We sent ten Mega Voice audio Bibles in the Pokot language to Pastor Chocoi. He elected to give the audio Bibles  to the girls at the Cana Rescue Center. There are 56 girls from ages 13 and up. These are girls that have run away from their village to escape from abuse. They can never return.  At the safe home they learn trades such as sewing and tailoring. It is a place where they learn the Word of God. We were there this past Aug 2011 as part of our last Kenya mission trip and brought them more sewing machines. Praise God for those who have helped to keep these girls from harm.

Looking for a special way to express your love this Valentine’s Day? How about honoring that person with a gift from Missionary Ventures’ Gift Catalog ?

A warm blanket given in Jesus’ name to a child in a remote village, or perhaps something as small as a packet of seeds that could plant an entire acre of land for a needy community would spread the love of Jesus in that special person’s name.

Click here  to print a gift card to send to your special someone.

This training is provided free of charge for those who may have a desire to lead a short-term mission team in the future.  You are receiving this invitation because (1) you may have contacted us and expressed such a desire, (2) you may have participated in a team trip previously or (3) you may be a church staff member. Attending the MV training does not obligate you in any way, but merely helps you understand the many aspects of leading a mission team, and how MV can help.

We invite you to join us as we present MV Team Leader Training during this one day event.  You will enjoy informative sessions led by experienced Missionary Ventures staff members who will assist you in training and preparing your short-term team members.Training sessions will cover such topics as:

• Developing Confidence in Missionary Ventures
• Developing Confidence to Build and Prepare Your Team
• Developing Confidence During the Trip
• Developing Confidence to Go Further

The Seminar is set for Saturday, March 17, 2012 in Orlando, Florida.  Training takes place at the MV office located at 5144 S. Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32809.  The Program begins at 9:00 am and concludes at 4:00 pm.  Lunch will be provided in order to give the group more time together.

If you can join us for this important training, please RSVP in order that we can make the necessary plans for your attendance.  Call the MV office at 407-859-7322 by March 4 or send an email to Amber Russelburg at anrusselburg@mvusa.org. This is very important in order to insure your place at the March training session.

Yesterday I spent a good part of the day weeping. One of our most loved supporters died on Christmas day and we just got the news.  She had been battling cancer for over ten years. She came to visit us for the first time in 2007 on a CMA trip and we became instant friends after that.

She would write us on a weekly basis with an encouraging word.  She would send us 3-4 care packs a year, she would mail cards on our birthdays.  She would pray for us consistently.  She arranged for us to have a vehicle while we were on our last furlough and drove it from Perry, GA to Orlando, FL to deliver it to us.  Seriously, who does that?  There are very few people like Anita in our lives.  Although we rejoice that she is no longer suffering, we mourn this great loss and wonder, “Who will fill the void that she left?”  She not only was our cheerleader, she sent packages overseas to our soldiers (she served in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years) and she was very active in her church and her local CMA chapter.

Just today I picked up the package she had sent us in November.  It was the only package we received the whole year.  I couldn’t help but tell the customs clerk about the loving sender of the package.  When she got really ill, she couldn’t send packages any more.  I told the clerk she probably wouldn’t see me again, because Anita was the only person who ever sent us anything.  The clerk responded, “It seems like she sent this last package as a kiss from heaven.”  Yes, it felt like that.

When the customs agent opened the package, the tears started to flow again.  She sent a little something for everyone, even Esther Anahi’s first ornament, a motorcycle toy for Timmy, cashews for Norberto and a devotional book for me.  It was a treasure, not because of the contents, but because it was in a sense, sent from heaven with so much love.

When I was telling my mom through tears about this great loss of a servant, she said, “Pray that God would raise up more people like Anita to be a part of your team.  It might take five people to do what she did, but God will provide.”  We are praying that very prayer.

She wanted to come on this year’s CMA trip and had even signed up, but had to back out because of her health.  We were hoping to see her on furlough this coming summer, but we’ll look forward to laughing with her in heaven.  We thank God for Anita’s full life, love, giving heart and her tremendous legacy.

A short-term mission trip is an adventure which will have lasting benefits in more ways than you might think at first. Of course the major aim of the trip is to help the people living in that foreign country. Help might mean different things, such as: helping to construct a church building, conducting a VBS type program from children, distributing gift bags to needy people, etc. Any of these activities will impact the lives of the recipients for years to come, as people realize that you cared about them, even though you live far away. They will realize that God cares for them, and used you to touch their lives.

Amen to all of that; however, let’s consider another benefit to a short-term mission trip. The missionary who will oversee your activities in that foreign country is in need of your encouragement just as much as the locals. These amazing ambassadors for Christ left the land of their birth, left family and friends, left the comforts of an affluent nation and a million little things that you never notice until they are gone, like trustworthy medical treatment or police protection. They have made friends in their new home, but they often grow weary in their efforts. They miss their family and friends. They may not see a ready acceptance of their ministry or themselves. The results may be so slow in coming. They are committed for the long haul, but the short haul is often hard.

A short-term mission team is almost like a visit home. The extra hands are a tremendous boost to their efforts. The smiles and hugs from your team can encourage a missionary who wonders how they can make it work. They are normal people who need love and attention just as much as any of us. Your team can minister to them as much as to the local residents.

Please remember to pray for the MVI missionaries around the world, many living in situations that drain them financially, emotionally and spiritually. Consider taking a short-term trip to love these servants of God in the land where God called them for a long-term ministry. Look over the trips listed on this website, and/or call 407-859-7322 or email Amber at the MVI office to discuss other possible trips.

Pictured above: Ed Lockett, MVI Field Coordinator in Haiti and Elizabeth Ratliff, MVI Field Coordinator in Zambia

Our first official school year in the new vocational building has come to a very fulfilling end!  I (Mike) can’t believe it; over 80 students were trained and ministered to in electricity, auto mechanics, welding, and blacksmithing. We had some very positive feedback from students, parents and faculty alike and now we are gearing up for the upcoming school year that starts on January 31.  The next school year will see us expanding with additional classrooms, students (7th and 8th grades) and new classes.  This year, in addition to the classes taught last year we will also be offering classes in art, sewing, cooking and carpentry!  We are so very excited to be able to build up today’s Nicaraguan youth with life skills in a Christian environment.  We know this will make a tremendous impact in their walk with Christ as they go on to become adults.

What does that really mean? My Bible version states it as: “Engage in business till I come”.  Given the imminent return of Christ, how should we at Casa Compasiva be “engaged in business” till He comes?  Let me answer that by recapping some of this past month’s activities:

Sherry Bushnell, our long-distance midwife mentor and teacher, came for a visit and worked with our doulas in hands-on sessions attending patients, as well as informal teaching sessions.  As always when Sherry visits, everyone learned a lot, taking their knowledge of birth and midwifery up several notches. We are grateful for Sherry’s investment in Casa Compasiva!

Three of our doulas were promoted to “monitrice” status, having shown great initiative and responsibility in their work, and having mastered sufficient medical skills to be competent birth assistants to any doctor or midwife. We are very proud of these ladies!

These same three women began their preparations for the midwifery course which is to start in January, Lord-willing.  Two of them will be studying in a distance-ed format in English through the U.S-based National College of Midwifery, while doing their clinical work through Casa Compasiva. Upon completion of their work (in approximately two years), they will receive Associate’s Degrees in Midwifery.

The other monitrice will study in Spanish, following our own Casa Compasiva track to certification as a fully-qualified midwife.  Our Casa course will, of necessity, be slightly less intensive than the English course, although no less excellent. (We face a lack of midwifery textbooks in Spanish and are having to develop many of our own materials. Please let us know if you encounter good-quality birth texts in Spanish!)

Greg and Jenny Norris made huge strides forward in their cross-cultural adjustment to Oaxaca by attending Spanish school, visiting friends in a remote village, and supporting other missionaries by providing childcare at a spiritual retreat. Jenny was also called upon frequently to do lactation consultation for our postpartum mamas. They are proving to be invaluable members of our team here!

We had our usual line-up of prenatal and postpartum clients, along with the normal births on the docket.  However, in November we sent an unusual number of high-risk patients to the hospital for C-sections. (Three!) The most dramatic case was a mama with a breech baby whose water broke four-to-five weeks early, and whose entire cord was wrapped tightly four times around his neck.  We praise the Lord for sparing his life and for giving us good relationships with the operating gynaecologist and hospital so that one of our doulas could accompany her in the operation.

Those parents are so very grateful for Casa Compasiva’s ministry to them throughout their pregnancy and now postpartum, even though they did not end up with a cozy Casa Compasiva birth. We are encouraged to see their spiritual growth as the mama gave her life to Jesus with us several months ago. It is a good reminder to us that the goal is not to ensure a natural birth for each client at all costs, but to support the family in whatever situation God ordains as best for their baby.

We continued to provide prenatal classes each week this past month, including snacks, crafts, and a devotional/gospel presentation.  Every Wednesday we also sent two of our doulas to do volounteer service as labour attendants at the local government hospital.

All in all, each of us as members of the Casa Compasiva team explore more fully what it means to “occupy till He comes.” Study. Service. Sacrifice. Smiles. Engaging in kingdom business by cheerfully serving the women and families of Oaxaca with the love of Christ.

This past week we had a Christmas outreach for 52 children from a very poor barrio. These were kids who would not have had a Christmas this year because of their families’ financial situation. The last two years we have partnered with City Hope and others to make this possible. We provided transportation from their homes on a bus, brought them to Los Charros restaurant where they got a delicious holiday meal with all the trimmings. We played games with them, sang songs, watched the children scurry to collect candy that fell from the pinata, and gave each child a special Christmas gift. The best gift that was given was the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus and the presentation of the Gospel! What a wonderful time as we saw them all pray to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Because of your faithfulness even in the midst of these hard economic times, your help makes a difference in the world for Him!