During a recent interview, Rev. Igor Bandura (vice president of IM’s Baptist partner in Ukraine) shared, “There are more generators running in Ukraine than anywhere else in the world.” This is just one reality of life one year into war.
Many Ukrainians—those who remained and those who left—continue to live in the middle space between deep grief and deep gratitude. What Rev. Bandura shares most about is the gratitude. When Russia invaded on February 24, 2022, IM’s supporting congregations, individuals, and the Baptist worldwide family responded quickly with generous donations that have provided for sustained relief activities.
You generously gave $1,366,000 in the past year through One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS)–Ukraine Relief. Your gifts combined with others around the world to provide more than $5,700,000 in humanitarian aid. You helped meet basic needs: food, shelter, heating, transport, and psychological assistance. The aid has been delivered by Baptist partners in Ukraine and neighboring countries; by your International Ministries global servants, including Carmella Jones, Becky and Larry Stanton, Amanda and Jon Good, Pieter and Nora Kalkman, and Kristy Engel; by Church World Service staff in Moldova; and by L’Arche staff in Ukraine.
One of the many challenges of ongoing war is that some of the same needs continue as long as the war continues. After a hurricane, the damage and needs can be readily assessed. Immediate needs can be met and longer-term planning can begin. Ongoing war presents a very different challenge, as many of the needs remain the same for an extended period of time. Today, sporadic shelling across the country continues, with Russian troops increasingly targeting civilian areas and critical infrastructure. This makes returning and beginning the long process of rebuilding impossible.
We face a long road ahead. Rev. Bandura asks for us to “think in terms of staying with Ukraine for the coming eleven years.” Your continued giving to OGHS-Ukraine Relief will enable us to do just that—be there not just for the time of war, but for the time of rebuilding.
Dear Dear Loved Ones, Greeting. We are both now officially students at language school in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
Dominican Republic. Monday Feb 27, we both went to bed early at 9pm to be ready to face our first day. At 3 AM, we were ready. [like children for the first day of school.] At 5 AM we ate our breakfast; a piece of delicious papaya and we were among the first at school.
At 8:30, our first professor entered the class. I prayed deeply for the end of her period. When the second professor came in, the situation worsened. The two young female professors were speaking Spanish as if we all graduated from the same Spanish school. Never in our life we have heard Spanish roaring in our ears like a tornado.
Our classes are from 8:30 until 11:30 each morning. While in class, if one speaks another language other than Spanish, they pay 10 pesos. If you are late, you pay 25 pesos.
Since we were delayed in our arrival, we are one week behind the others. The professors are giving us each 1.5 hours extra for us to catch up. The first day we did not get home until 2pm.
We are adjusting, our brains are full of words we long to understand easily, and we are exhausted by the end of the day.
We need a miracle.
Thank you for your prayers. Yours in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Nzunga & Kihomi
This is definitely an interesting time to be serving at Missionary Flights. MFI has experienced an increase in both passengers and cargo even while the situation in Haiti has not improved. A few weeks ago, one of the pastors that MFI serves who works in the more rural part of Haiti was kidnapped and is being held for ransom. Missionary Flights is taking as many precautions as possible that each flight can be accomplished without incident, but the situation on the ground is much more dynamic than it has been in the past. Please continue to pray while MFI supports those God has called to serve in an increasingly unstable country.
As I am learning the Load Master position, one of the responsibilities is flight logistics: when do items fly and what else goes on the plane. MFI’s general procedure is first in, first out. Sometimes we get items that work well with that process and other times not. Recently, Go Build Love, an MFI partner organization, acquired 21 pallets, 8 feet tall, of buckets. This is an awesome gift for their ministry. They use the buckets to make home water filtration setups. With the cholera outbreak, clean water is a huge need. This ministry is able to provide each home with a filtration bucket, and as a result, God has blessed them with opportunities to introduce many families to Jesus through filter buckets. Watch this video to hear how the partnership with MFI is changing lives.
Buckets to change thousands of Haitian lives Buckets, food, and hygiene kits
To make the buckets easy to handle, the receiving department processes them in stacks of ten as shown in the picture. The picture contains eight of the pallets that Go Build Love has brought to MFI thus far. The logistical problem is that each stack is 18 pounds. To send them all on one flight will fill the airplane space-wise and barely touch the 6,000 to 8,000 payload that the DC-3 can carry. So we send buckets in batches and offset their “fluffiness” with items that are more dense. I’m very grateful for this time to learn the nuance of flight logistics before it is my daily responsibility.
Scheduled engine change Pre-dawn departure
In February, MFI suffered a tragic loss. The MFI Port-au-Prince mailroom leader, Jean Charles, was traveling on his motorcycle and was in an accident. Unfortunately, he died from his injuries. Please pray for his wife and young children as they adjust to their new life without him. Also, please pray for the community to whom he was ministering to have someone step into his place.
Thank you for your love, prayers, and support as we serve at MFI.
I’m so pleased to share a video with you from IM Global Consultant for Health Kristy Engel. Last month, Kristy, Global Servants Dr. Anita and Dr. Rick Gutierrez, and IM volunteer, Melissa Wolfson, traveled to Ukraine to help provide mobile medical clinics for people displaced by the war, at the invitation of IM partner Hungarian Baptist Aid. You can hear more from Kristy about what the team saw and experienced in Ukraine through the video below.
Your gifts to world relief through International Ministries made this trip possible! Thank you for your partnership in bringing hope and practical care in Jesus’ name.
Charles Jones, Area Director for Europe, the Middle East and Liberia
Questions for Charles? Email us!
NEWS YOU CAN USE
Today we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
One way in which you could honor his legacy is by supporting the Lott Carey National African American Missions Council (NAAMC) Scholarship Fund. These scholarships for Black missionary candidates help decrease the challenges they might experience in securing funding to serve in ministry. Learn more about the scholarship fund.
Join our Short-Term Mission staff and global servants on trips that will help you discover what God is doing around the world! We invite you to journey with us in 2023.
AMSTERDAM: April 17 – 25, 2023 / Learn more about the Amsterdam team (registration deadline 1/30/23) JAPAN: April 27 – May 8, 2023 / Learn more about the Japan team (registration deadline 2/20/23) LIBERIA: May 24 – June 2, 2023 / Learn more about the Liberia team (registration deadline 3/24/23) NORWAY: July 2 – 9, 2023 / Learn more about the Norway team (registration deadline 4/7/23) MISSION EXPRESS: March 15, 2023 / A virtual trip with Global Consultant Mylinda Baits on how art can be used for healing and holistic mission / Learn more (registration deadline 3/6/23)
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
House of Hope, Bolivia
This month on our homepage, we are highlighting the opportunity to support mobile medical and dental clinics for indigenous people in Cochabamba, Bolivia, through a project managed by Global Servant Rhonda Reed. The House of Hope partners with local doctors and dentists to bring mobile clinics to serve vulnerable populations in the city and surrounding provinces. Your support provides equipment and supplies for regular medical and dental care, as well as creating a ministry opportunity during the clinics for local churches to reach out to their communities.
THE IMPACT OF YOUR GIVING
Ministry of Accompaniment and Presence Global Servants to the Dominican Republic Ketly and Vital Pierre
As the two of us continue our service in the Dominican Republic, we have asked ourselves: what is God’s call of service for us in this place and for this time?
We believe the 1.5 years we spent in the USA “in the desert” during Ketly’s breast cancer surgery and subsequent treatments were to prepare us for the present. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). We experienced so many uncertainties when we went to Boston, yet God provided people with open hearts and arms to welcome us and to provide for us. This outpouring of God’s love to us strengthened us to be God’s hands and feet once again here in La Romana. Also, I (Ketly) feel my ordination prepared me to be an example and an encouragement to other women in the D.R. who are called to pastoral ministry.
We find the spirit of Immanuel “God with us” helps us to accompany those who are sick and broken-hearted. One of our friends in La Romana named Orene is suffering from cancer, and God is giving me the opportunity to walk alongside her to provide spiritual, emotional, and physical support. I feel like I learned so much from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and that part of my ministry to those suffering from cancer is education – what to eat, how to rest, what questions to ask the doctor. Also, a young man we know named Joel was just diagnosed with stomach cancer, AND his father also just received a cancer diagnosis. God has prepared me to accompany them as they walk through this time of trial. Praise God that the family is strong in their faith, but the path ahead is not an easy one.
Immanuel “God with us” is also present in the start-up of the chaplaincy program at Good Samaritan Hospital in La Romana. In January, twenty-one volunteers from the area churches will work alternatively for several hours throughout the week as “angels of mercy” in the various wings of the hospital. This is a much-needed addition to the ministry of healing at Good Samaritan.
The Talita Cumi Girls Clubs have experienced Emmanuel “God with us” as many girls are finding Christ’s light, joy, and friendship through the weekly meetings in the various bateyes and La Romana. One mother related that her daughter’s attitude has changed from one of criticism and negativity to one of laughter and positivity.
One of our concerns this year is the increase of persecution of Haitian immigrants in La Romana. There is a sense of unease and fear among many of the Haitian community, and the Community Center is a place of rest and an oasis of peace in the midst of this chaos. Vital is accompanying many Haitian construction workers who need brotherly, physical, emotional, and spiritual support so they can live with dignity in the D.R. The goal is to have an organization to unify these men so they can be a mutual support to each other. Vital is also hoping that the Community Center will soon be able to create a “Job Board” so Haitian women looking for work can be connected with potential employers. We keep in mind this scripture: “You shall not oppress a stranger nor torment him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9). Yes, Immanuel “God with us” is essential for these immigrants.
Through your prayers and your financial support you have been accompanying us as we minister. We are grateful and look forward to this continuing investment in our lives.
You help us to know Emmanuel “God with us” – THANK YOU!!
Greetings and Merry Christmas. This past Tuesday Kihomi and I spent almost the whole day in FBI office in Chandler, Arizona for fingerprinting. The whole session went fine but the person in charge told us that to have the FBI report Apostilled it will take 10 to 11 weeks.
We are here expressing our deep gratitude and thanks to the Smiths in DR for mentoring us in the process.So, we need somebody with more patience to share some with us. We are really tired of waiting.Meanwhile we are in touch with the DR consulate in CA for the requirements we need before we got visit them. Yours, Nzunga
Dear Supporters, The saga of Nzunga’s and Kihomi’s future ministry goes on and on. Uprisings in Haiti and bureaucratic changes and delays in the DR. It can be very frustrating. Let’s hope waiting on the Lord doesn’t take the time it took the Israelites to be freed from Egypt.
Thanks for your support and prayers. Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.Blessings,
Dennis Shewell and the MPT team.
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December 2022 It is hard to believe that we are already entering the advent season. As we think about Christ coming, this year we are reflecting on how different Jesus’ arrival was than what was expected of the Messiah. Those expectations contrasted against the reality of Jesus resulted in many missing Him. We had expectations for what this season at Missionary Flights would be like and the reality is very different. In our last letter, we felt things in Haiti overall were improving. The reality was that things were going down hill. The gangs established a blockade that prevented gas and diesel entering the country for over two months. The fuel shortage that followed prevented supplies from getting into the country. Today, food is still scarce. The water treatment companies ran out of diesel to run their plants and cholera is now out-breaking throughout the country. The gangs are still blockading roads in the country and kidnapping people daily. Veteran missionaries are reporting this is the worst they have ever seen things. Many evacuated for their family’s safety. Many that stayed are keeping a low profile. Pastors are telling us that some of the Haitian Christians are turning to voodoo rather than Jesus to get through. Please pray that the Haitian people will find and rely on Jesus through this situation. Pray for wisdom for those in country on whether or not to stay. Pray for wisdom for those that have evacuated on when they should return. Working together on James’ birthday Feed My Starving Children cholera treatmentThis time of year we are normally sending lots of boxes of Christmas gifts for the missions. Due to the fuel shortages, many missions have delayed sending the boxes. Instead, we are busy sending water filtration products and cholera treatment products. As the fuel blockade is now broken, we are starting to see an increase in the amount of cargo that people need us to send. The Christmas boxes are beginning to come. Please pray that we will continue to have the pilots and the planes available that we need to fulfill these needs. Packages beginning to resume in volume
MFI Hangar Banquet
Each November, MFI hosts a banquet to celebrate what God has done that year and to fund raise for the coming year. This year, the theme of the banquet was preparedness. It was encouraging to hear stories from missionaries on how God prepared missionaries we serve and how MFI makes their ministry possible. For several years now, MFI has been refurbishing a third turbine DC-3 and God has made a way that we could have it operational by the end of next year. It is awesome to see God working to prepare MFI for the work He has for our future even when it does not look how we expected.
Thank you for your love, prayers, and support as we serve at MFI.
James and Sam Gabhart
Family News Good news, friends, we have survived, not just our first hurricane, but our first two. Hurricane Ian gave us quite the insight of how hurricanes can look. It was quite the learning curve as a homeschool family to learn the balance between what we want to do compared to what we feel like we have to do. Forty-two days later, we got to put into action the things we learned from Hurricane Ian as we went through Hurricane Nicole. While in each storm we had some minor flooding, Nicole brought some new challenges to us – losing power for 19 hours. Jesus brought us through, and our neighborhood fared well overall. Learning to trust through the storms on a different level brought one worship song to mind most, “Firm Foundation”. The bridge of that song says, “rains came, winds blew, but my house was built on You. I’m safe with you, I’m going to make it through”. Those words brought comfort, especially as the winds blew outside. Chris turns 12!
Birthday Celebration Day Birthday Celebration Day
November ends for us with celebration. James turned 40 the beginning of Thanksgiving week. Chris turned 12 the end of the same week. We are so grateful to be able to celebrate them. We took a trip out to Busch Gardens the week prior to their birthdays and had a spectacular day riding coasters and spending time with a dear friend from church. Having the passes we do has been such a gift, over and over, with spending time doing something different from our daily lives. It has also been such a joy to take friends with us as our guests.
As we come to the end of the year, Sam is finding opportunities to take pictures for families. It’s a blessing to have a little extra income, especially with a decline in our regular support from some and the ever rising prices.Prayer Requests Praise for the winter volunteers coming to MFIPrayer for wisdom and opportunity for Sam as we prayerfully consider her getting a part time jobPrayer for the Christmas outreach activities at church and the families that can be impacted by themPrayer for Haiti and the missionaries serving there to have wisdom and safety as they do what God has called them to doPrayer for Sam and I as we seek to be good examples to our children in our walk with JesusPrayer for God to bless our ministry partners in their consistency to support the work He is doingMinistry UpdateWe are so thankful to all who are following God’s leading in supporting us. We are currently receiving $5,000 (81%) monthly. We need an additional $1200 monthly to be fully supported.Online Giving: www.missionaryflights.org/gabhart OR
Mail Checks to: 3170 Airmans Drive Fort Pierce, FL 34946 Memo: Gabharts #2837
September 2022 Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him. Lamentations 3:22-24 HCSB
It is awesome to serve a God who answers prayers. I have now been serving in the role of “Missionary Support” for three months. As an introvert, answering questions by phone and email is not the task that I would gravitate towards on my own. However, I am learning much about the way that Missionary Flights operates and what things look like in country once the people and cargo leave the airplane. God has been daily answering the prayer that I would have the energy, grace, understanding, and knowledge that I need to work with those calling in with questions and requests. I am very grateful that most of the people that I work with are generally appreciative and pleasant as opposed to a typical “Customer Service” job where most of the calls are angry people. I’ve also been able to apply some of the knowledge that God allowed me to gain at previous jobs to make reference materials and form emails so that it is easier to transfer knowledge and procedures to others working at MFI. I am grateful that in mid-June another pilot started at MFI and he and I are beginning to share the responsibilities of Missionary Support. This will allow me to resume my training loading airplanes and paperwork that goes with it.
Haiti has been in our prayers much lately. In the areas around Port-au-Prince, Haitians are kidnapped daily. Fuel is still scarce and people are trying to figure out ways to survive. Unrest has been on the increase with riots, demonstrations, and strikes becoming more frequent. At Missionary Flights, we have been trying to coordinate cargo service to a new city, Jacmel, where we periodically fly passengers. Each flight has had logistical problems – customs, airport construction, riots – and we’re praying in the coming months that things will begin to operate more smoothly. Other parts of the country have been comparatively peaceful and the missionaries in these areas are able to continue their work unhindered. We’ve seen an increase in passengers lately – both short-term teams and long-term missionaries – traveling to these areas of the country. We thank you for joining us in praying for God to change the situation in Haiti for the better and for His glory.
Thank you for your love, prayers, and support as we serve at MFI.
Family News It’s constantly amazing how fast the time flies when you have children. The end of August was another one of those moments where we take pause, and remind ourselves that we blinked too hard. Abby is now 10 years old. Our last baby is double digits. She was able to spend most of her birthday hanging out with one of her best friends from church. A few short days after that, Growing Minds Academy resumed school for the 2022-2023 school year. As homeschoolers, we really enjoy having a little bit more flexibility with our schedule and when we are beginning to dive into our curriculum. This next year, we have some changes coming to our curriculum. While our core subjects are staying the same, we are adding in some new things. One of them is the kids will be learning how to play the piano and learn music theory along side of it. For those unfamiliar with Sam’s background, she went to school to be a music teacher, so this new subject has an extra level of excitement for her.
For the last several weeks and now continuing forward, each week the kids are taking turns coming into the hangar with us for the day. When we began at Missionary Flights, it was always part of our plan to work into the kid’s schooling to have a day where they could help in the warehouse. Originally, we were thinking about having all three along, but it works out much nicer to have a rotating schedule with them. A fun incentive for them with it is getting to go swim at the hospitality park after working all day in the hangar. It’s so great for the kids to have the opportunity to serve along side us. Teaching that they are able to help stand in the gap for missions, being missionary kids, is a valuable life experience we can’t get elsewhere.Prayer RequestsPraise for the new staff at MFI. Prayer for MFI to grow during this transition of new people and that we will serve wellPrayer for our children as they begin school again; to have a productive and educational yearPrayer for Haiti and the missionaries serving there to have wisdom and safety as they do what God has called them to doPrayer for Sam and I as we seek to be good examples to our children in our walk with JesusPrayer for God to bless our ministry partners in their consistency to support the work He is doingMinistry UpdateWe are so thankful to all who are following God’s leading in supporting us. We are currently receiving $5,700 (93%) monthly. We need an additional $400 monthly to be fully supported.
The word we have been reflecting on recently is “transition.”
The first area, which is minor in comparison to the others, is in getting used to the weather here. As someone used to experiencing four very distinct seasons, this is very different. Our winter and spring temperatures of 70-80 degree highs have transitioned to the summer temperatures of 80-90 degree highs. The distinguishing feature of summer here is the frequent afternoon thunderstorms and the humidity. Most days start sunny in the morning, shift to overcast in the afternoon, and then move into rain and thunder in the late afternoon and evening. This makes the flights that Missionary Flights does interesting for our pilots as they navigate home. This also means that the best time for outdoor activities is in the morning.
Before
After I wore my “mechanic hat” and installed a new rail for cargo straps on the aircraft floor The second area of transition is at Missionary Flights itself. In the last several months, we have had a number of staff transition into other roles. Two of our pilots felt God leading them into the airlines and have left MFI. Our reservationist left to pursue being a doula. Our bookkeeper left to spend more time helping with her family’s company. The gentleman who handled our missionaries’ questions has retired. Our volunteer coordinator has shifted roles within MFI to do more community relations. This has resulted in new people coming on board. We have a new reservationist, new bookkeeper, and new volunteer coordinator. We also had a new pilot start in June. I’ve been asked to help answer the missionaries’ questions and am trying to take that on in addition to learning the Load Master position. The intention is to have a team able to answer questions. As others are trained, I won’t be trying to do two full-time jobs. Transitions like this are opportunities for growth as well as fumbling. Please pray that this transition is handled well, that MFI grows through this transition, and that our stumbles are kept minimal.
Repackaging 9,000 Covid Tests into fewer boxes to send to Haiti Repackaging 9,000 Covid Tests into fewer boxes to send to Haiti
The third area of transition is in our communication. Recently we’ve been having several devotional thoughts and sermons on the power of prayer. We’ve realized that we’re not communicating prayer needs as often as we could be. To that end, we are going to start sending a monthly prayer calendar. Each day will have an item to pray for: some will be generic, some will be specific to MFI, and some will be specific to our family. We plan to start in July as an opt-in type publication – meaning we would like you to request this via mail (742 Forster Ave, Sebastian, FL 32958) or email (gabhartsflyingbyfaith@gmail.com) – rather than assuming all of our newsletter recipients would be interested in this.
Thank you for your love, prayers, and support as we serve at MFI.
James and Sam Gabhart
Family News Summer is most definitely upon us. The weather is warm, humid, and a great opportunity to go to the beach when possible. Our favorite place to go is fondly referred to as “The Bathtub Side” of the Sebastian Inlet, one of many Florida State Parks. Sam and the kids go almost weekly and all three kids are becoming stronger swimmers.
Sam and the kids are developing a new routine of running. Back in May, we had the opportunity as a family to participate in a Mud Run at the Teen Missions headquarters on Merritt Island. It was shortly after that when Sam began running on her own, and now the kids have joined her. Now they each are taking turns having a run time with mom. Going forward, these times will be rolled into our official homeschool curriculum. Post-run Photo Defense! Church Basketball League “Hustle Back!” Church Basketball League Post Game Church Basketball League
As the school year drew to an end, the kids were excited for a break from the usual amount of work each week. Being homeschool kids, they don’t take too much of a break during the summer. This summer, we are reading “Artemis Fowl”, working on solidifying some math facts, creating Bible stories out of Lego, reading independently each day, and helping out with chores around the house. We have fun going up to church to practice basketball for the church league on Saturdays and going to the Sebastian Inlet. The kids thrive on having some sort of expectations to meet before they can play games, and as their parents, we are thrilled to help them.
I have been blessed to serve both as a global servant and now on the home office staff with International Ministries, an organization that has been an important part of my family’s life for over twenty years. In 2001, my wife, Terry, and I accepted a call to serve with International Ministries in Bulgaria where we served for seventeen years. During that time we partnered with the Bulgarian Baptist Union in various ministries—economic and community development, education, abolishing trafficking in persons and global slavery, and for a short time working with immigrants and refugees. We also had the opportunity to host several short-term mission teams. Through all the years we were blessed by the support of our partner in Bulgaria and by the staff at International Ministries. In 2018, we felt that our time in Bulgaria was coming to a close. At the same time there was a position on the home office staff which I felt called to apply for, so in 2019 I transitioned to my current role as Director of Global Personnel Services. When asked what this position involves, I often describe it as human resources for our global servants, and much of what I do falls into that category—compensation, benefits, health insurance, grants and allowances for specific location needs, etc. But to me it is so much more. It is helping provide member care for the global servants and families. It is being prepared to react to crises if they arise and assist in whatever way is necessary. It is about helping with transitions—from the beginning, through US/Puerto Rico assignments, and in retirement. But most importantly, it is walking alongside IM’s global servants so they can effectively live out God’s calling. What is the best part of my job? The best part of my job is getting to hear amazing stories of what God is doing through IM’s global servants and partners around the world, and the stories of how God is calling the next generation to go and serve.
Greeting from Samford University Campus in Birmingham, Alabama where we are both attending the Baptist World Alliance. The June work of the eye clinic continues to be very encouraging. The team of the eye clinic want out 3 times to treat patients in the comfort of their own homes. Please find here some statistics:
662 patients were consulted
402 lab tests done in our own laboratory
23 operations realized on patients.
Please be praying for the ministry of the eye clinic as its nurses risk their life trying to serve of the poor in the remote zones.
Dear 
Prayer Requests
September 2022
