June 2016 Newsletter

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Jun 152016
 

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     In February I announced that I had asked Bethany to marry me and she accepted.  While we’re not married yet (as the name above might suggest)– that will come in early August – we are making preparations accordingly. What an exciting time!b+Jengaged_Print-163

Bethany will be I are planning to attend the training seminar together in July. (For those keeping track, this will be my 3rd time through training.)

Additional life transitions will see us be relocating to central Virginia where we will live and work until we are able to leave for language school.  We have started building contacts with church and family partners there and in the surrounding areas into North Carolina.  Pray that God would raise many partners from these areas. So… if you are in the Ohio-Michigan area and want to meet with us, please let us know soon because we won’t be able to visit nearly as often as before.

The ministry focus has not changed. I will continue to manage and build IT related ministries and Bethany, an RN, will minister at home and at the hospital.

We thank you for your continued prayers as we continue to seek partners for God’s work in Togo. We have increased our financial support by over 7% in the last few months to over 33% and at this rate hope to be ready to leave for language school before the beginning of 2018. Praise the Lord that He provides abundantly.

 Posted by on June 15, 2016
Mar 022016
 

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The month of February was has been nonstop presentations and seeking support. Some of the highlights are talking with many of the Mango team members who are in the USA on furlough or prefield, meeting a conspiracy theorist from Roswell, implying during a presentation that I wasn’t a Baptist, and2016-02-13 Continue reading »

 Posted by on March 2, 2016

A Year Full of Opportunities

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Jan 112016
 

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After a getting back to the US from a short trip to South East Asia advising another hospital about setting up a digital system I have settle in to the not so normal life of deputation.

The work at the hospitals is never far away. A few days ago I received news of a major problem at HBB, the southern hospital.  The server had experienced a hardware failure that brought the entire system down.  The medical staff scrambled to revert to a paper system while the IT techs worked out what was wrong. Many frantic emails and phone calls later the on-site techs were able to nurse the server back to a usable state (A failure of two physical drives, and probably part of the motherboard were the root cause.)

The situation was not over however even though the hospital systems were functioning again.  The system is running at limited, slowed capacity until replacement parts can be delivered and installed.  I am thankful for Tim, a short-term IT missionary, who could respond in this critical situation. Short-term people are vital to fill the gaps when long-term missionaries are away.

I have many upcoming events and prayers are appreciate as I travel throughout February and into the first week of March visiting supporters and speaking at churches. I leave at the begin of February to Seattle for a few days and then on to Boise for a multi church missions conference for the rest of the month to present at six (and maybe more) churches. Please pray that during this time individuals would also be burdened to help financially, materially, or by volunteering time. Also pray that God would use this to encourage and burden others toward becoming missionaries. Truly the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. (Luke 10:2)

I am excited to see what God has planned for this next year!

 Posted by on January 11, 2016

Technology Labs

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Sep 022015
 

In previous updates I had made brief reference to starting computer labs – called Mobile Educational Technology Labs. While I have been Stateside preparing and organizing, visiting and presenting, and raising partners the teams in Togo have been helping with a trial run of the first of these labs. This first lab has 14 laptop computers and was allocated to the Christian schools partnering with ABWE Togo.
First, a big thank you again to everyone who helped to make this possible.

Most of West Africa’s computer literacy is comparable or worse than that of Western countries during the late 80’s and early 90’s but it’s reliance on technology is quickly become as heavy as in any other place in the world. Continue reading »

 Posted by on September 2, 2015

Just getting started!

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Jun 082015
 

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“I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.” –Psalm 63

Dry season here lasts for eight months.  The wells go dry and the Oti River runs low.  The Hospital of Hope and city of Mango both depend on the river for water. As that source dries up water supply becomes an issue as has been the case several times already. We are searching for long-term solution for water problem. Recently the team tried drilling two more wells – both dry. We trust that God will provide despite our disappointment and frustration in diligently searching for a solution. Thank you to all who have been praying. Please continue to pray for a long-term answer.

This area is dry spiritually. Islam, Fetishism, and false Christianity are everywhere. The gospel message is like clean, cool, refreshing spring water. Continue reading »

 Posted by on June 8, 2015

The Doors of Hope Open

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Apr 062015
 

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Welcome to Hôpital de l’Espérance! The hospital in Mango officially opened on March 2nd with much international fanfare.

 

HoH Employees

Hospital of Hope Employees

 

The month passed since opening has been one of transitions. The workers are doctors instead of bricklayers; the work has changed from building structures to making disciples. Thousands of people have been treated and as many as were listening have heard the message of God’s good gospel. Most people hear this message for the first time through any combination of our doctors, nurses, chaplains, and the Jesus film.   Despite the many reached the need is so great that many more have been asked to return another day because we simply don’t have the capacity to care for everyone in the daily arrivals. Truly, the fields are white for harvest. Join us in praising the Lord our God daily for so many opportunities to share His good news and praying that He will provide for the continued work here. Our team and specifically the church planters continue to invest in discipling local men and women to be ministers and leaders for fledgling local churches. Continue reading »

 Posted by on April 6, 2015
May 022014
 

I am. It is a statement of belonging, of association, of  identity. Humanity is polarized by identities. Identity tells us who we are and where we belong. You might say, “I am English. You are French.” Nowhere, recently it seems, has this polarization become so pronounced as in the debate about homosexuality, marriage, and the church. But is seems that the church has lost itself. It is divided over whether to embrace, accept, or condemn. While some open the pulpits others raise protest signs.

But lets look at it from a personal perspective. I frequently hear someone say it like this; “I am a Christian and I am gay.” Or, “I know that God say that I shouldn’t feel this way, but I can’t help it.” Or the assumption that if you are a true Christian then you can’t feel as you do toward the same sex.

Christians stumble over the question of whether someone who is homosexual should be permitted in a church. The question is asked, can they really be Christian? There is no shortage of opinions and there is a seemingly great disconnect between what the bible commands and what is acted out. But surely an all-knowing God was not so ambiguous on an issue over which He utterly destroyed two cities and thousands of people (Gen 19). Continue reading »

 Posted by on May 2, 2014