Sunday, July 18, 2010

International Christian Hospice News
March to June 2010
Teams prepare for Ministry with ICH
It is always an exciting time of anticipation as people prepare for short-term mission trips. God has brought together some very special people, of various backgrounds and talents, over the past few weeks. We are looking forward to working alongside these folks in the next two months and our work will take us to two different countries and two different cultures. But although there are many differences the need of God’s love is the same. Thank you to Dr. Steven Satterfield, O.D. pf Asheville, N.C. for a special day of training in eye screening. It was great to have 12 people gather at Biltmore Baptist Church to learn about basic vision problems and use of a focometer to screen for glasses. We pray that God will use this valuable tool and the extension of Dr.Steve’s knowledge to help many around the world. Contact info. For Dr. Steve and “In Focus” will be available below.

Thanks also goes to Dale Rozell who directs his organization called “Glasses for Missions Inc” in Fletcher, N.C. He provided training on use of a special kit which he developed to make corrective glasses on site. We are purchasing two kits which will be used in both Guatemala and Honduras, and Ron will give training to nationals for ongoing provision of glasses for the needy. Contact info. For Dale will be available below.
Guatemala in July
In July we will be returning for our third year to Chocola, Guatemala to help Dr. Sergio Castillo at Hospital Santa Fe.
The team from Biltmore Baptist Church will work with us in multi-opportunity ministry. We are planning to work in the general medical clinic, offer eye screening with corrective glasses, have Vacation Bible School in the afternoons for children in the community, provide hospice training to Pastors, church leaders and medical staff in the evenings as well as visit people in their homes who are too sick to come for care. We know God has some very specific divine appointments planned for each us and the folks we will meet. Much prayer and planning, by us and those who are supporting us, has gone into our preparation for this week.
Special thanks to Brian and Ann Keay who have Truth Action Ministries of Asheville, N.C. They produce culturally correct, illustrated, Spanish (and other languages) children’s gospel stories and teaching materials. These were paid for and donated by East Cooper Baptist Church, Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Pastor Steve Tuck leads their children’s ministry who got directly involved with missions. The kids at East Cooper compiled and prepared 200 small gospel books which our team will place into the hands of children in Guatemala who may have never heard of Jesus. What a beautiful picture of the parts of the Body, Christ’s church, working together for the Kingdom.
Honduras in August
Lexington Baptist Church in S.C. continues to support ICH and the work we are doing in Honduras. We are looking forward to Team leader Chuck McCurry and Chaplain Ken Freeman joining us for a week of hospice ministry in and around the capital city, Tegucigalpa. Our ICH Volunteer coordinator, Lourdes Argueta, is planning our agenda to include hospice training in Guiamaca at the Baptist Hospital, local churches in Tolonga, follow-up work with folks who are currently doing hospice ministry and the staff of a Christian school. Please be in prayer for this team and for those we will be teaching and working with. We anticipate some opportunities also for home visits, especially with our dear, young friend Ever, who continues to hold on in his declining condition. Many of you have been praying for him for 2 years and we will be giving a report in our September news.
We also ask your prayers for our time in Honduras as we seek to follow God’s plan and timing regarding opening an ICH center for patient care and training. This is in the very early stages of discussion and planning and so we pray that we will learn much and be sensitive to God as we have strategic conversations.
Other Mission news
Our Board of Directors met in May. We thank Sharon Kast and Richard Banis for their leadership and support in decisions and plans. We also wish to thank Dave Robbins for his many hours of work helping Ron in developing a strategic business plan for ICH. Please pray that ICH will continue to move forward in the vision God has given us. We hope to make this information available on our website which is in the process of being refurbished.
South Africa News
LaVerne Busbee is returning to the U.S. the end of July for a few months for rest and visa renewal. We are excited to learn more first hand from LaVerne about her ICH work over the past year in South Africa. Please pray with us and her for the details of renewing her visa and that God will provide financially and in every way the support she will need to return to Huntington.
News from the ICH Office
We praise God for successful completion of a new roof for our ICH base in S.C. Severe rain storms resulted in leaks and roof damage that could not go unrepaired any longer. Ron was our construction chief for the entire two month process. From the planning and redesign of the rafters and support system, purchasing and logistics of materials, tearing off the old and building new, he persevered and we now are in the dry! We cannot thank those who volunteered hours and some even days to help in this huge but necessary job. Besides help from our sons-in-law, Stephen and Howell and Ron’s brother Frank, we experienced an unexpected gift of help
from our larger family, the Body of Christ. Friends from Three Rivers Baptist Church in Irmo, S.C. who heard about our need arrived with tools in hand. Our thanks to Eric Opsahl, and Scott Terrill for sending two of their company’s roofers, Lawrence and Chris. Thanks to Eric Loebs and especially Ben Amberg who even returned to help in spite of the hard work and heat he endured. We stand in awe of our faithful God and His provision at a time of great need!
More news to come!
We will report on our next two months of ministry in September.

Below are listed the contact info for the people and ministries listed above.

Dr. Steven Satterfield 828-255-8961 http://www.satterfieldod.com/

Focometer info. www.infocus.com (device for eye screening)

Dale and Anita Rozell www.glassesformissions.org 954-581-5266 (kits for making glasses)

Brian and Anne Keay http://www.truthaction.com/ 828-458-9284 (multicultural children’s literature)

Donations for ICH are tax deductible and are received at:
145 Chillingham Rd. Irmo, S.C. 29063