1Gloowen (1Faith) is a network that exists to help churches and organizations to expand the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Low German speaking people around the world. Missionaries that are part of the Network: Wifred & Margaret Unrau, David & Sieglinde Toews, Diedrich & Nettie Friesen, Andrew & Deanna Friesen, Jason Friesen, Mark Friesen, Jacob Giesbrecht, Koby Wiebe, Rudy & Wilma Toews, Trudy Buhler, Gerhard & Susan Fehr and PadioPlaut.
Bryan and Terry Harms are developing a ministry center in the downtown core of Caxias do Sul, Brazil, with the purpose of establishing a new outreach to unchurched in the area. Plans are to also use the center as a base for encouraging and coaching new church-planters for the mountain cities of Rio Grande do Sul, and for church planters in the Christian Associates network, and to launch in November, 2013. Bryan, born of missionary parents, and Terry, a native of Caxias do Sul, Brazil, have been involved with church-planting and the training of Brazilian leaders from 1985 to 1994, and 2007 to the present.
“Belize Camping Experience is an exciting ministry that reaches children and youth through camping programs. Led by Alexander and Leah Perez, BCE and their staff run Bible day camps all summer long and then follow up through supporting local community leaders who directly support the children who attended camps. They are developing a year-long leadership program and work through out the year in local schools and churches. Their mandate, “Belize Changing Belize” puts the focus on local leadership training up local disciples who change their communities!” Donations made and designated to BCE go to supporting the salary of the workers and special projects approved by their local board of directors.
Yuri and Kerry Mondal are the on site directors of Casa Angelina; an orphanage founded by Ivan & Kimberly Tait of What Matters Ministries and Missions. They have been serving at Casa Angelina for the past 10 1/2 years.
Every day they live the dream of rescuing orphans, and their example, in turn, has a profound effect on the lives and dreams of each child. They have become an uncle and aunt to these children, as well as important guardians. Together they share in the incredible journey and responsibility of rescuing, protecting, rebuilding, and turning each “orphan into royalty” at Casa Angelina for generations to come.
Luis and his family work in the beautiful Guatemalan city of Antigua. His passion is working with youth, helping transform the next generation of Guatemala. He and his 5 staff and 12 volunteer team work in the local high schools teaching Christian ethics and values. Through his connections, he has started youth groups around the area. MMF has also partnered with Luis in building homes for widows and low-income Mayan families in need. Luis hosts many short term mission teams as well.
Since 2001, our small group of Canadians has been partnering with local Guatemalans who are changing their country. Conexions has helped with orphanages, seniors’ homes, AIDS hospices, building projects, schools, computer labs, scholarship programs, disaster relief, English training, mobile medical clinics, and much more. Today, we primarily support trusted, local, self-sufficient entrepreneurs who run volunteer programs in the Lake Atitlan area, including a leadership development program for teenagers, and a health-care education clinic. Our partners are Forjando Mi Manana and Dr.Fransisco.
Forjando Mi Manana was started by Candelaria and Gregorio Garcia, our partners in Panajachel, Guatemala. They are self-made entrepreneurs who both grew up in poverty in the villages near Panajachel, speaking Kakchiquel, the Mayan dialect.
Candelaria and Gregorio own a Spanish school, and in their spare time, they have an exceptional talent for finding 13-year-old economic dropouts from rural villages, then training and refining them into talented, multi-lingual, confident, 18-year-old entrepreneurs. They are developing 30+ teenagers in their intensive leadership development program, including school tuition and leadership coaching. They also help provide education and development to local Mayan communities through Learning Centres and nutritional programs.
Dr Fransisco and his wife Carina operate a clinic in San Pedro where he is the only doctor who speaks the Mayan language. He spends 20% of his time treating can-pay patients in Guatemala City, in order to volunteer 80% of his time treating can’t-pay patients in San Pedro. The clinic has a surgical centre that offer surgeries to local people in a safe, hygienic environment, in the Tzutujil language they understand and trust.
Travis grew up on the prairies of Manitoba, Canada. He first visited Guatemala in high school and fell in love with the people and the culture. He connected with Kids Alive in 2016 while teaching English at a nearby school in Guatemala.
While spending time at Oasis, Travis was moved not only by the deep hurt of the rescued girls, but also by their resilience and hope as they pursue justice and healing. Since then, he has completed a Bachelor of Business Administration at Canadian Mennonite University and felt the Lord’s call to return to Guatemala and serve with Kids Alive at Oasis. His desire is to see hurting young women grow into their full potential through understanding the deep love that God has for them as HIS daughters. He hopes to provide opportunity for them to obtain the practical skills needed for success. He teaches English to the residents, graduates, and program staff. He also contributes to business initiatives that benefit Oasis graduates by providing support, focused growth, and strategic direction.
Janice ministers in a christian discipleship school called Doulos Discovery school.
God has been using Doulos in many ways to educate and equip students to impact the Dominican Republic. Janice teaches Junior High School.
Paul and Marcie Cooper are missionaries in Dominican Republic with Kids Alive. Since 2009 Paul had been a principal at Centro Educativo ANIJA, but has recently changed his position to a teaching role with an additional focus on planning for the ANIJA’s high school extension. Marcie fundraises and communicates regularly with donors and sponsors.
Melissa is a long term missionary in Haiti. She serves in a children’s home called Chosen and Cherished Ministry, Along with her ministry there, Melissa leads a woman’s Bible study and serves at Quisqueya Chapel.
Tom and Helen Froese are veteran missionaries who have worked in Haiti for the past 20 years. In fall 2020, they will be setting up a new ministry that will be business focussed with the aim to provide much needed employment and community development to poor communities. Discipleship and community development will be their primary goals. Tom and Helen will live in Haiti 6 months a year to oversee the program and will release national Haitians to lead and implement while they are back in Canada.
Aggie Klassen is co-founder and President of a ministry in Haiti: Justice Flowing. Their ministry is to Help prevent malnutrition & stunting in the lives of orphaned babies in Haiti. They provide care and support to impoverished parents and supply babies with much needed nutrition in order to develop properly. They also help provide scholarships to children so they can attend school. Aggie Klassen lives on the campus in Haiti and is an MMF employee running the ministry. Funds donated will help cover living expenses and support for the program.
Ninotte Lubin, supported by her team of board members scattered throughout the States and Canada are in the process of building a much-needed birth center in the rural north-east of Haiti. Our mission is to provide affordable, accessible, compassionate and respectful maternity care. We aim to assist women throughout their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum via the midwifery model of care and are currently able to provide prenatal/postpartum/family planning in our current facility. As we have been planning and fundraising for the big build, Ninotte has been busy with community development projects on the property as well as providing education to kids/teens and the greater community with a focus on sex ed, family planning, violence prevention and gender equity. All of this is motivated by Ninotte’s desire to give the “grace” that she has received to the most vulnerable; those who are lacking resources, education, access to essential perinatal services and most of all hope. Grace is place of hope, a place to receive compassion and care in one of the most vulnerable times of a woman’s life.
