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Scott and Tan February 2023

It looked like the year was going to be just a lot more of 2022 and things started rather slow and dull.   It was probably just  me that was kind of slow and dull.  I had been sick since the week before Christmas and was frustrated because even 2 weeks into the year,  I was still feeling yucky.   

The Thailand Karen Baptist Convention’s relief effort we have been helping as they provide food and relief to the Internally Displaced People (IDP)in Karen and Kayah States of Burma was still going on with no end in sight  and the IDP numbers were reaching 500,000 in Karen State alone.  Some of these people have been displaced again and again as they have no place safe to stay and the Burmese military continues to shell and bomb them.   If we are getting ‘relief fatigue’ ,  I can only imagine how the IDPs feeling.   We hear that the trauma has been unbearable for a lot of people -hearing the planes everyday never knowing which one will drop bombs on them.     

Then suddenly a number of developments have taken place in the first two months of this year that have kind of kept us on our feet.  The top leadership of  one of MMF – TKBC’s funding partners came for a visit and wanted to see the border.   During the trip they proposed that MMF play a significant role in the management of their Burma program.  They have staff in Burma and resources to apply,  but can’t manage it since the country is falling apart.   They want to continue with the relief work, but they also want to see progress in the area of peaceful change.  What a challenge!  How do you bring about peaceful transformation when the country is embroiled in a civil war?  So we appreciate your prayers on hearing God’s will for us on this one. 

And then, as is typical for Burma,  when things are really bad, something strange happens that doesn’t seem to make sense.  In the midst of a country that has descended into chaos,  the Burmese military government just opened the  Northern land border between  Burma and Thailand last week.  I got a message from a friend who lives on the border today saying that I, as a foreigner,  can go to Kengtung on a border pass again now!  Our friends there, whom we haven’t seen in 3 years, are able to cross over to see us and we plan to see several of them in the next few weeks.   We will decide about going up Kengtung to see them on that side later.   So on one side of the country,  the continued fighting and struggle causes millions to suffer and be displaced while on the other side, the Eastern side,  life is normal,  business is booming and the border is open for us to travel back and forth like nothing is happening.   The military wants to bring in investment and show that life is normal.   But as soon as we begin to believe them,  something happens – like a bomb goes off in the streets or the bus station, or another church leader gets arrested and we realise life is not normal. 

 So we pray for wisdom to know how to move ahead and support our friends in Burma.  

Thank you for your prayers and support.  We also remember  to pray for you.  

With Grateful hearts,

Scott And Tan 

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Mylinda Bates Update March 2023

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. -Hebrews 12:1-2

I hope this note finds you well and experiencing God’s grace and peace in your daily life. A week from today I will be heading to Ecuador for the second time. Invited by Baptist Peace Fellowship friend, Eloy Alfaro and  RECONPAZ (Continental Network for Peace), I will join 10 others in a pilot project called Global View, a global immersion experiment for students, social change agents, and faith communities to learn from diverse community leaders in the Amazon and the Andes. In preparation, I have been preparing  my heart, head and hands through prayerful ponderings, challenging reading, and the creative process. Two books I’ve appreciated and recommend are: Restoring the Kinship Worldview: Indigenous Voices Introduce 28 Precepts for Rebalancing Life on Planet Earth  by Darcia Narváez and Wahinkpe Topa and Hospicing Modernity: Facing Humanity’s Wrongs and the Implications for Social Activism by Vanessa Machado de Oliveira. 

As part of the program, we will be offering gifts to our hosts as a tangible reminder of our gratitude. I figured I could make some original art to share. I have been exploring the idea of our cloud of witnesses and the people, places and processes that shape who we are and what we bring into every new encounter. Playing with layers of paint, photographic image transfers of the forest where my feet are currently local, and an ancient Celtic symbol that has become a metaphor of encounter for me, these images arrived. In response, I wrote a poem in Spanish, translated it into English and hope to have help translating it in conversation with our indigenous hosts into their heart language. I share these with you not as a show, but rather to ask for your solidarity, support and sacred curiosity of the wisdom and care that can be nurtured and

shared through these encounters. Thank you for being part of my great cloud of witnesses. Without you, I wouldn’t be me.

In gratitude and grace,

Mylinda

Encuentros en el Camino

Por M Baits

El encuentro en el camino conocido

Caminando acompañada

Rodeadas por ancestros antiguos y amigas nuevas

Sostenidas por la tierra santa, el viento respirado, y la compañía compartida

El encuentro en el camino desconocido

Descubriendo fortalezas escondidas

Acompañadas por aprendizaje y apapacho 

Sorprendidas por las memorias destapadas, la belleza regalada, y el alma tocada

Hagamos un camino nuevo

Tejiendo nuestras historias, cicatrices y celebraciones

Invitadas a aprender, imaginar y crear un paso a la vez

Animadas por los cantos, colores y conversaciones sobre la marcha


Encounters on the Way

By M Baits

The encounter on the known way

Walking accompanied

Surrounded by old ancestors and new friends

Sustained by holy ground, wind breathed in, and company shared

The encounter on the unknown way

Discovering hidden strengths

Accompanied by learning and soul’s embrace

Surprised by the memories revealed, the beauty gifted, and the soul touched

Let’s make a new way

Weaving our stories, scars and celebrations

Invited to learn, imagine and create one step at a time

Encouraged by the songs, colors and conversations along the way

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Message from World Relief Officer Lisa Rothenberger 2023

The War in Ukraine – One Year On

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.  

Lisa Rothenberger
World Relief Officer

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Nzunga Mabudiga Newsletter March 2023

Spanish School has Started (and it’s hard)

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
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Gabhart’s Newsletter March 2023

Definitely an Interesting Time

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.

James and Sam Gabhart
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White Cross Work Day 2023

This February, we are collecting donations for hygiene kits for victims of disasters across the globe. Please place items in the white bins by the church office. If you have questions, please contact Janet Riehecky at 331-588-1598. Each kit contains the following:

  • 1 hand towel
  • 1 nail clipper
  • 1 full-size comb
  • 1 good quality washcloth
  • 1 bar of soap (bath size in wrapper)
  • 1 toothbrush (individually packaged)
  • 1 box of 1″ Band-Aids

There will be a workday on March 4, 2023 at 9:30am to put the kits together.

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International Ministries January 2023

January 16, 2023

Medical Relief in Ukraine

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!!

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Nzunga Mabudiga January 2023


Working Our way thru the Bureaucracy.



Dear Loved Ones,

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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Matthew 6:10

International Ministries, also known as the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, works cross-culturally to invite people to become disciples of Jesus Christ and to proclaim, through both word and deed, God’s reign of justice, peace and abundant life for all creation.Unsubscribe or manage your subscription preferences through your donor portal account.International Ministries
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Gabharts Newsletter December 2022


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

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Staton Update January 2023

ungarian Baptist Aid 25th Anniversary Jubilee

We were honored to join Hungarian Baptist Aid for their 25th Anniversary Jubilee in Budapest on December 2nd, and Larry and I were especially honored to be recipients of their presidential service award!

HBA President Béla Szilágyi and Hungarian Baptist Union President János Papp presented us with the awards—we are the first internationals to be given these awards since they started giving them 10 years ago!

Larry’s is the Cserepka János Award, in memory of a Hungarian Baptist missionary to Bolivia in the last century. Mine is the Presidential Recognition Award. We both received the beautiful glass award, and one will come home with us at Christmas to be placed in my aunt Aldine’s curio cabinet that now lives at Pate Chapel Church. Wouldn’t she be proud? And Larry’s grandma Ruth who supported missionaries her whole life? What an honor to get to do these things!

Our dear partners in ministry celebrated with a beautiful event at one of the large arenas, and it was three concerts, a mission report, and a renewal service all in one! Staff and students from their 50 schools came together to celebrate. Every school was given a banner to hold up during shout-out roll call.

The teachers from our school in Téglás are on the left (somehow Elizabeth scored front row seats!) and on the right you can see my colleagues from the high school in Debrecen where I teach once a week.

With our awards we were given beautiful coffee table books commemorating HBA’s 25 years of service. Truly mission-minded, HBA has sent relief and teams around the world in addition to the educational and healthcare services they provide in Hungary. A beautiful part of the evening was the touching tribute to former president Sándor Szenczy who passed away this year. He and Elizabeth and I all share the same birthday, and he was the catalyst of her decision to have HBA take over the management of the Téglás school AND to pursue her Master of Diviniy.

We are grateful for his life’s work, and for the opportunity to be part of the work that continues. Thank you for your prayer and financial support that keeps us here!