Prayers for Belize as Hurricane Earl approaches

Greetings Ms. Bev:

It’s a blessing to work with you all. Today we are preparing for a hurricane which should be passing our area later this evening or tonight. I ask for your prayers for all us us. There have been so much violence and scandal over the past few weeks. I pray that God is merciful and spare us from terrible disaster.

I continue to look forward to your emails. Be blessed!

Regards,

Jane Martinez (Principal of St. Hilda’s School, Georgeville, Belize)

A word of thanks from Amieka Myers in Belize

The following letter was sent to Beverly Morell by Amieka Myers. Amieka is the college student supported financially and in prayer by donors from our Cathedral church.  She is a graduate of St. Hilda’s School in Georgeville where we have sent mission teams to serve over the years.  During her high school years, Amieka was also supported by our church by donors to the High School Scholarship Fund established by the 2010 team which was in Georgeville.

Please continue to pray for Amieka as she enters her final year of school.  As you can tell from her letter, she is most grateful for our making it possible for her to earn a university education, which is an outstanding achievement for a student from St. Hilda’s Elementary School.

Hello Miss Bev, 

Summer classes were tiresome, and nearly took over my entire summer. I haven’t received grades as yet until this week’s Wednesday. I feel so relieved that Mr. Palma took a pinch and told you my marks are good. This is the first summer I did so much homeworks and studying for tests and quizzes. I’m glad it’s all over, and feeling accomplished for wiping two more subjects off my course sequence. My mother is proud indeed, and without a doubt,  I know you guys are as well. 

Thank you for informing me that my fees are covered. I’m grateful, and anxious to begin the new semester.  It’s correct, I’m taking five(5) classes this semester(Aug-Dec 2016), which will leave me with six courses for next semester(Jan-May 2017). I will be completing my program in 2017 with my final courses, I’m confident of that. I will keep my commitment to completing my studies in June 2017, as you guys are keeping your end of the commitment in assisting me.

For my upcoming semester, I will be using some text books due to the major courses I’m taking. However, I will still try my best to seek electronic copies because they’re much easier to carry and free of costs. 

I’m thankful for all your prayers and support. I’m lost for words at times to express my gratitude because it means so much to me and my family. Please continue to pray for me. THANK YOU so much my Canadian friends,  I hope and pray that God shower your homes with the same blessing you guys are showering my home with. Continue to pray for me, as I continue to pray for you guys. I will works hard as I can in my upcoming semester, there is no doubt. I’m determine to succeed.  

Amieka Myers
God Bless

First Canadian Picnic

Rev. Rick Robinson and his wife Nancy, from St. Margaret’s Anglican church, took the refugee family from Liberia swimming and for a picnic at Woolastook Park on July 31. Pictured with them are Arene, Catherine, Esther and Phillip. The young people also enjoyed dancing to music at the event which was celebrating Black heritage in New Brunswick.

Picnic

Condolences from Fredericton

Paul, the Missions Committee is quite simply speechless upon learning of the tragedy that has unfolded in recent days at the school. We are so very sorry for the senseless loss of your employees under such brutal circumstances.

We are heartbroken by news reports indicating that other employees at the school might have been involved. If the reportage is true, it compounds a very difficult situation for you and Caleb to handle. May God give you the strength and wisdom to cope and to carry on.

We are very relieved that the children were not harmed, but they must have been shaken to their core by this heinous crime on school grounds. May God comfort you all at this enormously challenging, sad time. And may the cook and the night watchmen rest in eternal peace.

Our deepest sympathies and our prayers go with you.

Ann Deveau
on behalf of the Missions Committee
Christ Church Cathedral
Fredericton, NB

For more details on the terrible tragedy at Bishop McAllister Collge in Uganda, see below.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201607080678.html

Roatan Episcopal Church Ministry Update, June 2016

Bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God

Colossians 1:10 (NIV)

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As we shared with you before, we certainly experienced a Holy Week and Easter under our new roof; what a blessing to continue receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost with the improving of our Church building. We feel so very blessed! Thank you to all of you who have contributed with your financial and physical support and most of all, your prayers.

Iglesia vacia

 

At the end of April we ordered all the doors for the church building, and we expect these to be installed by the end of July.

We also plan to order the windows very soon and to complete the rest  of the construction, which includes:

  • stucco the interior walls
  • pour concrete floors
  • install ceramic floor tiles
  • some electrical work, and
  • painting

As you can see, we still have quite a bit of work to do before the church is completed.

On May 8 we celebrated Mother’s Day and also had a special pastoral visit from our Bishop Lloyd Allen, who confirmed six members and received one as an Episcopalian.

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We had the privilege of participating with a member of each congregation in the National Synod that took place in Tegucigalpa on May 28.

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After this our family of four took the opportunity, while we were on the mainland, to visit my (Nelson’s) family in my hometown, Siguatepeque. At the same time I (Nelson) was invited to preach at my home church. This was a privilege.

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Please continue to pray for:        

  1. Continued financial support for the next years as we continue to serve the Lord on Roatán, Honduras.
  2. Our congregations: St. Peter by the Sea in Brick Bay and Emmanuel in Coxen Hole.
  3. Short Term mission teams that are planning to come to Roatán next year from Ontario.
  4. The ongoing construction in Coxen Hole – doors are ordered and are to be installed by the end of July.
  5. Gerardo and Cindy, our youth leaders that God has called to take responsibility for guiding the young people.
  6. Spiritual and practical outreach in the local communities.
  7. Nelson, who was asked by the Bishop to be part of a team helping those entering into the ordination process.
  8. An evangelistic outreach that will take place in Roatán (July 29-30) and all the churches involved, that many can be healed, be freed, and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. A ministry team from the USA is coming to partner with the churches in Roatán.
  9. The Episcopal Church in Honduras, for the process toward self-sufficiency by the end of 2019.

Thank you very much for your prayers and continued support that enable us to continue in this ministry.

May God continue to richly bless you.

Nelson and Kara Mejia

Empowering the Church.

Learning, Growing and Serving.

https://nelsonandkara.wordpress.com/

 

A sincere thank you from Belize!

The following is from a recent letter sent by Indira Spain to Beverly Morell. Indira is the mother of Belize scholarship student, Anique Hernandez, and also a teacher at St. Hilda’s school.
Thank you so much ms. Bev.  I am eternally indebted to you and your church group. I pray showers of blessings on you now and always. You are really leaving a positive mark on my child.  Thank you once again for your support.  Anique is more than excited about writing you so I will email that letter to you sometime over the weekend. Hope that you’re having a productive trip and I’ll be praying for travelling graces for you until you return safely home. Have a pleasant night.
With love,
Indira Spain

Plans being made for refugee family from Liberia

Plans being made for refugee family from Liberia

The Archdeaconry of Fredericton refugee sponsorship committee has been waiting for months to bring a Syrian refugee family to Fredericton. A couple weeks ago we were advised that the backlog of applications is now so large (thousands!) that it would be well into 2017 before we could even think of being matched with a Syrian family.

It’s disappointing. However, there are literally millions of other refugees, some of whom have been waiting in crowded camps for years. We were told that, if we would agree to sponsor an African family instead, it could take only a few more weeks or months before they would step off the plane in Fredericton.

Liberia is on the west coast of Africa

Liberia is on the west coast of Africa

The committee, made up of 10 parishes and the cathedral, prayed, discussed and decided to help a family of four from Liberia in West Africa now, instead of waiting until 2017 for a Syrian family. Our application is being reviewed by the federal government, and we are waiting for news.

We have a few details: the father is Phillip, age 47, who has worked as a farm hand;  his wife is Esther, age 50, a trader, probably selling fruit, fish or charcoal in an outdoor market; her children are a son, Arene, age 19, and a daughter, Catherine, age 16.

The family profile does not indicate how long they have been living in the refugee camp, situated in the neighbouring country of Côte d’Ivoire. Knowing there have been two civil wars in Liberia, we suspect it might be years. The parents have been subjected to violence and torture.

We do not yet know their religion, but the file says they can speak English and French plus their native language called Grebo. Their educational levels are very low, especially given the ages of the children. Conditions in the camp are not good concerning health care, dental care, education, etc.

If our application succeeds, it will be a huge challenge for this family to adapt to life in Canada.

If our application succeeds, it will be a huge challenge for this family to adapt to life in Canada. Think of our weather (the average annual temperature in Liberia is 28C!), the different culture here, their lack of education, and limited work experience. It is possible that they may never have enjoyed 24/7 electricity, running water, and all the amenities we take for granted. Life here may be overwhelming for them.

That is why the committee continues to prepare to welcome and help them. Financial donations have reached about $22,000  — we need $30,000 to look after them for one year. Thanks to you, donations of furnishings are going extremely well. (See list of remaining items sought.)

The Missions Committee at the cathedral will keep you posted on the progress of the archdeaconry’s application. Please pray for this refugee family and for our efforts to bring them out of violence and misery to a safe home in peaceful Canada.

FURNISHINGS LIST  (remaining items needed as of June 12, 2016)

LIVING ROOM – modern TV (not the heavy, old, tube-type)
BEDROOMS – mattress and box spring for a single bed, mattress and box spring for a 54-inch bed
DINING/KITCHEN – muffin tin
MISCELLANEOUS – chair for computer desk, radio, alarm clock, wall clock, combs and brushes
HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES – broom and dustpan, sponge mop, bucket, cleaning rags, recycling bin

Items can be dropped off at Cathedral Memorial Hall during business hours.

If you wish to help support the family, you can provide a cheque, payable to Christ Church Parish Church, noting Refugee Fund on the memo line. The treasurer at that church is maintaining an account on behalf of all the parishes taking part in the sponsorship.

Ann Deveau