Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
New Hope Christian Fellowship, our GCI congregation in Pasadena, California, is excited to announce its 10th Annual Marriage Retreat on Saturday and Sunday, October 2-3 at the Doubletree Hotel in Monrovia, California. The presenters will be Bill and Pam Farrel, authors of Men are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti. During this relaxing and learning-rich weekend, the differences between men and women in the marriage relationship will be explored and celebrated from a lighthearted, Christian perspective. Bring your sense of humor and a desire to learn!
Visit http://newhope4all.org/marriage/2010MarriageRetreatBrochure.pdf to view a color brochure with cost, schedule and other event details. Space is limited and registration closes August 16.
San Francisco, California
From Pastor Richard Roberts:
After starting as a house church December 6, 1998, our San Francisco Community Fellowship has moved into a commercial building and is now holding weekly Sunday worship services in the community where we live. We have full 24/7 access to the facility and plan to use our new space to reach out to low-income families in the area.
Thanks to all who have been praying for us. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we reach out to serve the physical and spiritual needs of the people in our community.
Educators Prayer Walk Resources
Karen C. Seddon, a GCI member in Florida, is involved with Christian Educators Association International. Here is a link to a web page she prepared containing articles and resources for teachers who might be interested in prayer walking for their schools: http://prayerwalking.pbworks.com/
Vanuatu
From Mission Director Rod Matthews:
Invercargill, New Zealand, member and master builder, Les Evans, a member and masterbuilder from Invercargill, New Zealand, led a group from New Zealand to Vanuatu from May 30 to June 12 with the goal of completing the community room for our Rory Congregation. You will enjoy his report of working in a developing area of the Pacific. He wrote:
The short-term mission to Vanuatu was to construct a workshop and finish the [church] community room in the village of Navili, Rory, Malekula. The team of Les and Kaye Evans and Liz Bradshaw set off with the help of the New Zealand churches to establish the workshop for the making of furniture by the local people to sell to the public.
Many of the tools were to be purchased and sent to the island, ready for our arrival. Plans were laid months in advance to allow for the inevitable delays that can be experienced in the islands. However, several new problems arose. The first was the money transfer taking longer than usual and William Davies (our church elder in Santo) also had an urgent medical situation that required him and his family to travel to Fiji at the most crucial time of the planning phase.
As I’ve said several times now, we have never had the same problem twice, and there are still enough to go around for several more trips. Distance and communication are the most frustrating challenges that we encounter and no amount of preparation from far away will ever overcome this completely.
The concrete mixer was sent early but never arrived. This was one of the two machines (the chainsaw being the other) that we needed to make the foundations and the block work to start the construction of the workshop. During the last day of work on the island, after many calls during the final week, we finally found that the ship that had the concrete mixer on board had been “arrested” by the Maritime Authority for safety breaches! It would only arrive in the village after our departure!
All the concrete work and block making had to be done by hand, and the chainsaws were not ready for shipping, so a local one was sought. This one, however, was not in a good mechanical condition and needed repairs. As the parts were not available, we were not able to saw the timber necessary for the roof or to make scaffolding to lay the uppermost block rows.
Two major obstacles on the island are communication and transport. We have an interpreter who can speak both English and the local Bislama (William Davies). This doesn’t remove the problems, but at least we know about them sooner! In the past, with much repetition of “yes,” “no” and “no savvy,” and everyone talking more slowly for understanding, problems were no fewer and it took longer for them to be realized.
Transporting the sand from the beach to the work area was our next mission. The sand arrived slowly but steadily, and most of the sand for making blocks to complete the job arrived just before we left. The last blocks we were laying were extremely green and required careful handling. On a good day the concrete blocks were being made at a rate of about 60 per day with the last day making 120. Liz was able, when a good supply of sand and blocks were available, to lay up to 120 blocks in a day. The workshop needed about 450 blocks, and the community room took another 130.
The village has waited years for a piped water supply and this has been promised [by government authorities] every time we visited. The church built a concrete tank, mainly for drinking and cooking water, but this year the water supply arrived in the village the day we did! Running water is now potentially available to every house in the district of Rory. The water tank will still be used for drinking and reserve supply. The pipeline has been funded by the New Zealand Government.
One night when it was time to go home to our accommodation, the taxi didn’t arrive, and when we rang him we found that the police had “arrested” his utility truck because he had failed to pay his road tax!
The toilets didn’t work properly where we stayed and would not fill unless the center pipe [inside the cistern] was held down. We spent quite some time every day with our hands in the toilet just to get it to work! And that of course only worked when we actually had running water.
Having got the work to a certain stage we expect that the locals will be able to continue with the community room and make the remaining bricks for the workshop. When the new chainsaw arrives they will be able to cut the timber for both the community room walls and the roof of the workshop. Some members from adjoining villages also pitched in to help while we were there and the children stayed home from school for a few days so they could be of help – which they were.
As we leave the village the community is facing an added problem. The water supply that has been so long coming is in danger of becoming the center of a dispute [between other villages]. We pray that any dispute will be dealt with properly and the supply will remain running for all to use.
The village people thanked the New Zealand churches very much for the contribution made toward the construction of the new building. The building team would like to also express our thanks and appreciation for the assistance and prayer support. We also expressed our thanks to the people of the village for their hospitality and love during our time with them.
Much was done but more is needed yet and another visit to complete the task is now in the planning so we can continue to assist the local people in becoming more and more self-supporting.
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
From Pastor Doug Johannsen:
You’re all invited to our annual Dells Celebration at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, from September 30 to October 3, 2010.
Our theme this year is “On To Maturity.” Join us on this four-day journey as we examine four major areas of life that reflect maturity in our walk with Jesus.
Step 1: Reserve your room at the Kalahari by Sunday, August 29, 2010. The Kalahari is the premier family resort in the Dells featuring the world’s largest indoor water park and a new theme park. Phone 1-877-525-2427 for reservations.
Hut – $109.00 per night plus tax, 1-4 people only.
Lodge Suite – $129 per night plus tax, 1-4 people only.
Combination Suite (lodge and hut) – $238 per night plus tax, sleeps up to 8 people.
Village – (lodge and two adjoining huts) – $347 per night plus tax, sleeps up to 12 people.
You must call the Kalahari Resort no later than August 29 to reserve your room. After August 29, the low prices we’ve negotiated will no longer be available! Let the reservation personnel know you are with Grace Communion International or Worldwide Church of God. The Kalahari reservation number is 1-877-525-2427.
You may also book your room on line. First, go to: https://res.kalahariresort.com/V1Web/GroupComments.aspx
Then enter:
Group ID 14215
Password: 244
Contact Password (Optional): Leave this blank.
Click on “Make Reservation” and follow the prompts.
Step 2: Register with Grace Communion International/Worldwide Church of God Headquarters online at: <www.wcg.org/go/wisconsin>, and follow the prompts. Pay with your credit card.
Or you may download a registration form, fill it out and mail your registration with a check to:
Grace Communion International
PO Box 5005
Glendora CA 91740-5005
If you do not have Internet access, contact me, Dells Coordinator Doug Johannsen, and I will mail the forms to you.
Doug Johannsen
14210 Uranium St NW
Ramsey, MN 55303
Phone: 763-576-1086
Step 3: Come celebrate Jesus with your family and friends. Enjoy good food and activities! The Kalahari is a very family activity oriented facility with a huge water park and a new theme park!
If you have any questions, contact Pastor Doug Johannsen at doug.johannsen@gci.org or by phone at 763-576-1086.
Prayer Requests and Updates
Dave Fiedler sent this update on his eye surgery:
Please thank everyone for all their prayers and loving concern as I go through this nasty trial with my eye. I had another appointment yesterday with the doctor near our home in Oregon. This was my first visit to him as we had to spend over three months in Wisconsin as I went through the three eye surgeries and recoveries there. After he thoroughly examined my eye he said the retinal detachments and tears were so bad that I should be blind. He complimented my doctor in Wisconsin for saving it as much as he had. (And thank you Jesus that I still have some sight in the eye!) He is sending me to the best doctors in Oregon, who practice in Portland, in a couple weeks for a fourth surgery. Though I can see, I still have double vision and considerable distortion due to scar tissue buildup. There is also a little fluid under the retina. They will go in and remove that fluid, trim the edge of the retina and try to scrape away the scar tissue which is obstructing my present vision. The third one wasn’t the charm, so let’s pray the fourth one will be.
By the way, the doctor said my right eye looks good. Praise God!
Pastor Gary Dry of our Lake St. Louis, Missouri, congregation and his wife, Diane, want to thank everyone for their prayers for their toddler granddaughter, Laila, (daughter of Kristopher and Alicia Dry) who underwent successful surgery for removal of a grapefruit sized tumor. Gary wrote:
The surgery was successful, although the surgeon said it was one of the most difficult surgeries he had ever done. The estimated five-hour surgery ended up taking over eight hours. The doctors removed the kidney and adrenal gland as well as some lymph nodes but did not have to remove any other organs. Laila will have to undergo chemotherapy, but the prognosis for her recovery is very good. She’ll spend about a week in the hospital post surgery as they look after her wounds and help her start the healing process. We truly appreciate everyone’s concern for Laila. It’s so painful to see someone so small have to endure such a trauma, but then again, her age will work greatly in her favor as she recovers. Please pass on our thanks and love to everyone.
Edna Barr, wife of Pastor Al Barr of our Manhattan, New York, congregation sent this update on Al’s health. She wrote:
I am sending this update on Al’s condition. He will be sending it from now on, either by typing it himself, or by dictation. He had a lot of energy at the conference due to the steroids, which are a part of the cancer treatment. However, at that dosage, they were keeping him from sleeping at night. They were also making his face look fatter, although it didn’t appear swollen. At the last visit to the doctor, she agreed to reduce the steroid dosage. As a result, Al has been less energetic, but has been able to sleep much better. Al’s update and comments follow.
Al added: I want to thank everybody for their prayers and cards and concern. The tumor that was on my right back side has completely disappeared. I am still taking chemotherapy twice a week. There are a few side effects from the chemo, but not as bad as I thought it would be. Because the cancer is no longer visible does not mean I am cancer-free yet. I still have to have a PET scan and a bone marrow biopsy to make sure all the cancer cells are gone. My oncologist wants to continue treatment for another month before doing those tests. She is very pleased with the progress so far. It has been humbling to know that people around the world have been praying for me. I am extremely thankful. I am taking it one day at a time until I am fully recovered from this.
Remember that prayer is the battleground where we fight the good fight of faith. Let’s encourage everyone to join together in prayer, for we belong to Christ, and by the Spirit it is in Christ that we pray. Prayer and other spiritual activities help keep our hearts in tune with God and remind us of who we are in Christ. He is our all in all, and in him we are eternally beloved of the Father and blessed to share his good news with others.
Love from my family to yours,
Joseph Tkach
