God Is Good!

Editor’s note:  The following is part of the Coyle’s Newsletter for May which can be found here in it’s entirety.  The photo below is the 2013 Graduating Class with EEMN Director Bill Moberly.

As we sought to begin the International Bible School-Petrodolina, you prayed. As nine students enrolled into the first year program, you prayed. Through the ups and downs of this past year, you prayed. Dear friends, we now get to share with you new and exciting news. The Lutheran Church here in Ukraine has unanimously passed an agreement with EEMN regarding the future growth and development of the school. This agreement outlines details regarding the formation of a school board, curriculum development, and the building of an official Bible School building. We are thankful for our Presidium as they prayerfully and carefully went through this agreement along with EEMN director Pastor Bill Moberly. We would like to include a brief excerpt from the Moberlys’ recent update.

“Bill also had an important meeting with the GELCU Bishop and Presidium midweek. The goal was passing a new agreement establishing the International Bible School Board of Directors, which opens the door to actively planning for the next needed building, and planning for a second year of Bible School. Our board, the Coyles and our partners in Ukraine would not have imagined a unanimous vote by the Presidium three months ago, but that is what happened on Thursday, May 16! Bill is on the Board, and will take part in the first Bible School Board meeting, sign the agreement, and start planning for 2013-2014 school year when we return to Ukraine June 19.”

We are praising God that he has opened the door for further development with this school. Thank you so much for your faithful prayers. 

Summer Furlough
It is hard to believe that we will be returning to the States for the summer in just a few days. We plan to leave Odessa May 23, overnighting in Vienna, and then landing in Minneapolis at 5pm on Friday. We are thrilled at the possibility of seeing many of you, and sharing with you what God has done as well as the vision for the future development of the International Bible School-Petrodolina. Please pray for us as we travel and as we culturally re-adjust. Pray also that these news months can be a physically and spiritually refreshing time for our family.

In His Grace,
Andy, Monica, Moriah, Isaiah and Josiah

“I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;  I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;  your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”  Psalm 57:9-10

Summer Ambassador Inquiry-Part 1

Editor’s Note:  For the next several days, we will be posting information from the Summer Ambassador Inquiry Newsletter.

Adjustments

• In Brazil, there is a new leader of the school.
• In Ecuador, training will happen in cell group Bible Studies.
• In Ukraine, an additional year will be added to the training.
• In India, the Chirala class can now meet in the new building.
• In Uganda, there are 25 new teachers to be trained and new
  classes to start.

Missions require flexibility and constant adjustments, it is the way forward. We just finished editing the second edition of the six semester curriculum. Now, the edits need to be translated into the five languages. We also need to fill the position that Dr. Monseth held on the Ambassador Institute board.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1

Dr. Monseth will be missed in so many ways. He served on the Ambassador Institute board since it began in 2007. He was involved in editing the curriculum, setting policies and monthly input at the committee meetings. He was also Pastor Kevin Olson’s advisor for the PhD in International Development from William Carey International University. The Lord used him to change lives.

God’s Supply

We were very close to our budget in 2012 and we pray that the Lord will continue to provide according to His riches. Several individuals support the ministry monthly with automatic payments.

One side project has been the sale of computer laptops and other miscellaneous computer equipment that we receive. Dell Latitude D630 laptops are available for $100, if you or your church needs one give us a call or e-mail. We seek to help ministries through this project.

Stay Tuned for more tomorrow!

Travel to India

A number of people are traveling to India for ministry and the dedication of their new building.  Those traveling include AFLC President Eldon and Faith Nelson, AFLC Canada President Al Pinno, World Mission Director Del and Karen Palmer, former World Mission Director Gene Enderlein, and Ambassador Institute Department Head Kevin and Pam Olson.

Please be in prayer for those traveling.  Pray for effective ministry, health and travel.

The Palmers will travel on to Uganda before returning for the AFLC Annual Conference.

Vacation Bible School Projects

Many Sunday Schools and Vacation Bible School's have a mission emphasis as a part of their program.  Below,  you will find several ideas that will engage students in missions.  You'll also find resources you can download or view to help you share the project with the students.

India and Uganda

Many people around the world learn best orally.  Sometimes there are very few books and especially Bibles in their native language.  We have been using a device called the MegaVoice to help them learn God's Word in their mother tongue.  The Scriptures and Bible lessons are placed on the solar powered MegaVoice and they memorize the Word of God from the device.

Each MegaVoice costs approximately $30.00.  Challenge your Sunday school or VBS to give as many as they can.

Click here to watch a video about Mega Voice

Sanitary Toilet for Church and Parsonage in India

Recently on a trip to India we visited a village just after the rain.  We were informed that the rain causes much sickness because the sewage and drinking water mix.  After the church service we were shown the toilet facilities for the church and parsonage.  They consisted of a small area with a tarp around it for privacy.  We were told, "This is an example of the type of thing that causes sickness."  Then they asked if we would pray for the funds to build a sanitary toilet for the church and parsonage.

A sanitary toilet for this church will cost $850.00

View our newly released video on the AFLC work in India by clicking here.

Miriam Infant Home in Brazil

The Miriam Infant Home in Brazil takes care of children that have been displaced from their homes.  While in the home they experience Christian love and hear about Jesus.

Industrial Washer and Dryer
The home is in need of an industrial clothes washer and dryer.  These machines will help keep the clothes and bedding clean for the children.  The total cost for these two items is $2,500.00

Kitchen Equipment
The home is also in need of kitchen equipment to cook food for the children.  The cost for the needed pots and utensils is $500.00.

Click here to view a video which includes a segment on the Miriam Infant Home.

Mexico

One of our ministries in Mexico reaches out to children.  At Christmas time we like to give the children Christmas boxes to show the love of Christ.  This Christmas boxes include printed material that explains the Gospel.  Each box costs $5.00.  We have set a goal of 100 boxes for this Christmas.

To watch a video of the Schierkolks ministry in Mexico which includes segments on their ministry to children click here.

Bibles

The Word of God, specifically the Gospel is the primary means that God uses to create and strengthen faith in peoples lives. Therefore, it is important that people have the World of God in their language to read and ponder. Every one of our mission fields can benefit from Bibles to give to people who do not have them.

Sunday Schools and VBS's have been motivated to give Bibles to people who don't have them. Pick out a country and encourage your students to give the Word of God to those who don't have it.

Ambassadors for Christ’s Sake-Part 2

Here is part 2 of the latest news from Paul and Becky Abel.

Our summer camp season was wonderful!  Following a month of heavy rains God blessed us with a week of sunny weather for the children to enjoy camp at the ARCA. Once again we had a great group of counselors investing in young lives.  "Bible Explorers - Discovering Treasures in the Word of God" was our theme for the week.  It was fun to have Matthew home for camps this year.  A couple of weeks later we had our annual youth camp with youth from churches all around our state and even a group from Vitoria, 1000 miles away. The rain didn't stay away this time, but we were thankful for the great attitude of the campers and the wonderful way God used the theme "Come and Live" to draw people to Himself.

 We have had some projects completed at the ARCA in 2013. We are happy to have new metal frame bunk beds in all the rooms.  We also purchased the house where Carlos and Yara used to live to remodel for families and speakers to use. Paul supervised the building of three concrete stairways for easier access that came in really handy for our Passion Play this year.  God blessed us with perfect weather for the 3 nights of the outdoor presentations. We had about 1300 people in attendance.  Getting ready for the play we had several fund raisers which are great for building community.

 

Another big event that Becky was in the forefront of planning was the Annual Women's Congress.  This year we had 160 participants, and we had it at a big conference center right on the beach. Fun!

In the midst of all the busyness of the big events we had a BIG SCARE when Yara had a terrible motorcycle accident on March 5.  She was thrown from her bike and suffered an accident that only 80% of victims survive.  She has successfully made it through two high risk pelvic surgeries and is held together by external metal rods.  She also broke both wrists (another surgery) and four ribs and has a terrible wound on her right thigh which is healing up nicely now.  Yara has been flat on her back needing constant care for these past seven weeks. About ten days ago we found out that she had the beginnings of pneumonia, too.  We've done lots of running and lots of praying. It's been neat to see people come together to help in so many different ways.  She still needs our prayers so we ask you to join us in remembering her before the throne of grace. Wednesday I will be taking her in for more x-rays and a visit with the surgeons to see how she is progressing.

We had some great family times during this year as well.  You may remember that we were all together for Andrew and Alexi's wedding.  We see the girls at least once a week and enjoy having the grandkids here whenever it works out. They love coming to the farm and riding horse.
 

Although we haven't had much time to prepare yet, we are planning to come to the U.S. on furlough this summer, arriving the beginning of June and returning to Brazil October 3. As soon as our schedule is in place I'll send it out.  We hope to see as many of you as possible.  Once again we thank you so much for standing with us in prayer and financial support. Together we are making a difference in the world as we allow God to use us for His glory.

In His precious name, 
Paul and Becky

Editor’s note:  If you missed Part 1, you can read it here!  You can read the entire newsletter here on the World Mission Page of the AFLC site.

Ambassadors for Christ’s Sake

Editor’s note:  This is the first in a 2-part series on the news from Paul and Becky Abel.  Stay tuned tomorrow for part 2!

The God of our salvation who has blessed us abundantly is the One who renews our strength day by day to do His will.  Only He knows the real story of our life and ministry here in Brazil.  If you would spend a few days with us you might get a glimpse of the many facets and responsibilities involved in our missionary outreach in this place. We are ever-grateful for the trust our supporters have invested in us during these 28 years on the mission field.  By faith you have believed that God is using our lives to bless others and lead them in the ways of eternal life.

Sometimes the immensity of the task and the demands of knowing so many people and being involved in so many ministries tire us out.  We have had one big event after another to plan and execute besides all the daily responsibilities of the local church ministries.  I could easily write volumes about the happenings of each week, so it seems next to impossible to relate what's happened in these past months. I just have not been able to get down to writing and communicating with you. We're so glad that your prayers and support have not been as "spotty" as my letter-writing!  You can have a little idea of some of our activities by taking a look at a few photos I will include here.  Our prayer is that we may be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading in each situation as we testify of the love of Jesus and reach out to help people be reconciled to God.  We are ambassadors for Christ's sake as God makes his appeal through us -   2 Corinthians 5:20.

Perhaps our biggest joy is having our son Matthew home again as a short-term missionary. He has been a great asset to us here.  Hopefully, you have read his updates (he's been better at writing than I have been).  We are also so thankful that son Andrew was able to make a quick trip to Brazil to help us with the Passion Play again this year (we actually wonder if we could do without him).     We now have another short term helper with us for four months, Britton Unverzagt.  These three young men have made our work more fun and more effective.  We have realized again how much we have missed our children in doing ministry since they left home.  It's been a special blessing to have our sons back for a time.

Paul and I enjoyed travelling to some Free Lutheran churches in other cities to encourage the members and do courses for couples and youth.  We were in Campo Grande in September, Iguaçu Falls in December and Vitoria in February. We also went to Campo Mourão for graduation and a meeting with the other missionaries. We are pictured below with Jonni Sliver, and Jonathan and Tamba Abel.

This year we have a student at the seminary in Campo Mourão who is doing very well after successfully completing drug rehabilitation last year in Curitiba. Alex is pictured (2nd from the right) with some of the Bible School students and Pastor Iran (far left).

What is God’s Chosen Path?

Editor’s Note:  The Wagner’s 3-month training time is drawing to a close.  Please continue to pray for them as they return and finish raising their funds.  Their plans are to go to Sierra Leone in October to work full time.  You can read their full newsletter here.

Anteré! (Good afternoon!) Greetings from Ghana, where we’re attending a 3-month Africa Training Course held by experienced LBT missionaries. We are so grateful to LBT and these missionaries for investing so much to help our transition to life and ministry in Sierra Leone later this year.

We have had opportunities here (that we wouldn’t normally) to observe varied beliefs and practices, like visiting a traditional diviner:

He humbly sat there, telling us of his practice and beliefs, claiming that he “feared no one but God and only wished well upon others.” He’s a diviner, a fortuneteller and counselor, and others like him can be found in nearly every community across West Africa. Animists (spirit worshippers), Muslims, and even Christians come to him in concern or desperation. “What should I do?!” “Why is my wife not bearing children? I will soon be told to take another.” “Why was my harvest unsuccessful? Who has cursed me?” “Please, make this person fall in love with me.”

Divination is a practice of African traditional religion, but this man also claims to be a Muslim. He attends the village mosque daily and uses the Quran (Koran) for guidance to help people, Muslim or not. He was taught and trained by his father and has already begun teaching his son. He believes he’s following God’s chosen path for him and feels honored to be able to help so many in need.  Please pray that the truth of God’s word and of Christ would light this man’s life and the lives of those in need.

❤ Josh, Ruthie, & Elijah

On the “Home” Front

After four months with a very full house, the Miriam Home has calmed down. From the beginning of November to the end of February we averaged 24 children in the Miriam Home at any given moment. These months are Brazil’s summer vacation for school, so we had a lot of children full of energy and with too much time on their hands - you can imagine that everyone was pitching in to keep order!

In March the family situations for a lot of the children were resolved and the kids started leaving, until right now we have just seven children in the house (another extreme - this time lower than normal).

After a 1:12 house mom to child ratio (or 1:24 at night!) 1:3 seems pretty mild, but there is a special blessing in this   quieter moment. All of the children presently in the house are here because their families are more complicated and it will be a while before they join family members or are     released for adoption. The blessing here is that we have a lot longer to be able to pray over and minister to these young lives.

Let me introduce you to our gang, starting with the youngest.  Emily and Nicholas have been with us for several months, and both have blossomed since they arrived. Emily came to us because of extreme abuse and arrived terrified of everyone. As time passed she grew to trust, first the house moms, then the rest of the staff and the other children. She has shown herself to be a loving, very bright, precious little girl. At two and a half she is growing more and more confidant. We are praying that our little angel will carry no memory of what happened before she came to the Miriam Home and that the Lord will open the doors for her to be adopted in to the family He has chosen for her.

Nicholas is the same age as Emily, and has been here since November. He is with us because his mother has a serious drinking addiction. Though she says she loves her little boy, she loves drinking more and would leave Nicholas for whole days at a time. It has now been more than two months since she has come to visit him or even call to see how he is doing, Praise the Lord, Nicholas knows he is important us!

Editor’s note:  You can read about the other children who are currently at the Infant Home here.

He Is Risen!

He is risen.   He is risen indeed!

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. " 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Christianity centers itself upon the very public, observable death and resurrection of Christ. Christianity is not a secret, mysterious, or phantom knowledge like most other belief systems. Christianity is not simply a series of teachings. No, Christianity IS Jesus. We celebrate the God of the universe entering into our real time and space. We celebrate an actual public event that belongs to the record of History. We celebrate the Resurrection. This is what separates Christianity from all other belief systems.

How glorious is it that we can base our faith on something objective and historical. Despite our emotions and the subjective spiritual games we play with ourselves, we are instructed to look to the cross of Christ. There, we find our deepest problem -sin- being taken care of. There, we find God’s clear message of love and forgiveness. There, we find hope for the present and the future.

He is risen. He is risen indeed!

Our Lord’s resurrection is the truth and hope we are able to rejoice in not only in this season, but throughout all of our days. This is the truth that sustains us in, and carries us through our difficulties. This is the truth that continually reminds us of forgiveness. This is the truth that set before us the glorious reality of eternal communion and restoration with Christ.  May the truth and reality of Christ’s resurrection create and strengthen faith in your hearts and minds.

In His Grace,
Andy, Monica, Moriah, Isaiah and Josiah

Editor’s note:  To read the entire newsletter, please click here.

Kvale Connection Prayer Letter-March

Being invited to share at a local AWANA kids Bible club for their mission night stirred many things in us. It is interesting that when we are to plants seeds in the lives of young children eager for more of God, what challenges start to set attempted roadblocks. With discouragement, illness, setbacks, and stress knocking at our door, nevertheless, we made our date with these great kids and leaders! Sharing about all the different things people do to be a part of the translation process and hearing from the kids about their zeal and curiosity concerning missions made it a memorable and motivating night that wrenches our hearts with passion for God’s Word and compassion for His people, His children.

None of us know the future, whether today, tomorrow, next week or next year. And whether child or adult, we all have dreams, goals or things we hope for. He alone knows the number of our days and how much more valuable is our time and investment while spent with His guidance and direction. How much more urgent it is to get God’s Word out there where it has never yet been with its transforming power. Let us persevere in child-like faith!

So despite the roadblocks of any kind, the celebrating continues!

Glenda’s mother, Eleanor Aaberg (87) is busting her road block to pieces with a grin at what the Doc says was a miraculous recovery.  Praise God!

Editor's Note: You can read the Kvale’s prayer concerns as well as a wonderful story from Wycliffe Bible Translators here.

Bible Training Ministry in the Ukraine

Editor’s Note:  The Coyles asked for specific prayers concerning the ministry of the Bible school and here is their update on that:

We would like to update you as to what has been happening here the past few days. First of all, thank you so much for praying. We received many emails expressing your prayer support. I gladly relayed those messages to my co-workers; we were all grateful. Despite some difficult issues and high tension this past week, His peace was very near.

As of right now, there are no concrete answers. An extension was granted for further consideration until April 10. There was some negativity towards the documents, but as the meetings continued we heard more positive reports. Over the course of the next few weeks, additions and subtractions will be made, and the final document will be presented to both sides for agreement or rejection. Our Bible School team is generally more positive now as we look to the future. We sense that God will work this out that way He wants.

Prayer needs:
- Pray for the leadership of the host church (DELKU) as they analyze and work on the agreement.
- Pray for our Bible School leadership
- Pray that a fair agreement can be made between EEMN and DELKU for a solid foundation
- Pray for peace-making and unity in the midst of the details
- Pray that God's will would be done.

In His Grace,
Andy, Monica, Moriah, Isaiah and Josiah

"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ." Colossians 4:3

March Missions Devotional

The following devotional was written by Glenn Mork

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.  No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

As we enter into the regional and state championships of high school sports, we are reminded of the intense competition. High school students train, compete and prepare for what seems like the ultimate prize, State Championship!

As our children were growing up, the pressure to prepare, practice and compete on Sundays was almost overwhelming. Choices were made to avoid teams that required practice and participation in games on Sunday mornings.

As our society further distances itself from the Triune God and the church, our future generation is steadily focusing on the wrong race. There are so many distractions. It’s so tempting to focus on the less important things in life. High school sports can be a wonderful experience. It can be a time of building character. It’s like so many other things in life. If our focus and drive are for the wrong reasons, the end results can be disastrous.

College costs rise at an alarming rate, many college loans are running at 11% interest. Taxes are on the rise and the cost of living is increasing much faster than our wages. Excel in high school sports, practice, practice and more intense practice. Strive for college scholarships and win the prize. Go on to college, prepare, practice and compete, strive for the prize, NCAA Championship!

Reality check, a very small percentage of high school students will ever get the prize. Even if they do, it’s a prize that will fade away. Yet, as parents, we strive. The more focused we get, the less focused we become. Sundays become more about sports and less about God.

Heavenly Father, give us strength and courage to strive for the race Paul is talking about. Help us Lord to focus on the race for eternal life! Help us Lord to speak your Word in such a way that youth will come to know you as Lord and Savior. Help us Lord to equip our youth with Your Word, Your thoughts and Your guidance as they share the gospel with their friends.

We give thanks to you Lord for the AFLC Bible School and Seminary, the students, the faculty and staff. May no-one grow weary, may no-one grow faint as we strive to fulfill your great commission.

We give thanks to you, Lord, for those you have called and sent out. We ask for your wisdom, your strength and your blessings to be upon them. We thank you Lord for those yet to be called.

May we continually be mindful of your call upon our lives, knowing that You have a time and a season for all that You do. Help us Lord, to remain attentive to You. Help us Lord to run the race well. Help us Lord to be trainers of our youth as all of us train for the eternal prize.

Wagner Updates

March 14:  Please pray for our family especially during these next two weeks. Josh took a 13hr-bus ride early this morning to Accra and will fly to Sierra Leone in the morning (for 10 days). He's going to meet partners and scope out our living situation for later this year. Elijah and I are staying back in Ghana and already miss him terribly. Please pray for protection, good health, and comfort during this important time for us.

Day 42/90: Last week our orientation shifted from a classroom setting led by a Ghanaian man and Polish Father to seminars held in LBT missionaries' homes. The seminars are focused on practical living skills and dealing with issues common in the life of a missionary. Some of the many topics include:
- cooking & meal planning
- medical care
- shopping in local markets
- how to work with househelp
- dealing with corruption/bribery
- working with national partners
- spiritual warfare
- dealing with stressors
- crisis management
- driving
- African Friends and Money Matters (read this and you'll know better how to pray for us!)
- and much more!

March 24:  Josh is still in Sierra Leone until Tuesday (March 26). Right now he's actually in Makeni - where we hope to live! He's been able to meet the translation team there and even check out some housing options. He's been sharing some pictures with me via dropbox, but I don't know what they're of yet, so stay tuned... This is all very exciting for us, if you can't tell.

Thanks for your ongoing prayer support, team!
Ruthie and Joshua Wagner

Editor’s note:  You can also follow along with updates for the Wagners on their Facebook page here.

The Cross of Christ and His Righteousness

In honor of Men’s Day (a Ukrainian holiday), the Bible School ladies made personalized t-shirts as gifts for the men.

A few weeks ago in one of my Romans classes, we were studying chapter five. I was highlighting verse eight which says, “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (ESV).” The simple connection that I was making was the inseparability between the love of God and the cross. So often we hear of God’s love, yet we don’t hear of the ugliness of the cross. Well, in the middle of class an unexpected blessing occurred to drive this point home. The Russian text for this verse (of which I had previously not consulted, which was the reason for this little surprise) creates a rather beautiful and profound picture. In our English Bibles, we read “God shows, or God demonstrates his love.” The Russian Bible uses the word, “доказывает” which means to prove, or gives evidence. It’s a much stronger word than to say He simply “shows.” Isn’t that a cool picture? God proves or gives evidence of his love at the cross of Christ.

How do we know that God loves us? Do we search for an experience? Do we look into our hearts? No, and definitely no! How do we know that God loves us? We look to the historical, objective event of the cross of Christ. There, in real time and space, we find God dealing with our sin problem. There, in real time and space, we find the merciful, passionate, and immensely intense love of God on display.

This is the simple truth that I need to hear every day. This is the simple truth that we have the privilege and responsibility to communicate with our students. Thank you so much for praying and supporting this very important work of transforming lives, one at a time.

We want to share with you another small sample of what God is doing here. What you will read was written by a Bible School student in response to the question, “What is the most important thing that you have learned about yourself?”

”I have realized that I am 100% sinner, but also 100% holy before God because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. I must remember that I am a sinner, because when I see someone's faults, in my heart there is condemnation. When I think that I'm better than someone else, pride is the result. But I must remember that I am a saint. When it comes to judgment, thoughts like, "You're too evil, God will not forgive you," occur. I need to remember that I am a saint in the eyes of God, not because of my works, but through the righteousness of Jesus.
I have realized that I am weak and powerless against sin, and the only way to deal with it is to be open to God, to confess my sins to Him, and allow Him to change me.

I have also realized how important it is under any circumstances to seek God and praise Him. When I went to school, I imagined it as a place where it would be very easy to devote myself to God, seek His will, pray often, read the Bible, and that I will have no distractions. But I have now seen that the problem is not in the environment, but in me. I am just too lazy to pray, read the Bible, just as life is full of temptations. As it is written, "Behold, now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation." Our nature is such that we are always waiting for something in the future, some favorable circumstances, but we are already in the circumstances. The Lord has placed us at the right time and the right place, and has done everything that we find Him.”

In His Grace,
Andy, Monica, Moriah, Isaiah and Josiah

Editor’s note:  To find out how you can pray for the Coyles, please click here.

News from the Coyles

Dear Prayer Partners, This is a big week (specifically Tuesday and Wednesday) for us here in Odessa. The Bible School Staff are meeting with the National Church Council to present three important documents related to the present and future stability of the Bible School. Unfortunately, right now in the church there are huge personality conflicts and our Bible School Director, Pastor Alexander Gross, is facing strong opposition. Please pray for Pastor Alexander, that God would strengthen and guide him, and and bring comfort to him and his family. Please pray for Pastor Ole and I as we make specific presentations on Wednesday. Please pray also for the Lord's favor and grace in these decisions. In His Grace, Andy, Monica, Moriah, Isaiah and Josiah

"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ." Colossians 4:3

Update on the Wagners in Africa

Editor’s note:  The Wagners have arrived in Ghana since this newsletter was posted.  You can see their entire newsletter here.  You can join the Wagner’s Facebook Updates group here.

We’ve got flights on January 30th from Minnesota » New York » Ghana, where we will attend a 3-month West Africa orientation. This will be training for missionary life in Sierra Leone—what to pack for initial three year term, what LBT translation and Scripture engagement projects look like, how to learn and communicate in West African languages and cultures, how to manage stress, etc. You know, just normal everyday stuff.

We had been sharing (with Skittles) that 471 languages of 6,900+ have complete Bibles. Well, the number is now 518 of 6,800+ (Yes, language are dying off). Here’s something to get excited about. Since 1999...
• 300 New Testaments have been published.
• Revisions of earlier work have been published in over 70 languages.
• New work has begun in over 700 languages. (Wycliffe, 2012)
If you saw our Skittles presentation, you know Skittles (a.k.a. languages) are on the move from jar to jar! Praise the Lord! If you haven’t seen it, head on over to You Tube video on Skittles and Translations and check it out.  You’ll love it.

We are eager to setup our home in Sierra Leone and dive into our roles, Josh in Scripture engagement and Ruthie in Mommy-ing and translation.  However, we recognize this time of training and preparing is invaluable. Thank you so much for your prayers and support! Until next time...
        

❤ Josh, Ruthie, & Elijah

Update from the Coyles in Ukraine

Editor’s note:  The rest of the Coyle’s February newsletter can be found here.

It seems these days that time just flies by. Just yesterday I (Andy) stopped and considered how much busier we are compared to this time last year. Our family life is much busier with Moriah’s and Isaiah’s different school schedules. Our ministry life now contains various women’s groups that Monica participates in as well as all the activities, classes, staff meetings, seminars that fall under the ministry of the Bible School. Time continues to pass. One of our Bible School students sadly remarked that today (Feb. 7) is the half-way point for the Bible School. We have seen much growth and development in our students throughout these past months and trust that God will continue to do his work.

As time continues to pass, we as Bible School staff not only focus on the present, but also the future. There are many questions and opportunities before us as we look ahead. Stage One is complete. God has brought staff and students from many countries to begin this school. We praise Him for that. Right now we are looking at Stage Two. We are already hearing of students from Russia who are planning on attending next year. We believe that He is continuing to open up doors for this important ministry to grow. These next couple of months are very important for our Bible school, as a few crucial decisions will be made with the governing body of the Lutheran Church here in Ukraine. These questions relate not only to the stability of the present, but also for the stability of the future. I would love to share more details, but suffice it to say that we ask you to pray for this ministry. We really need God’s wisdom, guidance, and discernment as we discuss, plan, and present our vision. Pray for a common unity, understanding, and desire for the ministry of the Bible School here in Ukraine and this region.

We continue to thank God for you, and pray for you, too. Please email us how we can be praying for you. May you find strength and joy as you abide in Him (John 15:5).

In His Grace,
Andy, Monica, Moriah, Isaiah and Josiah

“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them." Isaiah 42:15-17

World Relief

The following news comes from World Relief the relief agency used by the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations.

World Relief Helps Flood Victims in Mozambique

Flood Waters Recede; Extent of Damage Devastating

Floods in Mozambique last week – some of the worst in 50 years – forced the evacuation of thousands of people near World Relief ministries in the Chokwe province. World Relief staff and church partners are on the scene providing assistance to families who have lost everything – shelter, crops, clothing.

But more help is needed.  At least $100,000 in immediate aid is needed now. Current needs, especially for the 75,000 people living in camps, include:

• Emergency food – Prices for a box of tomatoes in the market jumped from $3 to $19.
• Water – Most sources are contaminated.
• Shelter – Thousands of homes were destroyed.
• Seeds and tools – The destroyed crops of 1,400 families need to be replanted.

Please pray for our staff and church partners working on the scene.  One of our staff, Mr. Callanga, labors around the clock to care for others.  Like many others, he has been unable to find his family since the floods.  He knows they ran for their lives after the flooding but has not yet heard if they survived. Many other Christians continue to help others, hoping to be reunited with their families, too.  These brothers and sisters need our prayers and help now.

Please pray and give as you are able today by clicking here:  Give to Mozambique.

To learn more about this situation, you can read our blog (World Relief Responds) or follow World Relief Mozambique on Facebook.

New Faces, New Hearts

Editor’s note:  Normally, I will give you a teaser from a missionary’s newsletter but this time, I just had to include all the children Jonni talked about here on the post.  You can read about Jonni’s prayer requests and her upcoming visit to the US here.

After a short lull the end of December and the beginning of January, the Miriam Home is once again full and hopping. We have 13 children in the house and with summer holidays in full gear, there is never a dull moment! Let me introduce you to the gang.

Let’s start with the youngest, they have also been here the longest, both arrived last year. Nicolas and Emily are both nearly three years old. Nicolas is with us because of extreme neglect and abandonment; Emily because of  regular abuse from her father, and the fact that her family wouldn’t or couldn’t defend her. This precious little tyke arrived not trusting in a single person,  today she has a beautiful smile and a ringing laugh - as long as she can see one of the house moms. If she can’t see them the fear and panic returns in a flash.

Next in line we have Emerson (5 years old), Lucas (8 years old) and his sister Sara (5 years old). Emerson was picked up at 11 p.m. wandering in the street. It is the third time in the last several months this has happened. Apparently when Emerson’s father drinks the little boy makes himself scarce. This little boy has been with us two weeks and has begun talking to us and the other children just  recently (the first days we thought he might have had autism because of his inability to connect with others, but that appears to have been more from fear than anything else). Lucas and Sara are the newest members of the Miriam family and we know a lot less about them and their family. What we do know, based on what we can see and hear as they interact with the other children, is that they have been exposed to much more of the things of the world than our teens should be, much less little children. These little ones desperately need healing of heart and mind.

Now we come to the pre-adolescent boys. Luiz (12) is an old friend. He was in the Miriam Home for over a year before he went to live with his grandparents, but old habits  returned and soon Luiz was running away from home to accompany his mother on the street. Since the street shouldn’t be the home of any child, Luiz came back to us. Daniel (9)  is a funny, affectionate child, but he really misses his mom and home. He doesn’t understand why he was taken from his home. Life with his mother was the only reality he knew and the fact that she would “rent him out” to anyone who would give her money for drugs was just a fact of life. Thaylon (12) is also new  to the Miriam Home. He came to us because his mother is in an institution because of mental problems and his father is a violent alcoholic. That being said, Thaylon is an bright, helpful young man who has easily fit into the house.

The pre-teen girls are Amanda (7) and Crislaine (9),  who have very similar stories - both were being abused by neighbors or friends of their families. Tragically, the impact on these very young girls is clear. At an age when they should be playing with  My Little Pony and Cabbage Patch dolls they have an interest in boys and sexuality that passes  that of most experienced teens. In the  same small group is Alicy (10), who came to us because her father becomes violent when he drinks, but it is clear from Alicy’s behavior that she has also been exposed to much more than her young heart can deal with.

The older girls in the house are Angely and Rebecca. Both are 14 and both are here because their families say they can’t control them. These young girls have taken on adult life styles and though both of them have at least one adult that is trying to provide the care they need, they haven’t found a way to reach the girls’ hearts. Here, in the Home, we see them, bit by bit, opening their hearts.

As you can see we have a wide range of amazing children in the Miriam Home, and in their own, individual ways, they each have broken hearts, with pieces missing. There is no doctor or psychologist who can fix them. The only one who can mend what has been broken is the One who formed them to begin with. Please pray for the Father Creator to bring His healing touch to each of our charges!

Updates on 3 Missionaries

After a prolonged furlough here in the US, the Schierkolks have arrived safely back in Mexico.  They left on  Jan 23rd after spending some time at the Pastors/Spouses retreat at the ARC.   At the opening worship, the family was called forward and we prayed for them and their safe trip and continued ministry in Mexico.  Please continue to pray for them during this transition.

Pastor Kevin Olson is now in Uganda working with Pastor Jore and the Ambassador Institute students there.  Please keep him in your prayers as he does this important ministry!

And finally, Jacob O’Flanagan has returned to spend approximately 9 months in Brazil.  He will be working in Campo Mourau.  Pray for his ministry as well.  We are grateful for our short term missionaries who bring so much needed help to the mission field and give of themselves so freely.  

Update on Matthew Abel Who Is In Brazil for Ministry

Today is Monday January 21st and I am in Brazil! For some of you this is the first mission update/letter that you are receiving and for some of you it is the 2nd, 3rd or 4th.

I arrived home late last Wednesday Night (Jan. 16th) and hit the ground running. I am home after being away for 6 years and am excited about reconnecting with the community that I grew up in. I see this year ahead as an amazing opportunity to testify about God's work in my life and influence a group of people whom I have easy access to.

There has been much work to help with immediately upon my arrival since Bible camp begins tomorrow! Today our Counselor staff arrives and everything will have to be arranged and set up for camp. My mother, Becky, is off to do the shopping and pick up the cook (my godmother) as I write this letter.

Please be in prayer for this week of Bible Camp, there are already over 50 children registered, which means that there will probably be more kids attending than the 70 we were expecting! Bible Camp is a great evangelistic opportunity as we preach the Gospel and teach children to know the Bible and to Love Jesus in a SUPER fun and safe environment. Our counselor staff is hand picked and great! Pray that they would be tactful and loving ministers of grace here at Camp. Many are stretched and challenged with new experiences in telling stories, acting in dramas and leading groups. Please pray for safety and good weather also.

After the craziness of the Bible camp rush is done I will be sitting down with missionaries Paul and Becky Abel for us to evaluate and strategize about how to best invest my time and energy. Unfortunately there are more opportunities in ministry for me here than I can possibly do, and I will have to narrow my options in order to properly invest and have a lasting impact here while keeping my sanity.

I am very blessed and am expectant about what God is doing and what He will do. I have dreams, plans and radical idealism about the future and I will be glad to continue to share the blessings and the needs with you all as this develops.
  
Duty calls. -Thank you for your prayers!

Please continue to pray for: 
Holy Spirit Power 
My Transition Back 
The decision-making about ministry 
The existing church body here and its ministries 
The process of reconnecting with old friends who are far from the Lord 
Whatever the Holy Spirit Places on Your Heart

Remembering 2012 at the Miriam Infant Home

Editor’s note:  This is part 2 of a two part series:

As you will remember from last month, it wouldn’t be a good idea to change the name of the Miriam  Infant Home. At the peak of the housing boom we had 23 children in the house and 5 children 2 and under (6 with Daniel, house mom Odete’s new baby). The majority of the children came from three families; and it was precious that 11 children from those three homes spent Christmas with extended family members who really wanted to receive them. Two of the home situations appear to be promising; the third is more questionable, but we are praying and visiting! 

Two of our latest arrivals in 2012 have a special place in my heart. On Sunday, the 16th Pr. Altair preached on prayer and God spoke very directly to me about being proactive; praying for the children that He would bring to the Miriam Home before they arrived. The next day Vilma arrived. She is sixteen years old, and Odete and I already knew her. She was Odete’s roommate when she had Daniel and I had visited her when I went to see Odete and baby. Suddenly, this young mom was on our doorstep, with her four month old baby, Alex. He was so thin and so weak, he barely cried or kicked—it seemed like he only had enough strength to lay there and breath. Vilma and her baby came to us because she was overwhelmed. She wanted to take care of her baby but didn’t know how. Her mother had been helping her but the beginning of December her mother passed away. Neighbors contacted the authorities, concerned for the baby and according to the documents Vilma and Alex came to receive support and something of child care education. But the real reason they came is that God loves them and wants to be a part of their lives! We have had precious opportunities to pray over Alex, to talk to and pray with Vilma, and to reach out to Joao, Alex’ father.  We don’t know what the Lord has planned for this young family, but we know that here in the Miriam Home they received new hope!

You can read the rest of Jonni’s newsletter here!

Remembering 2012 at the Miriam Infant Home

Editor’s note:  This is the first in a two part series as Jonni Sliver remembers all the children and adults who have been a part of the Miriam Infant Home last year.  Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow:

The beginning of a new year is exciting! There are twelve whole months to look back and an entirely new year of hope in front.

In the Miriam Home we have a lot to look back on. We have seen struggling families strengthened and broken families restored. We have seen wounded children being received by grandparents, aunts and uncles, finding new hope within their own families. We have seen substitute families step in andoffer the love our children’s own families denied them. In 2012 we received 68 children from 38 families. As often as was possible we worked with the families, seeking to bring God’s healing, not only to the little ones who came to us, but to the whole family they would eventually go back to.

But it isn’t numbers that fills our hearts with joy, it is the faces behind the numbers! Like Cleber, who arrived in December of 2011. This precious, now seven year old, had been truly and completely abandoned. During the whole year he was with us his mother not only didn’t come to visit, she never even called to ask how he was. But the Lord’s promises are faithful and true. He took this lonely child and brought him into a loving new family!Claudineia and Juliano (members of the Free Lutheran Church in Bateais, Curitiba) met Cleber last February when they came as counselors for youth retreat during Carnival and within days had taken their first steps in the long process of adoption. Their love and persistence in facing all of the red tape ministered to Cleber’s wounded heart, and it was thrilling  to see him jump for joy when his mom and dad came to collect him just two weeks ago.

For several months the Miriam Infant Home was turned into the House of Princesses, as we had at one point seven teen-age girls in the house (and amazingly, without civil war!). It thrills my heart to say that Larissa, Paola, Vitoria, Noeme, Vanessa and Franciele are all with members of their family and so far all have adapted well.

There are some special prayer requests and more of Jonni’s newsletter that won’t be posted here.