Help Haiti, Serve in Mission, and Mission Partner Updates

Asbury has always been blessed with members that have a heart for mission. Over the past few days, we’ve had so many updates from mission partners and opportunities for you to partner with that we’re sharing them via this special email. Please take a moment to read, pray, and discern where you may be able to serve in the kingdom of God.

Asbury has provided scholarships for three elementary-age children at the Thembelihle school. We received the following letter with shocking news from Georgia Purdon, their Donor Administrator, this week:

Dear Asbury Church Members,

This year has certainly been one of the toughest we have had to endure. We have had to survive the COVID-19 pandemic and the many regulation changes, the loss, the anger, school closures, the hunger, and the increased poverty. In the last few weeks we have all had to survive civil unrest in our area as our little town [Howick] was looted, burned and destroyed. Our safety and those of our staff and children completely overwhelmed us as we had to close both Thembelihle and Angels Care Centre for a week just to honestly survive and fight for the very little that was left. We lived through a time that will become a part of our country’s history and a time that will alter the future of our nation. We cried with our beloved country, our friends, family, staff, and community that lost so much, but most importantly we UNITED to rebuild. South Africa and our little town of Howick is made up of the strongest, kindest, most determined people and communities, that will rebuild what we once had, but stronger and better. I certainly have never felt prouder to be a South African and to be involved with this community, our sponsors, donors, partners, supporters and of course staff. I just wanted to take this time to say THANK YOU for allowing us to give these children HOPE, quality education and to support them through these devastating times.

We are now feeding the children a hot meal a day as we know times are even tougher in their homes. We are focused on ensuring that they are more than just ok and more than just surviving. These children are the future of our country and the first to feel the devastation of increased hunger and poverty. Without our sponsorship programme we could not be there for these precious children and again for that, we THANK YOU.

We are so grateful to say that we were untouched by the looting and were, therefore, able to open as soon as things were safe enough to do so. Our children are back at their desks, surrounded by their friends and learning with a full tummy and happy hearts. Our staff and teachers have been amazing and I can say with 100% certainty that we have done our best and that your sponsored children are being well cared for. Gratitude and smiles fill our classrooms on a daily basis, and determination to provide for these children has guided our staff and kept us all on our toes.

All the children are so happy to be back at school. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions.

Stay safe, be healthy, and thank you.

Kind regards,

Georgina Purdon

Donor Administrator

See a video of the children’s choir from Thembelihle School on YouTube.

We are praising God that construction has begun on the new Asbury Sewing School in Paynesville, Liberia. Thanks to all who contributed to funding the building of this new facility which will accommodate 100 students in two sessions per day. With the sewing skills acquired at the Asbury Sewing School, our Liberian friends will be able to generate income for basic needs for their families. Your generosity is changing lives in Liberia. The school staff has asked that we pass their sincere thanks to the Asbury congregation.

Did you know that through your contributions to Asbury in Mission you help provide scholarships for 26 children and young adults in Africa? Of these, 17 of the students are at Lutheran Training in rural Lofa County Liberia where Asbury held a youth camp and VBS back in 2010. Several of the students at LTI recently gathered to send this video thank-you to Asbury. We members of AIM add our thanks for your ongoing support of this life-changing mission.

The following is an excerpt from a “thank you” letter received in appreciation of 23 years of donations towards scholarships

Dear Rev. Yeakel and the Asbury Church Family:

Thank you very much for twenty-three consecutive years of faithful second-mile fiving to the Africa University Endowment and Direct Scholarships Funds. Thank you also for your recent generous gift. Because of your faithfulness and generosity, the young men and women of Africa like Lovesaw Muponde of Zimbabwe, your current scholarship recipient, are being given the transformational gift of a first-rate university education, which makes Africa University’s impact tangible across the continent.

With support from partners like Asbury, a pathway to hope and opportunity is being provided to our students. You will be pleased to learn that nearly 600 students graduated from AU in a virtual ceremony on July 3, 2021.

Your ongoing engagement and investment in the ministry of “the School of Dreams” are greatly appreciated. Please pray without ceasing for Africa University and we will do the same for you and the Asbury Church Family.

Kindest regards,

Josefa E. Bethea Wall

Director of Planned Giving

The following is note from Kevin and Kathy Bruce, missionaries in Ecuador. You may be familiar with Kevin and Kathy’s ministry from their visit to Asbury a few years ago or from excerpts from Kevin’s letters shared in Asbury emails throughout the pandemic. The Church (or God’s House of Prayer) that was used for their VBS program, which ministered to 70 children, was built in 2018 with funds from Asbury’s Christmas Eve Offering.

In a moment when Jesus’ disciples thought the crowds were bothering Him too much, bringing their little ones to be blessed, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” These words were on our minds in July as we held two VBS programs, one in Palmira and one in Rio Verde. Each day in both communities more children came, totaling about 70 in Palmira and almost 100 in Rio Verde. We are so thankful for Jesus’ example to follow, as well as the strength and help God provided daily for these days!

The weather has finally turned to dry season, which means beautiful sunny skies, great swimming in the river, and….we are finally able to order the materials for the construction of the church kitchen in Palmira! The first loads of rock and gravel have arrived, and we’ve had some fun workdays after church on Sundays getting the loads of rock moved closer to the church. (The flat tire on the truck wasn’t quite as fun…!) We’ll keep you updated on the progress!

In HIS grip,

Kevin & Kathy