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We are Fortunate to be able to Share of Our Abundance |
2006-03-30 |
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We are very fortunate to receive so many blessings from God. We live in a peaceful place and have great wealth (even if it doesn't always seem like it when we compare ourselves to others who have more, or when it is time to pay the bills). The Lord who gives us all things requires that we not keep all of it for ourselves, but that we give a portion back to Him by sharing it with others.
God has blessed us by giving us the opportunity to share out of our abundance with our brothers and sisters in Africa. We have supported Rev. Daryl and Jane Schubert as missionaries in Tanzania. For several years we have supported Jean Marc Djoulde, a pastor to his people in Cameroon (See attachment 1). We have given him part of our Lenten offering every year, and also include his family and his ministry in our annual benevolence budget. The Sunday School sent some of their offering from last year, and a member of our congregation has also sent a generous gift to him as well.
Jean Marc has a wife and six children (See attachment 2), and serves a congregation spread over a large area. They are rich in the Spirit even though they are poor in worldly goods. In January Jean Marc wrote to thank us for the gift from the Sunday School (he speaks French, so he does the best he can in English): "Thank you for your gift. It's making us work for the Christian ministry. According to us, the weather is not good. It's very hot here and the sun is becoming very hard. This year, our region will have a hungry problem because our farmers didn't succeed in their work. There isn't enough maize in the market and price is expensive: about $60 a bag at the moment. At the end of last year the price was $40. Probably from April to August it will be more expensive! With the money, after buying chairs and green cloths for the congregation (See attachment 3), the congregation asked me to arrange my motorbike which broke down. We haven't got a car and my motorbike helps us to visit congregation members. I attended also a meeting on evangelism at the headquarters of the church (Ngaoundere town). We have a mission to bring Christ to Muslims, the most important people in Maroua town (where Jean Marc serves). I'm teaching now some of the congregation members to do this ministry. Please, greet everybody for me and particularly your Sunday School!"
A member of our congregation gave a gift to send to Jean Marc in February. When we e-mailed him about this he wrote: "My father-in-law passed away. We went to our village for the burial ceremony. Now, my wife doesn't have any parents. Thank you for the news of the gift! Of course, my congregation can't pay my salary. I have six children who go to school. I also have two brothers at the University. I have to pay for all of their education. If I have a gift, it will be very helpful for my family." After we sent the gift, Jean Marc wrote back: "Peace, grace and love be with you in the goodness of our Lord Jesus! I received the money you have sent. Today, it's with a joyful heart that I write this to thank our donor! My family and I charge you to tell them that what they did, Jesus is the only one who can bless them and their family. He said that whatever you do to mine, you do it for me. May our unique Savior do everything he judges necessary for them now and forever! You can't imagine what we think to do with that money! My family and I haven't any house [in their hometown to even stay in during holidays]! When we get home, we have difficulty to pay a motel and so on. We decided to start to build something! That money is not enough for that, but by the grace of our Lord, he will help us to finish work on our house! We also paid my bother's university scholarship. Please pray for that subject which is important for us! Please, greet and thank everyone for us! May God bless all of you and your ministry! (Jean Marc sent pictures, which will be posted on our church website).
We have also supported the Kissy Eye Clinic and the long time ministry that Central United Methodist Church has done in Sierra Leone, Africa. This year, during the move to the new building, we gave Sunday School materials, books, BIbles, and all kinds of things to aid in Christian education and church life. The ministry team in Africa from Central just returned the last week in March to Milbank after working extremely hard at the Kissy Eye Clinic. While there, they emailed updates to many back here in Milbank This tells you a bit about their Mission Trip. This section from an email tells us of how our "gifts" from American Lutheran (which in actuallity was mostly what we no longer could use or didn't want) were used by God to lift up the name of Jesus Christ to the people in this African village.
Dear Family and Friends,
Friday was indeed the big "give away"----thanks to all of you for the many things which were included in the container.
The people do appreciate every item. If we had 15 containers full of clothing alone, it would not begin to make a dent in the need here! Two of the young pastors fit into Jim Mundwiler's suits to perfection! We delivered the organ from the container to Bishop Humper UMC on Saturday and many pastors have come by for hymnals, religious referencebooks, etc.
On Monday, one of our clinic employees Johnny Sawyer brought his 3 month old son to Ginger and said he had been sick since last Thursday. She immediately took them over to the UMC Health and Maternity Center where he and his mother were admitted. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and intestinal infection. We checked in on them intermittently during the day and when Ginger returned to the apartment late in the afternoon she was very concerned about him. The news came tous an hour later that the baby had passed away. As is custom in Sierra Leone with the death of an infant, funeral arrangements are made for the very next day as there is no embalming. The baby's father asked the men to build a little casket for his son which, of course, they were honored to do. By Tuesday at noon, a beautiful little casket was made padded with fleece donated by the turban sewers at Central and covered with a beautiful piece of burgundy dress lining from Roger's aunt Bernice.
The top of the casket had a picture of Jesus that we found in Sunday School materials donated from American Lutheran Church and a white cross---a small Gideon Testament was placed in his casket. Funeral services were held at 2 pm on Tuesday. Hard to believe that just a few days before, Ginger and Melanie had been holding him and taking his picture---he was beautiful! How one tragedy of this nature can help everyone put things into perspective. In the last minute before the funeral, Pastor Forbie came running to get his"senior organist" and, accompanied to the Church by Roger in his work clothes, no yet was drafted to read the scripture.
The pickup which has served the clinic for a number of years is in need of a new engine so that is being addressed today. The cost will run nearly $3,000 so there is never an end to the need here. Please continue to keep us and these people in your prayers our love and thanks to all! The Workteam
We are blessed that God has used us in Milbank, SD to make God's name known around the world! May God continue to use us as a community of faith to further the work of His kingdom!
See you in Church!
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Attachment 1
Attachment 2
Attachment 3
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Summer: starting Memorial Day Weekend
9:00 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
10:00 am Coffee and Fellowship
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm
Winter: starting after Labor Day
8:30 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
9:35 am Educational Hour
9:35 am Coffee and Fellowship
10:45 am Worship Service
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm |
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401 South Flynn Drive
Milbank SD 57252
605.432.5566 |
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