We are boarding a plane in a few hours to head back to Victoria after nearly three weeks in Japan. It seemed like the clock raced forward as we spent time with our missionary units in the Japan Baptist Fellowship. The field itself is a team of FEBI and World Venture missionaries. We journeyed north from Tokyo to MidoriNo, Tsukuba city and then HitachiNaka seeing our team of veteran missionaries working to establish new churches. After a retreat (conference)in the seaside town of Oarai, in which I was again privileged to bring the messages from God’s word; Community, Connections and Communication, we headed to the big city. Tokyo is a city of 32 million in the greater city catchment.

The unique approaches of our team to ministry demonstrate that there is more than one model, method, and means of winning others to Christ. We see how fruitful the use of Black gospel music has become in this context of groups or circles. The Japanese people are committed to joining, or belonging to groups that enable them to experience and learn most things in life that Westerners glean from books or other individualized means. Our team of ministry developers and church planters are on task as they evaluate all their initiatives and plan new strategies for taking Christ to others. Conversations, environments, contacts, language learning are buzz words that we regularly hear in this context.

Many of our staff use local schools and augment their children’s education via internet and other means. Some use the excellent school; CAJ, Christian Academy in Japan, founded to educate missionary children, as the means of education, and others have chosen schools outside the country. This is a clear parallel to their ministry creativity in that there are many different approaches to raising and educating children in an international context.

The greatest prayer concern of our JBF team is to see more place their hope in Christ. While the results seem small compared to the efforts made, the results are sweet. There is a stream of people being won and churches in time being established.

It is hard to put into words our gratitude for the privilege that you give us to serve in this way. We sense in so many ways the prayers of those behind us. In personal interviews doors are opened as we share burdens, offer care and come away deeply impacted by the dedication and commitment of our staff to continue establishing churches in Japan.

On a personal note we took 3 days of personal vacation and took a high speed train to the city of Kyoto to explore the old city. A few pictures of our time are included in our album. We learned and relearned so much about Japanese culture on this vacation. The architecture of the old buildings (temples, palaces, gardens and other sites) was stunning and carefully preserved. Nearly every site we visited proclaimed it as the oldest wooden structure of that form in the country. Many of the sites were shared with hoards of Japanese school children who snapped up souvenirs as they enthusiastically took in the sites. I think we are featured prominently in not a few of their photographs!

Prayer and praise

1. Praise for good ministry, deepening and continuing relationships with our missionary staff.

2. Pray for our adjustment back to a busy schedule in ministry and life in Victoria

3. Pray for greater fruit and effective church plants in Japan.

4. Pray for effective follow up.

5. Praise God for new workers and continue to ask for more workers to join this field.

Our most recent trip was packed with adventure, challenge and the kind of outcome that humbled and satisfied us.

Donna and I boarded a plane in Victoria to start a 42 hour trek to Pakistan. We left a cold spring behind and found something like ‘high summer’ in Shikarpur with temperatures reaching the 40C mark. Landing in Pakistan is like arriving on another planet. The differences can be described, but what happens to a visitor can only be described as overwhelming.Traffic, pollution, population, poverty, dust, language, clothing bombard the senses.There is a mix of wonder and anxiety pulsing through us in emotional waves. We have been visiting Pakistan since 1992 and it hits us as familiar and strange in the same moment. The short spring conference on the Shikarpur Christian hospital grounds gave Donna and I many opportunities to speak, pray and encourage our staff. We met with each of our Canadian and American hospital workers. We are in awe of our field personnel who serve the Lord in the Sindh. We listened to our workers describe the beginnings of an emerging ‘group’. It is a breakthrough for the field. With most of our hospital workers leaving for home assignments this summer the hospital will reduce its ministry to an outpatient clinic. It desperately needs more trained doctors and nurses to sustain its work in the short and long term.

We drove to Hyderabad with 2 of our workers and stayed a few days in that city so that we could do the remaining interviews. We discerned that this has been a fruitful year of ministry in Pakistan. Unfortunately Donna and I both acquired a stomach bug, while I got over mine quickly; Donna’s lasted a week (well into our time in Japan) required a second course of treatment and resulted in her losing over 10lbs. Happily, she is gaining that weight back.

We boarded a plane at midnight for our trip to Tokyo via Hong Kong. On the ground we were met by American field workers in the late evening and soon found our beds in the MidoriNo Chapel. We had a few interviews the next few days ahead of the ‘Canadian only’ spring Conference in Oarai. We met with our 3 Canadian families because the American workers had all attended a World Venture conference in Thailand. The 3 days in Oarai were packed with family fun and worship. Donna had prepared for the 4 children’s meetings as Dave taught and interacted with the adults. The conference was followed by a few days in the Tokyo area as we interviewed all our field workers.

The days seemed to blur together with activity, laughter, and prayer as we shared burdens, listened to how God was at work in our people and through them. We became aware that like Pakistan, this has been a very fruitful time of ministry in Japan.

We boarded our plane on April 18, a bit weary, but very encouraged. The responses of our workers to us and to our ministry among them made us feel very humble, and at the same time deeply satisfied.

We could not do this work without your prayers. We were so often aware of strength that was beyond our own, and opportunity that was outside our making. Thank you for standing with us!

Dave and Donna

Thanks and Requests

Praise

1. For the evidence of God’s work through us.
2. For our health and rest, we feel back to ‘normal’
3. For the fruitfulness of ministry on both fields

Request

1. For additional workers in Pakistan
2. For the Shikarpur Hospital outpatient clinic
3. For additional fruit in ministry on both fields
4. Direction for our fall trip to the Philippines and Indonesia

Praying Friend,

Summarizing these last few weeks is no small task although it has delightful written all over it. Amazing, challenging, enriching, humbling, energizing, and exhausting, are all apt descriptors for what we saw and did.

We boarded a plane late on a Monday afternoon and landed the next morning to Amsterdam , a major European gateway to the continent. We dozed on the plane as we flew all night from Canada . We then decided that with a 5 hour layover, we should go through customs, board a commuter train and tour the city rather than sit in the airport. A good decision as the late morning and early afternoon in the Netherlands was warm and welcoming. We said to ourselves that the day was a like a mini-vacation despite the jet-lag. Once more we boarded a plane in the early afternoon for our night flight to Almaty Kazakhstan . We arrived about 6:30am napping occasionally on the flight and were met at the airport by our hosts. It was our first visit to this location and the first day was full of adventure. As we toured the city we listened intently to their descriptions of ministry, family, opportunity and challenge. We had lunch after ascending a mountain peak by a ski lift and viewed the stunning area as we discussed how our hosts had adapted to this country as a family. Finding our beds was a welcome end to our first full day. The next two days were a flurry of activity; meeting contacts, and facilitating a conflict resolution team meeting were just part of the opportunities we were given. We met individuals whose lives have been transformed; delivered from addictions and now serve with passion as they work to see local meetings flourish. We sensed that the work in this location is both challenging and rewarding as the nation faces an economic boom, a surge in nationalism, and an ongoing identification with Islam that is mixed with the effects of the old regime.

Nationalism became a theme of our trip as we boarded another late night flight at 3:30am (after an hour delay in the Almaty airport) for our next country visit. We were met at the Istanbul airport, in the early morning, by our young hosts and began another round of visits and meetings. The shadows of Islam surrounded us as we walked and toured their community. The challenges remain great, and yet there are glimmers of hope and rich opportunities for their work. Far from discouraged by their task, our workers and their team are committed to seeing their purpose advanced in this culture. Resistance is everywhere, yet the hope of the team is evident. Our workers are considering some new ventures under the team umbrella and we were encouraged to discover the gains made in this direction. While there is a fatigue factor from serving in a high investment and low result place, our couple expressed encouragement and commitment to their task.

Our next flight was an afternoon crossing through Europe. We arrived in a blizzard over Vienna and were required to circle the airport for a while until the winds shifted and we were able to land safely. We had a short wait on the ground and boarded a plane for Barcelona where we were met by a veteran couple; Eugene and Liz Ciria. This couple is church planting under a sponsoring Church umbrella in a valley north of Barcelona. LaGarriga has been home to them for several years and is now the site of a fledgling Church which, like the community, boasts a congregation of local Catalonians as well as an assortment of Spanish and African Immigrants who have made this area home. The Cirias are planning to see this Church stand on its own by 2009, and are well on their way to making their goal reality. We spent our days in deep conversation over the state of Churches in this country and our own and together we pondered how to create a sustainable movement of church growth and church planting. Both Liz and Eugene have made Spain their home. With a grown daughter working and living in Barcelona and a newly married son and daughter-in-law in Canada, they feel the pull of two countries and two cultures as they serve in Spain.

The names and identities of our first two worker families remain confidential due the place and nature of their work. Both Donna and I felt a distinct honor to be serving with FEBI as we visited these three fields. Donna and I are so grateful to you, our partners, because you give us the means to serve our FEBI family in this way. Your prayers, financial support and other means of encouragement enable us to serve our mission by caring for individuals, families, fields, and their local teams.

Dave and Donna

Prayer and Praise Items

1. Give thanks with us for effective visits to these three fields
2. Join us as we pray for the search and appointment of a new director for FEBInternational
3. Ask the Lord to help each of our FEBI workers and their partners to continue to work effectively in their ministry areas.
4. Remember to ask the Lord to refresh our workers through vacations, conferences, reading, study courses, and peer relationships.
5. Ask the Lord to raise up additional workers to join our current teams and to open new fields for Church planting and Church development.

Shortly before we left in mid June, our team learned that the land use of Winterveldt had transitioned from informal to formal status.   This means that a council in the area now determines all land use and registers it formally.  The piece of land on which we were to build our permanent brick structure is part of a larger parcel that has been given by the new council to a land developer.  An implication of this is that the land that had been designated for our community center could be exchanged for another piece entirely.  The uncertainty of the land use required that we delay building a permanent structure.  However, we also learned that a temporary center must be erected so that the council in Winterveldt area would know we were serious about meeting community needs.  Credo Mangayi our BUSA partner, who leads Deeds of Love Minstry in South Africa coordinated our team.  Our partners in South Africa rose to the opportunity and donated materials and help in the person of Pastor Petrus Vorster.

As the local council sorts out the land use in the township and our project is given a parcel of land, we plan to send a Canadian team to build a permanent structure with funds raised by Central Baptist Church, Victoria.

On this trip Blair and Dave worked with Petrus, two young volunteers; Bogwane and Kyhoso, and a hired construction worker; James, from Stinkwater.   As the men built the temporary building (shack church), the women visited nearby homes along with Ethel, the resident worker. The outcomes amazed us. Working in the dust we screwed and wired together a building that would meet needs in the community.  With a staggering 20% HIV/AIDS infection rate, alcohol and drug use, endemic poverty and all the social chaos that ensues from this volatile mixture, our women’s team visited and served with a growing sense of God’s purpose in the community.  Over 72 homes were visited by the women’s team.  On most weeknight evenings all of us attended cottage meetings in the homes of local believers who invited neighbors and friends to join them.  The singing and testimonies honored God as they deeply affected our hearts.  We also led a holiday club with over 125 children attending the Friday and Saturday sessions.  At two Sunday services, in Winterveldt many indicated a desire to grow deeper in their faith.  We were especially encouraged as we prayed for men, since we observed their absence not only in the Church but from any leadership in the community, (this is likely a legacy from the apartheid years).  On the last Sunday we saw 3 men and 1 woman responded to receive Christ.  How exciting to see witness a specific answer to a specific prayer.

We stayed for the two weeks in a home in Stinkwater which met our needs completely.  We each had a bed supplied along with linens and each night we had a meal cooked by a team of women from the host Church.  Laughter filled the room as we shared stories and teased each other freely.  God gave our team a rich bond.

The needs of South Africa overwhelm and frustrate North Americans.  There are so many asked and unanswered questions.  Joining together to advance church based holistic care is a key response to the huge needs in Africa.  Orphans are cared for by extended family and community.  Widows are loved in practical ways by those who speak their own language and know their hurts.  The community sees God’s people in action and has a lasting legacy of empowerment and hope through the specific centers that are established and resourced.  We left shocked at what we saw but encouraged by what we saw happen and through what we left behind.  The gospel demonstrated through practical deeds is a powerful witness.  Preaching and teaching accompanied the works which were graciously received even as they were lovingly given.

We have come home thankful to God for what we were able to do, and convinced that many others can join together with our South African partners to do similar work.

We had key meetings with our BUSA partners when our team returned to Canada.  As in our Canadian Fellowship there are significant transitions happening.  We appreciate you standing with us as we work to strengthen our partnership in this needy area of the world.  There are opportunities in neighboring Zambia, and Congo as well as elsewhere in South Africa.  We are continuing to explore all these possibilities.

Prayer and Praise:

1. Give thanks with us for the blessings of our recent time in South Africa, asking God to preserve the harvest and strengthen our FEBI partnership in that country.
2. Ask the Lord to use us as we participate in our FEBI missions institute in Ontario July 23-27, Dave is speaking and we are presenting a workshop to our missionaries.
3. Ask the Lord to direct us as we plan trips to the Middle East in October.
4. Pray with us as we extend care and engage resources to support our missionary families.
5. Pray with us as we explore further mission opportunities in Africa with our BUSA partners.

Warmly in Christ,
Dave and Donna Marttunen

A beautiful housebound snowy Victoria day was all the motivation we needed to write all of you with our updates.

In the last week of September Donna and I caught what seemed to be a day that never ended as we flew first to Toronto, then on to Bogota Colombia and finally on a commuter flight to Medellin Colombia. While the city is increasingly safe, a few cars making the late night commute from the airport are targeted by thieves so we spent the night in Oriente; the site of a daughter church prepared to plant again. Phil Webb one of fellow FEBint missionaries met us and took us to our hosts home.

The next few days were spent in a wide variety of meetings. First off was an excellent day with our three mission families; the Cardonnas, Robinsons and Phil Webb, who discussed their future directions and current ministries. Donna and I were encouraged by the scope of opportunity that is in front of our maturing field. I had the privilege of speaking to Church leaders (about 40) over the next two days. Donna and I then led a one day Marriage Enrichment conference for pastoral couples with 24 in attendance. Eternal Spring is the best way to describe the climate. We traveled the local subway and took a gondola up the hillside into what had been an extremely dangerous barrio. The drugs and violence has been gradually replaced as the economy and policing has gained success.

The El Redil Church, with four separate sites, nearly 1000 in attendance, and an ongoing pastoral and leadership training program is a model of effective church planting for any culture. Donna and I feel privileged to encourage the missionary and ministry personnel connected to our works.

Having served less than a week in Medellin, Donna and I took an Areo Postal flight direct to Carracas Venezuela to experience four days of ministry alongside the Jolleys and Wrays. The two couples are working in different areas of the city and in different but compatible ministries. The Wrays introduced us to the core of their cell church leaders and we were thrilled to talk with them in lively conversation over how God is building His Church using them. We witnessed a group in action and shared testimonies with them. The Wrays remarked to us that this is the most productive period of their missionary career. It was thrilling. We were able to see some of this sprawling Venezuelan city in the company of the Jolley’s as we listened to their hearts for the work and witnessed first hand some the economic challenges that the city and country face. The country is soon to go to the polls to elect a new government and needs our prayers.

Our trip home was an all night flight through Toronto which gave us a chance to meet our director and his wife for breakfast in the airport. We were so deeply engaged in conversation that we nearly missed the continuation of our flight, but made the next leg of our journey safely albeit in a near state of exhaustion.

We came away praising God for the work we saw in progress, the small part we had in our ministry of encouragement, and the privilege of supporting on site our missionaries.

November came on fast as we shifted from South America to South Africa. Credo and Esperance Mangayi flew into Vancouver after a panicked delay due to the undeclared requirement of a transit visa for the Netherlands. Secured by the grace of the Lord the couple arrived experiencing fully the jet-lag all of us know first hand. They arrived November 3rd for a 3 week visit.

Credo was welcomed into the pulpits at Central Victoria, Campbell River and Emmanuel Abbotsford. They also spoke to various mission committees, and groups interested in their work with HIV/AIDS infected and affected, on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. Credo works for our partners in the Baptist Union of South Africa leading their wholistic initiative called Deeds of Love Ministries (DOLM). Their trip has raised interest in the support of orphans and their care-giving grannies. For more information on this you can request information from us. For $100CAN an orphan can stay in their community school.

Donna and I are now planning our pastoral care trip to Japan and Pakistan in March. We had a trip planned for the end of January to several South American countries, but that has been postponed for the time being.

We remain grateful to the Lord for this opportunity of serving our missionaries and our churches, and to you for your ongoing prayer support. Without your prayers we could not undertake this work. Many times during this fall the Lord has reminded us that others are praying for us. We are grateful that as we stay connected to our staff around the world that you are fueling our work.

Together with you in the grip of His grace,

Dave and Donna Marttunen

Your prayers fuel our work. As Donna and I returned from Africa in July; working in different places and doing different things with different people, our praise to the Lord overflowed. Time after time we commented to each other about how we knew others were praying for us. Without your prayer, interest and support our ministries could not have happened. Thank you for being part of our team.
There is so much to tell you that we have decided to post 3 new albums of our ministry in Zambia, South Africa and Kenya. Our computer woes have been solved and we are connected again to wide web world!
Great news! Credo Mangayi and his wife Esperance, who lead Deeds of Love Ministries (DOLM) our partnering agency in South Africa under the Baptist Union of South Africa (BUSA) will be our guests in Canada, November 2-23. They will be at our National Convention in Vancouver (Nov 6-9), available for ministry in BC Churches and participate in our FEBInternational youth mission’s focus called Fusion Nov 10-12 in Maple Ridge. We are introducing them to our contacts and Churches so that the opportunities for Canadians in Africa can be advanced and with the hopes that some will want to financially support these excellent national workers, through FEBInternational and BUSA.

Zambia.
Bruce Christensen, our BC Fellowship Regional Director, was my partner for this trip. It seemed like we had traveled together for years instead of weeks. One of FEBInternational’s goals is to increase involvement of our Fellowship Churches and people in South African ministries. Bruce and his wife April through their short-term ministry will be able to introduce pastors and others to the needs and opportunities.
Rural Zambia is crying out for assistance. Church ministry has been in place for over 100 years, yet in the district where we taught the book of Nehemiah there are only 6 pastors for 102 rural churches. Bruce and I taught 4-5 sessions each day in Katembula, the district center for these churches. Bruce creatively added some sessions for children which demonstrated to the adults how to use drama to teach Bible lessons. Participation, laughter and learning made his impromptu coaching memorable. The Zambian leader’s desperate need for training is echoed by the aching need of the people for teaching. As we taught and answered questions we heard again and again the thanks of the people for our efforts to come and teach. We worked into the night to pray and counsel the many who requested it. We praise God that one senior lady, whose husband had been a wizard, was delivered from demons and willingly destroyed everything connected to sorcery remaining in her hut. Since returning to Canada Rev. Puma, the District Superintendent of the Churches wrote me recently and said; “your leaving was like a funeral”, no one wanted to see us go. The Superintendent’s final appeal was for us to return and continue to help them with training. Rev. Puma and his family live in Katembula and travel among the Churches in the district.

There are volunteer leaders in nearly all of the Katembula district churches yet they have had little or no formal education. They are subsistence farmers. Seminar training has been in place for the last 2 years. Sleeping in the fields, learning in a grass enclosure has been challenging for the students especially in the rains. There are over 40 leaders currently taking the courses offered for 2-3 weeks 4 times a year. Superintendent Puma, has secured property near the Church in Katembula to build a training center. The land has been cleared so that a center can be built on the site. Bricks are being hand formed from termite mounds and then will be burned in a fire. This district composed of subsistence farmers need little more than mortar and roofing sheets to complete the project. The Northern Association of Baptists in Zambia which sponsors this district and four others like it, estimates that $5,000.00CAN will enable them to buy supplies to complete the center. Bruce and I are quietly appealing for funds to be forwarded through our BUSA partners who will be responsible for the accounting of the funds. This meets all the criteria for a short term project through FEBInternational. It is a small investment to bring life changing opportunities to this area.

There was so much adventure in this trip! We met with the High Commissioner from Zambia to have our Visas put into our passports hours after we arrived in South Africa, with an hour of sleep we were on the road with our team; 3 vehicles and 11 volunteers from Canada, US and South Africa, convoyed their way through South Africa and Botswana north to Endola Zambia. Arriving at Fiwale Hills after 3 days of steady driving on Saturday, we were in time to be assigned translators and be transported into the bush to preach that Sunday in remote churches. It was memorable and blessed by God as we crowded into mud and brick buildings to open God’s Word to hungry hearts.

Hours more on dusty roads passing mines and forestry plantations we arrived in Katembula. I was meeting friends made last year, who quickly took Bruce into their hearts. We walked through their village as they coached us to learn phrases in their language and gave us background into their lives and dreams. We separated as friends, urged to return.

Kenya
After a night in Johannesburg, Bruce and I flew on to Kenya to visit with our FEBInternational missionary couple; Janet and Andy Wildsmith at the Kijabi mission station. Kijabi is home to a variety of mission supported works; The Rift Valley Academy, the Moffat Bible College, and the Kijabi Children’s hospital to name a few. Dr. Andy is a lecturer and part-time admin person at Moffat. He is shaping African leaders for the present and future. Janet is working on a degree in support of HIV/Aids work in local Churches. We traveled with Janet to the Kibera slum in Nairobi to see first hand the work that is ongoing among the nearly 1,000,000 people who live there. It was an overwhelming experience as we tried to fathom the need, and the what assaulted our senses. While we expected to find despair we encountered an everyday kind of matter-of-factness as people sold fried potatoes and vegetables alongside little stands of merchandise. The pastor we visited told us stories of leading people to Christ, training leaders and burials in numbers that staggered our imaginations. We sat in one of Andy’s classes and another one to hear students preach and came away giving thanks to God for the work that Andy and Janet are doing in Kenya.

South Africa
Donna’s trip to South Africa with 6 other ladies from Canada was a great experience. It was good to see each of the ladies develop as the days progressed. We began our time there with orientation in Johannesburg which included a seminar called Choose Life. It is a seminar that Credo has used in a number of settings. Part of the seminar deals with how we approach life as we review our own journey. Included in the seminar was a chance to understand culture from other perspectives. There was also some education about the pandemic of HIV/Aids in Africa. As a whole, the seminar was a terrific introduction to what we were going to experience in the township.
When we arrived in Mabapone, we were overwhelmed with the sight of all the sorrow. Statistics now had expressions. Numbers now had faces. HIV/Aids was now looking back at us through the eyes of those we were meeting. In our overwhelmed state we all questioned whether we had missed the will of the Lord. Should we have sent the money it cost us to come and given these families a few more meals to eat? Should we have spent the money used to by gifts to buy medical supplies? We came thinking we had so much we could share with these people and left realizing that we were the ones who had received so much. As we shared verses with the women and children, we saw the power of God’s Word to sustain and encourage. There was simplicity of life and faith that was compelling. As we entered the lives of these people, we were amazed at the importance they placed on relationship. The things that impressed them about us was not that we paid a lot of money to get there or that we brought them some nice gifts. What they said over and over again was how much they appreciated us being there, in their homes, hugging them, sharing Scripture with them, praying with them. We felt that it was so little but they saw it as enormous.
We came away knowing that we made an impact in their lives but also came away impacted greatly by the time we spent in Mabapone, South Africa.

Prayer and Praise…

1. For the seeds planted in South Africa, Zambia and Kenya, that God would water and give the increase! Join us in giving thanks to God for the joy of this ministry.
2. For Credo and Esperance Mangayi as they prepare and travel to Canada in November. Ask the Lord to provide open doors for ministry.
3. For our travel to Colombia and Venezuela in late September that we would be used by the Lord to encourage and enrich the lives of our missionaries and nationals.
4. For Dave’s step-mom Frieda who has had seizures, was hospitalized (ICU) is going through further tests, and has continuing weakness; that the Lord would give strength and grace.
5. For the privilege of working with FEBInternational and seeing God at work in the lives of His servants around the world. Give thanks for the team in our Guelph office.

What’s next in 2006 and 2007.

• September 25- October 6 South America: Medellin Colombia and Caracas Venezuela.
  Our itinerary includes conference ministry, teaching national leaders, some seminars.
• November 6-9 Fellowship National Convention in Vancouver.
• November 2-23 Credo and Esperance Mangayi in BC.
• March 2007 Japan and Pakistan Conference ministry.

Donna and I are heading to Africa on June 19th, and 20th.  Our attached schedule will let you follow our trip and pray for us as we work separately.  Donna has 6 other Canadian women from our Fellowship Churches joining her in a South African township outside of Pretoria.  The team will be working with HIV/AIDS infected and affected individuals and families.

Dave, has our BC Regional Director; Bruce Christensen joining him for a teaching opportunity with rural pastors in Zambia.  The two of them are traveling through Botswana with the rest of the teaching team to reach a place north of Lusaka Zambia.  After preaching in different locations around Fuwali Hill Bruce and Dave as a team of two will travel into an area called Katembula where over 100 rural Zambian pastors and leaders will have walked and biked to be taught the book of Nehemiah.

While Donna’s team continues to work in their township in South Africa, Bruce and Dave will return to Johannesburg and then fly up to Kenya to spend a few days with the Wildsmiths, our missionary family serving at the Moffat Bible College in that country.

Dave and Bruce will fly back to Johannesburg and join Donna and Bruce’s wife April for two days in Johannesburg prior to boarding their planes for Vancouver.  During this time the four will visit with our African Church partners; the Baptist Union of South Africa, strengthen ties, renewing friendships.

Donna and Dave are spending one night in Vancouver and then flying on July 9th to Toronto to participate in the FEBInternational missions conference being held at Muskoka Baptist conference grounds at Mary Lake.  Their trip ends with their return to Victoria on July 15th so that Dave can resume his preaching responsibilities at Central Baptist on July 16th.

Key prayer items

For effectiveness and excellence in ministry.

1. Dave as he: teaches the rural pastors in Zambia and connects with missionaries in Kenya and preaches at the Missions Institute
2. Donna as she leads the team of women: that the women would come together as a cohesive team and that our ministry to those affected and infected by HIV/Aids would be timely and good
3. Pray that the results of this ministry will bring immediate glory to God and open doors for future  opportunities for Canadians working under FEBInternational in Africa.

Dear Praying Partners;

Donna and I arrived home in Victoria on Thursday afternoon (March 23rd) flying against the sun, and arriving 5 hours before we left (Japan is across the international date line). Four days into our war with jet-lag we have won the major battle and are quickly settling into routines.

In our last prayer letter we asked for prayer as Dave went to Japan for 5 days ahead of this scheduled trip. One of our American partners was in court following a traffic accident. All of us were stunned at the outcome. While we consider him innocent, the court found him guilty. The 6 month sentence was suspended with 3 years of probation. The decision is being appealed but, under Japanese law as we understand it, there is little chance of it succeeding. Of primary concern is the potential affect on his visa. We are praying for an outcome that will glorify the Lord and direct the steps of this effective missionary family.

The conference at Fuji-Hakone for our Japan Baptist Fellowship (Conservative Baptist missionaries and FEBI missionaries) was rich and memorable. We met the Chasses (Guillaume and Julie) who are newly appointed teachers on a two year assignment to a Christian School in Okinawa. As a couple they are working very long hours and while we are concerned about their physical exhaustion they are doing well in their setting.

While snow gently fell on the conference grounds we joined our mission families in teaching, laughter and games as they worshipped, did business and developed relationships as a mission community. The three days passed quickly.
Donna and I spent a few days centered in the north of Tokyo and living out of the Tatami Room in Matsakawa place. By Japanese standards the room is spacious and features a floor plan with 8 mats (2×6), storage and shower closet and off the room a toilet and kitchenette. It served our needs well.

The Willson five are happily established at the Christian Academy of Japan, a school that works primarily with missionary children. Jackie is teaching and Steve is the head of the maintenance department. They work with various groups and individuals from the community in addition to serving at the school.
After our time in Higashi-Kurume, Donna and I traveled to Hitachi-Naka to be with Rob and Kathryn Fleming and their 3 children. This family is starting a new Church plant (their second) now that they have settled back into Japan after a Canadian home assignment. One of the large decisions ahead of them is the high school education for their teenage daughter Tess. A strong possibility is a boarding school in the Philippines.

We traveled a bit south to Tsukuba where the Sadler five are settled into their Church plant. While optimistic, Paul and Jennifer have found this a challenging year as they evaluate the results of their efforts, there is a fledgling church established in this university town. The Sadlers have integrated effectively into the Japanese community.

Donna and I worked with 6 other families in JBF serving under World Venture (formerly Conservative Baptist Mission from the US). Our visits with each of these American families in their various settings rounded out our trip to Japan. I was offered the opportunity to preach in Denon Grace Chapel, a church plant in Yokohama (southeast Tokyo) which was another highlight for me.
As we visited, taught, and prayed, Donna and I frequently shared with each other our sense of privilege to be working with FEBInternational in this role. We also spoke often to each other of our privilege of doing this work because your prayers and gifts which enable us.

Thank you for being part of our team!

P.S. As we announced in our last email, Donna is leading an HIV/AIDS short-term ministry team to South Africa June 22nd to July 7th. There is room for a few more to join the team which we plan to limit to 10. Quite a number have expressed interest and filled out the short-term application at our website. Secure your place by contacting Wendy at our Fellowship office. wendy@fellowship.ca if you have questions contact Donna at donna@daveanddonna.ca

Prayer and Praise:

1. Give thanks for effective ministry in Japan among our missionaries and their partners.
2. Pray for the legal appeal for our American partner.
3. Pray towards our membercare trip to Kenya, Zambia and South Africa June 19th to July 7th
4. Pray for Dave as he prepares and speaks at our FEBInternational conference for our missionaries at Muskoka Baptist Conference July 10-14.
5. Give thanks for the continued financial support that makes this ministry possible.

In this issue:
* Living local, serving global.
* Our new Canadian Address
* Our schedule for 2006
* Prayer Requests
* Financial update

Settled in Victoria – serving globally with FEBInternational

We are working time with FEBInternational and time with Central Baptist Church in Victoria BC. Working for 2 organizations, (Mission and Church) with 2 staffs, and 2 different congregations ( 75 adults around the world and 550 people at CBC) would at first glance seem to be impossible to fit together, let alone meshing 2 support packages, 2 work schedules, and 2 ministry foci. Yet Donna and I think we could be writing a new jingle for the old “double-mint” commercials. While we are just starting into our new hybrid position with adjusted job descriptions for both Church and Mission, we see them fitting together as neatly as a hand and glove. Every Church is missional by nature and FEBInternational is Church planting focused to its core. Donna and I see the work we are called to do locally and globally as literally joined as two-sides of a coin. Terry Cuthbert our former Fellowship President who finds himself working in a shared role with our mission and the Quebec Region Church planters, invented a new word to describe a local and global focus; “glocal”. It seems to fit our work. The two ministries are fundamentally similar although geographically, culturally,
and in instances methodologically diverse.

Donna and I believe that we are living out the best of both ministries since we serve a Church that is determined to prevail as a Church of influence in its city and world, and a mission composed of missionaries who are determined to plant and advance Churches that are doing the same.

Pastor’s that we meet regularly ask us how to get a job like ours! It has made it easy to regard our two ministries as gifts from the Lord, and this unique combination as a further blessing from Him. It is our prayer, and we ask you to join us in it that we will be a blessing as we serve.

We could not be working in these unique roles apart from your prayer and financial support. We are grateful for each Church and individual who considers our support an investment in the lives of missionaries who serve around the world. We see our mission family as the international focus of our local ministry. They do where they are, what we do where we are. Literally we are involved in hand and glove work.

NEW ADDRESS

Dave and Donna Marttunen
#109 -1156 Colville Rd.
Victoria, B.C. V9A 4P7
Phone: 1-250-220-6326

Our Traveling Schedule for 2006

Feb 27- Mar 3 Japan (Dave only),
March 9-23 Japan (Dave and Donna),
June 14- July 5 Kenya, Zambia and South Africa,
July 10-14 FEBI missions Conf at Muskoka.

Fall 2006 – Venezuela and Colombia

Women’s mission opportunity in HIV/AIDS

Join Donna in South Africa, June 22nd to July 7th.
Locations: Johannesburg, Stinkwater, Tokoza and Mabopane
Orientation: Basic training on HIV&AIDS: (a Christian value based response to the pandemic.)
Ministry: home based care (nutrition, support, domestic chores, administering treatment, prayers, etc) This will include orphans and orphan care.
Secure your place today by contacting Wendy at our Fellowship office.
wendy@fellowship.ca

if you have questions contact Donna at donna@daveanddonna.ca

Financial Update! Give thanks with us that to date Churches and individuals are supporting us adequately so that the work we are doing to provide membercare to our missionaries will continue.

Prayer and Requests :

1. Rejoice with us as we were able to purchase a Condominium in Victoria. The wood flooring in the bedrooms was an answer to our prayers as it helps control Dave’s asthma.
2. Give thanks with us as Donna has an on call casual nursing job at Vic General and will be able to keep up her medical skills.
3. Pray along with Donna as she and FEBInternational put together a team of women to do HIV/AIDS work in South Africa this July.
4. Pray for Dave as he flies to Japan for membercare work for 5 days at the end of February
5. Pray for the Japan field Conference as Dave speaks and we visit our FEBI and partner missionaries in mid March.
6. Pray with us towards our membercare trip to Kenya, and teaching opportunities in Zambia and South Africa at the end of June to early July.
7. Pray for our staff in Pakistan and other Moslem countries where there is a backlash to recent published cartoons. Churches have been burned, and shoes strung on crosses (to insult).
8. Pray for believers to turn the cheek in the face of these things.