The Volunteer Summer 2010

THE

SUMMER 2 010

A Publication of Maranatha Volunteers International

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

THE SEVENTH CHURCH

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HAITI

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BRINGING CHRIST HOME

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Wherever a man turns he can find someone who needs him. – ALBERT SCHWEITZER

ONE-DAY CHURCH

More Than 800 Now Complete Maranatha and ASI have completed more than 800 One-Day Churches in ten countries. The One窶船ay Church project has proven to be a good solution for congregations who did not have a permanent place to worship.

Construction Starts in Malawi

the congregations cannot afford the steel structure or roof. With that provided, they can make fired bricks and complete their church.

New Schools and Churches in Zambia Photo by Tom Lloyd

Photo opposite page by Tom Lloyd

Maranatha has begun building One-Day Churches in Malawi, where the Seventh-day Adventist Church has requested more than 1,300 churches. Construction has begun in the southern part of the country.

Church leaders in Malawi have indicated that all churches will be finished with bricks by local congregations. Already, this has been completed at Chipironi.

The One-Day Church provides a critical element in Malawi because

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Photo by Tom Lloyd

Each campus can accommodate 360 students. All buildings use the One-Day Church frame and roof. Volunteers added block walls, stucco and paint. In addition to the schools, 34 churches have been constructed in and around Livingstone.

Vanuatu Work began recently on the construction of One-Day Churches in the South Pacific Island of Vanuatu. Several churches were constructed as part of a training exercise for local builders who will oversee the construction of 37 churches on the main island as well as outer islands.

Maranatha volunteers recently completed two large elementary schools in Livingstone, Zambia.

With 12,000 members and no schools, the Adventist Church in Livingstone was eager to see these new schools built.

Photo by Karl Schwinn

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THE SEVENTH CHURCH

Photo by Tom Lloyd

BY DICK DUERKSEN

Adventist churches speckle the hills of Malawi like spots on a leopard. Most congregations meet beneath trees or inside slowly-rising mud and brick walls. Few have roofs to protect them from the weather, yet more than 600,000 people meet for worship every Sabbath.

One of 1,300 congregations who need buildings is in the hillside community of Mpasa.

The road to Mpasa begins as a congested asphalt thoroughfare in the city of Blantryre and quickly transforms into a pot-holed ribbon winding through hills covered with thousand-acre tea plantations.

After a couple hours you’ll come to a dusty turn-off that looks like the “end of the road.”

Thirty bouncy minutes and four

small villages later, you’re in Mpasa.

There’s no sign, but turn right just beyond the Grocery, drive 20 meters into a maize field, and you’re at church.

I was dumbfounded with what I saw behind the store. The new steel church was rising right beside what looked to be a perfectly-good red brick church.

“Why build here?” I asked Elmer Barbosa, leader of the Maranatha building team.

“The congregation’s been building on this for years,” he replied, “using local sun-dried bricks and mortar made from river sand. Even though the walls are high enough they don’t have money for trusses or roof – so the rains erode the bricks and the walls break down.”

I ran my hands along the bricks and watched as dust dropped from them like rusty snow. The building looked good, but the new steel One-Day Church looked far better. ​Next door, church member

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Photo by Dick Duerksen

Photo by Tom Lloyd

Photo by Brenda Duerksen Photo by Dick Duerksen

Reynaldo was shucking maize, but stopped long enough to introduce us to a son and daughter, show us his one-room maize store, and take us behind the house to meet his cow and calf.

It takes Maranatha’s Malawi building team about five hours to build a One-Day Church, and they were already honking for us to join them as they moved to the next site. That’s when a couple more members arrived to celebrate the new building with us. We greeted them and listened as a church elder told us this story.

“My name is Maranatha Buzon,” the older man said, “and I want to

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thank you for the gift of this new steel building. Fifteen years ago our small congregation moved to this spot. We had enough money to place a foundation and begin to raise walls so we wouldn’t have to meet beneath the mango tree for long. That was very long ago.”

Elder Maranatha paused for a moment as if remembering each day of the rain, wind, dust, and heat that had plagued their outdoor church, and then continued.

“Since then we have built the wall six times and each time it has fallen down. Fifteen years, six walls, and no building! But now you have come and built a steel miracle

right beside our sixth wall. This afternoon we will begin tearing down this sixth wall and cementing it to the steel pillars. No more bad weather in the church. This new church will preach by itself and all our neighbors will come!”

Brenda stood in the shade of the seventh church and took a picture of me with the two elders, then I took a picture of her with a group of village children beside the sixth wall.

A One-Day Church. Built in five hours. Soon to have red brick and cement walls. Already preaching.

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HOPE FOR

Haiti The Auditorio Church and School were both destroyed by the quake. Temporary classrooms now hold 500 students for school during the week and also accommodate for worship services and housing.

Photo by Pastor Amador

Photo by Dick Duerksen

Photo by Tom Lloyd

Photo by Kyle Fiess

On January 12, 2010 an earthquake devastated Port‑au‑Prince, Haiti. Three million people were affected.

Over 230,000 people were killed. More than 1.2 million people were left homeless.

Maranatha was asked to help by providing One‑Day structures to be used as shelters, churches, schools and clinics. Maranatha and ASI have responded by sending 140 buildings to Haiti.

Photo by Tom Lloyd

Life After the Catastrophe

The Yapitou School lost 18 staff and students in the quake. New classrooms are up and serving 300 students.

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Photo by Dick Duerksen

Photo by Tom Lloyd

Five buildings were erected at the Adventist Hospital.

The One-Day structures have been shipped to Haiti with roofing, doors and heavy canvas walls. The complete package provides a strong building that also shelters against the rainy season.

The Adventist University had an urgent need for classrooms.

One-Day classrooms at the University will serve 1,400 students.

Photo by Darrell Hardy

Many Adventist schools have to hold classes outdoors or under tarps as a result of damage caused by the earthquake. The One-Day buildings are providing desperately needed classrooms in Haiti.

Photo by Pastor Amador

The Peniel School has 180 students meeting in a One窶船ay structure, which also serves as a church on Sabbath.

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Photo by Kyle Fiess

The earthquake destroyed much of the perimeter wall around the Adventist University. Maranatha is rebuilding over one mile of wall around the campus.

From Jail Cell to Living Room:

BRINGING CHRIST HOME

BY CARRIE PURKEYPILE

An unlikely circumstance sparked the beginning of the Adventist Church in Chenahlo, Mexico. Maximino Perez Ruiz first heard of God’s law during his time in prison. He toiled there for years while his faithful wife Josepa struggled to take care of their nine children, the youngest just a toddler.

Josepa Lopez Perez cries with joy as she sees a photo of what the new church will look like.

When the charges against Maximino were finally dropped he returned home with more than just the clothes on his back. He brought his newfound hope in Jesus Christ, and a strong faith in the Bible.

Josepa quickly became convinced as well, and the two began their new lives as Adventist Christians.

Without an Adventist church in the town of Chenahlo, they longed for the support and fellowship of a congregation. The family met, and continues to meet four times a week to worship and pray. Apart from the Bible Studies Maximino responded to in prison, they are mostly self-taught Bible students.

A pastor who tends to many area congregations stops by once or twice a month to check in on the family congregation.

Maximino and Josepa were delighted to discover the doctrine of open and direct communication

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with God. They’ve set aside a room of their modest but sprawling corner dwelling reserved strictly for “church”.

Their in-home sanctuary is painted bright pink and purple, and lined with treasured photographs and paintings. But when the children, now adults, invite friends to their church, the reaction is mixed.

From the public view, this is more a family’s strange custom in their living room, than a message of truth from the almighty God. For services the family gathers to pray, and Josepa reads dutifully from her precious Bible in her native language of Chol. Many in this area speak native languages, wear traditional clothing and subsist on homemade corn tortillas and whatever garden vegetables they can grow or trade.

Maximino and Josepa proudly show the lot their family has donated for the construction of a church.

For better or for worse, times are changing. Nearby schoolchildren play in modern clothes and girls strive to pass the “posture test” as they walk the circuit critiqued by their young teacher.

The people here are changing, and the Chenahlo church needs an upgrade to help reach them. In July volunteers will arrive to erect a sturdy One-Day Church frame on Maximino’s property. Then they will add block walls and an attractive stucco exterior.

When Josepa saw the photo of the church they will have soon, her eyes brimmed with tears. “Thank the Lord! We don’t have money to build a temple and we are sad when we see that all the other churches have them. Now, thank the Lord we will have one too!”

“Like the Bible says, ‘if you ask He will give you, if you knock on the door He opens it,’” she says through the tears of joy.

The whole family dreams of the day they can invite friends and neighbors to a real church.

Photos by David Lopez

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PROJ ECT CALENDAR

Portsmouth, Ohio

Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico

Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico

Ultimate Workout Reunion Trip

Ultimate Workout 20

Portsmouth Church Open Team LEADER:

Melvin Hatch

July 4 - 16, 2010

LEADER:

Steve Case

July 5 - 11, 2010

LEADER:

Steve Case

July 13 - 26, 2010

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Are you ready to get out there and volunteer?

Ongole, India

Yuma, Arizona

Choluteca, Honduras

Ongole Fall Open Team

Gila Mountain Church Building Team

Christmas Family Project 2010

Ken Casper

Dec. 19, 2010 - Jan. 2, 2011

LEADER:

David Lopez

October 6 - 21, 2010

LEADER:

November 1 - 19, 2010

LEADER:

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To be determined

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Cintalapa de Figueroa, Mexico Young Adult Project 2010 LEADER:

Claudio Japas

August 5 - 17, 2010

Plymouth, Indiana Plymouth Church Phase 2 Open Team

Patty Bishop and Dave Schwinn

LEADERS:

August 17 - 31, 2010

Providence, Rhode Island Central Falls Church Open Team LEADER:

Larry Goodhew

Sept. 23 - Oct. 21, 2010

Maranatha has opportunities for volunteers of all kinds to get involved in service around the world. What project looks most inviting to you? Whether you are heading off on your own to join up with a group of soon-to-be-friends, or taking your family along for the ride, we are happy to help you find just the right project to join. Visit our online Project Calendar at www.maranatha.org for the most up-to-date listing of projects. Then contact us by emailing volunteer@maranatha.org or call us at (916) 774-7700 to receive more information.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Open Team School Project LEADER:

Karen Godfrey

January/February 2011

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India

Latin America

Fjarli Family and Friends

Latin America Open Team

LEADER:

Bruce Fjarli

February 2011

LEADERS:

Zachary

Merrill and Diane

February 2011

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TEAM PROJECTS

Group Projects January - May 2010 Honduras Oklahoma/Loma Linda Team

India Grass Valley Adventist Church Team

Mexico ARKLA Youth Berkshire Mission Chehalis Adventist Church Team Eastwood Church Palisade Christian Academy Spartanburg Adventist Church West Houston Adventist Church

Mozambique Beira Seminary Team

Zambia

Photo by Tom Lloyd

There are two ways to participate in a Maranatha project. You’ve probably heard about our open team projects, listed on pages 10 and 11. To go on those projects, you just sign up, pay the participation fee and make your travel arrangements. An open team project is perfect for an individual or a family to join.

If you would like to take a larger group of volunteers from your town, church or school you may want to consider organizing a Maranatha Group Project. To take a group you will need at least 15-20 volunteers.

You’ll put together your own staff of Project Coordinator, Construction Superintendant, Head Cook, etc.

Maranatha usually provides an in‑country coordinator to assist you

Photo by Dick Duerksen

with your project. They will be with you during your site visit and often help out during your project as well.

When your group does a Maranatha project, you have more control over what kind of accommodations you want, and the project budget.

Maranatha will work with you to determine a date and location that works for your group, and provide guidance as you plan your Maranatha group project.

As your church or group gets involved in missions, you may notice a change. People who spend time and money volunteering often become more involved in other church and social activities too. Your group may grow closer than ever before to each other, and to God.

How do I Prepare to Take my Group on a Project!

1. First determine if you have enough interest to bring at least 15-20 volunteers.

2. Call Maranatha at (916) 774-7700 and speak to our Coordinator for Group Projects about getting started.

3. Begin recruiting participants and leadership.

4. Work with Maranatha to set a budget.

For more information call us at (916) 774-7700 or email groups@maranatha.org.

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Photo opposite page by Tom Lloyd

Taking Your Whole Group on a Project

Sunnyside/Rockwood Adventist Churches

The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. – NELSON HENDERSON

NEWS NOTES

A Light in Cuba

Photo by Laura Noble

Ten years ago Maranatha built a seminary campus on the island of Cuba, to train future leaders. Today most of the pastors in the country are young men, recent graduates of the Cuba Adventist Seminary.

With the recent acquisition of funds, construction has begun again on campus, this time to build

a large church. Currently seminary students crowd back into their classrooms for worship on Sabbath. The campus church will also serve the community.

In preparation, young theology majors have already begun canvassing the neighborhood and fulfilling their literal promise to reach every household.

Seven new congregations have already begun meeting in homes as a result of these outreach efforts.

Upon completion of the seminary church, the new believers will call it their home church.

Maranatha Mission Stories Celebrates 100 Episodes When Maranatha started producing the television show, Maranatha Mission Stories, in 2003, it only aired once a month.

In 2007, the show began airing weekly. Now, surpassing its 100th episode, Maranatha looks back on the show’s evolvement and celebrates a journey of commitment and discovery.

The half-hour show, hosted by Dick Duerksen, features mission stories from around the world. Viewers enjoy updates on Seventh-day Adventist church growth and how Maranatha is helping to fulfill the urgent need for church buildings.

The program also highlights inspiring stories from communities that have been changed by mission

Maranatha Convention in 2010

Photo by Tom Lloyd

work and personal testimonies from volunteers who have been touched by service.

Watch Maranatha Mission Stories on Hope Channel Thursdays at 5 p.m. PDT and Sundays at 9 p.m. PDT, and on Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN) Fridays at 6:30 p.m. PDT.

Internationally renowned speaker Mark Finley and Christian recording artist Steve Green will join the Maranatha Volunteers International annual convention for a weekend of praise and blessings.

Please join the Maranatha family in Tualatin, Oregon for a celebration of God’s work around the world through volunteers like you. The event on September 10-11 is free.

Inspiring presentations, uplifting music, insightful updates, and a live taping of Maranatha Mission Stories will be a bright spot of encouragement for mission enthusiasts.

Please preregister online at maranatha.org

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Zambia A small group of Maranatha volunteers participated in the opening of four Seventh-day Adventist churches and the very first Adventist school in Livingstone, Zambia at the end of May. Ted Wilson, general vice president of the Adventist world church, attended the ceremonies, praying for the members and urging them to continue to grow their church communities.

Local church members and 25 volunteers recently put the finishing work on the buildings, constructed by volunteers earlier this year.

“People have waited a very long time for this school,” says Karen Godfrey, director of special projects for Maranatha, “and their churches

are an example of a growing community for God.” Several hundred volunteers worked on the school projects, including a large project in February. Volunteers from Riverside Farms in Zambia joined Maranatha in constructing One-Day Churches throughout the Livingstone area.

Church membership has doubled in Zambia over the past two years.

More than 600,000 members worship throughout the country, as many as 20,000 of them in the capital city region of Livingstone.

Most members do not have a church building or a Christian school for their children.

Maranatha Churches Withstand Earthquake in Chile At 8.8 on the Richter scale, the February 27 earthquake in Chile was one of the six strongest quakes in the world on record since 1900.

Despite fairly strict building codes in Chile, thousands of homes and offices crumbled. More than 1.5 million people were displaced in the aftermath of the quake. Strong aftershocks and tsunami-driven flooding added to the chaos over the next several days.

According to the most recent reports, all of the 45 Maranatha constructed churches in Chile survived with no serious damage.

One church was built by volunteers in 1993 and had only a few minor cracks in the wall. Churches built in the Concepcion and Talcahuano areas during 2008 also survived

Photos by Tom Lloyd

Maranatha has built 55 One-Day churches in Zambia so far this year and plans to build more throughout the country.

About Maranatha Maranatha spreads the Gospel throughout the world as it builds people through the construction of urgently needed buildings.

All notices of change of address should be sent to the Maranatha Volunteers International United States address.

Kyle Fiess, Editor kfiess@maranatha.org Carrie Purkeypile, Managing Editor cpurkeypile@maranatha.org Heather Bergren, Designer hbergren@maranatha.org

Photo by Maranatha Field Team

unscathed. Amazingly, the most serious damage in any Maranatha building was one bathroom sink that fell and shattered. The damage in surrounding communities was much more severe. In many congregations members lost their homes. Some Maranatha churches were designated as emergency refugee centers.

United States Headquarters: Maranatha Volunteers International 990 Reserve Drive, Suite 100 Roseville, CA 95678 Phone: 916-774-7700 Fax: 916-774-7701 Website: www.maranatha.org In Canada: Maranatha Volunteers International Association 45175 Wells Road, Unit 20 Chilliwack, B.C. V2R 3K7 CANADA

Non-Profit U.S. Postage

PAID

Roseville, CA Permit No. 111 990 Reserve Drive, Suite 100 Roseville, CA 95678

Karmatar Water

BY DICK DUERKSEN

We had come to dedicate a new Maranatha church in a tiny village in central India where the wide dirt street was rimmed with brown clay houses, each one offering a camera‑full of photos.

I slipped away from the group and began photographing just up the street. Grandma was there, her hands laced with memories of years planting rice, Photo by Dick Duerksen harvesting rice, making off your shoes.” That’s when I saw meals, and caring for three brightly-dressed women with children. The woman of the home brass bowls and pitchers. was giving her smallest child a bath in a bright plastic bucket.

One by one they knelt before us She beckoned for me to come in, and bathed our feet with cool water but just as I entered the doorway I and rubbed them with oil. I felt like heard my wife whistle. an unworthy disciple in Jerusalem’s upper room.

That meant I was to “come.” Now. I smiled, promised to return, and dashed back to the church.

Our group was sitting in a circle of chairs beside the church. I joined them, and Brenda whispered, “Take

Yes, we did take many photos that day, but the one with the greatest meaning is the one that reminds us of Jesus and His International Water of Life.

The cover photo was taken by Dick Duerksen at the ADRA camp for people displaced by the earthquake on the Adventist University campus in Haiti.

Maranatha Mission Stories is a weekly half hour show featuring mission stories from around the world. The program highlights inspiring stories from communities that have been changed, and personal testimonies from volunteers who have been touched by Maranatha.

W AY S T O W AT C H : • Hope Channel • 3ABN • Maranatha.org • i Tu n e s