A NEW LEASE ON LIFE…

 

News from Burundi!!

Over twelve years ago God lead a group from JFM to a remote area located in the bush of Burundi Africa. This place is now what we all know as Burenza.  When the team arrived all that time ago there was one small building that serviced as the district office. Fast forward twelve years and this building has served as the launchpad for what’s now a sub-Saharan oasis of hope to the people of Burenza. But as you may have guessed the years and all the various uses have taken a toll and with the addition of the new maternity ward (soon to open) there is once again a need for this building as a ladies staff house. 

In December along with our partners in Burundi, we asked the body of JFM for support to raise up this building and give it a new lease on life. Not only did you help meet the need but JFM more than doubled what was asked for.  Because of this, we have been able to complete all the asked renovations and we are now able to add a modern bathroom and shower area to the house. 

It’s commonly said God doesn’t call the equipped but equips the called and JFM you responded to that call. Please stay tuned over the next two months as we’ll be rolling out additional Burundi-related information, updates, and a potential upcoming mission trip.

 

Building a Team for the Honduras Mission Trip!

God willing JFM will be sending a six man mission team, led by Pastor Jason and Doris Snyder, to Honduras in September.  The goal will be to finish roughing in a building for the storage of equipment and a vehicle.  Help is needed to lay three rows of cement blocks on the walls of a partially constructed building.  Once the walls are completed, rafters and tin roofing can be installed.  

To complete the team, five additional people with some experience in the building trades are needed.  Even if you mixed cement for your uncle or granddad when you were a teen, or helped with framing a building, your skills may be needed. This is a great chance to help JFM, and Pastor Daisy, as we start building a relationship with this ministry in Honduras.  Please see the video below for further details. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Below are some further images of the pantry and office spaces that will be worked on during the trip: 

The Effects of Hurricane Eta in Honduras

 

JFM SENDS RELIEF DURING CRISIS IN HONDURAS

This quarter the Go Team would like to update you on JFMs outreach in Honduras. As you can imagine, the last year has been a challenge for ministries around the world, with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting people, countries and travel. Fortunately, the JFM Go team has worked to stay connected with Pastor Daisy and the needs of her ministry to the Garifuna people. (For a refresher on this ministry, click the April 2020 posting on this blog.) In the April 2020 post Doris Snyder, JFM's Ministry Liaison to Pastor Daisy, wrote: “I believe there are possible bumpy roads ahead, but we should not concentrate only on the bumps, but on what God is calling us to do”.

What prophetic words. Doris had a very difficult year personally and then on November 3 and November 17 Honduras was struck by back-to-back category 4 hurricanes. 

Pastor Daisy and members of her community

Widespread flooding and landslides devastated the area of Puerto Cortez Honduras following two recent Hurricanes resulting in immediate needed relief. Those affected included members of the Free Methodist Church of Honduras whose homes were badly damaged and many families were in desperate need of food and/or medicine. Free Methodist Pastor Daisy’s church assisted in providing shelter for the homeless or those in the danger zone, but the need was greater than the church's abilities. JFM was able to provide some financial assistance to help Pastor Daisy with some items as clothing. Please keep these people in your prayers.

A Testimony from Pastor Daisy in Honduras: “Nidia was desperate to hear the word of the Lord. She would see us go by while she was drinking in a bar with her friends. She contacted me through Facebook and later I was able to meet with her and she gave her life to the Lord. We set up a time we could come to her house to meet regularly for a time of discipleship and she always invites someone else to attend these meetings and hear the word of the Lord in her home.”

The St. John's Home

 

 

Merry Christmas!  As Christmas approaches, we are encouraged and incredibly grateful for your prayers and financial support this year.  Our ministry to the broken and marginalized would not be possible without our partners!  Thank you!  Like many others, the global pandemic has impacted giving toward our ministry this year and we had some unexpected expenses.  We are in urgent need of one-time gifts and monthly partners going forward to continue sharing God’s love in Bulgaria and fight human trafficking here. Please help us reach our goals:  $6,000 by December 31 and  $25,000 for 2021 How do we fight human trafficking?    - Church planting: healthy churches teach important biblical values, grow strong communities and support families.  Girls in this environment are not at risk to be conned - they know WHO they are and WHOSE they are. - St. John’s Home: a family environment where a young woman living in a dysfunctional situation which makes her especially vulnerable to trafficking can live in security.  Here she can grow, get an education, and experience love.  She will know her value, purpose and gain practical and spiritual training to be a confident Christ follower and citizen.   - Discipleship and Bible School: helping people understand God, His promises, and their identity as His child.  Giving people confidence in who they are positions them to receive God’s promises.  Strong Christian communities come together to address social problems such as trafficking.   Your partnership makes these ministries continue. Please consider joining us on this journey.  A generous donor will match new donations up to $3,000 through December 31!   Click here to give

IT WORKS EVERY TIME !

Covid may have slowed many parts of our daily lives but it hasn't slowed progress in Burundi, at least not much. The construction of phase 3 is now complete...

which includes a new maternity ward and a solar system. This is a huge step towards our efforts and partnership in Burenza. To date, there is an average of 32 babies being delivered at the Burenza clinic a month, or 384 a year. Some of which have entered the world under a cell phone flashlight. This will soon change. With prayer, funding for medical equipment, and government approval we will soon begin a new chapter in Burenza. 

Join Jonathan for a walkthrough of the new ward.