Missionaries Write

Although there is currently a food shortage in Southern Africa, our particular ministry area was not badly affected by drought or low-yield harvest.

The shortage in other parts of Malawi have caused usually generous family members to turn to mercenary practices. Seeing the opportunity to become rich from sale of their excess maize, they are not making any provision for their own extended families’ widows and orphans.

Through the generosity of donors in America, we have organized maize distribution in the Malawi portion of our team’s ministry area. Church leaders, along with chiefs and other village council members, have selected the households most likely to face death if they do not receive assistance.

Pray that this maize finds its way to the households it is intended for, and that local church leaders and village chiefs will practice integrity. Pray that the unchurched maize recipients will be drawn to our Lord through the help they have received.

We also want to introduce you to another unreached people group in Mozambique and Malawi — the Malolo (also called the Balolo, Baroro or Lolo).

The Malolo are considered a priority people group for our team because their degree of lostness surpasses many other groups, and because they have clung to their language and cultural identity more closely than some of the surrounding groups.

Pray for Bob and missionary Jeff Shrum as they attempt to reschedule a trip into the Malolo area of Zambezia Province in Mozambique. Pray that the Lord will burden several individuals to begin a prayer effort specifically targeting the Malolo.

Bob and Pam Brownfield
Malawi

___________________________________________________

Currently, Rich is serving as coordinator for strategy for the Venezuela/Aruba, Bonnaire and Curacao Cluster.

We also have missionaries in Aruba who are doing a great job in reaching the hotel workers on this tourist island. We continue to work with the Barrios Caracas Team, along with our other responsibilities. The new team leader is Harris Cook. New team members include Barry and Kim Sowell. Barry is working specifically with men in the barrios. His background as a recovering alcoholic has provided opportunities for sharing the gospel with men, many of whom struggle with the same addiction.

The country’s political and economic situation is stressful. Unemployment is high, and security is always an issue.

In the midst of this reality, a much greater reality of the good news of Christ is changing lives in the barrios. We’ve seen more than 100 barrios residents come to know Christ in the last month, and many of them will be baptized in the coming months.

We have listed some personal and team-related prayer requests. We ask you to remember these with us.

1. Pray for team members Barry and Kim Sowell in the birth of their baby girl, Maria Diane.
2. Pray for the new believers as they prepare for baptism and for the formation of new churches.
3. Pray for Susan’s recovery from two herniated disks.
4. Pray for the new missionary families on their way to Venezuela, the Graces, the Runions, the DeVoes, the Gregorys, the Wagners, the Buschings and Donnie Hass and Christen Coleman.
5. Pray as we do follow-up work from a volunteer team that ministered in Caracas Oct. 7–14, with drama, puppets and personal witnessing.
6. Pray for our children. Matt is serving as an International Mission Board journeyman here in Venezuela. Rachael is finishing her last year at Samford University. Aaron is graduating from high school and deciding on a college.

Once again, we appreciate your prayers and count on your support of missions through the Cooperative Program, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and other local church offerings.

The prayer requests of the Barrios Caracas Team are now being up­dated weekly and posted on the team’s Web site, www.Caracas­Poor.net.

Rich and Susan Hutchens
Caracas, Venezuela

________________________________________________________

We recently finished our last set of conferences in Chile. We had a wonderful time sharing with our brothers and sisters in Christ in La Serena and Arica. There is always great enthusiasm to share with others what they have learned, which encourages us to keep teaching. Thank you for praying for us and those attending. We can feel your prayers as we lead conferences.

We ask that you continue to pray for Julia and her adjustment to life in Chicago. She still does not have a job, and her funds are getting low. She begins classes next week and is a bit anxious about returning to the classroom. However, she is looking forward to her doctoral studies.

Kristie, Ryan and Shane have settled into our home in Nashville. Ryan has job interviews this week and hopes to have a position soon. They would appreciate your prayers as well. Thank you for continuing to lift us up to the Lord as we serve Him in western South America.

Ernie and Lee Ann McAninch