Prayer Mobilization Line: The following are praise reports and prayer requests from Nazarene Missions International for Wednesday, 24 June 2015 "And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, 'How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!'"[Romans 10:15 NLT]

Prayer Mobilization Line: The following are praise reports and prayer requests from Nazarene Missions International for Wednesday, 24 June 2015 "And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, 'How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!'"[Romans 10:15 NLT]
PRAISES:
Lizbeth Naomi Guamán Staudt
Praise the Lord for the safe arrival of Lizbeth Naomi Guamán Staudt born on June 17. Lizbeth is the first child of Harrison and Jennifer who serve at the seminary in Ecuador. Read more about Harrison and Jennifer in the Engage magazine profile.
Missionary profile: Harrison and Jennifer Staudt Guaman

Jennifer Staudt Guaman and Harrison Guaman serve as missionaries in Quito, Ecuador-- part of the North Andean Field in the South America Region. The couple met at the Nazarene Theological Seminary of South America (SNTS) in Quito.
Harrison, a native of Ecuador, works for Work & Witness, building and welding. He also prepares for incoming teams and accompanies them to work sites. He sometimes has the opportunity to preach and help with kids' ministry when he isn’t working on a building project.
The couple serves on the worship team at their local church and with Nazarene Missions International (NMI), through which they hope to organize a short-term Work & Witness trip with the local church in Quito. Jennifer says, "Our local church had had a rough past few years and during that time we were incredibly blessed. Now we feel it is our turn to go out and bless another church here in Ecuador."
Jennifer came to Ecuador in January 2008 to work with Work & Witness. She wanted to work on her Spanish, so she started taking classes with a new program for international students at SNTS: Nazarene International Language Institute (NILI). In August 2009, this led to a new position as NILI's coordinator of ministry, a position she holds to this day. Her responsibilites include organizing ministry opportunities for NILI students, like doing kids' ministry at a daycare that is in the city dump and ministering to nursing home residents in Quito. She also organizes a ministry trip each semester that allows students to put into practice what they are learning in the classroom.
Jennifer also is the assistant to the director of the NILI program in Quito, a native of Ecuador named Lucy Olivo. She helps with translating, applications for new students, and contact between universities, among other things. Anyone interested in coming to NILI contacts her or the executive director.
Prior to these positions, Jennifer served in Venezuela from June 2006 to November 2007. She also served for two months in 2009 in San Miguel de Petapa, Guatemala, with a pastor and his family, working at their local church, giving music lessons, teaching in their kids' club and teaching English.

Engage: How did you first recognize God’s call to be involved in missions?
Jennifer: Oh, wow. Well, I never wanted to be a missionary, but when I went on my first Work & Witness trip to Venezuela (to the camp where I would later be living and serving), God planted the seed. That was over Christmas break 2003. I thought I would be able to fill this new calling by doing Work & Witness trips whenever the chance arose, but God had other plans.
I fought God. I would use my time in the car driving to work, about an hour, to yell at God that He must have made a mistake, that I wasn't supposed to be a missionary. But like it says in Isaiah 55: 8-9: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." God had other plans for me.
It took another Work & Witness trip, lots of sermons and talking with my pastor until my heart had softened enough to be ready to follow God in this new calling on my life. It felt like I was stepping off a cliff and falling into the unknown. But God always knows what is best for His children, and here I am serving as a volunteer missionary in Quito, Ecuador, nine years after that first seed was planted.
Even though it is not always easy -- I miss my family and friends in the States -- I know this is where God has called me and wants me in this time. So there is no other place I would rather be!
Someone told me once it is better to be far away from family and friends and the comforts of home but in the center of God’s will than to be comfortable and outside God’s will. And that is so very true!
Engage: What is your favorite aspect of what you do in your present assignment?
Jennifer: I enjoy teaching the students about culture. Every semester we do a mini cross-cultural orientation with our students. I remember going through this program in Kansas City before I left for Venezuela and while, at first, I didn’t really understand why I needed to know all that information, it is now a HUGE part of my ministry. It truly has helped me learn and grow. I enjoy sharing details about the culture with our students and hearing stories about culture shock. Kim Haddon, a past volunteer I worked with in Venezuela and here in Ecuador, really had a passion for culture and she helped me see and learn and grow into loving culture. There are always culture shock stories and it’s something that is always present when living outside the U.S. Sometimes it even happens when we return to the U.S.

Here's a fun little story that just happened to me when I went to the U.S. this past March. I was visiting my best friend and her husband and new baby and we were chatting and talking about music (since she and I are both music teachers), and her husband asked me if I had a dell (well, that is what I heard and understood) and I had to think for a bit. I immediately thought about my laptop, which used to be a Dell, but recently I switched to an HP and I said to him, "I used to but now I have an HP," and he just burst out laughing and so did his wife. I totally had no idea why that was so funny. Well, he finally stopped laughing enough to explain that he was asking if I had music by Adele, the singer. I had heard of her music and maybe heard one song, but totally did not think that question was about Adele as a singer and not the computer. Just to show I was a little outside of my own culture.
Engage: What are some of the challenges that you face in carrying out your work?
Jennifer: One of the biggest challenges is helping our students learn Spanish. Our students come from universities in the U.S. as a study-abroad experience to learn Spanish. Sometimes they come in not knowing any Spanish, and it can be very difficult for them. Helping them through that time is a challenge. We also have a program called "NILI professional" which is for anyone who doesn’t want college credit. This can be pastors, their family members, or recent grads. They also go through this challenge if they haven’t had any Spanish. Sometimes, for the adults that come in, the professional program can be very difficult -- not being able to communicate plus living in a different country. Trying to cook and do daily chores become a hassle or difficult because of the language barrier, so helping people through that process is a challenge at times. However, in the end when they have crossed that bridge and can speak Spanish, we all celebrate!
Engage: How do you maintain a close relationship with God and your family in the midst of the demands of missionary service?
Jennifer: Daily I spend time with the Lord. I like to try and do this in the morning because it sets up my day with a focus on God and what He has in store, not what comes up. It can be a challenge, but it is a needed and renewing time.
To maintain close relationship with my family and friends at home, let’s just say I’m SO THANKFUL for INTERNET! We talk through e-mails during the day. I have an iPod with which I can message and FaceTime with my family and friends. My best friend and I send video messages. She just recently adopted a new baby and so almost weekly she sends me a little video of him so I can see him grow and then I try to send her a video speaking to him in Spanish (getting him bi-lingual early).

Engage: What are the rewards of what you do?
Jennifer: The rewards are seeing God work in the lives of the students who come to NILI. At the end of each semester the students present a final project based on the highlights of their semester. I can’t even begin to say how many times they talk about how God worked in their lives, how He changed them, how He was leading them in a new direction. And they explain all of that in Spanish. This program, this ministry, is God’s and He does an incredible work each semester in the lives of our students. I have been, and am, so blessed to be able to see that and be part of our students' lives and how God is at work.
Engage: What are some aspects of the culture where you live that you have come to love or embrace?
Jennifer: The culture of Ecuador is rich with many different aspects and sub-cultures. Ecuador has a very large indigenous population: mountain indigenous and jungle indigenous, and their culture can be different from those who aren’t indigenous. The indigenous people from the mountain area are very different from those in the jungle. In the mountains, their clothing is a burst of color, they speak Quichua and they like to eat guinea pig! In the jungle their traditional clothing can be made of leaves or animal furs, and they drink chicha, a fermented drink made of yucca or corn. I love the fact that I can be in one country and experience so many different cultures.
Here in Ecuador, and South American countries in general, people are more event-orientated then time-oriented. So, if something is supposed to start at 7 p.m., it probably won’t start until the majority of the people arrive, which could be 7:30 p.m.or even 8 p.m., because it is more important that the event happen with the majority of the people than to start at the exact time when it is supposed to start. That goes right along with the fact that Latins tend to be a collective society: they do things in groups. Being with a lot of people is important. North Americans tend to be very individualistic. It’s “normal” to do things alone. Here in Ecuador, not so much. If I need to go to the grocery store, I can almost always find someone to go along just to go along so I don’t have to do it alone. That took some adjusting, but now I enjoy it, because it is a way to build relationships.

Engage: What do you like to do for fun?
Jennifer: Because I travel a lot with NILI and Harrison at times travels a lot with Work & Witness, my fun is being at home with him. It may sounds funny, but I LOVE doing laundry. I also love to find new recipes on Pinterest and try them out, although it can be difficult since some of the recipes require ingredients that aren’t available here in Ecuador. But, that makes it even more of an adventure!
Engage: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Jennifer: I was an elementary music teacher for five years before coming to the mission field, but I’ve always had a desire to be a nurse. I'm still trying to figure out how I can work on getting that degree.
Engage: What advice would you have for others exploring a possible call to missions, or embarking on their first missionary assignment?
Jennifer: For those exploring the call, go on a Work & Witness trip. It is a short-term experience of what it is like to serve cross-culturally.
For those embarking on their first assignment, be open. Try to NOT have expectations. Go ready to be a learner. Enjoy the time in a new place, with all of its struggles, blessings and everything else, to see God’s grace and love. Keep your eyes open for how God wants to bless you. There will be things that are out of your control. Take those times, those experiences, to allow God to show you how He will take care of you. There will be things that stretch you -- be flexible. In everything that you do, do it with love, and you will be loved in return. God wants to use you in a special way. Allow him to do that!
Engage: Other comments?
Jennifer: Thank you for this opportunity to share with you all what God has done and is doing through me.

Sending Missionaries
Praise God for the increased focus on the part of Nazarene world regions to train and send missionaries from their own regions. Pray for the global church's efforts to raise up men and women who will carry the Good News of Christ to their home communities and around the world. Read more about the Africa Region’s efforts in an Out of Africa article via this NCN News story.

Africa Region increases focus on sending missionaries
Nairobi, Kenya

More than 20 people attended a recent Nazarene Missions Orientation in Kenya. (Photo by David Cooper)
Around the world, almost three-quarters of the roughly 700 Nazarene missionaries are from the U.S. But the trend is shifting, and other world regions are expanding efforts to equip and send those who are called to missions.
Last year in Africa, 28 of the 83 Nazarene missionaries were African. One tool the region is using to prepare more Africans to serve cross-culturally is an event called Nazarene Missions Orientation. At the two-day workshop, participants learn about the Church of the Nazarene’s approach to missions and discuss how to effectively minister in other cultures.
"For many years, missions was done by outsiders coming to Africa, so now we want to provide the same opportunities for those God is calling from Africa to be able to go and serve," said David Cooper, Africa Region mobilization and personnel coordinator.
Cooper has held six NMOs with his wife, Jodi, in the past three years, along with several missions workshops. They are also working with district superintendents in the region to identify ways Africans can serve in short-term missions and gain cross-cultural experience.
The most recent NMO took place in Nairobi 29-30 May. The 20 participants represented the nations of Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, and the U.S. They discussed the missionary structure of the Church of the Nazarene and the do's and don'ts of serving cross-culturally.

Clémentine Uwizeye and Noah Mwiruki take part in an activity that simulates being in a new culture at last month's Nazarene Missions Orientation in Nairobi.
The event touched Evans and Njeri Katanga in a personal way. For years, Evans has felt God's call to be a missionary, but Njeri did not feel a call of her own.
"It was scary, because I was OK with him being a pastor ... but the whole missionary thing, I just was thinking, this is too much," she said.
Njeri grew up in Nairobi, where the couple currently live and are raising their 2-year-old daughter. Evans grew up in Zimbabwe, and making a successful transition to Nairobi 10 years ago gave him the confidence and the desire to serve in a foreign culture.
One of the highlights of the NMO for the Katangas was hearing the testimony of American missionary Lisa Johnson. When Lisa and her husband, David, were first married, David felt God calling him to be a missionary. Lisa did not feel the same way. The very idea of ripping her daughters away from family and living in a hut somewhere in the jungle upset her.
But after 10 years, God changed Lisa's heart, and she also felt Him calling her to be a missionary. She has never regretted responding to that call, she said, and God has blessed their family in more ways than she ever imagined. They've never lived in a hut, she said with a laugh, and her daughters have had the love and support of many "aunties and uncles" in Africa.
"Fear is one of those things that we sometimes let stand in our way, but God has so much for us," Lisa said.
The testimony encouraged Evans and Njeri, they said. It helped Njeri know she wasn't "weird" for not immediately feeling the same call as her husband. For Evans, the testimony encouraged him to be patient and trust God's timing.
Engaging local churches
The Church of the Nazarene's efforts to establish churches in unreached areas and spread the gospel around the world are supported by local churches giving to the World Evangelism Fund.
"Together we can accomplish so much more in reaching the world for Christ," David Cooper said. "It's important for us to help our churches see that we're part of a bigger picture."
The Katangas left the NMO feeling equipped, informed, and inspired, they said.
"I think these kinds of seminars or events would really help to open the minds and hearts of churches across Africa," Evans said. "There needs to be this interaction with every single member of the Nazarene Church."[Church of the Nazarene Africa Region via Out of Africa]
Related story from the Eurasia Region: "God's missional call reverberates from Alps to Himalayas"

100th Anniversary
As of June 19, 2015, Nazarenes around the world have given more than $800,000 towards initiatives their districts have adopted in honor of NMI's 100th anniversary. Praise God for the generosity of Nazarenes. Click here to read more about NMI’s 100th Anniversary.Welcome to the NMI 100th Anniversary
100 Years, One Mission, Eternal Opportunities

Goal—100 percent participation
by each of 461 districts globally
We ask each district to select one of more than 1,400 initiatives (projects) generated by regional and ministry partners.
Completion Date—October 2015
The actual date of the NMI 100th Anniversary is 8 October 2015. Each district should complete an initiative by the end of 2015. Districts, please send a photo and summary of the initiative you complete. We can help you tell the exciting story! Your experiences will encourage others!
Project History
• NMI’s 50th Anniversary: $150,000 to construct a hospital in Papua New Guinea
• NMI’s 75th Anniversary: $885,484 for evangelism in Hong Kong/Chinese communities worldwide.
• NMI’s 90th Anniversary: $2.5 million for "Books for Pastors—Tools for Ministry"
Challenge
As each district completes an NMI 100th Anniversary initiative, investments could total more than
US$4 million. By reading the cover memo on this Web page, see how your district can help achieve
the largest NMI Anniversary investment in Nazarene history.Initiatives
You can access more than 1,400 initiatives here. We provide options to view:
Lists by regions to click from initiative to initiative;
EXCEL spreadsheets—EXCEL spreadsheets assist searches for initiatives by region, world area, or financial range.
Guidelines
Also on this Web page, you will also find a link to Guidelines, which explain how each district can select
an initiative, confirm a selection with the NMI office team, and receive specific instructions to insure that
your gifts will be applied to the initiative you have requested.
Gratitude
Thank you for participating! May each of 461 districts experience abundant blessing as you meet needs on another district. May the Lord bless you!PRAY FOR:
GLOBAL MINISTRY REQUESTS
Burundi Turmoil
Pray for the people in Burundi, a country that is dealing with political unrest. Thirty Nazarenes have fled to a camp in Tanzania, and five others are unaccounted for, though they are believed to be in Rwanda, according to a Nazarene leader. Nazarene missionaries left the country temporarily amid the strife. Pray for peace. Read more in the NCN News article.

Burundi Nazarenes, missionaries flee country
Burundi

Dozens of Nazarenes in Burundi fled the country because of political unrest. Nazarene missionaries temporarily left the area.
Other church members and residents are staying in their homes for fear of facing violence on the streets. They are too afraid to go to work and are running low on food, said the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries coordinator in the capital, Bujumbura, who will not be named for security reasons.
Nazarenes have organized home visits to both church members and non-church members to bring them fellowship and whatever food they can.
"We have a lack of food for them," the coordinator said. "It's not easy."
Political protests began in late April after Burundi's president announced he would run for a third term. Burundi's constitution and a post-civil war peace deal allow for two presidential terms, but the president and ruling party said he is eligible for re-election because he was appointed by parliament for the first term, not voted in by the public.
On June 10, Burundi's president announced that the election would be postponed from June 26 to July 15. There was an attempted coup in May. Later that month, East African leaders met at a summit and urged Burundi to delay elections.
News reports show that upwards of 20 to 30 people have died in the conflict since April 25, and more than 100,000 people have fled the country. In a press release on June 9, the United Nations human rights chief called for Burundi officials to take action against the increasingly violent tactics of a pro-government militia.
Thirty Nazarenes from Burundi have fled to a camp in Tanzania, and five others are unaccounted for, though they are believed to be in Rwanda, according to a Nazarene leader.
"There is need for emergency response in the Nyanza Lac region (a city in southern Burundi near the border of Tanzania)," he said in an email on June 8. "We are asking for prayers for the country of Burundi and our Nazarenes."[Church of the Nazarene Africa Region via Out of Africa]

Guatemala Disability Project
In Guatemala, the Disability Project trains Nazarenes to integrate children with disabilities into the life of the church and assist their families. Pray for the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) team that coordinates the Disability Project and for the children who participate in the project. Read more about the Disability Project by clicking here to go to NCM's website.

Care for Children with Disabilities
GIVING CODE: ACM1223
REGION: Mesoamerica
THE NEED:
DOWNLOAD
About the project
In Guatemala, the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Council coordinates the Disability Project, training local Nazarenes to integrate children with disabilities into the life of the church, and assisting families with providing medical and dental care, prescriptions, testing, and therapy for children with disabilities. No longer are these children hidden away, without hope.
Lilian was born blind and deaf, and has been diagnosed with cardiac issues as well as malnutrition. The Disability Project has connected her family with an institution for blind and deaf children. Twice a week Lilian’s mom takes a 4 hour bus trip each way with her for therapy (leaving at 5 am!).
Erika suffered a fall when she was an infant. At the age of 10 she had to stop going to school because of frequent seizures; she also has learning disabilities. The Disability Project has enabled her to be under the care of a neurologist, and now she also has weekly therapy. Erika, her grandmother, and her sister now attend a local Church of the Nazarene.
Carlos is developmentally disabled. Unlike most children with disabilities in rural Guatemala, he is able to attend school and loves playing soccer. The Disability Project assists with medication and doctor’s visits.
The average cost to assist each child for a year is about $800. We invite you to partner with us to bring hope to these vulnerable children and their families!

Update from North Andean Field
Please continue to pray about the 1,000 percent property tax increase at the seminary and church properties in Ecuador. Leadership says, "We are very concerned about the property tax issue as there has been no solution. Our lawyer continues to seek answers."
Please continue to remember Venezuela during these difficult times.
M+ Power
The Eurasia Region spans 39 countries and 127 languages. Recently 16 young adults gathered in Germany to be oriented on the realities of cross-cultural mission ministry. Pray for those who participated in the training, that God would clearly lead and guide them as they explore mission opportunities. Read more about the training in the June issue of Where Worlds Meet, the Eurasia Region’s newsletter.
Regional Directors
http://www.eurasiaregion.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/WWM-June-2015.pdf
Pray for the ministry of Nazarene Regional Directors who oversee the work God has entrusted to them on one of the six world regions:
Filimao Chambo, Africa Region
Mark Louw, Asia-Pacific Region
Arthur Snijders, Eurasia Region
Carlos Saenz, Mesoamerica Region
Christian Sarmiento, South America Region
Robert Broadbooks, USA/Canada Region
BEREAVEMENT
Family of Alex Mkandawire
Alex Mkandawire passed away on June 18 after being hospitalized the past few weeks. He leaves a wife and six children. Pray for the Mkandawire family, for God’s comfort, strength, and provision. Alex served as the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Coordinator for Malawi.
Family of Cherricy (Cherri) Cline
Cherricy (Cherri) Cline passed away on June 21. She was the sister of missionary Cindy Downey. Pray for the Cline/Downey family during this time of earthly loss. Pray for Cindy as she travels this week from Argentina, where she serves, to Kansas City to be with family.
Thank you for praying.
"Blessed are those who see the hand of God in the haphazard, inexplicable, and seemingly senseless circumstances of life."[Erwin W. Lutzer, North American pastor and author]
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