Growing my job description

Three down and three to go.  In my last post I shared 3 activities (Networking, Training and Sharing Resources) that I'm involved with as WGM's Compassionate Ministries Coordinator.  Today I'll talk about three more activities with examples from what I've been doing the past month or so.

Coaching is . . . .

 . . . . supporting a learner in achieving a specific personal or professional goal.  This is something I'm dabbling in and that I hope to learn more about.

Meet Mary Hermiz.  She went to Tenwek in 1986 and I was her very first housemate and we have been friends ever since.  In this picture she is serving cake to Tenwek leaders along with a Tenwek Community Health Staff member who graduated from the Tenwek School of Nursing.

She is older (by a bit) and wiser than me and she was an excellent role model to me and many others.

She retired as Principal of the Tenwek School of Nursing a few years ago and in retirement she's looking for a new challenge.  Before going to Tenwek she worked in Papua New Guinea and I think you leave your heart wherever God first sends you.  She has been back several times and God is showing her opportunities.  Opportunities for the medical work that she was involved in many years ago, opportunities for the body of believers, and opportunities for the WGM'ers.  Mary wants to champion these opportunities!  She is getting more training - remember the CoramDeo online training I talked about in my last post - she's doing it. She's even doing the extra credit exercises!  CHE training - she just attended her 2nd training and took the PNG Field Director with her.

By now you may be saying, "So what do you have to do with any of this.  Sounds like Mary is a pretty sharp tack."  She is sharp!  But transformational development is slightly outside the realm that Mary has worked in.  So she's coming to me and asking questions.  We talk on the phone, we skype, we email and we met in person with the PNG team back in February. I don't know all the answers to her questions but I am figuring out what it means to be a coach while Mary is figuring out what it means to champion a people group and ministry.  

The WGM Papua New Guinea team with Mary during our February meeting

Consulting: 

Earlier this year I was asked to join former Tenwek staff, Dr. Mark and Kim Freije, and another couple on a trip to Asia.  We visited a variety of people and organizations and my goal was to assess whether there were opportunities for WGM.

Although I'm a picky eater, when it comes to foods I can't identify, I agreed to go and see how WGM could be involved.  Not normally a fan of fast food I found myself at the door to McDonald's more that week than during a 6 month Homeland Assignment!

Food aside, my meetings with the local people have led me to believe that there are opportunities for WGM!  And people, everywhere.  All in one place.  The cities are HUGE!

Although I saw very modern cities and of course modern restaurants (does it get more modern than McDonalds?) the people are enslaved by lies their culture is teaching them.  What opportunities to share truth and dispel the lies. (That actually is true for every country out there.) Hopefully you'll be hearing more on this in the months to come.

A bonus of this trip was to get to visit with WGM MK's Nick and Denise & Josh and their 3 adorable girls who are working in this part of the world.

Hooray for WGM family around the world!

Enabling:

Enablers get a bad rap in today's world but not all enabling is bad, right?  For instance, enabling people to fulfill their call to serve the needy.  Almost 3 years ago I met Jen and Todd via email before they traveled to Tenwek Hospital where they were going to spend 2 years.  Jen, an educator, is not medical and was looking for how to get involved.  She has a heart for the South Sudanese so she was introduced to me.  Within a month of their arrival in Kenya Jen and I were off to South Sudan and I introduced her to several of our partners.  She immediately connected with the team in Nyinbule and had the gifts to meet a training need they had.

Over the past 2 years Jen has made 7 trips to Nyinbule and has used Community Health Empowerment and other tools to train children, teachers and teens.  The unstable security situation prevented her from making even more trips.

Todd, a general surgeon, learned how to do cataract surgery and volunteered on one of our Cataract Clinics as well as led a Surgery Clinic in South Sudan.

I'm happy to enable people who come to serve with WGM to reach out and use their gifts.  In March I said goodbye to Jen and Todd as they left Kenya but I hope our paths continue to cross and mingle in the future as we continue reaching out to the needy.

So . . . this is what I've been up to.  In order to see people, communities and Nations transformed into all that God has for them I will be connecting with WGM missionarys and volunteers in order to coach, consult, enable, facilitate training, share resources and network.  Pray for me please!  This is certainly a God-sized task.

Taking shape

I remember learning about amoeba's in school.  An amoeba is "indefinite in shape and perpetually moving."  They're intriguing to watch as their shape keeps changing and their pseudo arms/legs form and disappear.  Amoeba's are fascinating as a science lesson, not so much when they're multiplying like crazy in your GI tract causing severe cramping and, shall we say, other symptoms!  I've had too much experience with that but hope to mimic the amoeba's flexibility in my role as WGM's Compassionate Ministries Coordinator.  

In my last blog post I told you that I'd answer some of the most asked questions I've been getting but on sitting down to write I realize I have too much to share so I'm going to limit what I'm writing about today to part of the Q: What will you actually be doing?  I've been pondering what to write to you about my new role at WGM for some time.  And I've pondered some more, which is why there has been a bit of a lag in communication.  Although I've been keeping busy I'm still pondering what this role will look like . . . because I think it's going to look like an amoeba.  

The 'arms and legs' of ministry may change but I've come up with a list of 7 activities that I've been involved in or that I hope to get involved with.

Networking:  When it comes to Compassionate Ministry or Transformational Development WGM has aligned itself with other organizations who believe what we believe and who are doing what we are doing.  Getting to know the people in these organizations better is one aspect of networking.  In early March I attended the Disciple Nations Alliance Global Forum in London.   I was one of about 100 people who came together from around the globe to be inspired by testimonies of what God is doing through the DNA.  

Can you see me?  Pink jacket - center/right

The DNA's mission is: To help the Church rise to her full potential as God's principal agent in restoring, healing and blessing broken nations. It is such an encouragement to be a part of this movement.  In future blogs I'll share more of the DNA teaching and what God is doing in some of our  WGM ministries as they embrace this truth.  

This saying was repeated multiple times during the Conference.  "The DNA teaching is like a virus and it's looking for a host!" Let's pray for more hosts who are willing to receive Biblical truth and then watch it multiply.  

I was joined at the conference by Pr. Walter Ruto and Sophie Nykobi from the Kenya Africa Gospel Church.  Walter heads Compassionate Ministries in the Church.   It was good to spend time with fellow WGM missionaries, David and Debbie Hawk, field leaders in Honduras and one of the Honduran Pastors they miniser with, Pr. Luis Garcia.  David has embraced the DNA training and is anxious to see the teaching spread throughout Latin America.  I'm eager to learn from him and his experiences. 

Training:

In 1948 Richard Weaver wrote a book called, "Ideas have Consequences." I'm reminded of some Africans I've talked with who believe that malaria is caused by eating too much sugar cane.  The consequence of that idea is fever, really bad sickness and possibly death from malaria.  Mosquito's are feasting on the blood of families who have the wrong idea of what causes malaria.  Instead of protecting themselves from mosquito bites they're taking the path of moderation when it comes to eating sugar cane.  Ideas have consequences!

So in order to help people realize their full God-given potential we believe that helping people see truth instead of lies is foundational.  Training is foundational to transforming individuals, families, communities, Churches and nations. 

Using the model of multiplication I want to continue identifying people with a passion about transforming individuals, families, communities, Churches and nations and help them become trainers who will train others who will train others.  Kind of like the pebble in the pond idea.  This isn't to say that WGM isn't already doing this.  They are!  But there's always room for growth.  

Here's an example of training-of-trainers in action from my ministry experiences in South Sudan. WGM missionaries John and Beth Muehleisen and Billy and Joanna Coppedge, who were all based in Uganda have come alongside Adhanom, our missionary in South Sudan.  They have trained in South Sudan and while training they have mentored Adhanom.  Now Adhanom is holding trainings himself.  And not just that, he's training trainers who are helping him train!

John and Beth are the Africa Regional Transformation Training Coordinators.  I'll be visiting with them next week and am anxious to hear about how they are using CHE in Uganda and what they are learning along the way so that we can share best practices with others.  

Adhanom, kneeling on far right with sunglasses, with the latest class of Community Health Evangelism graduates in Lakes State.

Here is Joseph, 3rd generation WGM South Sudan trainer, teaching a lesson.  Joseph has been mentored closely by Adhanom.  

Sharing Resources: 

If you've known me long at all you will know that I love books.  Kindles and electronic readers are great but I still feel better if I have a few old-fashioned paper books by my bedside.  I love sharing the title of a good read as well as actually handing out a book that has changed my life.  So I feel that part of my new role is to officially share great resources.  

Resources come in all shapes and sizes.  Of course books come to mind first when talking about resources and here are a few of my fav's when it comes to Transformational Development.  

There are also dvd's, websites, and even trainings.  Here's a free online course that will change your world.  Or at least this teaching changed mine! Coram Deo is the material developed by the Disciple Nations Alliance that I talked about under Networking.   This course has been designed for a Western digital audience.  Take a peek here:

Better yet - do the course!  Let me know if you'd like to start a group or individual study.  Two hours a week - 12 weeks.  You can even get a certificate of completion.

In February I attended Orientation Camp at WGM HQ for the newbie missionaries soon headed to their countries of ministry.  I was able to share with them lots of resources including my favorite books, and talk about tools such as Biblical Orality and Community Health Evangelism.

The new WGM missionaries are the 7 younger adults in this picture, 

not to be confused with the 6 kids in front or the 12 WGM leaders fighting for the back row

I know this has gotten long so I'll pause here . . . . to be continued in a week or two.  Some days my activities shape up clearly and quickly.  Other days I feel like an formless amoeba and can't quite find my shape.  Regardless of how I feel on any given day as I send out my pseudopodia and embrace new opportunities I am confident that God has great things in store for WGM as we commit ourselves to wholistic transformation.

If you're interested in learning more about WGM and missions join me and others at WGM's International Celebration of Missions from the evening of June 25th through noon on the 28th at Huntington University, Indiana.  I'll be sharing on Friday morning, June 26th.

If you're interested in Compassionate Ministries / Transformational Development on Thursday, June 25th we will be having a Pre-Conference Compassionate Ministries Workshop.  Come hear WGM missionaries talk about how the tools of DNA and CHE are transforming communities.  Catch a glimpse of how Biblical Storytelling can be used in all types of situations.  Learn a practical skill to help others make their own body lotion and deodorant! And hear the Father of CHE - Stan Rowland talk about Neighborhood Transformation - reaching out to people in the cities.  There will be time for lots of networking over tea time and lunch. Register to attend today at the links above and join me for a great time of learning, fellowship and networking.  I'd love to see you there!

Got Fruit?

Are you up for a long, wordy update on Mango Ministry activities from last year?   I didn't think so:) This is a really long post only because it's mostly all pictures.  Even though I can't introduce you to the people in these pictures I hope you will spare a few minutes, get compfy in your favorite chair and travel to South Sudan with me to see what God has been doing and witness the fruit of your partnership in my ministry.

Adhanom (in the middle) continues to live with and mentor the leaders of the area where he lives.    Peter and Joseph are pastors and have been instrumental in the use of Bible Storytelling within their Church. The pastors of this church district have a hunger to learn more of God's word and now pastors from other districts want to be trained in the approach known as Simply the Story!  How cool is that?

This group of Community Health Evangelism trainees finished their third week of training in November.  They have one more week to go to finish.  That's scheduled for March.  Pray that the security situation will allow the training to take place.  Despite the insecurity these folks are changing the way they think and live.  Less illness in the home is being reported - yeah!  

Adhanom is a farmer at heart.  Here he is teaching about growing moringa trees.  Moringa is called The Miracle Tree and has so many uses.  The leaves are even a complete protein!  Pray for real fruit from agricultural training:  use of Farming God's Way to increase yield, planting moringa and mango trees, and lemon grass.

During the course of our CHE training over the past three years some really sharp people have been identified and we've been mentoring them to be Trainers.  In November a two-day Training-of-Trainers was held for seven of these up and coming trainers.  Seven men who can continue teaching what they've been learning and being role models in their villages!

It's not good enough to hear about building a safe fireplace.  You've got to see it and hopefully even get your hands dirty.  

This mud stove is an improvement over the traditional 3 stone stove, pictured below.  A fireplace like this means many tangible benefits for families - less time for the women to collect firefood each day and fewer burns by falling into the open fire to name two. 

Cooking for the participants during CHE training.  Maybe at the next training we should build an improved mud stove for the cooks! ;/

This is another class of CHE participants who finished their 4 weeks of training in November.  John and Beth Muehleisen, WGM missionaries, have been leading this training for the In Deed and Truth Ministry.  These men and women are changing the way their villages look at health and God. 

Active participation increases understanding.

Please pray for Mary and the 100+ men and women who have had their world enlarged and challenged through Community Health Evangelism training.  It's not easy to change the way you live, even when it's for the best.  (think of American's and their New Years resolutions!) Especially with pervasive insecurity that South Sudan is experiencing.

Dr. Carol Spears and I posed with the Tenwek Surgery team after a time of orientation and prayer before they headed to His House of Hope Hospital in Yei (spoken like yeah!) in November. 

The team operated during the day, and sometimes at night, relieving the staff while one of their Doctors was away.  The Tenwek surgical resident, Dr. John Kanyi, sure got practice with C-Sections.  Seventeen babies delivered during 15 surgeries.  

Here is one set of twins delivered!  Surgical facilities are few and far between in South Sudan.  We love the chance to bring new life into the world and share about new life in Jesus.  

Welcome to morning rounds after a day of cataract surgery! You've never witnessed a more joyful group of people than these South Sudanese when the patches are removed and they can see for the first time in quite awhile.  

Joyce (on the left), one of the Tenwek team, gets lots of hugs and kisses as she removes the bandages.      The staff and chaplains give praise to Jesus for this miracle and 'halleluia' is heard from many a patient.  253 patients received sight during a week of clinic.  

To be honest, it's a lot of work to arrange the logistics that go into sending the Tenwek eye team to South Sudan.  Seeing the smile on this woman's face I relent and exclaim, "It's all worth it!!"

Dr. Ben Roberts and one of his patients say, "Thank You" for giving and praying.  Your participation with Mango Ministries is making a difference in South Sudan.  Although insecurity in South Sudan curtailed much of what we had planned at the beginning of the year we are thankful for the opportunity to do what we did.  Our prayer is that all that was said and done will bring hope, the hope that only Jesus gives, to the people of South Sudan.  

2014 was a transition year for me.  Transitions can be good!  During my Homeland Ministry Assignment I had a welcome chance to take some slow deep breaths while being relieved of my responsibilities of overseeing the ministry in South Sudan.  

As always it was good to visit with all of you who support me through your prayers, finances, and encouragement.  A favorite event of mine - we again had a great time at the Kountry Kitchen last March.  

Sensing that God was about to do something new in my ministry I had the amazing opportunity to explore several aspects of WGM's ministry outside of Africa.  Like visiting this missionary training school in Argentina for Latin American's. 

I was also able to spend a few months in Nairobi this year helping to facilitate our ministries in South Sudan. 

With this New Year I am transitioning into a new role that is very exciting.  I'm now WGM's Compassionate Ministries Coordinator and I'm thrilled! 

As I make this transition the top 3 questions I'm asked are:

• What will happen to Mango Ministries?
• What will you actually be doing?
• Where will you live?

This is plenty long enough so stay tuned for my next blog update when I'll answer those questions and more!

sugar sugar

It's a fact that as American's we eat too much sugar.  You don't have to go far to find an article, health report, or TV talk show about the evils of eating too much sugar.  I therefore won't bore you with those facts.  But the reality is we all enjoy our sugar.  In moderation, I hope.  I enjoy real sugar in my coffee each morning.  And a very small piece of chocolate can finish off a meal nicely.  And we can now buy Oreo's in Nairobi - another little sugary treat!

I don't think I've ever been to a US grocery store and seen the sugar shelves empty.  Occasionally here in Nairobi sugar will disappear from the shelves for a short period of time.  But then there is always the option of buying brown sugar, or caster sugar, or icing sugar.  And these days we even have sugar substitutes.  So, I've never had to go without sugar.  Having a steady supply of sugar and sugary drinks may seem like an inalienable right for those of us living in the West! 

A well stocked shop in South Sudan

Last evening I received a text from Adhanom who is at his base of ministry in South Sudan.  He let me know that the shops in his little village have run out of sugar.  Last week they ran out of salt and clothes washing soap.  Poor ordering of supplies is not the problem.  Rain is.  It's been raining so much over the past 6 month long rainy season that the roads are now practically impassable. 

One of 5 areas where the rains have taken over the road where Adhanom lives

Supplies, fuel, food, all kinds of things are in short supply.  Sugar in South Sudan is not an inalienable right.  Neither are roads that have proper drainage.  Or enforcement of law and order.  There has been terrible fighting and many deaths in the State where Adhanom lives this past week,  originating from cattle raiding and inter-clan revenge clashes.  

South Sudan needs our prayers.  Mango Ministries is also gearing up for several important ministry activities in the coming weeks that need prayer. 

Many of you have been praying for me for years (decades??!) and some of you reading this blog joined my prayer team this past year as I shared on my Homeland Ministry Assignment.  Thank you one and all.  Your prayers are crucial and I want to give you some specifics to pray for.  Whether you are praying on a specific day of the week or every day I hope the following information can help shape your prayer praises and requests on behalf of Mango Ministries.  

  

Pray for the 150 blind men and women who will receive physical sight between Nov. 7^th to 12^th.  Our prayer is that their hearts will also receive sight as they are ministered to by the local pastors and the health care staff.  Pray for our Tenwek Eye Team as they will be traveling on Nov. 6^th and 7^th and 13^th and 14^th.  Pray that all the equipment and supplies that are needed reaches Tonj in a timely manner.

Pray for 50 women and children who will receive surgery at House of Hope Hospital in Yei between Nov. 7^th and 12^th.  Pray as each person is offered real hope through Jesus Christ.  Pray for the Tenwek surgery team of 4 who will have the opportunity to alleviate suffering and as they travel on Nov. 5^th and 6^th and 21^st-23^rd.  Pray that the team will have the equipment, supplies, and meds that they need to best help each patient who comes for care.

CHE 2 in East Rumbek County held in August 2014

Pray for 30 women and men who will be attending their 3^rd week-long training in Community Health Evangelism in East Rumbek County.  Pray for this area that has been cut off from the closest major town by rains preventing transport of food and supplies causing sky-high inflation.  There has also been a lot of fighting in this area.  Pray for Adhanom and Margit as they facilitate the training in early December.

Several of the Trainers in Training who will attend the Facilitators training

Pray for 7 men who will be attending a Training of Facilitators course in Community Health Evangelism on Nov. 14^th and 15^th in Tonj.  John and Beth Muehleisen and Adhanom will be facilitating this.  Pray that each facilitator will better understand the concepts of adult education and improve their facilitation skills as they practice.

Pray for 30 women and men from the Tonj area who will complete their 4^th week of Community Health Evangelism training from Nov. 17^th to 21^st.  Pray for John and Beth Muehleisen and Adhanom as they facilitate this training. Pray as the participants return to their homes to train Health Committees and for those who will go out and teach home-to-home.  Pray for the In Deed and Truth project that is embracing CHE as a ministry tool. 

Farming God's Way

      Pray for folks who recently received training from Adhanom in Farming God’s Way (FGW) who live near Rumbek.  Pray for wisdom in implementing new agricultural practices and for good harvests.  Pray for Adhanom as he spends time visiting those who have been trained in FGW, CHE and Biblical Storytelling in Lakes State. 

      Pray for a good return on investment for Mango Ministries.  Pray that the relationships that are formed between trainers, facilitators, health workers and the South Sudanese men, women, and children God brings us in contact with will reap Kingdom fruit.  Pray also that all of us in Mango Ministries will be changed as we witness the strength and perseverance and hope of a people who have suffered.  Pray for peace for South Sudan.  Pray for an end to the political fighting.  Pray for an end to the tribal and inter-tribal fighting.  Pray for Godly leadership.  Pray for His Kingdom to come to South Sudan.

It often feels like we're in deep water as we navigate our way through ministry.  Your prayers help make a way.  Thanks for investing your time in prayer to help build His Kingdom in South Sudan!

Orientation

Do you ever wake up and need to do a quick orientation?  A few times in the last few months I've found that I wake up and I'm disoriented.  I first look to see where the light is and orient myself to where the windows are - sometimes that tells me where I am.  If not, without opening my eyes too wide, as I wake up very slowly, I take note of where the door is.  If that doesn't do it - I feel around to see if I'm in a double or a single bed. Usually by then I have remembered where I am!

Although my physical surroundings keep changing I know that wherever I am I need not fear for the Lord God goes with me.  The Lord goes before me . . .  how encouraging.  (Deuteronomy 30:6, 8)

I stayed quite busy in September.  My parents came up to NJ from Florida for a few weeks and we had some good family times, like a picnic at the Cape May Point State Park.

Then we were all able to visit with some of my mission champions at an Open House on September 14th.  

Joy and Lindy Phillips chat with Bryce Hogan

And among other things I traveled to the southeast, further disorienting me each night!

It was great to catch up with friends and former WGM volunteers . . .
. . . . like Laura Denison, (volunteer to Tenwek with her husband Dr. Mark Denison, circa 1986) enjoying beautiful mums at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville.

. . . . and former VIA Whitney Smith McMunn who spent 1 year in South Sudan 2012/13 as a CHE facilitator,

. . . . and former Asbury Manor Dinner Club friends (circa 1983-85), Rev. John and Kathy Kearns and their church family at Christ Harbor UMC in North Point, AL

And then I caught up with my long-time Tenwek neighbor from years past, Linda Parks, in Mayberry, oh, I mean Mt. Airy, NC.  

. . . . and others who I didn't get pictures of, including my brother and his family.  Sorry guys!

I loved attending the Missio Nexus Leaders Conference in Atlanta as well.  

"The movement of people brings with it new cultures, ideas, beliefs -- and their hearts are more OPEN to the gospel."  Topics discussed were Immigration and Migration, Globalization, Urbanization and Exploitation.  I'm constantly reminded that God is bringing the Nations to North America - what an unprecedented opportunity to share Jesus love with people that are our coworkers, neighbors, and students in our schools.  

I'm now back in Kenya and preparing to orient some new volunteers who will be going into South Sudan in less than two weeks.  South Sudan is more fragile than ever!  Detailed prayer info in my next blog update.  Praying that Jesus will bring His Kingdom to the people of South Sudan who are experiencing a lot of disorientation.