Indiana invests in the education of young Africans

Christian Zigbou, 2012 Africa University Graduate

         Christian Zigbou has an amazing story of survival in the midst of chaos in Liberia.   His mother was killed when he was 6 and he was raised by an older sister being the youngest of 8 children.  With intense fighting in his country, he was forced to live as a refugee in the Ivory Coast for a time.   During this period his father and 3 more siblings were also killed. 
Were it not for an Operation Classroom scholarship, it is difficult to imagine where Christian might be today.    After graduating from Ganta School, Indiana continued their committment to his education and he was awarded a scholarship to attend Africa University in Zimbabwe.  He arrived on campus in August 2008, studied Computer Information Systems, graduated, and has now returned back to his home country for the first time in 4 years. 

      He returned to siblings, aunts, and uncles to celebrate his victory over hardship.  He is now preparing to come to the US on July 12  for 3 weeks of mission training so that he can serve as a Mission Intern with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church.   After the training it is expected that he will spend 18 months in the Phillipines doing mission work and then go back to Liberia for another 18 months of work in the mission field.   What an amazing opportunity for this young man and all because our church recognizes the importance of getting bright young people educated and in a position to change the face of Africa. 

      Christian still hopes to get at least a Master's Degree one day but for now he's thrilled with the opportunity to give back to others what has been given to him.   Please pray that our government will give him a visa to come to our country to receive the training for mission work.   

Operation Classroom/Operation Doctor takes on health care

Bob Coolman and Dr. Marke walk the new construction site.

      Bob Coolman traveled to Sierra Leone and Liberia in April and has gotten well acquainted with all facets of Operation Classroom/Operation Doctor.   Here is the first of several posts relating to this trip and the vision/reality of Operation Classroom today.   As Bob (one of our very own) prepares to take the helm of Operation Classroom, Valparaiso 1st will surely strenghten their ties to the work that has been going on in the area for 25 years. 

     A new Women’s and Children’s Unit is under construction at the Kissy UMC Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone – a  48 bed OB/GYN/PED facility that will enhance Kissy UMC’s mission to improve the health of children and women in this terribly poor West African Country.   The health statistics of the past are sure to change with the addition of this facility and improved medical services to the people of Sierra Leone.

      While the construction of this nearly $1,000,000 facility is being funded by grants from USAID and UMCOR, it simply would not have happened without all of the time, money, and effort expended by folks from Valparaiso 1st and a few other Indiana UM churches.   Bob and Carol Stoner have led numerous teams over the past several years and will be returning again in November 2012.  Team members   from our church/community worked side by side with  local workers to  make it possible to reallocate space which would allow for the construction of the unit.   Oh how lives have been changed because we've taken seriously Jesus' teachings.  Strangely while hoping to make a difference in the life of others, our lives get turned upside down.  Thank you God for these lessons in humility.

Becky Harrell is coming for a visit

Becky Harrell, missionary in Costa Rica

Becky Harrell has been part of our church for a number of years.   I'm not going to get into dates but our congregation first supported her when she was a missionary in Chile.   Her assignment came long after a team from Valparaiso 1st (under the leadership of Lloyd and Margie Miller) came to Pachica, Chile at the Kusayapu Agricultural School. Becky has been with us on several occasions since she became a missionary for the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church.

Several years ago she was asked to go to serve at the Latin America Bible University.  Our Costa Rica mission team in 2010 were blessed by a visit to this fine institution of higher learning.   As you remember, this is the very school where Margie Miller recently spent 3 months doing some volunteer service.  

We are blessed again as Becky is "home" on furlough from the mission field and is visiting supporting churches around the country.   She will pass through Valparaiso on the evening of June 24.  

We are having a gathering at our home just north of highway 6 on Tratebas Road near 350 East (345 East Tratebas Road) around 5:00 p.m. with a meal at 6:00 p.m.   It will be very informal but also we'll hear from her about the work that is being done at the Latin American Bible University and why this institution is so important in Latin America.   Please call 464-1447 or email at bonkay@hotmail.com that you will be joining us so that enough food will be prepared.   We will ask for a free will offering to cover the expenses with the extra going to the University.   

Opportunities await Christian Zigbou

Christian Zigbou and Mary Beth Byrne share stories.

Christian Zigbou will soon be one of the many honored and respected graduates of Africa University, Zimbabwe.   Our Africa University team met him in October 2011 as he was one of the 11 scholarship students sponsored by Indiana Conference.  

Mary Beth Byrne was selected to be Christian's partner for a social gathering one evening and they became fast friends.  His desire and dream to be a missionary was communicated to her.  To make a long story short, she arranged for him to complete an application to become a mission intern for the United Methodist Church after she had returned to the US. 

In March she received an email from Christian indicating that he had been accepted.  Graduation is June 9 and he is to report to New York for training on July 12.   His work with the UM Church will be to be involved in doing mission work her in the United States for the 1st 18 months and then returnihng to his home country (Liberia) for the remaining 18 months to be in the field of mission.   How great is that!!! 

One problem has everyone concerned.  He has been denied a visa to come to the US.   Everyone including the staff at AU, staff of Mission resources, and Mary Beth is working with authorities to get the visa in time to travel from Liberia (his home country) to the United States in time for training.  This is such a wonderful opportunity for Christian and his desire to give back to the conference and church that has made his dream of a university degree a reality. Please lift Christian up in prayer as he prepares begin yet another amazing opportunity that has been offered to him by our connectional church.