For further information contact Pastor Eric White, Coordinator, Volunteer Services, South Pacific Division, Locked Bag 2014, Wahroonga NSW 2076 Website

Our small group today wasn't small. Our usual attendance is about 10 and today there were 35. We had the entire Adventist company of 15 from a nearby Purépecha (Indigenous) village in attendance. My nephew, who is a 3rd year Theology student at the SDA Universidad de Montemorelos, gave our sermon and played his guitar. Our service was followed by a dinner typical of this area. It was interesting to have a lady from the village offer the blessing in her native dialect. This year we hope to finish our church building as we have been meeting in an open air carport for about 5 years. The walls of our new building are up, but we ran out of money. This next March a group of volunteers from Adventist Singles Ministries is coming from the US to finish the building - if we get the need funds of about US$8,000.00. If anyone is interested in more information about the work in this part of México please write me at my email address jaymex21@mail.ml.com.mx We need your prayers here in this historic city in México. Jay Boger, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, México
Entered March 31, 1999

As I reviewed Hurricane Mitch’s devastation I felt impressed to help in any way I could. God answered that desire by working things out so I could spend two weeks working with ADRA in Nicaragua with a close friend Dr.Milton Johnson, from Hermiston. We drilled two wells for those desperately needing drinking water and had many rewarding experiences. I was often moved with emotion as I contemplated the great need and our seemingly insignificant efforts to make a difference in a country struggling to survive. On our first well and down just 20 feet, local villagers gathered around our drilling operation as we bowed in prayer requesting clear direction since we had been drilling for four hours and gone less than 2 inches. We prayed that within 30 minutes or less, if it was His will that we continue in that location, the drill would grind through a rock that was impeding our progress. We all shouted praises to God as within 16 minutes we saw our prayers answered and the drill again began making immediate, significant progress. This well is now over 95 feet deep and water is within 22 feet of the top. It is producing pure clean drinking water, via a newly installed hand pump, to the community of San Blas, near Las Madaras. Much of this village had been under water and there was severe sickness as the only water sources were very polluted. A local influential resident was so impressed with ADRA's work in this community that he donated property for a new Seventh-day Adventist Church! We praise God for this miracle as His name is glorified. Plans are underway to return to La Madaras in June when we will be adding onto their original two room school (now divided into four rooms, where flood victims are temporarily living). We hope to hold evangelistic meetings as follow up on ADR’s positive influence in this area. If you would like to join us please let me know. I returned impressed with our many blessings! This trip has reconfirmed again, that the greatest joys in life come from being of service to others. How can we be tempted to enjoy the temporary and passing pleasures of this world when the rewards of serving God bring the greatest thrill and joys that continue to last --not only here on this earth but in the future life to come? Stay faithful to Him is our prayer, love, Del
Entered March 31, 1999

In November last year I received an unusual e-mail from Conrad Vine. I run a management consultancy company that works mainly within the area of health and Conrad wanted me to go to Naxcivan to do some work for ADRA. I have worked abroad a little but what Conrad wanted me to do was a real challenge. Although I thought about it for a while I knew very quickly that I just had to go. Conrad manages an ADRA run Primary Health Care project in the Naxcivan Autonomous Republic. Naxcivan, which boarders Iran, Turkey and Armenia, is a landlocked country linked to Azerbaijan. The economy is very poor and the project that ADRA runs there is vital to the local population. It treats 14,000 patients per month, is growing rapidly and is greatly respected by the Ministry of Health in Naxcivan. My work with ADRA was to look carefully at the Primary Health Care project and develop a strategy to enable the project to become self sustainable. I have just finished writing the report and it looks as if the project will have a long-term life. Even when subjected to careful evaluation and scrutiny, projects like this one in Naxcivan show that ADRA work is done to a very high standard. It is good to know that funds raised by the Ingathering campaign this year will support mainly ADRA work. Conrad's project in Naxcivan will be a direct beneficiary from the money that we collect. The people that live in Naxcivan are dangerously short on iodine, and this has led to an alarming increase in Iodine Deficiency Disorders. Part of the money collected from Ingathering this year will buy the iodine tablets that the people of Naxcivan need. ADRA is doing a really good job in Naxcivan. Do your part in Ingathering this year to help buy those iodine tablets.
Entered from BUC news March 14, 1999