My first summer in Colorado has been filled with mission activity, church activity, and just exploring more of this beautiful State. Many of our missionaries pass through headquarters here while on furlough so we’ve had personal updates from almost every region we serve. That means first hand reports and photos from the field.
My current project at work has allowed me to email all of our missionaries, active and retired, so I’ve had the joy of meeting many for the first time and having them share some of their prayer requests with me.
We started a ladies’ hiking club at church, and we’re exploring some incredible trails every other weekend.
I’m also playing 2nd base on our office softball team. I’m almost over most of the aches & pains of doing something I’ve not done in nearly 40 years. I love it!!

Imagine living in a country where you can’t access the Internet, watch television, read newspapers or even receive mail. Except in Bangui, the capital city of the Central African Republic (C.A.R.), that’s what life is like for most of the country’s 4.5 million residents. Their lifeline to the rest of the world? Radio.

People in C.AR., a country about the size of Texas, depend on radio broadcasts to keep informed. Almost every village has a radio, and some have more than one. The sets are affordable, costing as little as $6, usually coming from countries such as Nigeria and Niger.

In 2007 a team from HCJB Global Technology Center in Elkhart, IN, spent three weeks at a broadcast site, and installed the first shortwave radio station. They also put in two satellite downlinks that provided access to the Internet and made it possible to receive French-language Christian programming from Trans World Radio, another HCJB Global partner.

Last month HCJB Global engineers returned to C.A.R. to put in two additional regional shortwave transmitters in Boali, similar to the one installed in 2007. The new units will provide more programming opportunities for broadcasting the gospel across C.A.R. in Sango (the country’s trade language), French and various tribal dialects.

May has been filled with mission activities, each one giving me a deeper awareness of the spiritual struggles in my own heart and the spiritual battle for the hearts and souls of people around the world. BUT, our God is able to deliver us from them all!

We began the month with our annual prayer retreat at a small chapel in the mountains nearby. We were challenged in several devotionals to persevere in prayer and be patient as we wait on the Lord. Dr. Jim Allen, our VP of Team Development, shared about the struggles experienced by missionaries in the field and the church around the world, especially those serving in creative-access regions or where Christianity is strongly opposed by the government, often resulting in harassment and persecution.


This week our Board of Trustees and regional directors have gathered for meetings here. In chapel each morning we’ve heard reports from some of our regional directors. We celebrated over the mighty things God is doing globally and prayed for many of the needs ministry wide.

Pictured left to right is Dave Pasechnik, VP of International Ministries for Asia Pacific, Europe/Eurasia and the Technology Center; Dan Shedd, VP of Finance; Jim Allen, VP of Team Development; Wayne Pederson, our President; Sheila Leech, VP of International Healthcare; Curt Cole, VP of International Ministries for North Africa/Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa; and Dick Jacquin, VP of Mobilization.

Thank you,
Shukran (Arabic)
Dhanyabaad (Nepali)
Spasibo (Russian)

How grateful we are for your continued prayers and support that allow our mission to continue to serve as the Voice and Hands of Jesus around the world. We praise God for giving us faithful partners in ministry.
Celebrating His goodness,

I’m excited about HCJB Global’s many short term mission opportunities that will be coming up soon and wanted to mention just two here. I love being a small part of the team that puts these together. I’m learning much about our mission locations and inner workings.
If you know of someone who might be interested in joining our teams on these trips, please pass on this information.

College Students can spend 4-8 weeks this summer serving in Ireland and Ukraine (Europe); in Ecuador (Latin America); or at the HCJB Global Technology Center (Elkhart, Indiana).

Vision Journeys offer an opportunity to see HCJB Global’s and our partners’ ministries in Ecuador – July 10-19, 2010 & April 2-12, 2011 Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia – August 16-29, 2010 Greece and Turkey – Oct 15-29, 2010

For a complete list of available options, please visit:
http://www.hcjb.org/Short-Term-Opportunities/short-term-opportunities.html

The new year was barely underway when our eyes were turned to the disaster in Haiti. At the Ministry Service Center (MSC) here in Colorado Springs, we daily have updates on the situation from our emergency disaster team that arrived there the Friday after the quake. We have heard many wonderful stories of people helping people ….being the voice and hands of Jesus in the midst of such great tragedy.

For a week now, the Ecuador team of HCJB Global Hands has assisted at the Baptist Haiti Mission (BHM) hospital where local chaplains and those from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) circulate among the patients. The chaplains comfort those grieving and share the news that God is love, even in times of trial.

While being prepped for surgery at BHM, a 14-year-old, Marcelus, was evangelized by Cesaire Elusmond, a Haitian chaplain, and BGEA’s Jack Dowling. “Then and there, just minutes before going to surgery under HCJB Global surgeons, he prayed and gave his life to the Lord. As doctors were saving his life, Jesus was changing his heart,” said Martin Harrison, a water engineer who was present. “We give thanks for the miracles God is working each and every day,” the British engineer added, “not only saving lives, but changing hearts.”

As this new year of ministry begins, it is with great joy that I look back at God’s faithfulness, and the faithfulness of each of you who has partnered with me financially and in prayer for God’s work to continue around the world.

Thank you,
Efcharisto (Greek)
Toda (Hebrew)
Ngiyabonga (Zulu)