Volume 1 Issue 6
IMages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
IMages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
at a glance 4
Mandi Morgan shares her experiences in Spain
7
Amanda Simmons lets us look through her lens
8
The Hanna Project in Bondoukou
Japan Field Council and Retreat. . . . . . . . . . 2 Photo Shoot (Mandi Morgan) . . . . . . . . . . 4 LightBox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Thumbnails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Through My Lens (Amanda Simmons) . . . . . . 7 Snapshot (The Hanna Project-Ivory Coast). . . . . 8
ON THE COVER: A view from the base of Mount Fuji,where missionaries to Japan and their families gathered for a field council and retreat. Funded by FWB Foundation Editor-in-chief: Clint Morgan Managing editor : Deborah St. Lawrence Associate editor: Emily Faison Design by Melanie Poole
Missionaries to Japan enjoyed their fellowship together.
Japan Field Council and Retreat At the base of Mount Fuji in in Yamanakako, Japan, six missionary families gathered during the last week of March for a much-needed field council meeting and retreat. “Most people probably don’t realize missionaries here are separated by over 900 miles and are on different islands,” Ruth McDonald pointed out. “We actually got to be together and in the same place for the first time in over three years!” With our missionaries to Japan separated by so much distance, they don’t see each other often. Some families work closely together, but other missionary families, like the Snows, work
by Emily Faison
without the immediate support of another missionary family. “Sometimes it gets lonely here, far away from most of our other missionary family,” Linda Snow said—not to mention being far from friends and family back in the States. Since the missionaries in Japan hadn’t met in several years, it was high time for a get together. Alicia Crowe loved, “reconnecting with our missionary team and just hanging out.” A missionary’s job is never done, and meetings or trips back home to the States are usually centered on planning, raising funds, or other Continued on Page 3
Japan Field Council and Retreat Continued from Page 2
“
Brenda and I really enjoyed the food! Four
days of not having to cook a meal, and still business. “It was nice to be able to visit with all the other missionaries and find out what was going on with each one as well as play games and just have fun,” said Rusty Carney. “No strategy talk. No items of business to discuss. Just plain ol’ fellowship!”
being able to eat American food at that! Don’t get me wrong--we love Japanese food, but it was a treat to be able to eat American food that we did not have to fix ourselves! —Rusty Carney
”
Everyone enjoyed the refreshing community of their fellow missionaries, and especially the company of fellow English speakers. Spending time around other English-speaking kids was exciting for our MKs in Japan, who spend all day at school with their Japanese-speaking peers. Linda Snow mentioned that doing Japanese school isn’t easy, so it was great that the MKs were “able to run around and play with others in English!” Of course, the kids didn’t only play all day. Diana Bryant, of Ryanwood Fellowship Free Will Baptist Church in Florida, traveled to Japan to teach the missionary kids while their parents spent time together. “My kids loved the VBS classes with Mrs. Diana Bryant! She had so many fun activities planned which helped the kids look forward to class each day,” Linda Snow said. All the parents agreed that having child care during the day was a huge blessing. Alicia Crowe was excited that she and Josh “were able to just go for a walk, no kids, and enjoy the lake view of Mount Fuji.” Rusty and Brenda Carney were happy that their kids weren’t only being “taken care of, but they were also being taught a Bible school program in English,” which many MKs don’t often get to participate in, as they
IMages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
work hard alongside their parents in ministry. Diana Bryant led the kids in memorizing Bible verses, and songs with motions, to perform in a program. MKs don’t always get to perform in the VBS programs and Christmas plays that church kids in the States do, so the missionary parents were thrilled to watch their kids perform at the end of the retreat. Rusty Carney exclaimed “It was such a delight seeing all the young MKs singing the songs they had learned and quoting their memory verses together!”
Howard R. Price...
Legacy of generosity! Diana Bryant led a ladies’ tea for the missionary wives. Throughout his life, businessman Howard R. Price displayed a generous spirit. From missions trips and building churches to ministry boards, he modeled a servant’s heart. He also worked closely with Free Will Baptist Foundation to make sure he continued to support these ministries he loved after his death.
Why not create your own legacy of generosity with an endowment at FWB Foundation? The kids learned about Joshua and Jericho... with marshmallows!
877-336-7575 | foundation@nafwb.org
Photo Shoot
HOT LINKS
IMages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Email Mandi See the Morgans’ prayer card
Which do you prefer? Coffee or Tea Mac or PC
Mandi & Neil’s daughters, Emma Catherine, Aubrey, and Sofia
Cats or Dogs Pancakes or Waffles Rollercoasters or Zoo Beach or Mountains Football or Softball
Mandi Morgan
Read about Mandi’s favorite aspect of Spanish culture .
• Wife to Neil a Catherine, • Mom to Emm fia. Aubrey, and So guay before Spain • Served in Uru
Mandi’s family with Pastor José Manuel and Carmen
Read about Mandi’s favorite food in Spain .
LightBox
IMages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Women of the Good News by Elizabeth Hodges Our Ivorian sisters meet biannually for their national retreat. Always before, the women have met in one of our churches, prepared their own meals with all the clean-up, and slept on benches, the floor, or under the trees. This year WNAC raised funds to underwrite the rental of a facility, reduce the cost of registration, and provide gifts for the attendees. Ladies traveled from all over the country to Bingerville, near Abidjan, for the March 10-14 retreat. Ladies slept in dormitory-type rooms at the Catholic retreat center. The retreat center prepared the meals, and the ladies did not even have to wash their dishes. A highlight of the retreat for many was the trip to the beach on Saturday. The theme of the retreat, “The World is Changing—How Should the Christian Woman Respond,” was developed in the worship services, seminars, and discussion groups. The ladies participated in acts of evangelism: visiting
Ivorian pastors and their wives gathered in Tanda in March for their annual retreat. Click to see more photos from the retreat.
a maternity ward at the local hospital and ministering to girls from the nearby orphanage. As a young child, I remember missionaries asking us to pray for believers and leaders and for the tribal groups to worship and serve in unity. This retreat was planned and orchestrated by Ivorian women from various parts of the country. The praise and worship sessions were especially poignant. At one point, I whispered to Lynette Morgan, “I am witnessing answers to prayer.” This experience was a taste of heaven…when those from every tribe and nation will be represented. What a blessed privilege. May I never be the same!
Elizabeth speaking at the Camp for Women of the Good News in Bingerville, Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa
Regardless of tribe, we all worshiped together. Learn more about the Ivorian Women of the Good News.
IMages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Thumbnails Ladies met for their national retreat in Côte d’Ivoire
The Cuban Convention met in Pinar del Rio in February for worship and youth competition.
Ladies in Uruguay had their first retreat. Lori Torrison organized the event; and Kathia de Mendoza, from Panama, spoke.
ader
e, le Kambir lange od News o S e Madam n of the Go e of Wom
Read Lori Torrison’s perspective!
Red more about the National Ladies Retreat
The Cuban Convention also celebrated the graduation of students from the Bible College. Read more about the Cedars of Lebanon Bible College.
Through My Lens Amanda Simmons Missionary to the Samburu people in Kenya Word spreads quickly that the wazungu (white people in Swahili) are here. The Samburu come from every part of Barsalinga, walking for hours, even on injured legs or suffering from high fever. Why? Because this region of North Central Kenya has no reliable medical care. The need is so great! On one particularly heavy day, I saw respiratory infections, malaria, asthma, burns, and neurological issues. Overwhelmed with the heat and the needs, I dissolved in tears with Eddy. He prayed for me and got others praying. Late that afternoon, a lady came from a remote unreached area with her child and neighbor’s child, both sick with cough and an ear infection. After I treated them, Eunice, my Samburu ministry partner, shared the gospel with the woman, Mama Wetu. Mama Wetu prayed right then to receive Christ! Glory to His Name! When I found out her area was unreached, I got a solar-powered MP3 player for her, programmed with the first oral translations of several books of the New Testament in the Samburu language. Eunice showed Mama Wetu how to work the solar player. She smiled and said, “As soon as I get back to my home place, I will gather everyone to listen! We want to hear God’s Word!” As she and the children left for home, tears came to my eyes as I realized this truth: God used their medical needs to get them to a place where their spiritual needs could be met. And, He provided the technology to send His Word to that whole community of unreached Samburu. What a glorious opportunity, worth the heat and emotional struggle.
Read more about Napano
Read more about Eunice and Mama Wetu
IMages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
IMages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
team though! Remember, we were prepared to be flexible and adaptable. boy slim a Mu team. , a l a Kal our bout t on ore a ig impac m n Lear eab mad who
The Hanna Project in Bondoukou
by Abby Greenwood On March 4, a group of college students began their trek across the Atlantic to Côte d’Ivoire. For months leading up to the trip, our team met to share our fears and concerns, pray, and ask what seemed like hundreds of questions. Each time we met, we were challenged to remember two words: flexibility and adaptability. When we arrived in Bondoukou, the enemy tried to destroy our plans and discourage us. Through a miscommunication, the soccer camp we had prepared for elementary school children had been advertised to high school soccer teams. When we arrived at the soccer field, there were already 30+ teen boys waiting for us. Needless to say, we had to rework our plans for young children and adapt them for high schoolers with already impressive skills. This did not shake our
On March 14, a terrorist attack occurred in Abidjan, which is where we stayed for two nights before we left for Bondoukou and for our last night in Africa. The attack happened Sunday morning on a beach just 15 kilometers from where we were staying. As we heard the news of this terrible attack, we began to look back on the day and how the Lord had slowed us down with many things that made us get back to the city under the cover of darkness. It was truly incredible how our God protected us and how He orchestrated the day to keep us safe. Our team was overwhelmed when we realized how God had been protecting and leading us throughout the entire trip and how His hand of protection was on us. Our team agreed that never had we felt the power of prayer more than while we were on this trip. To those who supported our team through finances and prayer, we cannot thank you enough. Your support allowed us to have life-changing experiences that have strengthened each of our walks with Christ and set a fire in our hearts for the lost people around the world, especially in Africa. Learn more about The Hanna Project in Bondoukou.
Click here for a construction update on the site of the Free Will Baptist school.
P. O. Box 5002 • Antioch, TN 37011 www.fwbgo.com • 877-767-7736
IMages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9