Solar “Megavoice” Device

During Home Ministry we shared our vision to record teaching lessons on audio tape to help new believers easily share God’s truth with their neighbors. Then we learned about “Megavoice.” In Nov., Fred Holland, our Church Planter Coach, e-mailed us about the “God’s Story Project (GSP)—From Creation to Eternity”, an approach similar to the chronological teaching which we use. They already have the 80 minute “God’s Story” recorded in Yao on a unique audio device.

The Megavoice is water resistant and plays for fourteen hours on a solar rechargeable battery. It only weighs 4 ounces and is about the size of a cell phone. It's simple to operate and costs about $45. It can store up to two hundred hours of material Through new friends at Port Colborne BIC, Ontario, we met Allen McGrill of Galcom, the Hamilton based specialized radio production ministry whose sister organization in Tiberius, Israel, manufactures the Megavoice. He offered to help us secure a "Scribe", the computer used to record on to the units, so that we could do our own programming.

Since teammate Jonathan Lloyd's parents had already brought one on their visit last Spring, our Yao co-worker is already testing the Yao translation of the God's Story presentation. Our home church (Fairview Ave.) gave us a generous gift to use toward this project, but we will first test it's effectiveness in teaching others before placing an order. We praise God for guiding us to learn about this tool. We're excited about the possibilities of shortening our overall length of evangelistic teaching and helping new believers share with others regardless of their reading or teaching ability.

Please pray that the Lord will continue to guide us and provide for us to work as effectively as possible. (See Proverbs 16:9)

“We Feel Renewed”

Even though we have had a full four months of traveling thousands of miles and visiting over thirty churches, some in cluster contexts and many with multiple meetings, we feel renewed.
We cannot deny some physical weariness, difficultly staying on top of e-mail communication at times and wishing we had more time for personal visits, but God’s Spirit through His people has strengthened us.

We were blessed by the assistance of BICWM staff, our family’s flexibility in scheduling visits, our home church’s allowing us to stay in their parsonage, many churches availing us the opportunity to share, kind hospitality of so many with lodging and meals, those who responded to God’s call and the prayers and support of many (see some below, by permission).

Please pray for God to bless those who so graciously blessed us, and pray for us to have a smooth adjustment back to Malawi when we return Jan. 15.

Teams & SYIS Seminars

In October, Doug and Barb had the privilege of attending “Equipping Teams and Team Leaders” and “Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills” seminar at the Center for Intercultural Training in Union Mills, NC.
Concerning teams we learned about the importance of clear roles, synergy, not avoiding conflict and having fun.
At SYIS we learned to communicate at the heart level and to maintain margins.

Please pray that we can achieve the personal and ministry goals that we’ve set as a result of this training.

Barb’s New Wheelchair

In August, Barb’s physiatrist Dr. Lam at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, NJ recommended that she order a new wheelchair through their Wheelchair Clinic. Even though there can sometimes be a 2-3 month wait to get an appointment and then another couple of months until the chair arrives, we’re grateful that she could schedule appointments for assessment, measurement, and eventually pick-up. It’s a Quickie GT rigid frame that is much lighter and efficient than her old chair. With just a touch she zooms along and even coasts going up hill!

Please thank the Lord with us for this provision and pray for many safe miles of self-propelling.

Character Corner: Creativity

Creativity vs. Underachievement

Approaching a need, a task, or an idea from a new perspective

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:2, NASU)

When God saves us from sin and makes us His children, He positions us to see from His perspective, have His heart and act with His power. (See Mt 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 20:34) The call to follow Jesus is like that. You hear it or you don’t. Others may not understand you. It shapes all of life from a new perspective. Like the illusions below, once you see the hidden pictures you cannot not see them.

We thank God for giving our children creative opportunities for education. Seth and Steven will return with us and continue their distance degree programs. We also feel excited about testing the effectiveness of the solar Megavoice units for evangelism and multiplication.

Please pray that God would impart to us His vision and fulfill His purpose in and through us this next term.

Upcoming Events:

Dec. 4-30 Vacation at the SPADE Inn near Allentown, closer to our parents and relatives and friends in PA and NJ
Jan. 9: Seth's 22nd Birthday
Jan. 15: Return to Malawi
Jan. 15 - Mar. 10: Missions Trip for Gabby Sanfilippo & Abby Long from Fairview Ave. BIC (our home church)
Jan. 26: Steven's 20th Birthday
Feb. 22 - Mar. 10: Lynn Teach & Diane Meketa (Doug's sister) visit