MissionConnectionsA special issue of Connections focusing on the ministries of Virginia Mennonite Missions Vol. 22, No. 6 April 2012

By WILLARD & EVA EBERLYVMM workers in Italy

“I’ve never heard of evangelicalsbefore. What do they believe?” asked auniversity student studying English inCentro Koinonia’s “after-school” program. This student’s lack of knowledgesurprised us since he comes from a cultured, educated family, his father a surgeon at Bari’s university hospital! It’s areminder that Italy remains an “under-reached” nation! Consider with us somerealities of the Italian setting:

• Bible-believing Christians in Italy were persecuted for 800 years. Italy neverexperienced reformation or major spiritualawakening as did northern Europe.

• The Bible was a forbidden book until recent years, but the mentality prevails that only clergy can understand and interpret it.

• Catholic statistics reveal that only 10% attend church, although most Italians havebeen baptized as infants and are Catholic in culture, indicative of secularism and post-modern mood that permeates much of Europe.

• The evangelical (“believers’ church”) movement still barely counts 1% of Italy’spopulation, of which Anabaptist/ Mennonite is a tiny fraction.

• Only 1,500 of Italy’s 33,500 communities have an established evangelical witness.

• This witness is weak and divided. New churches often begin through splits ratherthan strategic church planting.

• Bari, a city of 500,000, has about 10-12 believers’ churches.

• Here, Islam is second only to Catholicism.

• Missionary attrition is 80-90% (meaning those not returning for a second term).

• A secular poll shows to whom Italians pray most frequently: Father Pius has first place, Mary is second, Jesus is third.

• Materialism, mysticism, spiritism andoccultism oppress and darken the Italian mind.

• Leadership at all levels of society is in perpetual crisis. Even in the believers’ church movement there’s a notable dearthof mature, godly leaders.

• According to interdenominational experience, a minimum of 15 years is required to plant a believers’ church from 0 to national leadership.

Faith sees beyond this gloomy picture and envisions what God wants todo in this great nation! Although those ofus serving long-term with VMM face theconstant challenge of overcoming spiritualbarriers and strongholds, the persistenthope of establishing viable, Christ-cen-tered churches with Italian leadership pro-pels us forward.

Little by little God is transforming thispicture. A movement toward biblical faithis stirring among nuns and priests. The ordination of mature leaders in the ItalianMennonite Church this year encouragesus.

In answer to much prayer, God addedGiovanni & Fiorella Greco (Italian evan-gelist/church planters) to our missionaryteam in south/central Italy. The two Italiancouples previously serving with tranSend,demonstrate continued growth and com-mitment. Others are being trained whilecollaborating alongside recognized leaders.

May these faithful leaders represent agrowing army that the Spirit is raising upto continue the unfinished task of reachingItaly for Jesus Christ.

The unfinishedtask

Willard & Eva Eberly, Fiorella Greco, Chris Riddle, Giovanni Greco and Melody Riddle share their visions for churchexpansion in Italy. Photos courtesy of authors

Willard & Eva Eberly enjoy fellowhsip with formertranSenders, Dino and Mara Colonna.

The Spirit blows at will we are told.We do not fully know its direction norcan we ever adequately predict itsaffect. We can, however, see some ofthe results.

About 100 years ago, the Spirit blewVirginia Mennonite Conference west-ward into the highlands of Virginia andWest Virginia. Later this same Spiritmoved among the colony of Denbighprompting witness in the neighboringcities. North Carolina, Kentucky,

Washington DC, Florida, Ohio, and Maryland would all becomelocations, at one time or another, where the Spirit moved VirginiaConference.

Then the Spirit blew even further. It always was blowing else-where, but eventually Virginia Conference got caught up in thismovement of God’s Spirit: in Italy, in Jamaica, in Trinidad, andtoday in more than 20 countries around the world. Sometimes weare left breathless by this Spirit! Where next? We’ll pay attention.

A place to pay special attention is here in our own NorthAmerica. We are told that regular church attendance, as onemeasure of spiritual fervor, is at a low point of 18%. I don’t celebrate that fact even as I recognize that one single statistic isan inadequate measure of God’s Spirit. Still, North America isresembling more and more the “mission field” that we once wentfar away to find. That may be precisely the place where one mightexpect the Winds of the Spirit to blow.

In April 27 persons from Virginia Conference and theMennonite Church of Trinidad will attend Exponential, a largechurch planting conference in Orlando. Attended by several thousand people, leaders and observers of the Spirit who payattention to where the Wind is blowing and try to learn better howto align our own efforts with God’s. Small church and mega-church pastors and leaders reflect self critically but hopefullyabout the direction of the Spirit’s Wind.

While not fully knowing the Spirit’s direction or affect, wehave been told what fruit to look for. We do well to continue tolook for “love, joy, peace” as evidence of where the Spirit is blowing.

Winds of the Spirit

Loren HorstPresident of VMM

Connections (USPS 007-205) ispublished monthly by VirginiaMennonite Missions and VirginiaMennonite Conference to connectcongregations with each otherand conference agencies.

EditorGloria Lehman

Assistant EditorJon Trotter

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2 Mission Connections April 2012

By A FAMILY OF FIVEVMM/EMM workers in South Asia

We are amazed in the ways we see God working in ourmidst and around the world. Many people are speaking of thesedays as one of the most amazing times to be alive in all of his-tory. We see God awakening people’s desire for Him, to reallyknow Him, not just know information about Him.

There is a lyric from a worship song that goes, “hunger isan escort into the deeper things of God.” As that hunger isawakened, we realize that the more we seek Him, the more wefind and the more we find, the more we love Him. God is notlooking for people who are content with what they haveattained so far in their knowledge of Him. He is looking for peo-ple that not only believe that He exists, but that He rewardsthose who seek Him.

This is our prayer not only for the Church, but also forMuslims. In Genesis 21:19, we read of God opening the eyes ofHagar (in answer to the cry of Ishmael, v. 17), and she saw awell of water…and she gave the boy a drink. In John 7:37-38,Jesus stands up and cries out, “If anyone thirsts, let him cometo me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture hassaid, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Muslimsare thirsty. We don’t want to just give them a drink, but to seetheir eyes opened to the well, to drink deep of God’s love forthem, so that those rivers can begin to flow out from them ashealing for their nations.

God is a rewarder!

Mission Connections April 2012 3

By JESSICA HEDRICK VMM tranSender at Lezha Academic Center

“When you walk through fire, the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God; the Holy one of Israel, yourSavior.” Isaiah 42:3

We have been through our share offires this year at Lezha Academic Center.The first months of our ministry herewere full of conflict. Struggles with com-munication and cross-cultural misunder-standings left us feeling frustrated anddefeated. Each of us had days when we feltlike throwing in the towel, but somehowwe made it through.

No words can capture the miraculousturnaround we experienced at LAC.Relationships went from strained to sup-

portive, and the future looksbright and promising. WithGod’s help, we turned anempty building into a schooland developed trust with stu-dents and their families. Theloving community at LAC isunlike anything our studentshave previously experienced.It is amazing to see the wayGod’s love in us is transform-ing the lives of the students.There have been significantchanges in some of our

students, because forthe first time theyhave teachers whocare enough to investtheir time, energy, andresources to helpthem reach theirpotential.

The people ofAlbania are starved forGod, and we believethat God is going touse LAC to grow his

Kingdom here in Lezha. There are anabundance of opportunities for ministry inthe context of a school. We recently start-ed meeting with the mothers of our stu-dents monthly, for a time of fellowship,and we meet with students every otherFriday in a youth group like setting. Ourgoal is to allow students and their parentsto explore what it means to follow Christin a safe and unintimidating context.

We don’t know what the future holdsfor LAC, but I believe God used this yearto refine and prepare us for what is coming. There will be more fires, and wewill face them together, knowing that Godis working through it all and that He willbring us through, just as He did in thepast.

Miraculous turnaround experienced at Lezha Academic Center

Students and teachers at LAC. Photos courtesy of Caleb Benner

By ALLEN UMBLEVMM worker in Lushnje, Albania

Thirty years ago this year, in the earlyyears of Eastern Mennonite Mission’sYouth Evangelism Service program, threeother young adults and I loaded into agigantic Buick and sailed fromPennsylvania to the YWAM base in ElmSprings, Arkansas, for three months ofdiscipleship training. This was followed bya short term of service in Honduras asEMM’s first YES team to that country.

That was 1982. On January 9, 2012,Jetmir Peci from Lushnje, Albania, flew toHarrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he is thefirst Albanian to participate in EMM’sYES program. After three months of train-ing at the Harrisburg Discipleship Center

he and two other team members plan to goto Honduras where they will be workingwith EMM’s Matt Keiser in a mission tochildren who live and work in the citydump of La Ceiba.

Jetmir and I first met in VictoryEnglish School in Lushnje, Albania, where I worked part time as a volunteerEnglish teacher after my arrival in thiscity in August 2008. We soon met againwhen Jetmir was on his work route in hisfree hours after school. Our friendshipdeveloped as he and his brother made vis-its to my home; they later began to attendhome Bible studies that I direct.

From December 2010 to July 2011, aYES team lived and served in theKemishtaj village area of Lushnje. Theybecame good friends with Jetmir who was

inspired by their spiritual life and theirwitness for Christ. Out of Jetmir’s owndesire to know God more and to serveHim, he applied to EMM where he wasaccepted into their YES program.

Thirty years and the circle has comearound complete. Only God knows whatelse will come around full circle in thenext thirty years out of the obedience tothe call of Jesus by His followers.

A thirty-year round trip of missionJessica Hedrick teaches Biology at Lezha Academic Center.

Allen Umble (center) with Samuel Jablonski (YES team)and Jetmir Peci (right). Jetmir is participating in EMM’sYouth Evangelism Service (YES) program. Courtesy of author.

4 Mission Connections April 2012

By CHRISTOPHER L. RIDDLEVMM worker in Italy

When we put our boys into the publicschools four years ago, we had somedoubts and fears about what would hap-pen. We heard some pretty bad storiesabout the schools and in our four years wehave seen some episodes that remind us,“These are not American schools!”

The schools that our boys attend havebecome major areas of ministry for us. Inthe beginning, we were more of a curiosi-ty and people talked to us but the conver-sations were shallow. As people learnedthat we were evangelicals, some movedaway and closed doors because we were“different.”

Over the years though, there has beena shift. We have purposefully entered intothe schools as volunteers and made it apractice to greet everyone with a smile.We wanted to show that being “different”was a good thing if it meant that you werefollowing Christ’s instructions. This “different” way of doing things has madean impact and we are seeing doors open.

We help teach English in the middleschool. This has been an open door to talkto and be a healthy example to youth thathave few good adult role models to follow.We strive to be Christ-like to every parentthat we meet and talk with. Many acceptus being “different” now. They are willingto listen to what we have to say and do notlook away whenwe talk about ourfaith and how itplays a part in oureveryday lives.

Demonstratingthe love of Christand allowing peo-ple to see it, makesa difference where little else will.Carbonara is atight, closed community whereoutsiders are notmade to feel

welcome. We have been allowed to enternot because of who we are, but because ofwho we have within us. Christ’s love isopening doors.

Lots of doors for ministry open through public schools

Mission encouragements at the Joshua Center

By NORMA TELESVMM/JMMI worker in Lezhe, Albania

It has been a cold winter here inLezhe, but we have been blessed in a lot ofways. The work at Joshua Center is goingwell. I can see God working in a very spe-cial way in the lives of the little ones. Inspite of the cold, attendance was verygood during those three months of winter.

T h estaff at theCenter loveto hear theparents talkabout howtheir childrenare behavingat home.Elijon givesthanks forthe foodevery time he

eats. After one prayer his father asked,“Why thank God when I bought the food?”Elijon answered, “It was God who createdeverything.”

Rose came to our church lastNovember along with her sister. Theywere looking for a congregation. In

January Rose and I started to meet eachTuesday after she leaves work. She askedfor a Bible and I suggested that we meetfor coffee to talk about what she was read-ing. It has been very encouraging to seehow much she has taken it seriously. Inthe first weeks she read all of the Gospelsand had several questions. She is oftentalking about the feeling that she is part ofa body, a spiritual family. One of herprayers is often on my mind. She is pray-ing that she will never lose the sense ofunity that she feels at church and that Godwould give her the strength to share itwith others.

As much as God loves mission, somepeople do not. There are a whole host ofobstacles that pop up and entangle them-selves around our ankles as we minister toAlbania’s people.

Chris Riddle (upper left) and Melody Riddle (upper right)with students in the Carbonara school when their threechildren attend.

Norma Teles with the children at the Joshua Center.Courtesy of author

Mission Connections April 2012 5

In this photo, David Jost is surrounded byDini & Klementina Shahini, co-workersand students at Lezha Academic Centeras they pray a blessing for him. Davidreturned to the US at the end of Januaryfor health evaluations.

EDITED FOR WEBSITE USE

By TERRY WITMERVMM/MMN worker in Colombia

Come and see what God has done: his awesome deeds for humankind. Psalm 66:5

Our time in Colombia has been, fromthe beginning, enveloped in relationship.Defined not by what we have done asmuch as who we have come to know, whohas put down roots in our hearts, and whowe cry for in prayer. God has sewn ourlives inextricably into the lives of so manypeople here.

Marcela* has two children at theschool where we teach English. Herdaughter Celmira is in our son Luke’sclass, and they have become playmatesthis year. Marcela has become a goodfriend and my accidental hair dresser. Ifirst met her a year ago, when she wasleading a somewhat explosive parentmeeting with aplomb and wisdom. I feltdrawn to her, and wished we could get toknow each other better. Several months

later she began attendingthe women’s Bible studythat I led. Again, I wasimpressed by her gentlespirit, wisdom, and depthof faith.

After a few monthsshe stopped coming, and Ifound out later that herattendance at church andthe Bible study was exacerbating conflicts with her husband inthe home. We continued to embrace whenI saw her at the school, and I would tellher that I was still praying for their family.

This January I was surprised to seeher and Celmira in church again. We set upa time to get together to visit several dayslater. When I arrived, she received mewith joy in her beauty salon on the secondfloor of her house, and asked if I wanted toget my hair cut. Unsure of her expecta-tions, I agreed, and over the ensuinghours as she rolled out all manner of treat-ments for my hair, we talked freely about

our faith, families, children, and dreamsfor the future. I realized that there wasnothing accidental about my being therethat morning, or getting my hair done.God was at work in Marcela’s life, and hewas inviting me to join Him in the process,wherever it took me.

Today I met her husband for the firsttime, and he now is in my prayers. Godcontinues to work, and continues to inviteus to be a part of it.

*To respect their privacy, the names of peoplementioned in this article have been changed.

An accidental hair appointment?

6 Mission Connections April 2012

By PEYTON ERBVMM tranSender in Guatemala

The past year God has placed severalamazing people into my life as friends,pastors, a support system and to stretchme as a Christian in Guatemala. One of

those people is Rigoberto, the guardian ofSEMILLA. He´s often the first worker Isee in the morning, and the last one I seein the afternoon. He is always smiling, hasa greeting, or asks about whatever week-end activity I had with the group we are

hosting. He isoften the last oneto eat lunch or larefa, the one run-ning to the frontdoor to open theportón to let a carin, and just a realservant. Thoughit’s technically hisjob to be servingin SEMILLA, hedoes it so well.Everyone loveshim because he isso kind, smiling,

and never in a foul mood. He embodies theperson I would wish to be as a servant toothers.

The Guatemalan people have beenGod’s light in my life. They have taughtme to take higher value in my relation-ships, to stop worrying about the hour andinstead focus on the present, and to behospitable in my home, on the street, or inthe bus. Their everyday speech reflectstheir trust and faith in God with phraseslike “Dios primero” for future activitiesthat are uncertain, “Dios le bendiga” tothe neighbor you pass in the morning, and“gracias a Dios” for every small miracleduring the day. I have learned to look forGod´s presence in my daily life more thanever before. To this I respond, thanks beto God for sending me to a new place anda new cultural context so that while Ireach out to others, He is also reachingout to me through the Guatemalan people.

“Gracias a Dios” for God’s presence and every small miracle

Terry Witmer (center right) with the women’s group at La Mesa. Courtesy of author

Peyton Erb (left) with members of her host family in Guatemala City. Courtesy of author

By EVE KNEPPVMM worker in Jamaica

We have been blessed to be a part ofthe work at Maranatha School for the Deafand the local Mennonite Church. It’s awe-inspiring to see how God works in ourlives and provides for us, the school, thechurch, and our friends.

The chicken operation at the school isin full swing and Rodney has plans to makeit bigger! Right now, there are 36 layerchickens and we are selling out of eggs.We have 27 broiler chickens that will soonbe butchered and a rooster that willbecome a father in the next month or two.

Rodney also built a pigpen with manyof the older boy students and a few adults.It needs a roof yet and then will be readyfor pigs! Thankfully the chicken operationis providing for the school and soon, weare looking forward to the pigs providingas well!

Eve continues to teach math, comput-er, and some P.E. while Rodney continuesto work with the older boys in the work-shop and around the school. We are pray-

ing that God continues to use us in thoseareas.

We felt like God was calling us to startto meet with the youth in the church, sowe get together with them and have hadsome really good discussions. We praythat God will also raise up a Jamaicanleader from within the church to comealongside of us in this.

We have also felt like God has beencalling us to help create positive relation-ships between the community and school.More people from the community are buy-ing eggs and coming to the school to doZumba. Rodney, the older school boys, andsome of the local men spent a morningpatching up one of the roads. May Godcontinue to use us!

Chickens, pigs, and more at Maranatha School for the Deaf

By RICHARD & MARGARET KEELERSangre Grande Mennonite Church, Trinidad

In 2006, during the first baptismalservice our congregation in SangreGrande had after we were installed as thepastoral couple, I baptized a couple whohad received Jesus as their Savior andLord.

We quickly noticed spiritual growth inRamon & Kamla. They were humble andteachable. Before long they began partici-pating in Friendship Bible Coffee (FBC)studies, and later became leaders of thesestudies, both in and out of the churchbuilding.

They have accepted additional respon-sibilities in the church and it has been rec-ognized that God has His hand on them.Early in 2011 they began attending BibleSchool about an hour’s drive from theirhome. They are enjoying their studies and

putting into practice what they are learning.

We have been mentoring them since2009. We meet with them weekly toencourage them, to discuss what theylearned at Bible School that week and towork through concerns that have arisen intheir lives. In October 2011 Ramon wascommissioned as “pastoral mentoree,”and given more responsibilities in thechurch. Both Ramon & Kamla deeply lovethe Lord, the church and His people. Theyhave the caring hearts that true pastorshave, and members of the congregationare increasingly calling on them and inter-acting with them in this role. Later thisspring Bro. Ramon will be appointed“Associate Pastor” as a further step inpreparation for pastoral ministry.

We were given two primary assign-ments when we were commissioned asthe pastoral couple at the Sangre Grande

Mennonite Church—to identify and trainsomeone from the congregation tobecome the future pastor, and to give spir-itual leadership to the congregation. Werejoice and thank God for calling this couple to carry on spiritual leadership inour congregation. Our mission is comingto a close and we praise God for what Hehas done and is doing in our congregation.

God is raising up a new pastoral couple: Ramon and Kamla

Mission Connections April 2012 7

Rodney Knepp (l) with older boys from the school and local men who spent a morning patching a road. Micah Knepp ison the right, held by Keron. Courtesy of author

Ramon and Kamla Goodridge. Courtesy of authors

8 Mission Connections April 2012

By NANCY MARSHALLVMM/EMM worker in Belize

Kristel Cajun, 14, is deaf. She likes tosign “God Is So Good” during worship atJesus Deaf Church. It’s this song thatcame to my mind as I reflected on whatGod had done this year.

Manuel Tosh, 21, has grown in confi-dence and faith, and now knows with certainty that God has called him to pastorour church. He is reading his Bible andwatching the American Sign LanguageBible video tapes. He is calling me withBible verses that he finds meaningful.He’s leading the other boys to spend timetogether and support each other, callingeach other “brothers.” God has workedsome miraculous events that Manuel wit-nessed, which deepened his faith andsense of call. Now we are preaching

together in a dialogue fashion and God isgiving us His guidance. God will show theway. He is so good to us!

The devil was wreaking havoc amongthe deaf people a year ago when one of themen courted two women at the sametime. When one, (“Beth”) had a baby,there was lots of tension when we

gathered. But God brought peace and for-giveness when Beth turned her eyes toJesus and chose to follow Him. She in turnoffered forgiveness to the man and otherwoman. God gives us peace. He is so goodto us!

A mother of one of the deaf childrenthat I teach was reluctant to have herdaughter learn to sign. Many peopleprayed for this situation. By December,the four-year-old was signing about 300words. In January the mother wanted toknow what she was saying and asked tolearn to sign. By February, she was usingher daughter’s communication book toteach the rest of the family. God answersprayer. He is so good to us!

Thank you to everyone for partneringwith us as we share the Good News inBelize. God is so good!

God is good and showing the way in the midst of trials

By HAITI MEDICAL TEAM

When our medical team arrived inHaiti in February, we had a difficult timegetting through customs with 14 suitcasesof medication. Officials checked expirationdates on the medications and asked manyquestions about what we were doing andwhat documentation we had. Fortunately,we were able to get through with every-thing we brought.

Friday morning, we had our first clinicat Payen. We saw about 150 patients whohad a variety of complaints. They hadinteresting ways of describing their ail-ments, and it was often challenging tointerpret their symptoms.

Saturday morning, we traveled bytruck, boat, and foot to the clinic atLaRaquint. The medication suitcaseswere carried by motorcycle and mule. Wesaw about 140 patients at this clinic; lotsof children with fungal skin infectionsreceived donated anti-fungal creams.

We saw about 780 patients in five daysof clinic. Sunday afternoon we traveledfour hours to Gilbert to be ready for clinicMonday morning. As we neared thechurch in Gilbert, children came from

everywhere andran after ourtruck. They wereso excited to seeus! After unload-ing our suppliesand having dinnerat the pastor’shome, we had anevening churchservice with thecongregation. Thechurch waspacked withstanding roomonly and it was a wonderful time ofsinging, praying, clapping, drumming, anddancing in the aisles. Pastor Mark broughtthe message on true forgiveness. As thechurch service went on, people came incarrying banana mats. We wondered ifthey were bringing them for us or if theywere staying the night with us. Afterchurch we learned the banana mats werefor us, but lots of people were sleepingover in order to be first at clinic the nextmorning. We all spread out on the floor inthe church, our team as well as about 30Haitians. The night involved very little

sleep, with the sick children coughing,people snoring, shining flashlights, slam-ming metal doors, children giggling, people conversing, the blowing windstorm, and a very cold night. Needless tosay, we were up early and started clinic at6:40 a.m.!

Wednesday and Thursday we had successful clinics at Delonye and Tapion.Preparing to depart, we packed medicinesfor next year. We had a very productiveand positive week. We all feel veryblessed.

Medical team helps hundreds

Manuel Tosh and Nancy Marshall. Courtesy of author

Several members of the medical team see patients in Haiti. Courtesy of authors

By HARRY KRAUS VMM/AIM worker in Kenya

Words do not come easily when Ithink of how to describe this city.

Contrasts abound. A quiet sorrowhovers, a faint memory of a city, oncegreat, now reduced to rubble. As we trav-eled from the relative safety of a car withtinted windows, my host pointed atmounds of concrete, skeletons of the pastwith rebar arteries bleeding from theirsurfaces. Her voice carries a longing ofsomeone who has lost a love. She points.“There is the hotel where I spent myhoneymoon. On that corner, the ice-cream shop. There, the cinema. Peoplevacationed at the beach, eating in outdoorcafes with ocean breezes.” She seesthrough a lens of memory, now cloudedwith the blood, dust, and destruction ofdecades of war. She remembers more. Isee only ruin.

Gunfire punctuates every hour.“Popcorn,” my host calls it. “We don’thear it. We no longer duck our heads.”

The people don’t beep their horns to partthe unruly traffic. “They fire their guns.”It is the tenor voice that accompanies thebase rumble of nightly mortar fire. Butthe city is thriving again. Cars havereturned. Fruit, bread, clothing and qatstands line the streets in front of buildingspock-marked with bullet holes.

There is a guesthouse within theguarded hospital compound. I peer

through a hole in thefront door. This bullethole provides a win-dow to inspect my sur-roundings. Around atable, we talk abouttheir loved ones. “Mymother was shotthrough the neck whilesitting on the frontporch.” “My brotherwas killed.” “My hus-band was suspected ofbeing an extremist, sohe was shot.” Justiceexecuted immediately

at the hands of someone with a gun. Nopolice interrogation. No court. Only a manwith a weapon.

But my soul was lifted. Christ in me,the hope of glory, has sent a call even intothis dark place. There is an invitation tojoin and work to be healers of those thewar has flattened. But there is risk. Willyou pray?

Reflections on the city of rubble: a view through a bullet hole

Mission Connections April 2012 9

By CHRIS RIDDLEVMM worker in Italy

When we first met Roberto*, he wasa man with a bleak outlook on life and hadno use for God. “How can God be goodwhen bad things happen to good people?”“I am a good person and do good things,and if there is a God, he will let me intoheaven.” This is what we heard as wemet with him and his family regularly formeals.

For more than three years we havemet with Roberto. In the last six monthsthere has been a noticeable change inhow he responds to what we say and howwe react. In all the meetings that we havehad, we have never once condemned himor what he thought. We continued to eatwith him and his family and show grace.During our discussions, we continuallyresponded with Scripture to explain howwe approach difficult issues. Over timehe was able to not only hear our

explanations, but see how we put intopractice what we believed.

His wife and daughter were in the hospital for more than a week, andMelody and I were able to care forRoberto’s son so that he could go to workand visit his wife and daughter in the hos-pital. We fed them meals and we showedlove that they did not receive from theirown families. It was a turning point in hislife.

When his own family had let himdown in a time of need, Roberto experi-enced the love that a church family cangive. Since this event, he has read theentire Gospel of John! We are still havinglunch with them on a regular basis andwe study the Bible together. Through thegrace of Christ, we have seen Roberto doan about face!* not his real name

Love causes Roberto to do an about-face

VMM worker Richard Keeler received theAward for Christian Excellence at theNational Academy of Performing Arts, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, March 11. The Trinidad &Tobago Council of Evangelical Churches incollaboration with the Full Gospel BusinessMen’s Fellowship International TrinidadChapter commemorated TT’s 50th anniver-sary of independence by recognizing leadersin various Christian fields. Congratulations,Richard, from your support base in Virginiaand the United States! To God be the glory!

Photo: Ramesh Jaimani

10 Mission Connections April 2012

By MARK SCHOENHALS VMM/EMM worker in Thailand

Several years ago, I was sitting in aseminary classroom listening to LawrenceYoder tell a story of missionaries inIndonesia who spent years learning lan-guage and culture before beginning to tellthe stories of the Bible. When they did,the Spirit of God moved powerfully, theGospel was shared effectively, and amovement to Jesus was begun. I wasamazed.

For years, the Life Enrichment Church(LEC), has been praying and waiting foryouth to have greater involvement in thelife of the church. A few months ago,seemingly out of the blue, a small group ofyoung people from the church came for-ward with a proposal to the church council.They wanted to serve their very ruralcommunity and bear witness to theGospel by teaching English and Thaiclasses for local children on Saturdays.With the intent of service and witness, ayouth group was formed, by the youth

themselves! God’s Spiritis moving and breathingnew life. Who knowswhat might result!

In the same way, for thelast two years, Sarah andI have been waiting. Wehave been learning lan-guage and culture, wait-ing for the time when we

can communicate well enough to beginteaching and other more concrete tasks. Ihave sometimes become quite discour-aged, wondering what in the world I havecome to Thailand for. Will I ever be able tocommunicate anything? Will I have anything to offer?

Recently, we have been given theopportunity to share in village gatheringsand to teach a Bible study for leaders ofthe LEC. Although our ability to commu-nicate is still limited, these occasions havebrought us great encouragement andrenewed vision. The waiting has not beenin vain and God has been at work, both inthe church and in us. We pray that theHoly Spirit will move powerfully throughus and the church as we serve and learntogether.

Waiting is difficult, and in the midst ofwaiting it is hard to see the blessing. Butwait for God’s Spirit we must, and whenwe do, God receives the honor and theglory.

When waiting for God’s Spirit, who knows what might result!

By EMILY GINGRICHVMM/EMM intern in the Czech Republic, returned to the US in March

Networking. This is the one word thatcan sum up what my role in the CzechRepublic has been this past year. Beingthe first mission intern in Prague forEMM and VMM means my primary role isnetworking. Networking is defined as theprocess or practice of building up or main-taining informal relationships, especiallywith people whose friendship could bringadvantages such as job or business oppor-tunities. You build relationships becauseyou can see the potential for a partnershipthat will further the kingdom of God. Inthe process, you sometimes develop deepfriendships that will leave a lasting impact.

I have had the joy of working in a coun-try that thrives off of networking. CzechChristians used networking to bandtogether during communism. They only

went half under-ground, forgingtogether acrossdenominations tospread the Word andsupport each other.

I have learnedthe importance of ateam. Networkingput me in contactwith other mission-aries, Czech Brethren churches, international churches, schools, andorganizations who share a common bond:we want Czechs to know Jesus.

The bulk of my connections formedthrough English camps in the summer-time. For five weeks I attended differentcamps as an English teacher with a varietyof organizations working together to sharetheir knowledge of English and Jesus.These camps are powerful and I was

delighted to discover that in the months tofollow, those relationships continued togrow deeper.

So for those who wonder what a “pio-neer” does, the answer is they are reallynetworkers. They are the ones laying thefoundation work for others to come andadd onto it. And I am truly grateful for theopportunity to help lay the ground workfor future EMM and VMM workers in theCzech Republic.

net·work·ing noun1. a supportive system of sharing information and servicesamong individuals and groups having a common interest

Mark & Sarah Schoenhals, daughtersHeidi and Hannah, and members of theLife Enrichment Church. Courtesy of author

Emily Gingrich (right) with students at Family English Camp. Courtesy of author

Pra

y fo

r D

estin

and

Luke

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er in

La

Mes

a, C

olom

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as

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nce

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g to

sch

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exam

ple

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lect

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hurc

hm

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rs a

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orld

who

iden

tify

clos

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Chr

ist's

suf

feri

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y th

at t

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will

be

stea

dfas

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ir fa

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s be

lieve

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Chr

ist.

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with

all

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sain

tsin

glo

ry, s

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res-

urre

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arou

ndth

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ouds

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bre

akin

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ease

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awak

en in

God

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kene

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now

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ever

last

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peac

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ory

#92

Toda

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embe

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mai

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enno

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rch

hold

Fam

ily F

unD

ay fo

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l the

con

greg

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roun

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land

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ay t

his

time

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llow

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bind

the

m t

oget

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vean

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y fo

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race

Schr

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t A

sia

as s

he w

alks

with

com

mun

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hom

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dem

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Ask

God

to

stre

ngth

en h

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nd t

he

fam

ilies

who

are

cop

ing

with

trem

endo

us lo

ss.

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mfo

rt fo

rth

e Ja

mai

caM

enno

nite

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rch

mem

bers

and

the

Bak

erfa

mily

as

they

gri

eve

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deat

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Pas

tor

Mor

ris

Bak

er. S

ee b

ack

page

for

mor

e in

form

atio

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Thi

s m

onth

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ael &

Sola

nge

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ulo

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lban

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con

tinue

ser

ving

with

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chur

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ere

afte

rbe

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leav

e in

Bra

zil f

or a

few

mon

ths.

Tha

nk G

od fo

r th

eir

avai

l-ab

ility

to s

erve

.

Join

in p

raye

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naba

ptis

t M

issi

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Pro

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ccup

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mpi

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vent

, Apr

il 13

-14

at E

MS

—th

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roun

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d in

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goo

d ne

ws

ofJe

sus

Chr

ist

and

crea

tive

way

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r th

e ch

urch

to

enga

ge o

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roke

n w

orld

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Pra

y fo

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nual

inte

rden

omin

atio

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"Wom

en in

Min

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on-

vent

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in C

alab

ria,

in t

he"t

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thi

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eeke

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me:

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lthy

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ffect

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Min

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Bar

i att

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in D

ays

ofP

raye

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Act

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for

Col

ombi

a to

day

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tom

or-

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and

rem

embe

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who

suf

fer

hum

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ight

sab

uses

in t

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coun

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espe

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rmed

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e ba

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for

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form

atio

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Mar

anat

ha S

choo

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ens

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ray

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teac

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stu

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y st

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nd t

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arn

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futu

re.

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chur

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Gio

vann

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lla G

reco

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r ef

fect

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in m

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lead

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bro

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d liv

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ney

& E

ve K

nepp

serv

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lizab

eth,

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aica

, hav

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port

uniti

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aily

to

bese

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ts o

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us. P

ray

for

thei

r he

alth

and

sta

min

a as

the

days

are

fille

d w

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man

ds. T

hank

God

for

thei

r se

rvic

e.

Wha

t m

ay t

his

day

brin

g fo

r H

arry

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us a

s he

mee

ts h

uman

need

in K

enya

and

the

neig

hbor

ing

coun

try?

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God

to

guid

e ev

ery

enco

unte

r w

ith h

ealth

and

who

lene

ss.

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e th

anks

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tL

oren

& E

arle

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and

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h &

Lau

rel

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st v

isite

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onth

and

did

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nday

sch

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each

ers.

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r th

e gr

owth

of t

heM

enno

nite

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rch

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ago.

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hard

& M

arga

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ible

stud

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gre

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idad

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rday

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od t

o bl

ess

this

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arn

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grow

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In S

taun

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,Si

gns

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ifeFe

llow

ship

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the

pro

cess

of d

evel

opin

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mis

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stat

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ray

for

them

as t

hey

seek

the

Spi

rit's

guid

ance

to

clar

ify t

he

purp

ose

of t

heir

min

istr

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ee in

pra

yer

for

the

VM

C p

artic

ipan

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the

chu

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plan

ting

Exp

onen

tial C

onfe

renc

e in

Orl

ando

, Fla

., th

at t

hey

will

be e

nerg

ized

for

God

's

mis

sion

in t

heir

ow

n lo

cal

com

mun

ities

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taly

, new

unre

ache

d pe

rson

sar

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ospe

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ups

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ray

that

the

Spir

it w

ill u

se G

od's

Wor

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pen

etra

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piri

tual

bar

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set

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hris

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n &

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raG

reen

with

litt

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cas

are

prep

arin

g to

join

the

chur

ch p

lant

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team

inso

uth/

cent

ral I

taly

.In

terc

ede

that

God

's fa

vor

and

bles

sing

will

be

rele

ased

upo

n th

em a

s th

eym

ove

forw

ard

by fa

ith.

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y fo

r th

e fo

urtranSe

nders—

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eb,

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ica,

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tlyn

and

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stin

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each

in t

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otiv

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and

reac

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ve.

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2118

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16 23

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In S

outh

Asi

a, M

icha

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mak

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bilit

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they

com

mun

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ithne

ighb

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and

cous

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the

Jesu

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rch

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anue

l is

grow

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isle

ader

ship

of t

he g

roup

, and

expr

esse

s hi

s he

artfe

lt ca

llto

this

rol

e. T

hank

God

for

his

spir

itual

gro

wth

and

for

Nan

cy M

arsh

all's

car

eful

men

tori

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f him

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som

e tim

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day

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it qu

ietly

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uon

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any

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ent

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hank

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for

this

pric

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s gi

ft o

f sal

vatio

n.

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tern

Men

noni

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men

t to

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bles

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d gu

ide

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grad

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im.

2526

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rtily

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ries

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nam

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arks

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onth

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iver

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est

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erty

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leas

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ay fo

r th

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est

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erty

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noni

te C

hurc

hm

embe

rs w

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re a

ctiv

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r co

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kair

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r 2:2

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Prayer & Action: On April 15 & 16 joinChristians in the US and Colombia bypraying, raising awareness and takingaction for peace in Colombia. This year’sDays of Prayer focus on the more thanfive million Colombians internally dis-placed due to ongoing internal armedconflict and the US’s support of milita-rization there. Check with your congrega-tion’s Peace Advocate for more details orgo to washington.mcc.org/days.

All women are invited to the MennoniteWomen of Virginia Annual Missions Day,May 5, 9 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., at GraceMennonite Fellowship, 209 Lacey SpringRoad, Harrisonburg. Contact Pam DeYoung with questions at (757) 930-0002or de_young@verizon.net

“Serve and Play” weekend, May 11-13, atHighland Retreat is intended for familiesdesiring quality time through play andservice. Lodging and Saturday meals arereduced or free (day guests welcome).Event includes evening worship andgames and Saturday work projects for allages. Visit www.highlandretreat to learnmore. Call (540) 852-3226 to reservelodging and meals.

Virginia Conference women of all ages!Join your sisters on a new date at a newplace! Mark your calendars now for theMennonite Women of Virginia Fall Retreat onSept. 21-23. This year the fall retreat willbe held in a beautiful mountain setting atthe Eagle Eyrie Baptist ConferenceCenter in Lynchburg, Va. Prepare to beblessed by our guest speakers, RhodaKeener & Carolyn Heggen, who will helpus discover that “We are God's BelovedDaughters” and share the principles of

“Sister Care: Equipping Women forCaring Ministry.” Enjoy fellowship andfun as you connect with sisters in Christfrom far and near and refresh your spirit.Additional information may be found atvmconf.org by clicking on “MennoniteWomen VA” tab. Photos of the retreatlocation may be found atwww.eagleeyrie.org. Questions may bedirected to Kathy Zehr Rhodes at (540) 843-0763. Invite a friend and watchfor registration brochures in August!

Warwick River Christian School in NewportNews, Va., will be celebrating its 70thanniversary September 22-23. Please contact the school office for more infor-mation at (757) 877-2941 or mnelson@warwickriver.org

Join us for a “Highlights of Italy” trip fromOctober 31 to November 10. Visit thewaterways of Venice, the Leaning Towerof Pisa, art in Florence, stunning Almalficoastline, ancient Pompeii, historicRome, and more. Contact Ed Bontragerat eebontrager@comcast.net or (540) 438-8304.

Announcements

Connections (USPS 007-205)Virginia Mennonite MissionsVirginia Mennonite Conference901 Parkwood DriveHarrisonburg, VA 22802-2498

In Kingston, Jamaica, Pastor MorrisBaker died on February 15, 2012, after afive-month illness. He served as pastor ofthe Alpine Mennonite Church, Red Hillssince 1995. He was appointed president ofthe Jamaica Mennonite Church in March2011, and served in various capacities inJMC prior to that time. In 2006, he and hiswife, Elaine, were the JMC delegates toVirginia Mennonite Conference assembly.

Pastor Baker is remembered as a well-respected member of the community wherehe grew up and where he provided personswith various forms of assistance. His life offaith and prayer impacted those around himand this left an indelible impression on allwho knew him.

His funeral service was held March 10 atthe Good Tidings Mennonite Church,Kingston, where 600 people attended andreflected on his life, praising our HeavenlyFather for this man of God.

Pastor Morris and his wife Elaine havethree daughters: Jennice, April andStephanie.

Pastor Steven Hayle assisted by Bro.Dillon Sinclair are giving leadership to theAlpine congregation. Please hold up theBaker family, the Alpine congregation andthe JMC during this time of grief.