the
VOLUNTEER A Publication of Maranatha Volunteers International
THE RETURN TO PERU
How you’ve helped in Peru and why we’re going back.
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VOLUNTEER
Julie Z. Lee Editor Heather Bergren Managing Editor/Designer Dustin Comm Writer
UNITED STATES HEADQUARTERS: Maranatha Volunteers International 990 Reserve Drive Suite 100 Roseville, CA 95678 Phone: (916) 774 7700 Website: www.maranatha.org Email: info@maranatha.org IN CANADA: Maranatha Volunteers International Association c/o V06494C PO Box 6494, Station Terminal Vancouver, BC V6B 6R3 CANADA All notices of change of address should be sent to the Maranatha Volunteers International United States address.
Maranatha spreads the Gospel throughout the world as it builds people through the construction of urgently needed buildings.
SARAROMBA, INDIA Jeevan Lal is on his way to collect fresh, clean water from the well at the Sararomba Seventhday Adventist Church. Two years ago, Maranatha constructed a new church for the congregation and also drilled a well. Prior, people in the community did not have access to clean water. “We had to bring water from an open well. The well is far off but is adjacent to the fields, and during the rainy season the water from the fields used to drip into the well, making the well water dirtier. It was almost muddy water, but we had no choice but to use that 2 | THE VOLUNTEER SPRING 2020
water. Many of us got sick with diarrhea,” says Jeevan. Now, he can smile because his family and the entire community no longer have to worry about dirty water—thanks to supporters like you. Since 2018, Maranatha has drilled 50 water wells in India, where we have also built places of worship. We’ve also constructed bathrooms in an effort to improve sanitation conditions at our churches. Together, this effort is creating happier and healthier communities, where the Gospel message can thrive.
About the Cover: A local woman in Peru poses with a beloved possession: her Bible. She is a member of the Huaycan R Seventh‑day Adventist Church. Photo by Tom Lloyd
www.maranatha.org
SHARING THE
Mission
OUR EYES ARE ON GOD By Don Noble
When the COVID-19 pandemic began to close borders, alter airline schedules, and cause most of the earth’s population to fear for their lives, Maranatha Volunteers International was in the middle of our busiest volunteer season of the year. More than 1,100 people were scheduled to participate in mission projects with Maranatha around the world during the months of March and April. Some volunteers were already at their project locations, and other teams were evaluating whether they should abandon their plans or move ahead. At the office, the Maranatha team faced unprecedented issues. In the beginning, the severity of the situation wasn’t clear. But once it was obvious that we were heading into a worldwide crisis, the focus turned quickly to protecting the volunteers. For those in the field, we needed to get them home. For those who hadn’t left, we needed to help them adjust their plans—a difficult process given how much time, money, and effort they had spent on planning for a meaningful mission experience. We were also awakened to a truth that we don’t always realize except in www.maranatha.org
times of great challenge: our only place of true dependence is in God. Sure, we talk about having faith, but the true depth of our faith is tested when our lives are disrupted with major challenges. I can tell you that a lot of prayers were sent Heavenward in search of wisdom, guidance, and protection, especially for the volunteers attempting to return home despite some extremely difficult scenarios. God blessed abundantly, and all the Maranatha volunteers made it back safely. We are very grateful. As I am writing this, it is still unclear when we might be able to continue with mission trips around the world. At this time we are working with our local crews, wherever it is possible, to continue moving forward. It has been heartwarming to hear from volunteers who, after postponing their trips, are eager to reschedule their projects. In the mission field, congregations, teachers, and principals are also praying for the volunteers, as they are having to wait even longer to receive their muchneeded buildings. Through the past 50 years of Maranatha’s existence, we have watched God guide us through a wide variety
of challenges and opportunities. The one thing He really wants is for all of us to trust Him because He is totally trustworthy. The current world situation is yet another chance for us to deepen our dependence on Him. One of my favorite Bible stories is found in 2 Chronicles, chapter 20. There you will read the story of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, when he was surrounded by a huge army of enemies. It seemed like an impossible situation, but Jehoshaphat did an amazing thing. He brought the people around, and he prayed a wonderful prayer that concluded with these words: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” That is our prayer and our statement of faith as we move through this difficult and challenging time. We also pray that each of you will sense the unfailing support of God at this time of uncertainty. Don Noble is the president of Maranatha.
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World
AROUND THE
A snapshot of volunteers and projects in the mission field.
PERU Volunteers from the Niles Westside Seventh‑day Adventist Church in Michigan helped construct a church building for the Emanuel de Cupiche congregation.
PERU Volunteers with Seniors in Action for God with Excellence (SAGE) worked on a foundation for the Villa Jesus Seventh-day Adventist Church.
INDIA Volunteers of all ages helped construct new classroom buildings for the Jingshai Mihngi Adventist School. 4 | THE VOLUNTEER SPRING 2020
www.maranatha.org
INDIA Over the course of six days, volunteers from Brazil hosted medical clinics near the city of Khunti, serving 1,508 patients.
BRAZIL Pedro de Lemos is one of many people who are grateful to have access to clean water at the Sitio Feitosa Seventh-day Adventist Church well.
KENYA The Kiutine Adventist Secondary School campus is lush with new landscaping completed by our Maranatha local crew.
INDIA Proud members of the Edelhatu Seventh-day Adventist Church now have a new water well to share with the community. www.maranatha.org
UNITED STATES More than 50 volunteers served at Camp Alamisco, renovating rooms in the lodge. T H E V O LU N T E E R SPRING 2 0 2 0 | 5
News + H I G H L I G H T S
Volunteers helped to construct a new building and bathroom for the Abbebroukoi Seventh-day Adventist Church.
VOLUNTEERS SERVE IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE
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n January, a team of Maranatha volunteers headed to Côte d’Ivoire, in Africa, for a mission trip to build the Abbebroukoi Seventh-day Adventist Church. With only 18 people, the volunteer team was on the smaller side. But the group managed to finish all the block work for the church and a bathroom, leaving local crews with a completed structure to begin stuccoing and painting. The Abbebroukoi congregation formerly met in an unfinished structure that resembled a patio. The poor meeting space drew negative attention and made evangelism more challenging—especially considering the majority of the community is not Christian. It also left the members vulnerable to extreme weather, such as wind and rain.
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Throughout the trip, volunteers also enjoyed plentiful interactions with the locals. Each day, church members and community people alike gathered around the construction site to see the progress made by the participants. Beyond church construction, volunteers passed out educational items and toys to children in the neighborhood. In March, volunteers with the West Houston Seventh-day Adventist Church, in Texas, arrived in Côte d’Ivoire to build classrooms at Abbebroukoi, next to the church. The goal is to open a school in the neighborhood, which has few options for primary school.
There are less than 10,000 Adventist church members in Côte d’Ivoire. In 2019, Maranatha agreed to build churches and schools in response to a request from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in West Central Africa. The initial focus will be surrounding the largest city in the country, Abidjan. www.maranatha.org
HIGH SCHOOL OPENS AT KAJIADO
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he Kajiado Adventist School and Rescue Center in Kenya celebrated the opening of its new high school on campus in January 2020. Thanks to donations from Maranatha’s #GivingTuesday campaign in December 2019, a new classroom building now houses 40 ninth grade students, who previously would have had to attend school elsewhere. Additionally, 15 girls that were enrolled at boarding schools returned to the Kajiado campus for 10th grade. The establishment of a secondary program is a dream come true for the
Kajiado center, which provides a home and education to Maasai girls who have escaped child marriage. In the past, students had to leave campus to receive a high school education, due to the lack of classroom space. Now, the girls can
remain at the center, which has become their home, until they complete their education. This provides the advantage of working with teachers who understand the girls’ sensitive backgrounds.
VOLUNTEERS RENOVATE CAMP KULAQUA
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arlier this year, Maranatha completed a renovation project at Camp Kulaqua, a retreat center and youth camp in northern Florida. Over ten days, 56 participants brought new life to one of the largest Seventhday Adventist camps in the world. Volunteers reconstructed cabin decks and stairs, built fences, worked on landscaping, as well as other general maintenance. This was Maranatha’s second mission trip at Camp Kulaqua and project leader Jeanice Riles credits that prior experience to a smooth project this year. “We were organized, we knew what to expect, and we had the help of return volunteers,” said Riles. Although most of the participants were Maranatha veterans, 22 had never served with Maranatha before. Yet,
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the group quickly bonded and their enthusiasm led to efficient progress in the renovations. They also took time to soak in the spiritual significance of the work. “For returning youth campers or adults who will use the retreat center in the future, it shows that the camp cares,” said Riles. “You think of the spiritual impact for these kids. It’s a little bit of heaven on earth where they can meet Jesus.”
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THE IRREPRESSIBLE FAITH OF Peru
The impact of Maranatha’s work in Peru and why the mission needs you back By Julie Z. Lee Photos by Tom Lloyd
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t was Sabbath afternoon, and the Primavera Seventh‑day Adventist congregation, in Peru, was finishing up the first service in their new church, with the word “church” being loosely defined. It was a big day for Primavera—ten years in the making. Up until then, the group had been hopping from home to home for worship. They knew that in order to truly be effective they needed roots. They needed a real church. The problem was that land was expensive. Although the area was mostly agricultural, it was a nice region and relatively close to Lima. Finally, through much saving and a donation from a group in Canada, the congregation purchased a corner lot. With no funds left, the members built a church with mud brick walls. They used a sheet of plastic for the roof. A neighbor gave them cardboard and plywood to build a fence. It wasn’t attractive, but it was a shelter, and it would do for now. “I remember on that [first] Saturday, the pastor arrived in the afternoon. He came through the door and said, ‘Brothers! I have something to tell you!’” says Hernan Alejos, a member of the Primavera church. “‘You are blessed by God.’ Those were the pastor’s words.” The pastor announced that Maranatha Volunteers International had responded to a request from the Adventist Church in Peru to build churches and schools. Primavera had been selected for one of the sites. “At that moment, the members, about 50-60 of us, began to weep for joy,” recalls Alejos. “It was really a dream to have a temple to preach the message, and the Lord awarded us.” Months later, in February 2005, volunteers with the
“Maranatha made an imprint on the history of the Church in Peru.”
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www.maranatha.org
Members of the Mi Peru C Seventh‑day Adventist Church gather in small groups for Sabbath School. The congregation has been meeting in this ramshackle house for more than 20 years. They need a new place of worship, and Maranatha hopes to build them a church.
www.maranatha.org
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“God gave us this church because He has a plan. We can’t leave.”
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Columbus Eastwood Seventh-day Adventist Church, from Ohio, arrived to build a sanctuary in Primavera. Alejos remembers watching them, astounded, as they spent all day mixing mortar, laying block, and pushing wheelbarrows. “Young people, wow! There were people coming from other countries. We had never seen this here,” says Alejos. “We were astounded seeing there are some humble hearts around. Sometimes appearances are deceiving, because we thought, ‘No way they are going to lay a brick!’ But they set an example of what love for God means.” During the project, the volunteers completed the church and a surrounding wall. They gave the congregation new chairs. They also organized a medical clinic at the park across the street. That was 15 years ago. Today, the church looks brand new since the members are meticulous on upkeep. The interior has shiny tile floors and a suspended ceiling. Outside, there is a shaded patio where mothers can sit with their young children while listening to the sermon. On the back of the property, there is a two-story building with Sabbath School classrooms, bathrooms, and a kitchen. But the building isn’t the only thing that has expanded. The medical clinic that the volunteers organized resulted in a number of baptisms. Membership grew and split to start new groups, then grew some more. In the meantime, the neighborhood developed. What used to be agricultural land is now a nice suburb. Alejos says the neighbors are quite involved with church outreach activities. Their church is a central meeting hub for Adventists in the district. They also have the strongest tithe in the area. Today, there are 120 members at Primavera. Several of them still remember when Maranatha arrived. “To this day, many of those children, who are now young adults, remember what the volunteers did here,” says Alejos. “We’re grateful to Maranatha for what they did for us, for the church, for the brothers, for the community. Thanks to Maranatha, the Gospel has been preached in this place.” The story of Primavera is not unique. In fact, there are dozens of similar journeys that unfolded after Maranatha’s effort in the country, from 2004-2006. During that time, more than 3,000 volunteers came through Peru to construct churches and schools. One of the more high profile projects was a floating church on Lake Titicaca. Peru was a beloved location for Maranatha and the affection was returned by the Adventist Church in Peru. “[The effort] made an imprint on the history of the Church in Peru. We have good memories. Thanks to Maranatha, we have many churches and schools— www.maranatha.org
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beautiful and well-finished churches, and places where the brethren can praise and glorify God’s name,” says David Echevarria, treasurer of the Adventist Church in Southern Peru. The influx of church and school buildings ignited great growth for the church in Peru. Eventually, leadership realized that they needed help once more. “Membership in Peru has grown, and our biggest challenge and worry is having a church where they can gather. It’s not easy. We have many places—we have some land, but our brethren have no money. They lack the necessary funds. Willingly, they try to build a small church—very makeshift,” says Echevarria. One such church is the Mi Peru C Seventhday Adventist Church. The building is nestled into the mountains rising from the desert that surrounds Lima. There are no paved roads here— just a seemingly endless, dusty grid of homes and small businesses. This congregation started as a daughter group of the Mi Peru A Seventh-day Adventist Church. They started by meeting in a house that they eventually purchased, but it left no money for renovations. Unfortunately, the space needs fixing, badly. The floors are cement and dirt. The walls and roof are made from scraps of corrugated metal and wood. There are gaps and holes everywhere. “There are lots of cats, and when they walk [on the roof], they move it. It sometimes breaks, and when it is winter, it leaks… it gets wet and damages the few things we’ve got,” says Miriam Silva, a longtime member of the church. “The construction is makeshift, so we have been robbed about three or four times already. They have w w w . m a r a n a t h a . o r g
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stolen what little we have.” Despite the hardship, this is a congregation that has endured much more and persevered. When Mi Peru C first started, nearly 20 years ago, evangelism meetings and outreach increased membership to almost 100 people. Then, for various reasons, attendance started to dwindle. Soon it was down to two people. “Some brothers, who had left disappointed, tried to also discourage me. ‘Why are you there? Nobody’s left. Close that church and go back to Mi Peru A,’” says Flor Ospina, one of the two members that were left. “But sister Sara told me, ‘How are we going to leave? If God has opened a church here, it has to remain open, not closed.’” Sara Luz was the other remaining member. And while Ospina had doubts, Luz was unwavering in her faith that God would grow the church once more. “I said, ‘No. God gave us this church because He has a plan. We can’t leave.’ So we started praying.” Luz and Ospina began meeting at the church to pray, kneeling on the cold concrete to plead with God for help. Sometimes Luz would wake early and go by herself. One night, she was alone at the church after a long day of work. “I turned off the light, and I prayed… and I fell asleep praying. I had a dream of Jesus. He was between Heaven and earth, and He was looking at me. He told me, ‘You’re not alone. You’re with me,’” says Luz. Suddenly, the ground started trembling, shaking Luz out of her sleep. It was an earthquake, and immediately, she was frightened. Then she heard the voice once more: “You’re not alone. I’m here.” Luz left the church feeling emboldened. That Sabbath, Luz and Ospina met once more to pray.
Photo by Julie Z. Lee
PERSEVERANCE: 1 The exterior of the Primavera Seventh-day Adventist Church, constructed in 2005 by Maranatha. 2 The upgraded interior of the Primavera church. 3 Sara Luz (blue shirt) and her daughter Miriam Silva (black shirt) worship together. 4 The exterior of the Mi Peru C Seventh-day Adventist Church. 5 Sara and her friend, Flor Ospina, demonstrate how they used to pray for God to grow their church.
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The following week, people started coming to church. Week by week, attendance increased. Today, they have a healthy congregation of mostly women who run the church, handling every detail, including maintenance. They are active in their neighborhood, offering Bible studies, children’s ministries, and community outreach. Yet as self-sufficient as they seem, the Mi Peru C congregation needs help with one thing: a real worship space. Says Opsina, “We are always being criticized by people. They say, ‘How come, after so many years, you do not have a church?’” Why do you not have a church? It’s a question that many congregations in Peru receive, given that many meet in haphazard spaces. “If our own house is well-built, why don’t we do the same with the church?” asks Luz. “I mean, this doesn’t look like a church now. It looks like a shelter. We haven’t been able to build a proper church, as we had planned… And I think God deserves better than this.” It’s this very sentiment that is at the core of Maranatha’s mission. The goal is to provide congregations with strong, dignified places of worship where people, community, and faith can thrive. “We’d like to have churches everywhere, and our dream was that in every place, we’d have a special temple—to have the best house because it is the house of God,” says Echevarria. “And with the experience from 2006, we dreamt that Maranatha could return to Peru for the second time.” Leadership from Peru reached out to Maranatha a few years ago, asking for help with churches and schools. After several meetings, Maranatha 12 | THE VOLUNTEER SPRING 2020
kicked off the first project for the new effort in Peru in December 2019 with several more lined up for 2020. “We will challenge our members to continue preaching, sharing, and baptizing,” says Echevarria. “Now we will establish the temple with Maranatha, and the cycle will be complete.” In Spring 2020, several groups were scheduled to build churches and a new school. But when the COVID-19 pandemic broke in March, travel suddenly ceased and most projects were postponed. It was heartbreaking for the volunteers and the communities who were expecting a longawaited answer to prayer. But already, volunteer teams are making plans to reschedule their mission trips, including those for Peru. After the initial setback, they are determined to reach the mission field and serve. Much like the women of Mi Peru C, even when the world is calling for surrender, the mission cannot be stopped when trust is placed in God. Silva, who is the daughter of Luz, wasn’t a member of Mi Peru C when they were at their lowest point. But she remembers hearing the stories from Ospina and Luz, and it left an indelible impression on her faith. It’s a lesson for the times we are living in now. “Only God can give you that strength, because when you’re on your own, the usual thing is to give up,” says Silva. “But when you have faith in God—when you are convinced He is the owner of everything, who do you go to? To Him.”
UNSTOPPABLE FAITH:
1 Sara Luz walks from door to door, inviting neighbors to study the Bible and worship at her church. 2 The Mi Peru C Seventh-day Adventist Church congregation stands in front of their worship space. A unique aspect of this group is that most of the members are women.
Watch a Maranatha Mission Stories episode about our work in Peru at maranatha.org/returntoperu
www.maranatha.org
P ROJ ECT
Calendar
Anyone can join a Maranatha mission trip! Check out our upcoming opportunities here or go to maranatha.org for the most updated list.
DATE
PROJECT NAME
PLACE
LEADERS
SCOPE
Jul. 22 - Aug 5, 2020
Blue Mountain Academy Project
PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Betty Beattie-Chrispell, Jim Mills
Dorm renovations
Aug. 3 - 20, 2020
Pacific Union College Project
CALIFORNIA, USA
Ed Jensen, Leroy Kelm
Dorm renovations
Aug. 10 - 24, 2020
Black Hills Health and Education Center Project
SOUTH DAKOTA, USA
Sadie Torrez and Roger Naranjo
Siding and painting
Sept. 27 - Oct. 11, 2020
Camp Lawroweld Project
MAINE, USA
David and Susan Woods
Camp renovations
Oct. 4 - 16, 2020
Bakersfield Hillcrest Adventist Church Project
CALIFORNIA, USA
Ed Jensen, Leroy Kelm
Nativity build
Oct. 7 - 21, 2020
Blue Mountain Academy Project
PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Betty Beattie-Chrispell, Wayne Moon
Dorm renovations
Fall
Côte d’Ivoire Project
ABIDJAN, CÔTE D’IVOIRE
TBD
TBD
Oct. 14 - 23, 2020
Sunset Lake Camp Project
WASHINGTON, USA
Jim Mills
Camp Renovations
Oct. 22 - Nov. 1, 2020
Zambia Project
CHISAMBA, ZAMBIA
David and Susan Woods
School Construction
Dec. 18 - 31, 2020
Family Project India
RANCHI, INDIA
Karen Godfrey, Danny Poljak
School Construction
Dec. 23, 2020 - Jan. 3, 2021
Family Project Peru
AREQUIPA, PERU
Steve Case, George Alder, Luther Findley
Masonry construction, medical/ dental clinics, outreach
May 2 - 9, 2021
Camp MiVoden Project
IDAHO, USA
Doug and Melody Wheeler, Jerry Wesslen
Campus Renovation
Jun. 7 - 28, 2021
Mount Pisgah Academy Project
NORTH CAROLINA, USA
Ed Burgan, Jeanice Riles
Dorm renovations
www.maranatha.org
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THE DESERT OF BRAZIL
How your support is bringing water to the driest parts of the country Story and photos by Dustin Comm
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razil doesn’t bring to mind images of dry, desolate landscapes dotted with tall cacti. When most people think of Brazil, they imagine the green rainforest of the Amazon teeming with diverse fauna and flora. But in the northeast of Brazil, the landscape changes. Lush vegetation gives way to parched earth. The forest dissolves into a desert, and life is much harder for all who call this region home. It doesn’t rain much here, especially during the spring and summer months, but the area is also susceptible to long periods of drought where no rain falls at all. The people here lead simple lives. They are subsistence farmers, or they maintain jobs that pay a humble wage. It is common for families to live in the same homes in the same villages for generations. As you drive across the brown countryside, most of these homes have a common feature: blue, plastic water tanks to hold any rain that falls. The government has also installed concrete cisterns over the years and will occasionally deliver water with a truck. But the residents here can never count on these solutions–the water may not come for months. Edsandro Alves works in an auto repair shop in the town of Catuca, which sits on top of a small mountain. His house is directly next to the Catuca Seventh-day Adventist Church, where he serves as a leader. Like everyone else here, Alves’ life used to revolve around securing water for his family each day. They would hope for rain, which often didn’t come. If there was no rainwater to collect, they had to find a car or motorcycle and drive down the mountain to a lagoon almost four miles away. The stagnant water sitting in this type of lagoon or pond is visibly dirty. It is possible for people to get sick, but they don’t have many other options except to drink it. When you ask the people if this water causes health problems, they deny it. Maranatha’s project director in Brazil, Marcos Pinheiro, understands it is a hard thing to acknowledge. “When you know you have to continue drinking this water, you’re going to blame other things for sickness,” says Pinheiro. “People say, ‘Oh, this food I ate was bad’ or find another reason they are sick. It is never the water.” If the ponds are dry, Alves used to hike up the mountain to a “cacimba,” a kind of weak spring where water drips from the earth and accumulates in a deep hole when it rains. But there is such little output that it takes hours to fill jugs,
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and the line to collect water starts before the sun rises. If the cacimba is dry, the very last resort is purchasing water to be delivered. For families in this region, spending money on water means not having funds for other necessities. Samara Domingos is a young mother in Catuca. She has had to make this difficult decision a number of times. “We buy only as a last resort,” says Domingos. “If we buy, then we have to give up something, like food or clothes for the children.” Instead of making this choice, Domingos has sometimes opted to trek to neighboring villages to find water. She used to walk down the mountain for one hour to the town of Limão, load a donkey with up to four jugs, and make the slow, two-hour return trip uphill. “We have suffered a lot just to collect some water,” says Domingos. In 2019, in response to this water crisis in northeast Brazil, Maranatha began drilling water wells where we have constructed churches. In December of 2019, Catuca received a new well. Alves no longer collects dirty water or spends hours waiting for drops to accumulate at the cacimba. Now, Domingos isn’t forced to choose whether her family will eat or if she must walk for hours each day. And something else is happening–communities are uniting around the local Adventist church. Evangelical Christians in this area are often looked at with disdain. The stereotype is that many of these churches are only known for asking for donations. So when the Adventist church began offering free water in Catuca, it was hard to believe. One resident said he hadn’t taken water from the Adventist well because he didn’t think it was for him. He was pleasantly surprised to learn that the well was open to the entire community. Domingos is not Adventist, and she knew little about the Adventist church before the well. Now, she regularly visits the church to collect water. Her children play on a small swing set in the shade of the church’s trees while she fills her jugs. She is getting to know the church members as she makes her daily trip for water. “The well improves the image of the church,” says Alves. “People come for the water and then look around the church. They hold community meetings here and the community is more comfortable. Some people start to accept invitations to church.” The well is still a new concept in Catuca, and the church is imagining how it may help them to connect with people on a deeper spiritual level. www.maranatha.org
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There are aspirations for a community garden and a water delivery service to the elderly. But what can already be seen are new relationships being formed within the neighborhood. Friendships are growing out of a common need. Wariness and skepticism are waning. Neighbors are meeting each other on common ground at the local Adventist church. A place previously unknown by community members now hosts them each day. Thirst, both physical and spiritual, is being quenched in the desert. Maranatha has drilled 39 water wells in Brazil since 2019, and there are many more communities, like Catuca, in need. This region of Brazil can be harsh, and though these resilient people have managed to survive, it is no way to live. Maranatha will continue drilling here to help as many communities as possible, paving the way for more souls to connect with the Wellspring of Life. Watch a Maranatha Mission Stories episode on water wells in Brazil at maranatha.org/brazilwater
QUENCHING THIRST:
1 In the past, Samara Domingos sometimes had to make a three hour round-trip to collect clean water. 2 Church leader Edsandro Alves knows that the new well not only meets a physical need, but also provides opportunities to connect with the community spiritually. 3 A welldrilling rig drills at the Sitio Umbuzeiro Seventh-day Adventist Church. 4 Most people in rural northeastern Brazil lead simple lives as subsistence farmers. Lack of rain can be devastating to their crops.
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MISSION INTERRUPTED How the pandemic disrupted service for hundreds of volunteers By Dustin Comm Photos provided by Maranatha volunteers
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arch typically yields the highest number of Maranatha volunteers for the entire year. From school groups to churches, hundreds of volunteers pour into the mission field for Spring Break. 2020 was supposed to be the same. Maranatha had recently begun a new effort in Peru to build churches and schools, and many of these volunteer groups were excited to serve there and in other locations. Yet, an unprecedented event was brewing that would bring the world to a halt. A novel coronavirus, not previously found in humans named COVID-19, began to spread around the earth. It was more contagious than the seasonal flu and more deadly. Concern began to enter the global consciousness. Public health experts soon predicted that everyday life everywhere, even in North America, would be impacted, as the pandemic picked up speed. But few realized how total its effects would be. In early March, information about COVID-19 was still limited–the severity of the virus was commonly questioned. Some doubted international health reports, while others didn’t fear the sickness altogether; it seemed more severe in older populations. There were several Maranatha volunteer groups in the mission field at the time, and hundreds more were preparing to leave throughout March and April–more than 1,000 in all. Volunteer leaders discussed the situation with their teams, remaining steadfast in their resolve to continue as planned with their projects. “It was a humbling experience to see their determination,” says Lisandro Staut, Maranatha’s director of volunteers. “We were in the comfort 1 of our office coordinating things, while some leaders were planning to leave, knowing that countries were beginning to tighten up [travel restrictions]. They knew there could be challenges, and they still decided to go. And not only those who left, but also the leaders who were fighting to be able to go, even though they knew there would be challenges.” Maranatha’s ability to support and provide information in situations like this extends beyond its California headquarters. On top of monitoring international security updates, daily reports from Maranatha’s international staff on the ground give a picture of local conditions. Close relationships with regional Seventh-day Adventist Church headquarters help to give additional insights. And in some places, the Church maintains strong connections with the
“An unprecedented event was brewing that would bring the world to a halt.”
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www.maranatha.org
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government, providing Maranatha with an even broader view of a country. On March 11, travel restrictions from Europe to the United States were announced–a route some Maranatha volunteers would use to get to and from the mission field. Airlines were thrown into a state of uncertainty, and some volunteer groups reluctantly postponed their projects. Greg Hatch, of the West Houston Seventh-day Adventist Church “Mission IS Possible” volunteer group in Texas, was preparing to leave the next day for Côte d’Ivoire. “My phone starts blowing up,” says Hatch, as team members checked in on the status of their trip. “We did research, and I called Lisandro. If we couldn’t fly back from Europe, we couldn’t go. After clarifying the travel restrictions, I sent out a message to our team at 10 p.m., asking for a headcount. All through the night and morning, I saw ‘I’m in. I’m in. I’m in.’ coming through. They said, ‘God will find a way.’” After carefully considering the situation, most of the West Houston volunteers decided to depart on their mission trip to Côte d’Ivoire, as planned. Meanwhile, Maranatha already had a volunteer team in Africa, serving at the Kajiado Adventist School and Rescue Center in Kenya. Although the country had begun discussing limitations on visitors entering the country, the group was safe in Kajiado and successfully completed their work on a new boys dormitory. Volunteers were able to participate in a special dedication ceremony at the www.maranatha.org
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end of their trip. As this team of volunteers was preparing to leave, Kenya began to tighten its borders. Volunteers from the Gracepoint Adventist Church, in California, who were enroute to Kenya for a project, turned around and headed home. The existing team in Kenya was later able to depart without incident. In Peru, two volunteer groups were at the end of their trips. Amazing Grace Academy, from Alaska, worked on a large 10-classroom school building in the town of Ica, nearly 200 miles south of the capital city of Lima. Burton Adventist Academy, from Texas, constructed a new building for the Huaycan R Seventh-day Adventist Church, outside of Lima. “We purposely left COVID-19 out of mind,” says Stacy Peterson with Amazing Grace Academy. “Whenever it came up, [our project leader] Rick said, ‘Nope, we’re here to serve.’ It was business as usual, from a project perspective. The kids enjoyed VBS and we got a lot of work done on the building.” As part of their post-project excursions, both groups traveled to the city of Cusco to visit the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu. Then on March 15, Peru announced it would be locking down the population and sealing the borders at midnight the following day. Immediately, airlines started to announce cuts in service. “We had literally been on top of the mountain
SPRING BREAK MISSION:
1 Students from Burton Adventist Academy helped to construct the Huaycan R Seventh-day Adventist Church in Peru. 2 Volunteers from the West Houston Seventhday Adventist Church “Mission IS Possible” group helped to construct classrooms for a new school at the Abbebroukoi Seventh-day Adventist Church in Côte d’Ivoire. 3 The Amazing Grace Academy volunteer group worked on a large, 10-classroom school building in Ica, Peru. 4 The West Houston Seventhday Adventist Church “Mission IS Possible” group successfully completed their work before leaving Côte d’Ivoire early due to COVID-19.
T H E V O LU N T E E R SPRING 2 0 2 0 | 1 7
As COVID-19 began to disrupt global travel, several volunteer groups were serving in Kenya, Peru, and Côte d’Ivoire. Hundreds more were ready to travel in the following days and weeks. Each day brought new information and challenges as countries responded to the growing pandemic. March 11 - Travel restrictions from Europe to the United States are announced–a route some Maranatha volunteers would use to get to and from the mission field. March 12 - Some volunteer groups reluctantly postpone their imminent projects.
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March 13 - The West Houston Seventh‑day Adventist Church volunteer group departs for Côte d’Ivoire.
[after visiting Machu Picchu],” says group leader Chris Webb, an English teacher at Burton Academy. “We were happy and giddy. We got back to the hotel and were eating this great meal. There was a TV in the lobby that they never turned on; they turned it on and the room went hushed.” Part of the Amazing Grace group was already in Lima, having opted to skip the excursion. They departed for home that evening after the announcement with no problems. The rest of the group found flights out through Bolivia before the deadline. Maranatha support staff quickly arranged for Burton Academy to get to the airport in Cusco as soon as possible. There were rumors that the roads might soon be shut down, or there would be a curfew. The sooner they could get to Lima, the better. Because of Burton’s large group, commercial flights would be difficult to find. After arriving in Lima the following morning, group leadership was in communication with a constituent church back home to purchase seats on a chartered flight already scheduled for the evening. The group secured tickets, and as the midnight lockdown of Peru neared, volunteers hurriedly boarded the plane. “We’re rolling down the tarmac to get into position [for takeoff], and there’s a guy still putting luggage up above,” says
March 14 - Volunteers from the Gracepoint Adventist Church, enroute to Kenya, turn around and head home. March 15 - Airlines begin announcing worldwide cuts in service. Peru announces it will close its borders the following day at midnight. March 16 - Amazing Grace Academy finds flights out of Peru through Bolivia before the midnight deadline. Burton Adventist Academy secures seats on a chartered flight, departing Peru four minutes prior to the midnight deadline. March 17 - Maranatha volunteers in Kenya depart as the country begins to shut its borders. March 19 - The U.S. Department of State issues a level four travel advisory, instructing U.S. citizens not to travel abroad and requiring citizens to return to the U.S. or shelter in place. March 20 - Half of the West Houston volunteers depart Côte d’Ivoire. The other half have their flight cancelled. Côte d’Ivoire announces it will close its borders. March 21 - The remaining West Houston volunteers are denied boarding on a second flight because they transited through Europe a week before. March 22 - The remaining West Houston volunteers depart Côte d’Ivoire. March 24 - All volunteers have returned to their home countries. 18 | THE VOLUNTEER SPRING 2020
Webb. With all passengers seated, the 767 aircraft took off at 11:56 p.m., four minutes before the midnight cutoff. Meanwhile, in Côte d’Ivoire, the West Houston church group was busy working. “It was one of the best trips we’ve had,” says Hatch. “We finished two buildings without a full team. The local church leadership came out each day and told us, ‘You’re preaching a sermon in real life.’” However normal the construction work was, with each day that passed, it was clear to Hatch that they should not spend any time beyond what was required to complete their mission. Within days of arriving in Côte d’Ivoire, group leaders started making plans to leave the country early. They cancelled their excursion at the end of the trip, moved up their departure dates to the soonest available, and, amid uncertainty with the airlines, even purchased backup flights on another airline. On one airline, half of the group successfully departed for home. On another airline, the other half’s flight was cancelled. To make matters worse, Côte d’Ivoire would be closing its airport and borders the following night. The next day, the group arrived at the airport to use the backup flight set to leave before the shutdown, but were denied boarding because they had transferred through Europe the week before. They would miss the deadline. www.maranatha.org
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For Hatch, an organized, veteran mission trip leader, the realization set in that all of his planning was exhausted. “I’ve never had my mouth get dry like it was when the gentlemen told me [the flights] were cancelled.” He turned to God anew. “I thought we had prayed, but I hadn’t truly given it up to Him. I had planned. But these were my contingency plans. I let Him take control instead of asking Him to bless the plans that we had.” With commercial flights off the table, Hatch and Maranatha’s Project Director in Côte d’Ivoire, Gilberto Araujo, began to look into alternative options. Hatch reached out to the U.S. Embassy and researched an expensive charter flight. Maranatha worked through the Adventist Church world headquarters to contact the U.S. Department of State and senators from the states where the remaining volunteers lived. There was talk of an evacuation flight for U.S. citizens later in the week. Then, over dinner, they heard a rumor that a commercial airline was coming in the following day for one last flight out. Hatch and Araujo immediately drove to the airport, but there was no one there to help. The following afternoon, Hatch received a call from that airline’s country manager. He had seats available on the last commercial flight out of Côte d’Ivoire and asked Hatch if he would like some. It was a direct answer to prayer. On March 23, after days fraught with drama, the group arrived home. “I’ve never been so happy to see a CBP agent in my life,” says Hatch. “He said, ‘Welcome to the United States.’ And I said, ‘You have no idea how welcome I am right now.’” In the coming weeks, a dozen Maranatha projects would be postponed as the world came www.maranatha.org
to a standstill. Nearly 800 volunteers who planned to serve in March or April were unable to go. Hundreds of airplane tickets were cancelled or re-booked. Months of fundraising seemed to be for naught. Dreams of reaching the mission field were temporarily dashed. And yet, though volunteer projects are on hold, Staut sees hope in the passion displayed by people who believe so deeply in the mission, they were ready to serve despite potential challenges. “The fact that volunteer leaders still believe it’s worth taking risks to do something extraordinary, it gives us the reassurance to know that we are doing something worthwhile–for the people receiving the service and also the volunteers who are providing it. Despite the fact that they might face challenges and risks, they still believe in the mission of Maranatha.” Already, groups have rescheduled their mission trips, like Pacific Union College Preparatory School, Mother Lode Adventist Academy, and the “Isaiah Volunteers” team. The Family Project scheduled for June in Peru will now be a Christmas project in December. Others are working on new dates, but the refrain has been consistent: “We will go again.” “I’m not sure when we’ll be able to go on another mission trip,” says Peterson. “But my friend George Alder always says, ‘These are not our trips, these are God’s trips.’ So if God wants us to go back to Peru, if God wants us to go back to Côte d’Ivoire, if God wants us to go back to India or anywhere else on a Maranatha trip, it will happen.”
FINISHING THE WORK:
1 West Houston Seventh-day Adventist Church “Mission IS Possible” group leader, Greg Hatch (left), learned to let God take control when travel home was restricted. 2 Volunteers at the Kajiado Adventist School and Rescue Center, in Kenya, completed their work on a boys’ dorm and left the country before the borders closed. 3 Amazing Grace Academy volunteers finished their work on the La Tinguiña Adventist School and exited Peru prior to the countrywide lockdown.
T H E V O LU N T E E R SPRING 2 0 2 0 | 1 9
Prayers in the Wind Photo by Dustin Comm
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new Maranatha church building is often the result of months or years of prayers. For the Mantharam Seventh-day Adventist Church in India, the prayers were not only to have a new roof over their heads, but to keep the existing roof from blowing away. The congregation met in an old structure with a rusty, broken, tin roof. Church members made many attempts to fix it, but it was so old, it was beyond repair. When the winds picked up, the roof would start to rumble and eventually be lifted off of the building.
Without a roof, rain soaked everything inside. The members prayed and asked God for a miracle. “We did not stop praying and did not lose hope,” said church member Esau Diggh. “We continued to pray in that broken church and asked God for a miracle. God certainly heard our prayers.” Thanks to your generous gifts, the Mantharam congregation now has a strong building and secure roof that protects them from the rain and won’t blow away in the wind.
HOW YOU’VE
Helped
A look at how your support is making a real difference for communities around the world.
KOIRENGEI, INDIA
BEFORE The Koirengei Seventh-day Adventist church used to meet under this semi-enclosed porch.
BUILDING YOUR
AFTER Now, the Koirengei congregation has a beautiful new structure that they can call home.
Legacy
During this unprecedented time in our history, the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) provides a great opportunity for giving and supporting the mission of Maranatha. The following is a list of some provisions that are only available in 2020: • You may deduct as much as 100% of your adjusted gross income on charitable gifts to Maranatha and other nonprofits. • If you don’t itemize, you may reduce your adjusted gross income by $300/600 for your charitable gifts. • Required minimum distributions from retirement plans are waived for the year. Direct charitable contributions are still allowable. Learn more about how the CARES Act can benefit both you and the mission of Maranatha! Call the Maranatha office to speak with our Planned Giving experts about this extraordinary opportunity. (916) 774-7700 estates@maranatha.org
22 | THE VOLUNTEER SPRING 2020
www.maranatha.org
PROJECTS THAT NEED YOUR HELP
This year, Maranatha is working in 10 countries to provide churches, schools, and water wells to communities in need. Here are a few programs that urgently need your prayers and financial support. ZAMBIA
Crews are busy working at the Emmanuel Adventist Secondary School, located about 43 miles north of Lusaka, the country’s capital. While all the students have been sent home, due to COVID-19 precautions, the construction team has been permitted to shelterin-place on campus while building three classrooms. We are also building more steel frames for One-Day Churches. Zambia is one of the few locations where we are constructing One-Day Churches, and this program needs more support. Sponsor a share for $1,500 or an entire church for $7,500.
KENYA
While most of the country is closed, Maranatha crews have been able to work at the Kajiado Adventist School and Rescue Center and the Kiutine Adventist School. Construction at these campuses include expansion and improvement projects. Crews are also drilling water wells and building One-Day Churches in rural parts of the country. All of these projects need more funding. Kenya is one of the few locations where we are constructing One-Day Churches, and this program needs more support. Sponsor a share for $1,500 or an entire church for $7,500.
INDIA
After a period of strict lockdown, India’s government began easing restrictions in certain areas of work, including construction. Maranatha crews have been able to work at certain job sites, including the Jingshai Mihngi Adventist School in northeastern India. They have also been slowly starting up at church sites. Even after more than 20 years, India continues to be a major focus for Maranatha as the need for improved churches and schools and clean water continues to grow. Please help by making a gift for projects in India. www.maranatha.org
Countries
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Here’s where Maranatha is working this year. BOLIVIA BRAZIL CANADA CÔTE D’IVOIRE CUBA INDIA KENYA PERU UNITED STATES ZAMBIA
CHURCHES SCHOOLS WATER WELLS CAMPS
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Travel into the mission field and see how God is leading ordinary people to make an extraordinary difference in communities around the world with our television program, Maranatha Mission Stories.
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A fun and easy way for kids to learn about missions.
3ABN Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2:00 p.m. Hope Channel Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m. Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ON DEMAND
Take your children on an adventure around the world with our newest program, Maranatha Kids! Sign up and receive a weekly email with a short video and discussion questions. Perfect for family worships, Sabbath school, and the classroom.
Sign up at maranatha.org/kids 24 | THE VOLUNTEER SPRING 2020
The Maranatha Channel App Download our app at the App Store and Google Play. www.maranatha.org View all episodes online at Maranatha’s website. Find segments by using our online “Search” function. Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Download The Maranatha Channel to watch all current and archived episodes and other videos on demand. YouTube Go to www.youtube.com/missionstories to watch. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and automatically wreceive w w . m aupdates. ranatha.org
