Blog
Casa Vida y Esperanza (CVE)is looking for an Administrator to lead the ministry. We are seeking an individual who has a passion for ministry and experience in leadership. The ministry of CVE includes a school, a childcare program, a summer program, an after school program, and more.
Magdalena, Mexico
Teacher or Teaching Assistant for the HILOS (After School Program) at Casa Vida y Esperanza
Ukrainian Update/ European Trip Report 7/12/2022
Missionary in Magdalena, Mexico We are looking for a brother, sister, or couple with a heart to serve in Mexico. The ministries at CVE (Casa Vida y Esperanza) are committed to serving children and families and we are looking for missionaries who are interested in learning how to serve and minister the gospel in this context. If you have sensed God nudging you to consider serving, please reach out to discuss the ways you could be used in Magdalena. If you have an interest or know of someone that would like more information please contact Amber Miller, Missionary Care Director at 765.250.4295 x 108 or at amiller@harvestcall.org
The Podcast “Supporting our Ukrainian Brethren” dated 2022-05-20 is available on Around the Table on AC Central. This features the HarvestCall European Committee and efforts leading to and following the invasion of Ukraine on 2/24/2022. The European Committee has scheduled a trip to Europe between June 22 nd and July 7 th this year. We are advised by our European brethren to enter and exit Ukraine on the same day and not stay overnight. Plans are to worship with them on Sunday, June 26 th and to meet with them on Tuesday, July 5 th . Additional time is planned for Antioch, the Romanian churches, and meetings and church in Hungary. Eight of the committee members plan to participate in the trip.
Comforters arrive at Antioch Last night, a truck from the Netherlands delivered 1,211 comforters, 200 bed sheets and 200 pillow cases to the Antioch facility in Vladimirescu, Romania. Due to the way the shipments were packed, another 251 comforters will be delivered to CAM in Chernivtsi, Ukraine where they will be available for pickup for return to Antioch. There was a lot of effort and coordination to make this happen. Thanks to all who had a part in it. These comforters are very well received by the recipients. The seventh load of supplies is on its way to Ukraine. We received photos of the loaded van and covered trailer ready to go for delivery tomorrow. Filip and Adriana went at least part way today. We are so thankful the work goes on!
The comforter shipment has reached the Netherlands and is waiting to clear customs before being trucked to Antioch. The beds and bedding are to be shipped into Ukraine. Since we returned from our trip 2 weeks ago, Brother Filip has taken his 5 th and 6 th trips into Ukraine. Along with the last load was one of the BCS tillers we purchased for their gardens (see photo). The border was very busy partially due to Easter Orthodox Easter being this week. With thanks to God, Filip is safely at home and delivering food packages in Romania. He sends his love and greetings to everyone including the greetings of the brethren in Ukraine. The situation in Ukraine has not changed a lot in the last week although things seem to be tightening up as far as security at the border and along the streets with lots of police and checkpoints everywhere. Another source told us this week that there were 558 vehicles waiting to cross at the Ukrainian border. He got across in two hours on entry and fairly rapidly on exit for which we are all thankful. Availability of consumer goods in the stores and markets is very sporadic. Some days available and some days not, but always getting more expensive. Diesel is very expensive and getting higher and very hard to get. The brothers are attempting to work the fields, but they have to be very careful as the military picks up any young man that they can see and takes them to the army. Filip says there is no exemption for believers and all must carry weapons according to military law. So far none of our brethren have been taken in this manner. However, there is constant anxiety and they have to watch everywhere they go. The believers are trying to live lives as normal as possible, and with gratitude to God they were able to have a baptism in Dimka this past weekend. However as stated there is a lot of uncertainty and great anxiety and worry among everyone. We need to keep each other in our prayers. Yesterday, an Around-the-Table session was recorded on Stories from Ukraine which should be available to listen to on AC Central soon.
Report from Brothers Pete Webel, Joel Putt and Ken Manz who recently returned from a trip to Romania and into Ukraine, on behalf of the HarvestCall European Committee (EEC). We felt the prayers of the church. We felt love and support from the brethren in Romania and Ukraine. The Antioch facility provides material aid for Romania and Ukraine as well as Nazarene brethren in other countries. We very much appreciate the efforts of Bro. Filip Augustinov and his family at Antioch. Some items discussed or acted upon were good relations with the Antioch board, what brethren in Ukraine are facing, extra seed money for Ukrainian farms and gardens, brethren with more than 3 children leaving Ukraine to find work or to immigrate, a corn header request, military service and bearing arms, spiritual messaging along with material aid, BCS garden tillers with attachments for Ukraine and Romania, comforter and adult brief shipments, beds and bedding shipments, food materials from USA, ongoing funding needs, Ukraine government/military taking vehicles for military use, planning an EEC visit in June, and investigating funding material aid for refugees in Hungary. Our theme was brotherhood – we are brothers to Jesus Christ and we purpose to treat all his brothers as he would ask us to. There are differences in language and culture, but as Bro. Duane Farney says, “People are people wherever you go.” Typical days started at 9 am and ended about 10:30 pm with additional hours spend discussing, communicating with EEC, writing reports and translating. We spent many hours (perhaps average 6 to 7 hours per day) riding in the white VW van making a trip to Ukraine and delivering food packages to individuals and congregations for their distribution. Typically, we were pulling a trailer. There are about 30 people from Ukraine in Romania either working, seeking medical help, or planning to immigrate. They are housed in members’ homes and at Antioch living quarters (where we stay). Feeding that many people 3 times a day is quite a challenge. The trip to Ukraine was definitely a highlight. We loaded the van and covered trailer for Ukraine Wednesday morning and drove to a hotel at the border town of Siret, Romania. We spent the morning touring the border on Romanian side and investigating needs. We crossed the border and went to the Chahor church where we unloaded, ate, and spent 2 hours meeting with 2 elders and a minister. There were 22 people there to help besides Filip, Adriana and we three. We were very warmly received. We stayed overnight at a hotel and arrived home Friday evening. Our ties are strong with brethren in Ukraine and Romania. Everywhere, they tell us they thank the Lord and us and greetings to all the churches in America. They pray for us and ask for our prayers in their time of need. We can learn a lot from them and deeply appreciate their faith in action.
Large Shipment Leaves Today Based on feedback by European Committee (EEC) members traveling with Filip to the border and into Ukraine and a lot of work at the Eastern Ohio Distribution Center, it was decided to ship by air to Netherlands and truck to Antioch in Romania. The shipment leaves today and is expected to reach the Netherlands by April 12 and Antioch about 10 days later. The shipment consists of 1,462 comforters, 200 bed sheets, 200 pillow cases, 100 toddler PVC bunk cots with canvas tops, 50 adult foam padded plywood bunk cots, 28 foam mattresses, 3,600 pairs of adult socks, and 100 infant layette kits. Thanks to all everywhere for bringing this all together. Most of this will be used at refugee camps throughout Romania and in Chernivitsi, Ukraine (near our brethren where refugees are displaced within Ukraine from embattled areas). Fourth Food/Supplies Trip to Ukraine Packing was done Wed. morning March 30 th at Antioch by a dozen participants. Filip & Adriana, along with three EEC members, left after lunch and drove to the border where they stayed overnight. The morning was spent touring the Romanian side of the border and assessing their needs for beds and associated supplies. We saw a slow-moving line of refugees seeking to cross the border on foot. They were mostly women, children and older men. It took nearly 2 hours for us to get through customs. A car of our brethren met us at the border and we followed them to the Chahor church where lunch was served and the loaded van and covered trailer were unloaded. There were 15 men and boys and 7 women and girls from Ukraine who helped. We met with 2 elders and an ordained deacon to deliver money, to discuss EEC matters and to get an update on what is happening and expected. Chahor church is about 40 minutes North of the Romanian border, we were at the church about 3.5 hours, and it take 1 hour to cross coming back. The police and military are taking men into the military. If they see men on the streets, they take them - so the younger men are advised to stay home. Men age 18 to 60 are eligible, but for now those with 3 or more children are exempt. So far, none of our believers have been taken, but there was one close call. They did not know whether the men would be allowed to be assigned so they didn’t have to bear arms. The authorities have taken some vehicles, some large tractors, and some supplies from citizens or organizations. So far, our Nazarene brethren have given 2 used vehicles. There is very little work. Some wages have been reduced, and prices are high. Government payments to support raising children have not been received the last 3 months. About 5 believing families have left the country and are not expected to come back. About 4 families are now in Romania and are expected to come back. The Ukrainian brethren are very thankful for the love and support they receive. They are receiving help from other European and American churches. They are working hard to avoid long term dependencies as they administer the funds and supplies. Prayers are appreciated and they pray for us.
