This is a little boy I met in an orphanage. He has a mental disability he weighs not much more than twenty pounds, and he is nine years old. --Aaron Mondok

Aaron posted this picture on his Facebook account today. He wrote yesterday in his update to us that he met this little guy and that he planned on seeing as much of his new friend as possible.

Aaron has always had a tender spot in his heart for the marginalized and less fortunate. To be honest with you, I never thought much about those with disabilities until we adopted Allie. She has opened a whole new world to us. I spend time and hang out with disabled kids every chance I get at her school new. Something drastic happened in my life that has brought about a change of heart. But that isn't the case with Aaron. He has always been naturally tender. On the mission field, in urban ministry, or in children's ministry at our local church, he has always both given and lived the gospel around little kids. If a child is the under dog of the group, Aaron makes the kid king of the world.

Pray with us for this little guy. If you look closely at his hand, its deformed because he continually sucks it. That could be due to a combination of under nourishment coupled with his attempt to self-soothe.

I just received this email from Aaron. He arrived in Haiti yesterday with his team from Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale.

It's only been two days, but it feels like it's been much longer. As team leader I've been able to connect with a couple Haitian
pastors. They find work project for the team.

Yesterday we began to dig up the ground where a house once stood, and
today part of my team began to build a new foundation for a new
house in its place. It’s cool to be working alongside the Haitian
people to rebuild their community.

Today the other half of my team, including myself, lead a VBS at a
local school. We talked about heaven and how one day God's children
will wear crowns and will reign with Christ. Then we made each child a
balloon hat to remind them of their future with Christ.

Later on today we visited an orphanage. I think I will be spending
alot of time there. There I met a little boy. He looked like he was
about two or three years old. He has a mental disability and sits in a
crib and sucks his fingers all day. His hand is raw from how much he
sucks on it. He looks like he weighs about twenty pounds. The sad
thing I learned later about him is that he isn't only two or three years old, but nine. It would blow your mind if you saw his picture, but due to our limited Internet, uploading a photo could knock out our connection for 24 hrs.

Aaron's Missionary Page

While the week of teaching is still fresh in my mind and heart, I wanted to take a few minutes to post a brief report. Like last year, I was energized and filled up each day as the students soaked in the teaching of Choose to Wait. Most of them have heard some sort of teaching about Love and Sex, but ALL of them commented that THIS was different. It was my joy to present to them God's design for love, marriage and sex.

We had some lively discussions, fun role-plays and dramas, and a few somber moments where I could sense the Holy Spirit was gently healing past wounds. Some had father wounds, others mother wounds, still others - relationship wounds. Their enthusiasm and interaction made it a pleasure for me.

Several of these students are fresh out of High School and yet are so eager to strengthen their relationship with God and build their faith by submitting to the DTS (Discipleship Training School) training. It was inspiring to be with them, not just for the class time, but for tea time, meals and one-on-one visits. This week I met some GREAT young people (from Namibia, USA, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and England) and count it a privilege to have participated in their overall training. I have a deep respect for the staff of YWAM and the work they are doing with young people. The Spirit of the Lord was definitely at work in the hearts and minds of each one.

Once again, He proved His faithfulness. Thank you for your prayers.

Duran Blog

Duran Missionary Page

New photos uploaded today! Added to album: South Africa Jan/Feb 2010

Melanie's blog

Melanie's missionary page

You may not have noticed, but Uganda has been in the international headlines the past several days. We have had a tremendous amount of rain over the past several weeks that has caused mudslides in the lower east region of the country in the district of Bududa. Bududa is located in the foothills of Mount Elgon which is situated on the border between Uganda and Kenya. Several days ago mudslides wiped out two villages. The death toll is nearing 100 people and there are over 250 still missing.

Please pray for the recovery, provision and comfort for those who have lost loved ones and in many cases all that they owned. We, like many of you, are experiencing unusual weather for this time of the year. December through March is supposed to be our dry season. We have had an unseasonably cool dry season and it has been accompanied by days of rain showers.

We have been told by the meteorologists that the unusual weather patterns in Europe have caused the weather pattern from northern Africa to slide down into our region, thus causing the rains. They are predicting that we will have much higher than normal rain levels and to expect this weather pattern to continue through June. In some areas of Uganda the rains are much needed and long over due, but in other areas such as Bududa it can be devastating. Here is a link http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/712052 to a story that may give you some insight not only to the horrific tragedy but also to issues related culturally that may be contributing to and possibly making events like these more frequent and even more devastating.

Well the rains have also stopped for the most part the excavation of the MAF aircraft hanger. George estimates that they have only been able to work about one day in the past three weeks. There is at least a good week or more of excavation work needed before foundations can begin. The construction site is now fondly referred to as Lake George. They have also discovered that the water table has risen drastically and is only about twelve inches below grade, so extra measure are going to have to be implemented to allow for the digging and installation of the building foundations. Please keep George and the workers in your prayers.

Fellman's Blog

Fellman's Missionary Page

A week from Sunday, March 14th is the Global Day of Prayer for Burma and we wanted to invite you all to participate and remember Burma and its people in a special way.  This day of prayer is initiated by a group called Christians Concerned for Burma and we want to support their effort.  The problems in Burma have proven beyond the wisdom of people and governments around the world but nothing is greater than God.  May our united prayers bring positive change.  For more information and to download their booklet for the occasion, go to www.prayforburma.org. 

To give a quick guide to some of the issues here in the US, in Thailand and in Burma, we have made this list below.  We hope you will join us and Christians around the world in prayer.

In Christ,

Duane & Marcia Binkley

Global Day of Prayer for Burma

Prayer Points

1.  Refugee camps

• That donations for food supplies and shelter will be sufficient.
• That the Lord will lead each family to the right decision about whether they should opt for resettlement or not.
• That those remaining in the camps may be allowed more freedom of movement.
• That children and youth will have a future.

2.  Inside Burma

• That the government will allow more freedom.
• That the soldiers will recognize the ethnic people as friends and family and not the enemy.
• For safety and survival for the hundreds of thousands living in hiding trying to keep out of site of the soldiers.
• That the elections to be held in Burma will bring real change and improvement to the country.

3.  Chin in Malaysia and India

• That the Burma government will stop persecuting the Chin driving them to leave their homes.
• That they won’t be subjected to violence, jail or trafficking in Malaysia and India.
• That they can find enough work and food to survive.

4.  Karen and Chin being resettled in the US

• That new jobs can be found and old jobs retained.
• For cultural and language adjustment.
• That kids in school can be free from violence.
• That drinking and domestic troubles can be reduced.
• That young people will stay in school and that high school grads can find ways to attend college.
• For training of the leadership in the Karen churches and for the Karen Baptist Churches in USA as it gets established.

Sharon's Missionary Page

I just got back from another amazing adventure here in Peru up to a small town about 4 hours outside the city of Lima called Canta.The weekend was especially great being that a small group of men serving here within the Calvary Chapel Bible College took a weekend trip up into the Andes Mnts for a men's retreat.

"How" and "who" found this place, is still the greater mystery after coming down off the mountain. Apparently"someone" within the Calvary community back in Lima found this place a few years back, and had recommended it for weekend get-a-ways. It wasn't bad besides the fact it was at 8,800 feet and nothing was there besides a small mountain farming community that owned WAY to many donkeys.

Kid you not, I think I saw more donkeys in this small village than the entire country of Peru combined. Needless to say, the trip went well, and a few brothers in Christ are now stronger than before setting out up the mountain.

Click HERE to see the photos

Kevin's Blog

Kevin's Missionary Page

Thank you for continuing to pray for the work here.

Please pray for he security issues in and around our house. In the last weeks there have been several home invasion robberies. Gangs of up to 20 people have invaded local compounds, beaten the guards and in at least two cases killed the guards. As the inflation continues to rise there is more and more of this activity. Now many of the young people in our community are living in fear because the police typically round up suspects and shoot them to end crime waves. Please pray there would be repentance and Jesus would call people to himself through all this.

Ed's Blog

Ed's Missionary Page

We have had such an emotional week, with this being our last at Language School. Today was heart-breaking as we said goodbye to our Joyce and all of the teachers that have helped us from the time we got here. The only thing that kept us from "losing it" is the fact that we still have to return for our finals and that I will see Joyce on Monday...

Free Cervical Screening for Women of Nairobi!

On Wednesday, Robbie, our pastor, picked up about 5-6 women to take for a free breast and cervical cancer screening. A team came from Loma Linda to put on this clinic and the women of Nairobi are so excited. Joyce, the lady who helps us with the boys while we attend class, and I met the ladies from our church to get in line for their free screening when we discovered there were women waiting from the day before! Needless to say, our women didn't get seen but praise the Lord, the guy from the head of the clinic has been in contact with me via email and arranged for our women to come and get an appt. His name is Mark and we've been in touch about this clinic for about a year. Mark is a Christian and has asked for your prayers during the clinic. He will come worship with us at church on Sunday and have lunch with us afterwards. This appt. was such a blessing considering the team will only be here till about March 11th and the women are served on a first come first served basis. The women from our church come from all different areas but Joyce lives near us in Tigoni, making it very difficult for her to get there early. Our women went away glad in their hearts that the Lord provided this screening and an appointment for them.

A Date with Joyce

So, since Joyce and I had planned on being at the hospital all day for this screening, now, we had the whole day to ourselves! A blessing because I wanted to take her to get her nails done and have lunch as a thank you for all she does. It was funny, Joyce and I had been talking about this "day of fun" since last week. We got to a place called Village Market where we could grab lunch and get our nails done but after talking more with her, Joyce wasn't so sure about the "pedicure thing". I don't think she had ever had one before, so we settled for lunch and an ice cream cone. (:

Car News

Also, this week we checked out another car. A Toyota Carib. Jonathan took the car to the mechanic and everything checked out great! We made an offer on the car and negotiated pricing today! Since we just worked out the pricing of the car, we are still going to be finalizing paperwork and such. We are so glad we are finally going to have a car! PRAISE THE LORD!

We got a package!

So today was especially emotional because we found out we got the car, we had to say goodbye to Joyce and our sweet friendships from Language School AND we got a package from our care team back at Refuge. Apparently the package was sent way back in December and we JUST got it today. Let me tell you how touched we were...We opened the package to find two hand-knitted beanies for our boys that had the colors of the Kenyan flag and said, "Kenya" on the front. These beanies were made by one of our girls in the youth group at Refuge, Jasmine. Our team sent birthday and Christmas cards for all of us, a book for Jonathan, a Phil Whickham CD, a new Veggie Tales Christmas DVD (that the boys are watching as we speak) and a touching DVD that brought Jonathan and I to weeping. The DVD was a slideshow put to music with all of our favorite people from Refuge holding up signs that said, "Merry Christmas Ferguson Family". Our friend, Jack, took pictures of the Jr. High all together with a sign that said they missed us. We can not tell you how much this touched us. The fact that they went to so much effort and seeing all of our friends smiling faces brought joy and gladness to our hearts. It also made us long for home. Thanks to our care team and to all our brothers and sisters at Refuge. We really want to try and figure out a way to show you all so bare with us as we figure it out. We love you guys!

Move on Monday!

The last bit of news is our move starts on Monday. Josiah, Christopher and I will spend the night at the new house on Sunday night and Jonathan will come back to Tigoni so he can be at the house when the moving truck comes. Please pray for this day, we have SO MUCH going on. This is actually the day that the appt. was made for our ladies at church so I am going to Kenyatta National Hospital and then I'm going to rush back to help with organizing things in and putting them in their right place. We are so excited about our new place and praise the Lord for all He's done. AND we'll get to Skype with friends and family without a problem on the internet.

New Class Starts for Bible School

Please pray as our church is beginning a new class at the Bible School and we have about 3-5 eager students. This school isn't designed to give people a degree in theology but to go through all the books of the Bible and get them grounded in the word of God. We are soooo excited and Jonathan is excited to FINALLY get back into teaching. Thank you Jesus!

Ferguson Blog

Ferguson Missionary Page

In his book The Hole in Our Gospel, Richard Stearns, president of World Vision U.S., cites a speech by Jimmy Carter in which the former president labeled the growing gap between the rich and the poor as the greatest problem of our time. Stearns then recalls a visit to Cape Town (which included a visit to Living Hope’s ministries) that gave him new perspective on Carter’s statement. He writes:

We also built in a couple of days to do some sightseeing – but found it difficult to enjoy it. Cape Town is one of the few places in the world where the worst imagined poverty and the most opulent wealth live together, sometimes just fifty yards apart. In the shadows of the luxury homes, high-rise hotels, wineries and upscale shopping malls lie acre upon acre of rundown shantytowns reeling with hunger, poverty, crime, disease, and despair, and populated by hundreds of thousands of broken-down human beings. … For me it was a microcosm of the “chasm” President Carter had described. How can the rich and the middle class live like this, I wondered, forced to see the stark contrast between themselves and the desperately poor every single day?

They do exactly what you and I do. They ignore them. The only difference is that it is easier for us to ignore the world’s poor because they are “over there.”

Stearns’ take on the rich-poor gap in Cape Town is spot-on, as are numerous other observations he makes as he wrestles with the question, “What does God expect of us?” when it comes to dealing with the poor. Stearns’ organization, World Vision, is doing heroic humanitarian work around the globe. For further insight, I highly recommend his book, royalties from which are benefiting World Vision’s work with children in need. To get involved with World Vision, check out www.worldvision.org. And for a further look at some of Cape Town's contrasts, see the images below.

Allen's Blog

Allen's Missionary Page