ICH         Review and New        January 2013

 

Please join us in praising God for His continued blessing and purpose in serving others around the world through International Christian Hospice.  In 2012 many lives have been touched and changed, the ministry is growing and we anticipate new opportunities ahead in 2013.

 

                                                          Overview of 2012

 

International Ministry in Honduras and Guatemala 

 (Ron and Susan were assisted this year by 2 teams totaling 11 people)

 

People who attended ICH seminars                    335

Churches represented at ICH training                    37

Medical Personnel received ICH training              24

 

Extra Ministry projects

 

·        ICH training for staff in Homes for the Aging (Dulce Refugio)     80 staff     300 residents

·        Screening for reading glasses    6 clinics    (over 250 served)

·        Fitting and casting for prosthesis in Honduras for triple amputee Dennis

·        Vine International Medical equipment wheelchair assembly

·        Guatemala City Dump Ministry, Potter’s House, staff support

·        Calvary Chapel Orphanage in Guatemala  (Mike and Karen Rhea)

 

 

God granted safe road travel of over 3,000 miles in Central America.  We thank Him for our tough, little Ford Escape and for Ron’s stamina!  

 

We thank God also for the ongoing work of ICH in Honduras by our Central American Director, Pastor Francisco Ilias.  In 2012 Pastor Francisco and Dr. Aguilar offered 6 seminars with approximately 200 people attending.  Pastor Francisco, his wife Blanca and their congregation continue active hospice visitation ministry to the sick, dying and grieving in Honduras. 

 

 

 

ICH Ministry of Rich and Barbara Banis

 

Many thanks to Rich and Barbara for their work and support as they minister sometimes behind the scenes of ICH.  Rich continues to do a fantastic job as ICH accountant by managing the funds and record keeping. He and Barbara have assisted us much with wise ministry decision making and encouragement.  They also traveled with us for ministry to Guatemala in August helping us with some new areas of work (see blog entry for August 2012).   We have come to rely on and value their 40+ years of missions experience and thank God for bringing them to serve along side of us.

 

 

 

ICH Ministry in South Africa with LaVerne Busbee

 

2012 has been a year blessed by God for ICH lead by LaVerne Busbee in Huntington, South Africa.  Below is a partial list of the ministry opportunities she has been involved with.  La Verne is one busy lady!

 

·        Hospice training and home visits

·        Children’s Bible classes in public schools and community centers, crafts and activities

·        Women’s Bible classes, crafts and microenterprises

·        Bible Study group and prayer group at local Police Station

·        Home Cell groups Bible study and prayer

·        Youth Conference speaker and Bible teacher

·        Bible Distribution

·        Fund raising projects

·        Jesus Film showings and follow up

·        Networking to promote mission teams

·        Set up and logistics for church groups and visitors

·        Feeding program and food distribution

·        Administrative work

·        Setting up and running a Second Hand store

·        Sharing Christ locally in stores, car wash, mechanic shop, neighborhood events

 

Thank you LaVerne!  Please pray for LaVerne’s spiritual and physical protection, her endurance and good health.  Pray for God to send others to join in the harvest in South Africa as workers and financial supporters. We are anticipating in 2013 a year of new blessings on LaVerne as she continues to follow and serve her Lord!

   

Introducing Mike and Maria Saeli,  ICH missionaries to Nicaragua

 

We are very happy to welcome Mike and Maria into the ICH family!  They are joining us beginning in January 2013 as they return for full-time ministry to Nicaragua.  Here is a bio from each of them so you can get to know them and learn about their heart for sharing God’s love through hospice as well as other avenues.   

 

BIOGRAPHY OF (JOSEPH) MICHAEL SAELI

 I was born in December 1949 and was raised on my family’s 3^rd generation farm in central New York.

 I attended Hobart College where I graduated with a BA degree in mathematics in 1971. Maria and I married in 1972 and lived in Cleveland, Ohio for two years, where I worked for the County Welfare Department as a financial case worker and social worker.

After 2 years of Peace Corps service in Ulithi, Micronesia as a newly wed, I returned to the family farm with my wife, Maria, where we raised 3 children over the next 25 years. I became a devoted follower of Christ in 1977, and served as Sunday school teacher, deacon, and elder over the next 20 years in a dynamic, non-denominational charismatic church.  That rural church grew from 45 members to a membership of over 300 over the next 25 years.  During that time I transitioned the farm to organic, as I increasingly understood God’s mandate that my faith needed to be expressed in stewardship of what He had entrusted to my care in ALL realms of life.

Maria and I were profoundly influenced by the “life in the Spirit” that our home church increasingly embraced.  In 1996 a senior prophet came to that church and confirmed what we had sensed for a time-that we were called to the foreign mission field.  Over the next 5 years we served on or led mission teams to other nations. In 2001 we trained as missionaries with Mercy Ships, and joined their team in Leon, Nicaragua in 2002.  When they decided to close their base in Nicaragua in 2005, we trained this time with FH and joined Food For the Hungry in June 2006.  Since joining FH, I have served as member care coordinator for ex-pat staff on the FH Nicaragua team, and agricultural program facilitator in the Chinandega region of Nicaragua.  We are also involved in a dynamic church in Leon, serving and teaching in the area of inner healing and deliverance.

 

Maria Saeli Bio

I was born in 1948 and was raised a pastor’s daughter in Tennessee where I accepted Jesus as my Savior at age 11.   From an early age I wanted to be a nurse, and later graduated with a B.A. in English from Wm Smith College and a B.S.N. from Case Western Reserve Univ.   In 1972 I became an RN and (better yet!) Mrs.  Michael Saeli.  After a year of hospital nursing, I served with Mike 2 years in the Peace Corps, working as a school nurse in Yap District, Micronesia.

We raised our 3 children on Mike’s family farm in NYS, milking cows, raising crops gradually transitioning to organic. I kept my hand in nursing doing private duty, substitute school nursing, and (when the children were older) working as a Public Health nurse, then starting in 2000 as a hospice nurse with a  Christian hospice providing home care.  I served in our home church as a deaconess for 10 years, involved also serving in the areas of Missions, Nursery, and Intercessory Prayer.

.   In the back of our minds was the thought that someday we might return to a developing nation to offer not only practical help but to share God’s love.  That opportunity came in 2002 when we joined Mercy Ships in Leon, Nicaragua.   Mercy Ships closed their Nica base two years later which led to our joining Food for the Hungry Nicaragua.  For over 7 years I have worked promoting health, nutrition, good marriages in small-urban communities near Leon and Chinandega.  One of my passions is nutrition including the promotion of the moringa plant. 

 To quote Mike, “God is so good to give us the desires of our hearts.  Being able to do hospice care in Nicaragua has been a desire for Maria for a long time.  Now He is opening the door for us to do that.”  We welcome Mike and Maria and ask that you pray as they bring hope and comfort to the dying grieving in Nicaragua. 

 

Looking forward into 2013

The growth of ICH influence has been phenomenal for which we give God all the glory! We look forward to ministry trips to Honduras, Guatemala and possibly other Central American countries.  Please pray with us about:

·        New area of work opening in Mexico, trip January 30 to Feb. 8

·        Teams and mission trips throughout the year

·        ICH exploring opportunities in Central Asia

·        Raising up the nationals to do Hospice care in their own communities

·        Financial Support needs to continue ministry

·        LaVerne Busbee ICH missionary to South Africa

·        Mike and Maria Saeil ICH missionaries to Nicaragua

·        Rich and Barabara Banis ICH missionaries

 

Thank you to everyone who continue to support ICH in prayers and giving.  We, Ron and Susan, also covet your prayers as we serve those who need comfort and hope in Christ as they are facing death and grief. 

In His love,

Ron and Susan Naish  

 

 

 

ICH News     Fall 2012      also        Preview of ministry plans 2013

Thank you for your ongoing interest in International Christian Hospice work around the world.  God is blessing and multiplying the seeds we are honored to plant in His name!

Guatemala Ministry

As happens so often, God’s plan for us differs from what we have on the agenda.  Because of a regional outbreak of Dengue Fever we were unable to go to Hospital Cristiana Santa Fe and work with Dr. Sergio.  There were over 1,000 cases reported, some deaths, and Dr. Sergio and Veronica his wife also contracted dengue.  God was faithful and answered many of our prayers and they now have regained their health and have returned to their home and “jungle hospitalito” to serve their people.  We are looking forward to ministry opportunities with them in 2013 and will be listing ICH trips later in this post.  If you are interested we have a short write up about Dr. Sergio that we can send to you to describe the ongoing projects that you or your church group could plug into.  Please let us know of any interest, it is very worthwhile!

We’d like to mention a ministry that we just became acquainted with called Potter’s House.  Edgar and Gladys Guitz, native Guatemalans, have been working for 25 years in Guatemala City with people who live in and work in the city dump.  WWW.pottershouse.org.gt will give you more information about this unique outreach.   ICH is looking forward in this coming year of partnering with these folks.  The work they are doing is a testimony to God’s life transforming power!

Rich and Barbara Banis, who are also ICH missionaries, flew into Guatemala to join us for 2 very busy weeks of ministry.  We enjoyed a time of fellowship with Dennis and Cindy McCutcheon who run the Vine International warehouse in the City.  They receive containers shipped from Tennessee with medical equipment and supplies donated for over 120 mission and medical clinics all over Guatemala.  The current project we assisted with was assembling wheelchairs to be ready for use.  Go to The End of the Pipeline to read their news and how their very vital work is growing. 

Last year we began working with Sonia Rivera who has opened 7 homes for the aging, Mi Dulce Refugio, throughout Guatemala (www.asocdulcerefugio.org).  I quote her in saying “Our Heavenly Father has permitted us this beautiful job of serving elders who are in need.”   We and the Banis’s have now partnered with 5 of these facilities.  It is a very full day’s drive from Guatemala City to the Peten (far northeast region) of Guatemala.  We stayed in guest housing of El Calvario, Calvary International, www.gotonations.org , in San Benito.  From there we ministered to 3 different facilities, housing about 200 elderly people.  We were so blessed to provide encouragement and end-of-life hospice training for 50 workers and staff who are committed first to our Lord then to providing a sweet refuge for these  needy and homeless folks.  One extra ministry we enjoy that really gets us in touch with the people is the eye screening for reading glasses.  The smiles are worth a thousand words!  We can’t tell you how grateful the workers were to hear our session on “Compassion Fatigue” and to know that we came from so far to encourage them in their usually thankless work.  The monetary compensation they receive is very small, if anything, but each of them are committed to the dear elders which they affectionately call “grandparents”. 

If you have ever imaged the perfect setting for an orphanage we think we found it.  While in the Peten we drove to Rio Dulce.  This river flows out of Guatemala, borders the south of Belise then empties into the Caribbean.  What a lovely, tropical place for Rays of Hope Orphanage.  Mike and Karen Rhea, who serve with Calvary Chapel, have a ranch style home, and 9 very special children.  They range in age from 5 to 16 and are unfortunately, for different reasons, unadoptable.  The home is on 10 acres which they farm raising horses, sheep and chickens.   Besides this working ranch Mike and Karen have extended ministry in a medical clinic, aid to the disabled and organizing the Calvary Chapel Church on their property with the home for children.   We were able to offer an eye screening clinic for the local community there at the church/ranch.  It was a great opportunity to join with the Rheas in serving in their mission field.  Karen told us their plans to open a home for unwed mothers. Please pray with them for more missionary staff to help with the growing work.  www.rayodeesperanza.org to learn more about them. 

    Returning to Honduras

We take so many things for granted in our lives, for example dental care.  The Lord impressed upon us that ICH has another opportunity to bless our friends Dennis and Maria and their children by arranging dental care for them while we were in Honduras.  We picked them up one afternoon and took them to Dr. Claudia Zalaya who has a dental practice in La Ceiba.  In fact she has given us, and many other missionaries, excellent dental care with her very up-to-date equipment over the past 5 years.  Franklin (13 years old), Edgar (11 years old) and Rosa (9 years old) had never been to a dentist but we were amazed at their excitement and pleasure to sit in the dental chair for their exams and cleaning.  Yes, unfortunately, many cavities were discovered, but Dr. Claudia scheduled each of them for more appointments for the required fillings and ongoing dental care education.  She emailed us later that she allowed Edgar to assist her as she did Franklin’s fillings.  We never know how something so simple can change a life!  She also told us in her email that her husband and family have joined in ministering to this very needy family by providing clothing and other basic things they need.  A special thank you to Dr. Claudia for her compassion and her offer to cover half of the expenses for the dental care herself.

Back in the U.S.

Fall is the time when we have the blessing of returning to our sending church, Biltmore Baptist, in Asheville, N.C., for “Compel 2012” Missions Emphasis.   What an encouragement to spend time with people who are praying for and supporting us as we continue ICH around the world.  Thank you Pastor Kelvin Moseley and all who lead BBC to reach out into the world with the Gospel!  We look forward to the upcoming opportunities to work with teams in Guatemala in 2013.

Thank you also to Bob Slaney for the invitation to “Christ for the World” Mission Conference November  2012 in Smithfield, N.C.  We look forward to participating by sharing about our Christian Hospice work with indigenous people in Central America. It will be great also to visit with family who live in Smithfield, Susan’s cousins Jane and Paul Embler, as well as Chris and Rachel Embler serving in Youth Ministry on Top Sail Island.  We hope to hear more about how God is leading Chris and Rachel since their 2 year walk of faith from North Carolina to Peru. 

2013 Mission Opportunities  (Please pray with us as we plan this coming year’s work!)

Ministry trip to Guadalajara and Cabo, Mexico to work with Pastor Carlos and Sandy Rios.  We will be partnering with 2 young churches and also teaching in a Bible Institute.

Ministry trips to Central America with focus on the indigenous people in Guatemala, Hospital Santa Fe and My Sweet Refuge Homes for the aging.

What are you praying about doing on mission in 2013?  Please consider working with International Christian Hospice as we go beyond the borders of the U.S.  Feel free to call us or email about any interest you may have in these areas of ministry. 

 

    

                                       News from Honduras       Summer 2012

Think outside the box!!!  We are learning not to be surprised when God gives us unexpected opportunities.  Who would have thought we would be molding casts in a dirt floored home in Honduras?  This is how our story of Dennis, the triple amputee, continues. We first met him in church at one of our Hospice training seminars.  Although his is not a typical hospice experience he and his family have experienced tremendous loss that has changed their lives forever.  Please scroll back in our blog to read about Dennis’s injury and his family’s faith in July 2010 and July 2011.

 Our good friend in Columbia, S.C., Ben Amberg, was the first to meet Kent Turnbow of Turnbow Prosthetics in Illinois.  Kent read our blog story and was impressed with Ron’s creativity in making Dennis some homemade mechanical arms.  The Lord has given Kent a desire to make plastic prosthetics for Dennis.  Several telephone conversations later he mailed us a package which we carried here with us in our suitcase.  It contained plaster, stockinget,all the supplies we needed as well as a custom made instruction video in which he personally demonstrated and talked us through molding casts for fitting prosthesis. This is definitely a new skill for us!  First Dennis, Maria and the children watched Kent’s video on our computer so they would know what to expect and then we began.  Working with each stump, two arms and one leg, Ron applied the plaster.  The children laughed as they tapped the hard plaster their daddy was sporting. After Ron gently removed the molds we recorded needed measurements of arms and leg dimensions.  Meanwhile Maria prepared a meal from some groceries we brought along and we relaxed and enjoyed the fellowship with these dear believers.  How humbling to observe Maria serving her husband by feeding him and dressing him.  They expressed such gratitude not just in words but through the smiles and light of hope we saw in Dennis’s eyes.  Maybe he will be able to feed himself, stand upright or pick up a tool someday with prosthesis.  Please pray that we can get the molds back to the states intact and into Kent’s capable hands.  Pray for the proper design and the logistics involved and for donations to cover the cost of the three limbs.  Thank God with us for allowing us to be His hands and feet and demonstrate the reality of His Word in Jeremiah 29:11 “  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and now to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”                             

Lexington Baptist Church ICH mission team joined us here in Honduras for a week of ministry.  Divine appointments meet us unexpectedly. But God is not surprised.  ICH has the unique opportunity to serve those whom the world would pass by.  We were transporting our team caravan style through the mountains in our Escape and Pastor Francisco’s Isuzu when his car began to overheat.  God provided a shady spot to pull off the road complete with a water barrel and a man selling plants.  The engine cooled and water was added.  In the meantime, Dr. Teresa Emmons, a native Spanish speaker from Lexington, struck up a conversation with Carmito.  He had recently experienced the death of his 16 year old son. Through financial problems he also had lost his house that had stood where we were now parked.  He admitted that he attended church in the past but he was too angry with God to talk to Him now.  His grief was written all over his face as he asked “why?”  We admitted to Carmito that we don’t have the answers but we know God sent us directly to him that day because He loves him and God wants to give him comfort and peace.  Life will never be the same without his son.  He will always love him and miss him.  What an honor to lift this hurting man up in prayer on the side of the road.  Please pray for Carmito as he rebuilds his life after so many losses.

That week was a very full schedule of Hospice training seminars.  Thanks to the LBC team that was led by Chuck McCurry we were able to teach and equip 160 people to minister to the dying and grieving in their towns and villages.  Our attendees consisted of Pastors, educators in the public schools, high school students, church leaders and medical staff.  We worked with churches in 2 regions of the country.  In addition, and not technically hospice related, we include a   “bonus” ministry God has given us.  Usually an hour prior to our ICH seminars we offer eye screening and BP screening for the community and the church folk.  This has become so special because we can give a personal touch to each person we serve by praying with them individually.  It is amazing the stories that people will share to a listening ear!  One particular case stands out.  Jessica is 22 years old. She had meningitis a few years ago and during the surgery to place a shunt in her brain her optic nerves were damaged.  She regained her health but lost 75% of her vision.  The eye doctors told her there was nothing that could be done.  We made no promises but offered to bring her name and case to the MMI Eye Mission in El Progreso, about an hour bus ride from her.  You can read our blog story in 2010 about little Wilson whose vision was restored through God connecting the dots and we were honored to be one of those dots.  Thank you to one of our team members, Joyce Turpin, who provided funds for Jessica’s initial eye exam.  Please pray with us that God will restore her sight.

Special thanks to all of our 2012 LBC team which also included Bob Gunter and Gaylan Emmons.  Each one on the team were invaluable to hospice ministry in Honduras.   God has multiplied ICH  over the past few by leading many special people to  join us in our mission.  

Please continue to pray for us on the next leg of our mission.  We will be driving to Guatemala to work for the month of August. 

Thank you each for your interest in and prayers for International Christian Hospice as we continue to bring hope and comfort in Christ to the dying and grieving. 

In HIS service,

Ron and Susan              

Donations received

International Christian Hospice Newletter Spring 2012


Greetings friends! We thank the Lord for His faithful presence through the past few months. It has been a time of transition for ICH as well as for us personally. We have moved our home and office to another location but we are still in the Columbia, S.C. area. Our phone and email have not changed. It has required all of Ron’s handyman skills to renovate the new house/office but it looks like things are coming together.

ICH has experienced the financial challenges that many other ministries are going through. We are tightening the budget and being as wise as possible with reduced donations this year. Finances have impacted our travel and ministry time in other countries this spring but the Lord is not limited nor His plans thwarted. We have several things to report about ICH progress in Central America.

ICH in Honduras

Pastor Francisco Ilias, as ICH Central American Director, is continuing to report ongoing work. He is leading his church in very active hospice ministry in the San Pedro Sula area. They are ministering in the hospitals, doing home care and outreach through their church. ICH impact has grown this spring through a weekend ICH conference which he led. The keynote speaker at the conference was Dr. Manuel Aguilar, a director of the largest, national run mission hospital in Honduras. We have known Dr. Aguilar for 5 years and been blessed by sharing a common goal of ministry. He has broadened the scope of impact of the Evangelical Hospital, located in Seguatepeque, which is in the heart of Honduras. The emphasis of his work has grown to include hospice care, palliative care and a focus on those who are dying with HIV/AIDs. Dr. Aguilar and Pastor Ilias together presented a day of education and inspiration to a large gathering of Pastors and church leaders. As a result we have heard reports that many other churches and believers in Honduras have begun reaching out to the dying and suffering in their own towns and villages with a better understanding of their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Christian Hospice is proving to be one of the most effective, practical avenues for sharing Christ’s love and we are honored to be a part of God’s work in Honduras.

Upcoming Ministry Opportunities in Central America

ICH teams will be ministering in Guatemala and Honduras in the months of July and August this year. In Honduras we are planning ministry work in Seguatepeque, Santa Barbara, Tela, La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula. In Guatemala we will be working in Guatemala City, Chocola, San Antonio and the Peten. We anticipate a very packed schedule as our team members from both North and South Carolina join us. Thank you for your prayers for safe travel, logistics and effective ministry for the Kingdom. Please let us know if you would be interested in joining us for a mission trip.

We thank our Heavenly Father for each of our friends, prayer partners and supporters! International Christian Hospice is an extension of you so please join us in any way that you are able. We’d love to hear from you!

In Christ’s love and service,

Ron and Susan Naish

Donations accepted for ICH at 303 Madison Heights Dr. Marshall, N.C. 28753

International Christian Hospice Christmas Greetings
December 2011
Worldwide people are celebrating an event that was planned by God before all time began. God with us, Emanuel, Jesus Christ, Jeshua are all names of the God-man who is the true pivotal axis of all creation and history. The creator became a man. This small statement is the ultimate evidence of God’s love that is able to transform our hearts and lives. Our feeble words cannot convey the gratitude and worship He is due! May we join our praise this Christmas with Paul who wrote in Romans 11:36 “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”
What a memorable year 2011 has been for ICH and for us personally! Blessings of work, travel, opening new places of ministry, seeing what God is doing in other countries. Blessings of family times, new friendships made and old friendships deepened, joy (we welcomed another new grandchild) mixed with grief (we said good bye to a dear loved one). How sweet to have walked through this year with our faithful Lord going before us and sustaining us each step of the way!
God’s timing is perfect. We returned from our ministry work in Central America in September. Many of you knew and prayed for us during these recent months. It has been a treasured time for Susan as she spent most of September, October and November with her sister Ellen in Asheville. God allowed her the honor of being present with Ellen as she fought through her final weeks of life. Ellen’s faith, courage, grace and dignity in the face of advanced Parkinson’s disease will be forever ingrained in our memories. All of us who love her still feel the bittersweet emotions of deep sadness in missing her but joy in her triumphant, victorious entrance into God’s presence on November 22. Thank you to all who prayed for our family, visited, sent cards and flowers or attended Ellen’s memorial celebration December 3.
We also want to thank everyone for your support for our family as Ron’s cousin Laquata Cordell went home to the Lord on November 23. She, with the loving support of her husband Gary and family, courageously battled cancer for 2 years. Her funeral was a celebration that she had found the ultimate healing in her Savior’s presence. Powerful messages were given by two Pastors on November 26 urging everyone to be prepared for death as Laquata was.
Both Ellen’s and Laquata’s lives and their passing testify to the scripture above from Romans that they received all things “from Him (Christ), and through Him and give to Him the glory forever.”

ICH Year End Summary 2011
People impacted by ICH 1,117 (includes families, volunteers, Pastors, medical personnel, students)
Churches and communities ministered to 64
824 copies of the Bible distributed
Gospel presentations 5 government schools and Community VBS with 400 children
Eye screening clinics 250 served

Ministered to 5 different people groups

Opened new work with 2 Homes for the Elderly in Guatemala

Opened new work with 2 Community Development organization

Teams Hosted from U.S. 3

Projected Ministry Plans for 2012
Ministry work in Central America in April and May. Hosting teams for hospice training, eye screening clinics, home visitation, expansion of work with staff and residents in Homes for the Elderly.
Ministry work in Central America in July, August and September. Hosting teams, VBS, Bible distribution, eye screening clinics, Homes for the Elderly, hospice training.
Expanding partnership with Hospital Sante Fe and Dr. Sergio Castillo during spring and fall work in C.A.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in God’s work through ICH in 2011!
May God bless you and your family as we celebrate and remember the birth of our Savior, the King of Kings!

Serving Him with you,
Ron and Susan

International Christian Hospice News Letter

August to September 2011

Continuing in Guatemala

Pastor Francisco Ilias from Honduras ( ICH Central American Director) joined us for 3 days of work in Guatemala City. God has blessed him with many connections and we presented hospice training to 112 people from 3 different churches. It is always so amazing to see the Body of Christ at work in surprising places and ways. At one of our trainings we met Dr. Luiz Granajo who runs a medical clinic with 5 other MDs in the outskirts of the city. They serve the poor in Jesus’ name and he told of over 200 salvations through the ministry of his clinic over the past year. He shared that he has cared for many people with terminal illnesses and hospice care is a huge piece of what his staff does. We thank God for the opens doors for ICH work and look forward to working with the medical staff in hospice support training in the future. Thank you, Pastor Francisco, for your ongoing work in Central America, for ICH.

It is always fun to have “reunions” away from home! Richard and Barbara Banis flew into Guatemala to be a part of ICH internationally. Rich and Barbara serve on the ICH Board of Directors and Rich is our Financial Director. They now live in Asheville,

N.C. but have served for 28 years as overseas missionaries. We appreciate their friendship and hard work for ICH as well as the wisdom and experience they share with us. The photos above are of Rich and Barbara and our friends Paul and Ruth Philipi who have served as missionaries in Guatemala for 55 years. In our visit with the Philipi's we descovered that Barbara's brother had graduated with Paul from Moody Bible College. It truly is a small world! God teaches us again just how we are all connected through the body of Christ.

Vine International ( Medical Equipment & Supplies for Guatemala )

Dennis & Cindy McCutcheon

What great fellowship for the 6 of us as we got together with mutual old friends, Dennis and Cindy McCutcheon, who serve with Vine International in Guatemala City. Dennis and Cindy serve over 120 missions and other medical ministries in Guatemala by receiving containers (which originate at Vine base in Knoxville, Tenn.) of medical supplies and equipment. They negotiate with the port authorities, transport and unload containers in the Vine warehouse, then disperse whatever the Lord sends to them to those in need.

Do you enjoy sharing hugs, giving encouraging smiles or blowing soap bubbles? So do the residents of My Sweet Refuge Home for the Elderly. These 36 “grandparents”, affectionately so called by the 12 staff members, were a delight and blessing to us! One dear blind lady told us,
“ They are so good to me! They help me dress, feed me and take care of me!” Another elderly resident patiently did hand exercises with a fellow resident suffering with contractures caused by a stroke. We were able to pray with Everardo, a new resident who just arrived. Like many of the Grandparents upon arrival at My Sweet Refuge he was malnourished, failing in health and depressed. The staff told us that most of the folks arrive in similar condition from either poor homes, abandonment or off the street.

We were so impressed with the compassionate Christ-like staff. They shared with us during our ICH training session with them that over the past 6 months 11 residents have died and 8 of those came to know the Savior in their final weeks of life. Praise God that goal of Christian Hospice is alive and well in these servants who have a heart for those who are often the forgotten ones!

In the final days of August we welcomed 2 more members of our third team to Guatemala. Linda Craig, Hospice RN from Taylorsville, N.C. and Arleen Jennings, MDiv in counseling (also Ron’s sister) joined us as we returned to Chocola for ministry work with Dr. Sergio. Here are some events of the week.

· Prayer and ministry with patients in the mission hospital
· 3 clinic days in San Antonio
· Eye clinic screening and over 90 patients served
· Meeting with Quiche (key-chay) Pastor Eligio to present 40 Bibles which were donated by Deanie and Devon Shelton (Deanie was on our first team in July and saw the need).
· Visiting the village of Xojola to learn about the community development program started by Pastor Eligio. One of the team members described him as a “visionary”. He is initiating a program for the people in his own Mayan region to improve education, health care and microenterprise all Christ centered.

A young woman named Veira came to have her eyes checked the first day of our eye clinic. We were pleased to give her the reading glasses she needed and eye drops for irritation. But God knew she needed much more. As we do with everyone who passes through the eye clinic we directed her to our final station to receive her drops and prayer offered by a team member. Arleen was giving this special attention to each patient that day. As she began talking to Veira Arleen learned that she had not heard the Gospel story nor made a decision to follow Jesus. She eagerly read with Arleen through Billy Graham’s booklet in Spanish “Steps to Peace with God.” At the end Veira humbly prayed to receive Christ as her Savior. Arleen promised that she would have a Bible for her if she returned the next day. Veira came to the clinic at the appointed time the next day and received her new Bible which Arleen prepared with highlighted scriptures to help her in her new faith. Veira told Arleen that her job was the only support for herself, her husband and 2 children. Mario has been ill and out of work for several months and they could not pay for any more medical care. She said that last night she told him about her decision to follow Christ and he was very interested in her new faith. She made an appointment for Mario to see Dr. Sergio at the clinic the next day and she was so excited that our team would be there for a third day so we could meet him. God also knew she needed a local Pastor and church family to welcome her in. At that moment Pastor Mac, who had an eye exam the day before, came back by the clinic. He graciously talked with Veira, prayed with her and they shared phone numbers. The following day Mario came to the clinic alone because Veira was working. As he was waiting for his appointment with Dr. Sergio the time seemed perfect. Ron and Arleen introduced themselves to Mario and took him aside to pray with him and share the best news he had ever heard: “God loves you and wants to give you His presence and peace.” Mario was ready and without hesitation prayed to ask Christ to be his Savior and Lord. Wouldn’t you know it, Pastor Mac was in the neighborhood again and we introduced him to Mario. None of this was by accident. God loves us and as in the parable of the one lost sheep, our good Shepherd leaves the ninety nine in the fold and goes out in search of the one lost lamb. Pray for Veira and Mario with us. Pray that their whole family will come to Christ and also for Mario’s health.

Yesenia Valesqez has worked with us in the ICH Ministry for four years. A former student and now graduate of SETECA in Guatemala City Yesenia is now working for the Law & Justice Mission also in the City. This Mission works with widows, orphans the under privilaged to provide legal counsel and Christian support for the individual and their families.

The staff begin their work week with devotions on Monday morning and we enjoyed joining in. This is a great ministry and a tremendous need in Guatemala and other developing countires.

A special thank you from our ICH team to Union Church of Guatemala City. We were given the opportunity to share with a group of 60 in Sunday school about hospice and end-of-life issues. Union Church has a unique opportunity being an English speaking church in the capitol of a Spanish speaking country. It ministers to missionaries, foreign diplomats and business people who need fellowship in their own heart language.

Honduras in September

Rich and Barbara continued the journey with us to Honduras. We had a special time of fellowship and encouragement with ICH co-workers, Pastors Francisco and Wilmer, and their families in the San Pedro Sula area. Due to a strike of medical personnel in the government hospitals we had to postpone the hospice training which we were scheduled for in the Tela Government Hospital. Public education and medical care are very unstable in Central America. Government funds to pay nurses and teachers typically runs out or "mysteriously disappears” after the first 6 months of each yeat. So the workers go unpaid but as you can imagine most workers cannot continue for nothing. Therefore in the 7th and 8th months of the year “strikes” are the result and public schools and hospitals shutdown. Literally the doors are closed. The buildings are vacant. Last year the students in public schools only attended 100 days all year due to this problem. A young woman we know who has a brain tumor is still waiting to be seen in the hospital for evaluation for surgery. Peaceful demonstrations occur in the streets as workers march and burn tires which blocks traffic causing most commerce to halt in an attempt to impress the government. Those who suffer are the children, the sick and the people who really want to do their jobs. Private hospitals and private schools are few and expensive for the average person. This is an example of the cycle that keeps education and healthcare poor in most developing countries. Thus the need is great for medical teams and mission hospitals!

Our final point of ministry in September was with a family we met in April. Dennis was injured in a construction job and had both arms and one leg amputated. Maria is unable to work outside the home with 6 children and her husband to care for. The first time we met them they expressed their deep faith in God as the One who knows their situation and will provide for their needs. Mario and Maria both expressed desires to serve in their church. We were so impressed with them that we could not get them off our minds. God gave us some ideas and, praise Him, we were able to revisit them with gifts. Susan’s mother and sister were always great seamstresses. With their donations we were able to purchase and carry a portable sewing machine to Maria. Ron spent many long hours in his garage workshop developing and adapting a type of mechanical device for Dennis’ arm stubs. These will enable him to feed himself, brush his own teeth and grip objects. Ron and Dennis worked with the prototype and some fitting and adjustments will be necessary but they were excited and much encouraged about the potential. We also delivered children’s supplies for the neighborhood Bible club Maria teaches on Saturdays. We were very happy to hear Dennis’s news that the construction company has given him a job as a supervisor. What a sweet time of fellowship we had in their humble, dirt floor home! Their lives shout of God’s faithfulness and goodness even in the face of disaster and impossibility.

Thank you to all of you who pray and support us as we take hope and comfort in Jesus’ name to a world that is dying without Him. We could not be working in the calling from our Father without you all praying and giving as He has called you to do.

Serving Him with you,
Ron and Susan
803-781-0656 intlchristianhospice@yahoo.com

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ICH
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828-242-3090