What If...?Dare We Dream

IN THIS ISSUE

Watching God’s Plan UnfoldCongo Medical Team

winter 2011

International Ministries

Opportunity of a LifetimeChild & Sponsor Reunite

Harvesters International Ministries | encouraging, assisting, and supporting national missionary initiative2

on the ground

Good Samarian Sewa Kendra | INDIA

Union of Baptist Churches | CONGO

Pokot Outreach Ministries | KENYA

In October a team of seven joined national workers for the ministry’s first medical team. More than 1,500 people were treated and more than 100 came to know the Lord. Please pray for local pastors as they continue to work in the communities served by the medical team.

Habimana and his wife, Rachel, praise the Lord for the successful treatment of Rachel’s back problem. They are now back in DRC and she is without pain for the first time in many years. Both are grateful for God’s provision for making the treatment possible.

Kamlesh & Ranu were excited to be visited by three Harvesters board members in November.

Ministry continues to pray for the provision of a school bus so that students can be safely transported.

The October medical team of ten treated more than 2,000 people, helped local pastors build bridges to area communities, and encouraged local church leaders in East Pokot.

Pastor Job and Mariam Rutto celebrated the birth of their third child, and only boy, on October 22nd. Edward Minum is an answer to prayer for the couple after being told that they would not be able to have any more children.

Ten East Pokot evangelists received the blessing of new bicycles in October to aid them in their evangelism efforts.

Kapenguria Clinic will reopen on November 20th with six staff. The community is excited about the ministry’s resumption of medical outreach.

Students at the Myanmar Bible College are steadily improving each month and are so grateful and excited about having the opportunity to study God’s word. One girl in particular is excelling academically and thanks God for giving her knowledge and this kind of wisdom.

Ministry teams go house to house to encourage new believers to grow in their spiritual life. Each home owner is asked to invite neighboring houses to come and listen to the message. Some people come because they hear the melody of the guitar.

Bashir Bhatti remains ill and has been readmitted to the hospital. For months, Bashir has been vomitting and is very dehydrated. Please pray for Bashir and his family.

A pastor in Sarghoda was teaching from the book of Genesis when a Muslim family was changed and accepted Christ as their Savior.

God continues to do good things is providing testimony of His grace. Shakeel, Bashir’s son, says that people are being healed and a couple that had no children are now expecting.

Construction continues on three new classrooms for the primary school in Pallisa. School administration is in the process of identifying less-priviledged students who will start school at the beginning of 2012.

Lunch Hour prayer meetings in the middle of Pallsa will be launched soon.

End of Year Annual Believers Conference will be between Christmas and New Years.

Omega Ministry PAKISTAN

To Africa With LoveUGANDA

Fellowship Bible Church | MYANMAR

Harvesters International Ministries is faith-based, nonprofit organization that praticipates in the Great Commission

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This article is about people of whom you will likely never read about in the press or see in a movie, despite the gripping reality of the story and the courageous spirits of the cast. These heroes are dedicated to their calling of Biblical leadership and vision for the Church and are preaching, teaching, and equipping others. These heroes are the pastors and evangelists that work tirelessly, and often at great peril, to demonstrate and extend God’s glory in the world in places like Kenya, Uganda, Congo (DRC), India, Pakistan, and Myanmar. In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers comments that “we mistake heroic actions for real heroes. It’s one thing to go through a crisis grandly, yet quite another to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, and no one paying even the remotest attention to us.” These men and women are heroes because they go through each day glorifying God when there is no one to pat them on the back, give them a trophy, or report on them during the local news. Yet, they are heroes, nonetheless. Men like Job Rutto and his wife, Mariam who have ministered in East Pokot for more than 15 years with a heart and vision for church planting, evangelism, and discipleship. Job’s ministry has been wrought with physical and spiritual battles, including sickness, lack of resources (i.e. water and food), and community unrest. Despite the difficulties, Job has remained faithful to God’s calling on his life and retains his vision for reaching his people with the Gospel. Job works with evangelists like Paul and pastors like Moses, both of whom have been working in ministry nearly 15 years- Paul as an evangelist and Moses as a school teacher and pastor near Loiwat. Pastor Benjamin* in Myanmar will celebrate 10 years of ministry next year and has organized area pastors and students to share Christ in Buddhist villages in and around Yangon as training for Bible College students who will eventually become missionaries to the areas in northern Myanmar. Benjamin and others serve in Myanmar despite oppressive government restrictions and fear of reprisal, as well as difficult physical

conditions. The 2008 cyclone that destroyed much of the ministry area in Yangon was viewed as an opportunity for the ministry to help its neighbors and renew the hope of the community. The women of Karioung, Kenya meet weekly for Bible study and fellowship. Part of their fellowship is visiting neighboring villages and homes for evangelism and outreach. They go singing and praising the Lord for his goodness and blessings when many of them are struggling to feed their families and have walked miles to get a bucket of water. The compassion of these women and their boldness for Christ is both inspiring and humbling These talented men and women, along with hundreds of others, serve God each day with their lives as living sacrifices with enormous potential for so much more. You and I can help them unleash that potential to effect transformative change and Kingdom

growth through the power of God and the mobilization of the Church. Therefore, I pose the question “what if?” What if they accomplished their goal? What if we helped them get there? What if we help them with the training they have requested? What if we helped them train each other? What if we did what God has called us to do? What if... we all did something? Imagine what could be accomplished and how the Lord would be glorified if His Church united to accomplish His work around the world. When asked about his vision for the ministry, Job focused on training and church planting. He became excited when he talked about it, until he was asked when he planned to conduct these activities. He responded that the events would not occur as described because of lack of funding. Congregations were struggling to support their own pastor and were not yet in a position to send out church planters or fund the full cost of food and transport for the training programs. “There are so many areas that need to hear” Job continued, “and we are sending people as the Lord makes the provision.” Job represents many of our other partners in Africa and Asia who face similar challenges and opportunities. Yet, they carry on as beacons of hope and encouragement in their communities. Evangelism and church planting are the foundation of everything in which Harvesters and its partners are involved, yet it is often the most difficult area for which to raise support. I urge you to consider a change in perspective that includes the power of God to use imperfect people like you and me to carry out his mission to the world through us and through our assistance of people like Job, Benjamin and the women at Karioung. Can you imagine the possibilities? Can you imagine what could be accomplished if we locked arms with each other and worked in partnership with these men and women to impact the cause of Christ through encouraging, assisting, and supporting their initiative and calling? It is our opportunity and blessing to be part of what God is doing. You can join the team with your prayer and financial support.

What If...?by: J. Lucarelli

There are times when a mission trip has a very clear purpose and everything is as expected, and then there are times when you question what the Lord is doing. The inaugural medical team to the Democratic Republic on the Congo fell into the latter category. We had anticipated some “bumps” in the road since it was the first team, but it wasn’t long before our well laid plans began to change. There are two groups that have to be considered on any mission trip – those who are going and giving and those who live there and are receiving. The going group on this trip consisted of a doctor and two nurses from Michigan, a small group leader and two Harvester’s staff from South Carolina. The nationals consisted of Harvester’s Congolese partner, Athanase Habimana, a Rwandan evangelist, Aphrodice Mtabaruka, a pastoral member of Habimana’s board, two translators (one of whom was Habimana’s daughter, Happiness), two local doctors and a local nurse along with three vehicle drivers. Fellowship started almost immediately as warm hugs were given to all at the airport and food and pictures and testimonies were shared throughout our time together. When I returned home, I heard Psalm 46 on the radio. I went back to reread it and realized how well it summed up our team and how the promises of God were so evident despite the bumps and changed plans – He was proving Himself to us and showing that His plans will be fulfilled. The roads in the Congo are the most difficult that I have ever been on. Our vehicles took a beating as well as our bodies, but despite several vehicle malfunctions, treacherous terrain and extensive travel times, the team remained safe. Verses 1-3 of Psalm 46 emphasize that God is our refuge and that He is our strength. He was with us – he kept the groups’ attitudes positive and gave us the strength to handle what He had planned for us, which was a different medical team experience that required flexibility and true servants’ hearts. Our first clinic, which lasted three days, was in Bweso an IDP (Indigenously Displaced People) camp. Our national hosts wanted us to visit there because these people lived in a remote area and had never been visited by missionaries. The people were very excited to see the group and were kind, patient, warm and appreciative. They had received medical diagnosis previously but had always been charged for medicine, which many could not afford and, therefore, never obtained. This was a true gift from God for them, and we could feel their love and

appreciation. I was later told that I had been an example to the older women, most of whom were very frail and bent with aches and pains. It touched me deeply, but also made me sad to know that my lifestyle, nutrition and “privileges” enabled me to work hard at an older age where the bodies of these women had been ravaged by their difficult lives – carrying water, tending gardens, carrying children and walking everywhere. Kalengera, our second clinic where we spent two days, was on the other side of the mountain where the roads were even more difficult. This is the area where Habimana was raised as a child. It was a charming village, but there was a different, more desperate feel from the people. The second day was our busiest when we saw 527 people. The evangelism team was very busy, and we praise the Lord for the messages that were shared by the team members and national pastors. The chief was most appreciative of our efforts and thankful that we had returned and seen so many. Kalengera became a challenge for our national team, as they were even surprised by the road conditions At this point

I really think the next four verses of Psalm 46 impacted the entire group. God is always with us and He is our security. We had to leave a vehicle on the mountain, travel in the dark, and all the men were knee deep in mud working in unison. Despite this, He was with us and kept us and the vehicles safe. The stranded vehicle that was left on the mountain returned to Goma with all of the supplies and parts. The final clinic was at Pastor Habimana’s church in Goma. There

were hundreds of children and they were all excited when they saw all the things the team had brought – bubbles, balloons, balls, jump ropes, and, of course, candy. We finished well and when the day ended, we felt that the Lord would have said, “Good job faithful servants.” The medical supervisor of our national doctors visited that day, so these men were feeling pressure to perform to his satisfaction. We all had met the challenges of changed schedules, difficult conditions, different medicines and diseases. As the last four verses of Psalm 46 proclaim, He is in control and He is our peace. Since returning home, I have heard from some of the team members who are still trying to digest all that the Lord was doing – one said that the trip was, “a gift from God”. Another reported that, “everything here seems insignificant”. For me, the greatest blessing of the trip, was a renewed sense of the power of prayer and the urgency to pray for the people with whom our partners work. Some people ask what can be accomplished in two weeks- with God a lifetime of experiences and changed hearts can happen. What has God called you to?

Watching God’s Plans Unfold: Congo Medical Team by: Sandi Roach

Harvesters International Ministries | encouraging, assisting, and supporting national missionary initiative4

Congolese women celebrate in dance

P.O. Box 22549, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925-9814 • (843) 689-6213 • www.him-usa.orgHarvesters International Ministries | encouraging, assisting, and supporting national missionary initiative

The administrative team at Harvesters has expanded to four with the addition of veteran board member J. Lucarelli, who stepped out in faith to serve full-time as the Director of Finance and Media. “I am excited to be able to combine my education and experience in business and missions in my new role at Harvesters,” J. said. He will continue to serve as the board’s treasurer and is also responsible for Harvesters’ quarterly newsletter and website design. When J. accepted the invitation to serve on the board in 1999, he was a recent college graduate with a degree in Accounting and Economics. He has functioned in the business world either as a CPA or chief financial officer since that time, but also added a master’s degree in Intercultural Studies from CIU to his credentials. He studied and worked in 10 European countries as both a student and a member of the staff of the International Business Institute and will receive his master’s in Business Administration in December 2011. Twelve years ago, he became the youngest man to ever serve on the Board of Directors of Harvesters. Today, he’s a seasoned traveler who has led survey and mission teams with Harvesters and his local church. He also lived for five months with one of our ministry partners in Kenya where it was typical for him to work one day helping to resolve tribal conflicts and the next day work at establishing a new level of financial accountability for the ministry. J. already has a close working relationship with Ed Hirshman, Sandi Roach, and Jonathan Lancaster. The Harvesters board, unanimous in its support of J., views this move as “raising the bar” as it relates to the ministry’s accountability and credibility. As with all of the administrative team, J. will depend on God’s people providing his support. Staff members are not paid from funds designated for pastoral support or ministry projects. J. put his decision in God’s hands. “I can’t think of a greater privilege or opportunity. Not to say that there won’t be challenges. To think otherwise would be naïve,” he said. “We have great ministry partners, J. stated, “and I look forward to working with everyone in a greater way to not only tell their story but to working with them to further the kingdom of God. We have a great deal to offer, as well as a great deal to learn.” Said Ed Hirshman, director of Harvesters, “I thank the Lord for where He has had us, where He has us and excited as to where He is taking us.”

Accountants Can Be Missionaries, Too? J. Lucarelli Joins Staff by: Fred Hughes

The closer our team of 12 got to arriving at the Chemolingot Children’s Home in East Pokot, Kenya, the more excited I felt knowing I would be reunited with my sponsored child, Sharon Katewon. It had been 18 months since I met her for the first time. I remember it like it was yesterday. We were in a church service led by Pastor Yusef, and we were singing praises to God. I was scanning the sea of singing children thinking how beautiful it all sounded when my eyes caught Sharon’s eyes. She quickly averted her eyes with a shy smile and I was transfixed. She was thin and quiet, but I could see strength in her as she worshipped God. I prayed about sponsoring her and when the program launched I waited to see if God was prompting someone else to sponsor her instead. I patiently waited and after 3 days I checked the website and saw that she was still unsponsored. I knew then, God was holding her for me. We finally arrived in Chemolingot and I scanned the crowds of children looking for her. I was so surprised to see how much she had grown. She wasn’t as thin and looked so much healthier than 18 months prior. It warmed my heart to know that she was flourishing in her new home with the help of my monthly sponsorship. I felt like a proud mother to see her singing and enjoying time with her friends. My prayer is that every sponsor will one day have the same opportunity of a lifetime to their child and to let them know how much God loves them. This year we’re gearing up to make Christmas a little more special for all of the kids. We’re providing a special opportunity for anyone who feels compelled to make a one-time donation to the NoChild Christmas Fund. We’ll be purchasing school uniforms and shoes. If God is stirring in your heart to make a donation, you may do so at: www.nochild.org. Select One-Time Gift Opportunities under the Other Links section.

An Opportunity of a Lifetime Child Sponsor Reunites with Childby: Karen Nichols

5

J. with his niece, Berea

Karen and Sharon at Chemolingot Childrens Home

My name is Festus Sepitoi Tingaa. I am a young man, age 31, from the Pokot community and a family of 13 children. My mother is the second of two wives. I am the only boy in my family to attend school. Two of my sisters are primary school teachers and I am a graduate of Daystar University with a degree in Community Development. From grade one to grade five I attended classes under a tree and from grade six to eight in a classroom. We used to write on the ground and used sticks as pencils. At the age of 3, my elder sister took me to Sunday school and taught our class about the love of Christ for children and how He told the disciples in the book of Mathew to let the young children come to him. The love of Jesus captured my attention because in the Pokot culture, children and women are not respected. From that time, a seed was planted in my heart and at the age of 13 I decided to give my life to Jesus Christ. When I was in grade 7, I was chased out of my home and went into hiding for two months until I heard that my parents were looking for me. I found out that my father had gone to a witch doctor to bewitch me. I thank God because of the blood of Jesus Christ and that Scripture says that no weapon forged against them shall prosper. I was not scared at all because I knew I had put my faith in the maker of heaven and earth and all power rests upon him. After a year with no effect from the bewitching the community gave testimony that the God I believed in was a powerful God. After this, one of my sisters was saved. When I finished high school in the year 2000, I went to Nairobi and found a job packing goods and cleaning at the Uchumi supermarkets earning $90 per month. Since my parents refused to pay my sister’s school fees, I took on the responsibility for paying her school fees when she reached high school. By then I had received admission letters from Egerton and Daystar Universities. I asked God if I should go to college or to stand with my sister? A strong spirit urged me to suspend going to school and to help my sister finish school. From then, I decided to not take lunch and instead saved the $1 per day I was spending. The $1 per day turned into $30 per month and $360 for one year, which was enough for my sister’s school fees. It was my decision to postpone my education until she was done with hers. When she finished high school, she was admitted in teachers college and I gave her all the money I had saved, which was enough to take her for one semester.

One day a customer and his son came into the store where I worked and the father told his son “work hard so that you won’t be like him. The kind of life he is living is hard,” referring to me. I felt very embarrassed but encouraged in my heart since I know that I am not what men think I am, but rather what God says I am. Psalms 37:1-11 immediately came into my mind and gave me peace in my heart. When I made it to Daystar in 2006, each semester was a challenge to pay school fees. The Lord met my needs in amazing ways each time through sacrifice and the generosity of others. I just used to pray to God to provide and read the scriptures. For instance Philippians 4:6 says “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”. This encouraged my heart to always pray to God. During the 2007 general election campaign when I was working as a campaign manger I met with pastor Julius of Pokot Outreach Ministries (POM). He helped pay some of my school fees. I was very grateful to him and started praying for POM and its donors. He also asked the registrar of the University to consider me for a scholarship. I was given a 75% scholarship and he paid the other 25% until I finished my degree. Indeed I saw the hand of God working in my life and this increased my faith in Christ. After I finished my degree I decided to give God one year of service in a church. I started serving in June 2010 in my local church and when my one year was over, Julius appointed me to come and serve with him in POM. I chose to study Community Development because the curriculum was designed to equip a student with integrated knowledge and skills that could be applied in a wide range of community development situations in a holistic manner that involves all aspects of community life (spiritual, economic, social and political). Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my testimony. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to serve Him and the Pokot people in this organization.

The Character of a Man Festus Tingaa Joins POM Team by: Festus Tingaa

Harvesters International Ministries encouraging, assisting, and supporting national missionary initiative6

The following is the testimony of a remarkable young man that has recently joined the Pokot Outreach staff in Kenya. His story is inspiring and his joy infectuous. He’s a pretty good dancer, too.

Festus Tingaa interprets for Paul Thompson at a Chepturu church service

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CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The annual Kenya medical team was a great success in so many different ways. The team of ten from Michigan and North Carolina served with local pastors, evangelists and others to share the Gospel and give medicine to treat more than 2,600 people. Based at Chepturu in East Pokot, the team would load up their daily supply of medicine and head out each morning to a location that had been chosen by pastor Job and his evangelism team in advance. The team quickly gelled with each other and came prepared to work. Their willing spirits combined with their compassion, patience, and desire to help the people and each other was truly remarkable. Everyone, including the interpreters and drivers, went above and beyond the call of duty so that the group, all of us working together, could help as many people as possible. I stood off to the side one day and took in a picture of what the church is supposed to be as people, black and white, who spoke different languages come together to show the love and compassion of Christ to the people of Pokot. It was a special time that will remind me of what is possible when we work together as the Church. People like Kapon in Chemoikut, a mother of three. Kapon stood to give testimony that her youngest child, who was less than a year old, had been sick for some time. The area lacked any medical facilities and she did not have the money for transportation or for treatment of what ended up being a very treatable ailment. Kapon was so thankful when she received word that the medical team would be conducting clinics near her home. Despite a sleepless night, she was at the clinic site with her three children and was the first to stand to give thanks to God for our coming. When I got home I came across Isaiah 58, which resonated with me as both an encapsulation of what the team did and as a reminder to me of a greater purpose and goal for my own life.

Thank you to each of the team members and the people that made it possible for them to be part of the team. You built bridges and brought hope to communities as you showed Christ’s love. The medicine that you administered will pale in effect compared to the indelible mark you made through your sacrifice and compassionate spirits.

“... if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” -Isaiah 58:10.

Ambassadors of Hope Kenya Medical Team by: J. Lucarelli

A dehydrated child is given oral rehydration salts at Kamisno clinic

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What a joy to have faith and to live by faith. I am so excited to reach you once again with great news about our ministry. God is continuing to pour out his blessing. We see many people coming with spiritual wounds and God has touched them. Thank you for being part of this. We are continuing with our evangelism campaigns and more souls are coming to the Lord. We reach out in colleges, on the streets, in the markets, and through house-to-house visitation. Our number is growing each Sunday; and each member is reaching out to some one during the week. Most members know how to use FAITH method, which makes the campaign easy. We also provide bibles to new believers and pastors who have old ones that are missing some pages. Since our Church came to this area it has been our prayer that God help us get clean water. Many of you have been praying and I am happy to inform you that God did it

through some people I have never seen but felt the burden. Now we have clean water. What a blessing to our Church to extend a hand of support to the community and opening up a channel of evangelism to our Muslim family neighbors. Already we have 2 families that joined our Church through their son, Hasan, who attends our school. Next year the Lord is leading us to step up in faith again. We want to help more children gain access to good education. We thank you so much for your time, prayers and financial support without it; it would be so difficult to see all this happening.

Prayer Requests

From The Field To Africa With Love, Ugandaby: Pastor Samuel and Mercy Mwesigwa

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2012 AFRICAvision/evangelism

APRIL 14-28

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OCTOBER 13-28

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- For Gods wisdom and proper leadership as the ministry grows.- For my families provision- For more souls to come to Christ during this season of our Church.- For Gods provision towards all our projects that are aimed at changing lives.- That God will bring the right people to work with us both in spiritual and physical support.- $16,000 dollars for a 4WD van- For our up coming events