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Baits Family Update 2022

Thanks to all of you who have sent cards, emails, or Facebook posts updating us on your lives.  You have inspired (guilted?) us to update you on what’s been happening with us.  Since we haven’t done one of these for a while, it will include news from the past two years. 

First, for the big, good news.  Daughter Jamie (31) is engaged to be married to R.J. Rongcal.  He proposed at the gazebo near our new house (other big news), and she said YES!  R.J. teaches second grade in Seattle, and also offers classes in mindfulness and meditation. We got to meet his family in Seattle as Jamie and R.J. hosted us for Thanksgiving. The table was graced with Filipino food from R.J.’s mother, Thelma, as well as our traditional family Thanksgiving dishes. The wedding will take place this coming summer.

Our other big, good news is a house.  After renting from our good friends Joan and Jay for 9 years, we took the plunge and bought a house in a woodsy neighborhood in southeast Olympia.  It has great light, character, and two guest rooms. We moved in October 29th, and we and our dog, Pinto, are nested, and enjoying a white Christmas. 

Our son, Micah (27), and his wife, Kelsey, live in Seattle, and spent part of their Christmas vacation in New York, enjoying something of a honeymoon; the one they didn’t get after their wedding in June of 2020. Since a large family wedding wasn’t possible in June of 2020, we enjoyed a small but beautiful outdoor wedding on Whidbey Island (where Kelsey is from), and a celebratory outdoor dinner hosted by Kelsey’s parents (Carolyn and Billy Pape) at their lovely home. 

Kelsey and Micah both teach elementary school in the Seattle area, as do Jamie, and R.J.  Yes, lots of teachers. Today’s children are in good hands.  And of course, our grown children are still trying to teach us some important things. 

A family trip to Southern California allowed both Mylinda and Gary’s families a chance to meet Kelsey, and provided us a chance to enjoy siblings, cousins, and lots of little ones that we don’t get to see often enough. 

Circling back to teaching, Mylinda continues her work as a global consultant for training through restorative arts with International Ministries. The pandemic has certainly limited her travel, and she misses interacting with amazing people in places like Cuba, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Mexico. She stays in touch with ministry partners via Zoom and WhatsApp; especially folks in Cuba.  The Cubans continue to use the tools and practices of restorative arts to strengthen their communities in spite of political unrest and food shortages.  It would be good if both the Cuban and U.S. governments sought the best for the people of Cuba, who inspire us with their faith and resilience. 

Mylinda traveled to the Dominican Republic in the spring, holding to some strict Covid protocols, and collaborating with Dominican church leaders, as well as her colleagues, Mercy Gonzalez-Barnes, Stan Slade, and Tim Long. 

While grounded from travel, Mylinda read voraciously, mostly about restorative arts, racism, and our country’s ongoing culture of white supremacy.  She led a Zoom group that read Resmaa Menakem’s book, My Grandmother’s Hands, and responded to it using embodied practices and art-making. I was part of that group and can vouch for its impact.  And yes, we recommend the book. 

Mylinda kept fit by playing plenty of Pickleball (level 4 and moving up), riding her bike while Pinto the wonder dog runs alongside, and exploring local forest trails. She visited her friend, Shabrae, in Florida.  They planned expressive art sessions together, then led a training at Holden Village, a Lutheran retreat center in central Washington. 

Mylinda was blessed to reconnect with her best friend from college, Sandy Eves.  After several years without contact, Mylinda and Sandy are enjoying the beautiful gift of reconciliation. 

Gary spent the year teaching Spanish at Pope John Paul II High School; sometimes in person, and sometimes via Google Meet, which leaves much to be desired. The current school year has been in person!  We are a faith based school with a conviction that science matters; we mask, vaccinate, and distance to care for each other and our broader community.  Gary is an academic advisor, encouraging students to keep learning and growing in spite of the pandemic and its accompanying depression and anxiety.  All teens, like adults, are in need of supportive community and meaningful work and learning as we walk through this pandemic together. Finally, Gary enjoys throwing around slang like “snatched, lit, and flex,” mostly because the teens cringe when an old man talks that way. It’s quite groovy and far out; no cap. 

We remain involved at First Baptist Church of Olympia, and we’re glad to be worshiping in person again.  Mylinda uses her artistic and teaching gifts, and preaches occasionally.  She also got to have online expressive arts sessions with some wise senior women. Gary got involved with youth ministry at Oly First, and continues to coach our Ragamuffin softball team. He got to pitch some (almost reaching 12 miles an hour on the radar gun!), and play first base.

Like many of you, we lost too many friends this year. Our mentor and friend, Jack Kiekel, died this fall.  We celebrated his life and mourned his death at a beautiful service on Vashon Island (WA).  Jack’s wife, and partner in ministry, Beve, misses him terribly.  Gary’s cousin Joan died in Hawaii in November, as did Mylinda’s Aunt Jan in California. After living 27 full years, Micah’s dear friend Dr. Dylan Nehrenberg crossed the threshold this week, succumbing to brain cancer.  We, along with their family, and friends miss these dear ones, and we are honored to have known them. 

Gary plans to attend his 40th high school reunion in San Diego in July.  We have heard nothing about a reunion for Mylinda’s graduating class, but we’ll be on the lookout. 

Historically, these letters from us have been in quiz form.  So, to honor tradition, we present the following multiple choice questions. 

At his high school reunion, Gary may do which of the following?

  1. Pay his high school library fines, including 40 years of late fees. Now he has 7 months to actually read The Grapes of Wrath before returning it. Anybody still have the Cliff Notes or the Veggie Tales video?
  2. Dance better than he did at 18, and brush up on his SoCal accent; Dude!
  3. Catch up with old friends to see who still has hair, functioning knees, and Pink Floyd albums. 
  4. Apologize to anyone he mistreated. 

Mylinda hopes to do which of the following in the coming year?

  1. Offer hospitality in our new home.
  2. Travel, teach, learn, build community and offer teaching tools around the world.
  3. Stay connected with folks like you.
  4. Create art, serve others, speak and act for justice, forest bathe, and play some hard core Pickleball.

As followers of Jesus, we hope for the following in the coming year.

  1. Opportunities to use our gifts to serve others.
  2. Climate justice, racial justice, and an end to poverty.
  3. News from folks like you.
  4. An end to this pandemic.  Please, please, for the good of all, mask up and vax up!
  5. The grace to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
  6. That you would know you are loved by the One who created you.     
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Mobile eye clinic goes to Trou-du-Nord

Mobile eye clinic goes to Trou-du-Nord

Dear Loved Ones,

Greeting. We hope that each one of you is relatively in good condition to enjoy this Palm Sunday week end. We are anxious to wish you God’s speedy healing in whatever may be your condition.

Covid-29 has imposed to each living human being on this earth today some unique challenges. Those challenges, instead of limiting the staff of the eye clinic, they are created a unique opportunity for the staff to be close to their people.

Beside Covid-19, the insecurity and the limited resources for many of our people are limiting patients to go to the hospital unless the illness has gotten to the point of non-retour, the no turning point.

Each week the staff of the eye clinic pack to go to remote villages to treat people where those people live. Wednesdays of this past week they were in the city of Ouanaminthe where they treated 43 new cases without counting the retuning ones. 

Last Friday they went to Trou-du-Nord where they saw 88 patients: 1 baby, 3 children, 50 women and 34 men.  All those patients would not have this golden opportunity if the staff did not make this saving move. Some would wait until the situation gets worse before seeking professional help.

Wish you knew the impact of your fervent prayers, material, and financial support to the ministry of the eye clinic.  

We join and add our voices to those of the staff and patients to express our deep gratitude for your love.

In Haiti,

Nzunga & Kihomi  

Dear Supporters,

Although still limited on what they can do the eye clinic tries to respond to requests from pastors and priests to come to their location.  They must use rented vehicles and other hassles to do this.  However, help is on the way.  We have received enough donated money to buy the truck and it will arrive around the first week of May.  The big unknown is the duty and taxes that will be levied.  Right now, we have about half a what we are estimating may be required.  Covid has greatly reduced the income of custom agents so any leniency we have received in the past probably will not happen now.  $4 or $5 thousand more is all we need.  If you can help close this gap it will be greatly appreciated. 

Happy Easter everyone.  He has Risen!

In Christ,                                                                                               

Denny Shewell – MPT Communications Advocate & Convener

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2 year old eye saved by eye clinic

2 year old eye saved by eye clinic

Greeting. In the photo you are looking at Rudy Lamorte, two years old from Gonaives. Her mother brought her to the clinic after they have tried all the cheap means to treat her. The situation of the little girl was worsening day by day and she was about to lose her right eye.

Many times, and over and over again, we receive cases where family members will start by applying what they think can help, then move to a clinic where the nurse with no solid training in ophthalmology will give an ointment or a drop to apply. By the time they come to us, it may be sometimes late to save the eyes.

Rudy Lamorte has a very serious problem with her cornea seeking a careful eye operation.  Since we are the only clinic in the Northern Haiti operating on children free of charge, Rudy has been welcome. Next week, our team will take good care of the little girl.   

We pray and hope that both mother and Rudy will return jumping and praising  the Lord for the miracle of healing as the man at the beautiful gate.

Thank you for standing by our sides.

Yours in Haiti,

Nzunga & Kihomi 

Dear supporters,

I cannot imagine having a sick child and no money or knowledge of what to do.  In Haiti, the lack of money causes them to go the cheap route and the national religion of Voodoo tends to mislead them in the wrong direction.  Sometimes if they know about the eye clinic getting there can be a major problem.  The next journal will have more on the expanding remote clinic situation that makes a big difference. 

Thank you for helping this little girl and many, many more. 

In His Name,

Dennis Shewell deshewell@gmail.com

Nzunga and Kihomi Missionary Partnership team.

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Easter message from Rev. Sharon Koh

Easter message from Rev. Sharon Koh

Happy Easter 2021!On behalf of International Ministries, our CEO/Executive Director Sharon Koh wishes you a happy Easter in the name of our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

NEWS YOU CAN USE 

You Mean We Have to Talk to One Another?!

Listen to the latest episode of our Short-Term Mission office’s podcast, Bridges 4 Mission, as Pastor Dennis Strawn shares how short-term mission trips impacted him and formed a circle of friendships between his Illinois church and Costa Rica: https://bridgesformission.buzzsprout.com/1358701/7942513-you-mean-we-have-to-talk-to-one-another.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

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Congo Medical Residency

When you support the Congo Medical Residency project you provide medical residents with quality training at the Vanga Evangelical Hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as they prepare to serve in remote hospitals throughout the region. This residency program was started in the 1970s by well-known IM missionary Dr. Dan Fountain and re-purposed in 2015 as a means to raise up and equip Congolese doctors to provide health care in rural areas. Access to trained doctors impacts mortality rates, decreases lifestyle-related diseases, improves nutrition, and increases overall public health. This program recruits teachers from Europe and the U.S., who volunteer time to train the students. You can learn more about the program here: https://www.internationalministries.org/congo-medical-residency-program/. Join us in asking God to raise up medical students who will impact the communities where they will serve.

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Following God through the wilderness

Following God through the wilderness

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

In the Hebrew Bible we are reminded of the Exodus of the Israelites in the wilderness. They did not like the wilderness and were sorry they had left Egypt. God sent them manna, but the people got tired of eating manna. They wanted some meat. Forty years of journeying—the days were intense, hot, dry. The people were weary. They learned through every hard and grueling step how much they had to rely on God.

One year after the global pandemic, humanity has been forced to rethink the way we relate, work, have fun, celebrate, or even process our losses. Christians have been greatly affected because the very act of entering a building to gather, share, pray, sing, and study the Scriptures puts our health and our neighbor’s health at great risk.

We have been asked to stay home and seek new ways of being church. While many people have died and others are fighting to survive all over the world, having lost health, homes, jobs, and the ability to put food on the table, some of us are angry and complaining, unable to rely on God. How will we, as Christians, be remembered in history during this pandemic? As the Israelites in the wilderness?

This year of desert wandering has been difficult to endure. The hardest struggles we face have the greatest potential to teach us patience. Are Christians going to look back at this year as the most strengthening, faith-building time of our lives? Is the world going to look at Christians as those who did not miss the miracles of God’s provision out of busyness or stress, and who were always willing to be God’s instruments of grace and love?

God’s promise is still the same to us as it was to the Israelites: “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” We cannot enclose God in a building, in a tabernacle, in an image, not in liturgy, or in a certain creed. No pandemic will be able to destroy our faith, no Herod or Pilate will be able to kill God. No government will be able to abolish our beliefs, no culture will ever camouflage the Spirit.

As long as there are women and men of good will who, in the depths of their hearts, live the Good News of Christ the Risen Lord, God’s presence is with us as we reflect God’s love and grace to others. Be the presence of God and find rest and hope in God’s faithfulness.

Rev. Dr. Adalia Gutiérrez Lee
Area Director for Iberoamerica and the Caribbean

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New Equipment for the Eye Clinic

New Equipment for the Eye Clinic

Dear Loved Ones,

Greeting. This Friday March 5, 2021, at the eye clinic in Cap-Haitian, Haiti, it was a fete but also a thanksgivings celebration.

Why?

Since we are in the States because of Covid-19 and our annual deputation, the staff has been bugging me to get them some equipment.  There is not a single week that goes by without them asking if I have ordered some equipment for them.

Lately, thanks to your loving financial support I was able to order one Pachymetry for glaucoma that arrived yesterday, Thursday March 4. Right there, the doctor and his staff tested it and called me to share the good and exciting news. 

Today patients joined in unison to give thanks to God and to each and every one of you for helping achieve a milestone in caring for the non-names of our society.

Serving the Master in Haiti,

Nzunga & Kihomi

Dear Friends,

The eye clinic personal wanting better equipment shows how much they want to provide the best care in Haiti.  They also want to provide it beyond Cap-Haitian.  There is still time to help get them a new vehicle.  One unknown is the duty.  Due to the Covid-19 crisis the amount of goods flowing into Haiti has been greatly reduced.  Therefore, the custom agents are not getting their normal income.  This means that amount they are going charge is a big unknown.  We do know that the items sent over by Nzunga, such as this equipment, are getting charged much more than usual.  We may need more than we thought so if you can help it is greatly appreciated. 

In His Name,

  Denny Shewell – MPT Communications Advocate & Convener

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Fox Valley Christian Action 2021 Gala

Our 44th Annual Gala

will be presented virtually in early 2021.

Details coming soon

We’ll take a look at the special vision we feel God has given the ministry of Fox Valley Christian Action and the different ways this vision is being put into action.  It is a great way to look back on all the ways God has been faithful while also looking ahead to what we hope and pray can be accomplished in the future.

Our Annual Gala is the perfect time to introduce friends and family to the ministry!