of an allowance.  One of the children, about 8 years old, wants to add to the contribution plate, so we have been finding one of her “collector’s” cards in the collection plate each week.  I am sure they are precious to her.  I don’t know how valuable cards may actually be, but I have been having those who count the collection save them so I can put them in an envelope and give them back to her mom to return to her when she grows up.           —John and Denise Kashorek

Georgia Outreach

Darien, Ga. (McIntosh Co)

The building in Darien has been closed for more that eighteen months.  The property had suffered considerably without upkeep from any source.  A group of twelve motored from Villa Rica to Darien on a week end in March and within a day and a half had the property in excellent condition.  Brambles had covered some of the building, the spacious parking area had grown up, the roof was leaking, and painting was required both interior and exterior.  Class rooms, as well as the auditorium were well cleaned, and debris removed.  Since the work was completed late Saturday evening the crew remained over on Lord's Day morning and conducted worship services in the renovated building.

Former members at Darien who lived in the area, upon seeing the cleaning crew busy stopped in to render assistance. Fifteen former members, most of whom had been driving to St. Simon’s Island, Brunswick and elsewhere met with the group from Villa Rica for that “one time” service, some shedding tears of joy at the prospect of having the work revived.

Your prayers are solicited on behalf of this effort.  One of the first campaigns conducted by the Georgia Outreach team was in Darien some 24 years ago.  .                   – Robert W. Gray