News from the Moravian Board of World Mission

Ahuas Clinic Update

2012-04-26T20:18:00+01:00

Dear Friends:

Under a blue sky about a dozen years ago, Mike and I were out walking on the savannah. I turned to him and said, "I'm having a hard time seeing God at work in the Clinic. What do you see Him doing?" On his face, I read both disappointment and patience. "God does so much around us every day, Gerard," he replied. "Just put on your glasses and look."

"I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:19a) The sunrise, though it happens each day as I walk on the savannah, is God at work doing a "new thing." Dawn is comforting in its familiarity, yet each marks the start of a new day.

I have seen God work on snakebite victims before, but today He is working on Letricia's snake bite. His anti-venom stops her bleeding. Our blue towel supplies for surgery and deliveries were low. he moved Joann to send us more now. I have seen Him heal other fractures, but today He is working on Dante's elbow, restoring function. Donors have felt His call in the past: this time Charles is giving so Eliazer can access cancer care. Carla's seizures and Tamika's Hiv are controlled. Sameria's baby, born prematurely, lives. People pray for me; Kent's e-mail says he is praying for me today. The list of ways that God cares for us and our patients is endless.

Mike was right, ov course. "Putting on the glasses" has filled me with a deep sense of gratitude. As I prepare to leave the Clinic, I thank God for letting me witness daily His capacity to heal and for pulling miracles from impending tragedy.

It has been a pleasure working with you, being your hands in Honduras. Thanks for your continued prayers. By the grace of God and a far-flung network of people contributing in ways small and large, the Clinic doors remain open. I encourage you to continue to make it so.

May it praise God,

Gerard

Life as a Missionary

2012-04-24T14:35:49+01:00

The Family

There once was a family who lived overseas,

Who had to move back to the land of the Free,

There were things that they wanted,

and thing that were needs.

From towels to chickens

To furniture and seeds.

When they walked in their home,

to their happy surprise,

there were sofas and beds and potatoes and rice!

The bathrooms had towels and soap and TP,

The kitchen was stocked with an overflowing pantry.

In all the cupboards and in all the spaces,

Were things provided by peoples good graces.

The family was amazed and thankful and glad

to see how they had been given everything that they had.

This family loved broths, and stocks and soups.

They loved to eat warm things with greens and roots.

There were pans and pots, but all were too small

to make a big soup that would feed one and all.

So the mother shopped and spread out her net,

but all that came up was to costly to get.

So she talked to the Provider and asked for a pot.

One that was big enough to feed the whole lot.

The very next day she went out to find,

other things that were next in line.

But then she glanced up in a casual way,

and saw a red sign… well, what did it say?!

We all know what that means!

Clearance! A deal that she had almost not seen!

The pot that she bought was one that fit her budget, (boo-jay)

and buy it she did that minute, that day.

She had not forgotten that talk she had had,

the one where she asked for a pot from her Dad.

Her heart was excited, her face was aglow,

The Provider had acted, this she did know.

The past weeks had witnessed and it could be clearly seen,

That on this Provider they should always lean.

Contact the BWM at sbeaman@mcsp.org for more information

Turning the World Upside Down

2012-04-20T14:11:26+01:00

Dear friends,

“So where were you…during the quake?” (Mar 20th) We always ask. We have to know, to compare notes, to process this event we share in common. I was two hours away from my family, in Tlaxiaco, teaching a seminar on what simple church means for a church planter in southern Mexico, working among Indian people. In Tlaxiaco, Alejandro and Sayra lead a team of Mexican missionaries committed to reaching unreached groups of Mixtecos in Oaxaca and Guerrero. As new members come onto the team, he leads them through three months of training before placing them in nearby Mixteco communities for a six month practicum and then a long term placement in an unreached people group where they will learn the language and call people to Christ. We told you about Ruth (Mar 2011), whom we helped to mentor, now on the team.

My job that week was to help the new team members rethink the message they take to Indian people, whether that message is given in actions or words. The question for the week was: “What does it mean to communicate the Good News to Indian people in southern Mexico? Can we leave behind our own cultural norms so that these people can respond to Christ without having to adopt all our cultural practices? Can we lay hands on their leaders so that they can baptize their own people, serve them the Lord’s Supper and reproduce their own congregations?

There were seven missionary trainees in the class, but let me tell you about one, Tina. Like Ruth, she is Mixtec, but her family moved to Baja California when she was young in order to work in the fields there as harvesters and she never learned to speak her native tongue. Her next door neighbor, a missionary to this diaspora of Indigenous people, brought her to Christ and discipled her right into missions. On a short term trip to Morocco, she heard God’s distinct call, not to that part of the world but back to her own people in southern Mexico. So here she is, asking God to use her to reach the unreached.

She has already been reaching out to her mother. Gradually, her mother has left behind her fear of evil spirits, learning to call on God for protection and guidance. She has stopped setting up an alter for the dead on the Day of the Dead, stopped tying red ribbons around the limbs of her newly sprouted plants and newly hatched chickens to ward off the spirits. She is beginning to trust in Christ. So Tina knows this is a long road, teaching her people to trust in Christ. I am thrilled to be a part of Tina’s journey, helping her think about how the Mixtecs can come to Christ, not as latinos, but as Mixtecs. Very few Mixtecos ever hear such a message of Good News because the dominant culture around them has little regard for their customs or language.

People all over the world knew about our 7.4 quake within minutes. Thankfully, it had little impact on our lives. Yet how long will it take the world to feel the impact of these Mexican missionaries…Tina, Ruth, Mariano, Josafat, Mauricio, Cruz, and Ivonne…who have committed to turning the world upside down, one indigenous church at a time?

Please pray for God’s blessing on our up-coming mentoring trips: Robert will be traveling to Panama for two weeks at the end of April, visiting Einer and Girlesa, fellow missionaries, who live among the Wounnan people there. They want to explore organic forms of leadership training that suit this non-Western people group that they themselves can reproduce naturally. Then, at the end of May, I travel to Chile to teach the one-week church planting course again, this time for students of the School of Frontier Missions of YWAM.

Thank you, and blessings, Anne and RobertThiessen

Groups Strive for Natural Birth Rights in Oaxaca

2012-03-13T15:01:49+01:00

An update on Eunice.

Since Eunice and I have been back in Oaxaca, Eunice has been working and training at a school for midwives called Casa Compasiva (house of compassion). It is a christian group of women working with pregnant women who want to have a normal birth. They do consults, pre-natal care, give advice and prayer, carry out the births and give post birth care. Last month they celebrated their one year anniversary. Eunice has enjoyed working alongside these women and interacting with the patients. A few weeks ago Eunice went to another group of midwives to give a class on fetal circulation. This group, called Nueva Luna (new moon) is the only other group of midwives in the entire state of Oaxaca. This group has been around for a number of years and she found out that the lamaze class we took a few years ago is run by these women. The two groups try to work together as much as possible to create awareness of the benefits of natural births.

Last week Eunice got a call from one of the leaders at Nueva Luna to go out for coffee and talk about a possible job opportunity. Eunice went and met with Araceli from Nueva Luna at a local coffee shop. The two talked about the struggle for women in Oaxaca and around the country, and what Nueva Luna was doing. Araceli then asked Eunice if she was interested in joining their team. They were impressed with her presentation and her enthusiasm on the issues. They wanted another person to join their team and for Eunice to be a part of the future. Nueva Luna is working on making home births legal and legitimate in Mexico. Right now in Mexico it is illegal to have a clinic that only attends natural births. Also, the government is blackmailing the women in the villages to have their children at the government hospital in the capital, and if they don't they will take away their government insurance and other benefits for their kids. All of this is illegal, but they know women who have had their insurance coverage taken. So now even the midwives of the villages are under attack. The doctors are doing everything they can to have more women have C-sections for two reasons; it is more expensive and it is quicker. That way doctors can go through more patients in a day and make more money, extortion at the highest cost.

Nueva Luna has asked Eunice to be a part of the team that will break new ground for women's rights in Mexico. They have already filed with the state and federal governments to legalize home birth clinics and last week held a conference with guests from all over the country here in Oaxaca to discuss the law and its impact on doctors and women. Eunice was invited to the conference where there were speakers from the government, doctors, and to Eunice's delight, Julieta Venegas. Julieta is a major pop star here in Mexico who is the national spokesperson for in home births after having her daughter at home two years ago. Eunice was able to meet her and talk about the future for women in Mexico (she was majorly star struck). The debate went well and many local doctors who want to see the laws changed were very encouraged.

As many of you know Eunice is very passionate about her work, and it makes me so proud that she is being recognized for it. People are truly amazed by her story and her dedication to doing what is right, not making money off of sick people. Her participation in Nueva Luna has excited her to new levels, now that she will see her dreams put into action. As a woman who grew up indigenous, and poor; to be a doctor and to be a part of the change is what she dreamed of when she chose the profession. Meeting all of you this summer/fall was a major influence, she has been encouraged by your friendship. She may not have talked a whole lot but she was listening.

Our plans have not changed with the new developments. We are still planning on being in Juquila, part time over the next few months. Meanwhile, Eunice will be studying and working alongside these groups. Nueva Luna also has three midwives in the MIxe area where we are headed. They don't live in the same village but will be great contacts in the area.

Please continue to pray for our entrance into Juquila. Also, for Eunice's new opportunities, in Casa Compasiva and Nueva Luna. Later this month we are going on a trip for a medical brigade into a few indigenous villages. As for myself, there is always lots of opportunities for ministry here in Oaxaca. The local church keeps me busy along with my budding relationships with new friends in the city. Thanks again to all of you and we hope to have good news about Juquila in the next letter.

Blessings,

phil and eunice

[This E-mail scanned for viruses by SolidSpace Anti Virus Service]

Mohamed Braima Ordained at Little Church on the Lane

2012-03-05T21:04:18+01:00

Sunday, February 12, 2012 will always be one of my greatest and fondest memories. There are few times in my life that I can remember being more spiritually alive than I was during the ordination of Mohamed Braima at the Little Church on the Lane. It seems like there has seldom been a time when Safiatu and Mohamed were not part of my life.

Mohamed came to Charlotte in 1975 as a college student. He and Safiatu grew up together as children in a small Muslim village in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Mohamed's father was chief of the village and his older brother, Morrison, had relocated to the US. Safiatu's family and Mohamed's family came together and made a dowry for Morrison and Safiatu, and they were married in accordance with their customs. When Morrison brought Safiatu to the United States in 1974, they pledged to Mohamed that they would save enough money and bring him over as well, and their pledge was shortly fulfilled. Morrison and Safiatu had a son named Koi in 1977. When Morrison Ibrahim died, Safiatu, Mohamed, and Koi returned to Sierra Leone for the funeral. Afterwards they returned to Charlotte, their studies, and life at The Little Church on the Lane. Mohamed was baptized by The Rev. Herbert Weber at Little Church in 1977. Safiatu had been baptized by The Rt. Rev. Robert Iobst at Union Cross Moravian. Their love for Christ and their desire to see their people come to salvation became a compelling force. As their love for Jesus grew so did their love for each other. They became more than best friends and were married in 1986. After the death of The Rev. Herbert Weber, The Revs. Henry May, Steve Wilson, and Billy Flippin encouraged the Braimas to pursue their passion to return to Sierra Leone.

The Liberian Civil War triggered the collapse of the government. A series of guerrilla wars that followed made it extremely difficult for them to spend much time there safely, but they continued to make humanitarian visits to friends and family. Over the past 30 years Mohamed worked as much as two and three jobs at a time while attending school and preparing himself for life of ministry. Safiatu also worked multiple jobs as they strove to make enough money to pay for their education as well as Koi's.

In 2007, Mohamed led the construction of a library in the village of Luawa-Yiehun which was furnished with a cargo container of books donated by people in the United States. The March 17th opening of the library was attended by a large number of officials from around the country and proclaimed the best equipped library in the country.

Work on the church began on April 14 and did not stop until it was roofed in June. As a result of so many children attending the church, they recognized the need for a secondary school in the village. After the first year of the operation of the Christian school with over 100 children enrolled, they are now breaking ground for a second school which will allow the current students to move up to a higher grade. The dream is to advance to a university and a seminary. The school’s underlying purpose is a daily Christian-led program.

I remember on Sunday mornings when Haines Maxwell or Koi would come into the Fellowship Hall at Little Church on the Lane with news of the latest telephone connection made with Safiatu or Mohamed. One of them would go to a high place outside the village where they could sometimes make connection via phone.

They have spent the past 6 years going back and forth between Charlotte and Luawa-Yiehun with the length of time there extending and the lenth of time here crammed to the fullest with preparations to go back.

They are always happy to share the story of God's work in Luawa-Yiehun . It is never about them or the difficulties they have faced, but it is always about the lives changed by the love of Jesus through the support of brothers and sisters in Christ.

The great cloud of witnesses must have been rejoicing with us as we celebrated the ordination of Mohamed as an ordained Moravian minister to a Mission Area under the call of the Board of World Mission. I think of Br. Joe and Sr. Lahoma Gray who made an investigatory attempt to take the gospel to Sierra Leone many years ago. The Rt. Rev. Robert Iobst commissioned him and Safiatu to go as missionaries to Sierra Leone on October 8, 2006 at Fairview Moravian. Mohamed was appointed as a Provincial Acolyte in 2008. So many others were present to show love and support at these times of celebration.

The Unitas Fratrum is grateful to God for the dedication and service of Mohamed and Safiatu Braima. To Him Be The Glory!

By Helen Gulledge

Little Church on the Lane

(Edited by Betty Hobbs)

Wedding in Mexico

2011-10-03T17:55:45+01:00

Judith and Deme are Mexicans preparing to be cross-cultural missionaries. We have had a part in their training, and we were honored to be invited to their wedding in Deme’s Triqui village where he pastors, and where he met Judith, who was finishing up her apprenticeship before moving on to an unchurched Triqui region. We took Philip and RuthE. Here is RuthE’s take on it:

It starts with a road. A road with potholes and bumps and dips. A road big enough for only two cars and yet three lanes. A road that snakes in and out of the tree-draped mountains, where flowers shine and the most ordinary shrub strikes a pose. To the left, a long affable cactus waves at the passing cars. To the right, a valley dappled with flora ends gracefully at the bottom of sturdy mountain. Ahead, a small village bubbles with life: a seasoned man and an exhausted donkey rest on the side of the road; a giggling girl points at a dog…

My family and I had been invited to an Indian wedding. We drove on patchy, coiled roads where reading was impossible, yet I didn’t mind. All I could think of was how the clouds rested on the top of the mountain, how the old wooden shack on the side of the road gave an aura of mystery, how the road slipped into white, how the cars fingered through the velvet fog. The village where the wedding was held was high in the mountains, protected in mist.

When we got there, four hours late (the bride was in the car right behind us), the village was waiting along the side of the road. The Triqui women, young and old, all wore their typical dress: red huipiles, hand-woven masterpieces with long colorful ribbon streamers floating to the ground after them.

The path that led to the wooden church building was steep and wet. I was dumb enough to wear high heels to this Indian wedding, so that journey was interesting. At the top I had to sit outside in the freezing weather since the church was too small to fit us all, and full to overflowing before we arrived. I couldn’t hear or see any of the wedding inside, so I passed the time playing with the fallen pine needles and chatting with my friend Andres.

When the time finally came to eat, the whole village was involved. We all walked down to the town square, groom and bride greeting people as they walked hand in hand. My feet have never hurt so bad. My advice: never wear high heels in the mountains. Thankfully, a young man offered to take me on his bike.

The whole village was still blanketed in fog, giving it a sense of vagueness. The tables relaxed under a big tarp on a sea of mud. My chair sunk when I sat down. The barbacoa, a red beef soup with strings of meat in it, tasted salty and spicy, and I dug in with my plastic spoon and homemade tortillas. My father and I tried some of the chiles. I felt like a cloud had drifted into my head it was so hot. I’m surprised I didn’t drown myself in the amount of coke I drank.

On our way back, the fog was so thick, the car inched forward painfully. Any simple mistake and we could all fall over the edge of the mountain. We finally got to Tlaxiaco, where we were going to sleep. In the morning, we ate tamales with our host family, shared stories and laughed. Alejandro, the father, laughed the loudest. I never knew exactly what “a twinkle in his eyes” meant before. His crow’s feet seemed to be outlined in Sharpie. He seemed to smile and laugh at anything. I was sad leaving that house…

It ends with a road. The river glides in and out of the weeping trees. The Catholic temple positioned beside a mountain belongs in a fairy tale book. The sky was painted by God Himself. Clouds distribute themselves. Birds flit here and there. Butterflies coast and bees buzz. The road heads straight for a red clay mountains contrasted with green tress. I love Mexico, its mountains and tress, its dusty villages, its roads full of potholes, bumps, and dips.

RutheE Thiessen

--
[This E-mail scanned for viruses by SolidSpace Anti Virus Service]