New Website Address -- ioiusa.org

You can still access the IOI website at our old address, but we have added an easier URL (website address) at www.ioiusa.org. While you are there click on the link to our blog for the latest news from the field at www.ioiusa.blogspot.org Our new email address is info@ioiusa.org

Patrick's Paragraphs -- Coming Home

So much is going on these days that my head is spinning. I have just returned from a great trip to visit with the Teixeira family in Brazil and in the next three months I have two more international trips planned. In addition to all the great things going on with the ministry we are nearing completion of the renovations to our new home in Jackson.
There is such a great story of how we have come to possess our new home. God certainly provided everything that we felt we needed to care for our family and ministry of hospitality, and He has done so much more. We have so many people to thank, and there simply is no way that we could repay everyone who has helped us. I will try to update the blog at www.universal-design-home.blogspot.com once we have moved in.
As we prepare to move our family I am reminded of all the families that we serve in Ethiopia. I have been humbled to hear my Ethiopian brothers and sisters petition God with tears as they have asked Him to provide this home for us. Yet for all the joy we have about God’s provision we know that this is not really our home.
For all the joy we have about the blessing of a house I am sure that it pales in comparison to the joy that awaits us when we are all together with Jesus Himself. I believe we will really be home only then.

Expanding Ministry in Brazil

by Patrick Beard

As I arrived at the airport in Memphis I felt unprepared and anxious about my return to Brazil after 18 years. I had plenty of reasons to go, but the timing seemed off.

I was scheduled to meet Joe Spell, my traveling companion, in Houston, Texas. Bad weather at some other airport had delayed my flight and it looked as though Joe might be traveling alone. I certainly did not want to go if it were not God’s will, and missing my flight would have been fine.

I walked up to the gate to see a very relieved Joe and heard the final call for boarding our flight to Sao Paulo. The whole episode served as a confirmation to me, and I was put at ease about the trip.

After a nine hour flight we arrived in Brazil in plenty of time to catch our three hour flight to Joao Pessoa, Brazil. Following a stroll along the beach and a good night’s sleep we met Marciano who drove us another five hours into the interior of Brazil in a region that is known as the Sertáo.

The Sertáo is a mostly arid, poor region in Northeastern Brazil. The people are a mixture of Portuguese, Dutch, African decent and native peoples. The Portuguese is spoken slowly with a thick accent, and at times sounds more like Spanish. The foods vary slightly from Brazilian cuisine in the south, but beans and rice can be found at almost every meal. The traditional music of the region sounds more like Arcadian, than Samba. It is a unique part of the world, and easy to enjoy despite the harshness of the climate.

Another aspect of the Sertáo is the utter spiritual poverty of many towns and villages. Certainly there are churches, and many have adherents attending on a daily basis. However, a short conversation with most people will reveal a religion of tradition over substance, and more superstition than truth.

Marciano had a full schedule for Joe and myself. Just a couple of hours after our arrival at the Teixeira home in Patos we were on the road again about an hour or so to the village of Mato Grosso where we participated in a church planting week-end.

The week-end was sponsored by three or four Baptist churches in and near Patos. The team canvassed the area with a survey during the day and slept on the concrete floor of the local primary school in the evenings.

As we visited with many of the village’s inhabitants, we heard common complaints. We don’t know the priest, and we don’t understand very much of what he says. The same was said of a local protestant pastor. It became obvious that the people of this village were hungry for truth, and starved for love. So often religious leaders in this part of the world seemed to be more concerned about building an empire, than binding up the broken and setting captives free.

“Our pastor told us we would go to Hell for shaving our legs,” said one lady. “And I could not come to worship unless I was wearing a dress. I don’t even own a dress.”

It was painfully obvious that the few ministers who would brave the harsh rural life of these small towns and villages need good theological training. It was also just as obvious that any true success in ministry would be carried out by love in action.

About ten miles down another dirt road another village enjoys the presence of the Church. A small pink stucco home is now a meeting place for a church. As we got out of the truck a lady came to us and asked, “Are you going to preach today? I want to follow Jesus!”

This village was much poorer than Mato Grosso, and the people had a much more positive impression of the Church.

The growing congregation was begun by two young Brazilians who ride their bikes up the rugged dirt road to both preach and spend time with the people. These young men want to help the entire village by providing a water pumping station.

“The government does nothing for us,” one villager said. “The Church is the only one who helps us.”

The question still remains, “Who will go for us?” Another question adds, “Who will train the ones who will go?” Marciano and his wife Christina answered the first question when they left their native lands to start the ministry of ORE in Ethiopia. Today they plan to answer the second question as they establish a missionary training center in Marciano’s home country of Brazil.

God has already provided a farm for a training center that is located on 150 acres in rural Sertáo. Plans are to begin training the first 12 Brazilian missionaries this coming January. In addition to formal classroom style training, students will be paired with experienced missionaries and mentored into ministry. The farm is large enough to house groups of people for seminars and camps. Marciano hopes that the farm will eventually be self-sustaining from the agricultural pursuits on the acreage.

On our return to the States Joe and I visited with a missionary friend in the modern city of Campinis, Brazil. Ministers there are working on training videos to be distributed all over Brazil.

It was good to see just a small part of what God is doing in a dark world, and to investigate what greater part we may have in building God’s kingdom.

Jesus said that we are the light of the world, and salt of the earth. He also said that we would be known by our love. It is our hope that God will continue to use IOI as an instrument of His love as we support the work of missionaries like these in Brazil.

An Update from Ben

I got an email from Ben tonight and it seems that he and Caleb are doing well.

Ben reported that Negash's home is full of people. They are preparing for Aster's (Negash's daughter) wedding to Ayele (the director of the Compassion International Repi Project). Seems that Caleb and Ben passed on the chunks of raw oxen that were passed around at the feast.

Even though Ben's main purpose of going to Ethiopia is his upcoming marriage to Pepo (Negash's other daughter) he has been involved in some ministry along with Caleb.

"Earlier tonight Negash and Caleb and I went to visit a little boy who probably has HIV" he said. "He was alone at his house tonight because his foster mother was a work tonight. We prayed for him and gave him some of the puzzles that were sent in the IOI tub that Caleb brought. After we prayed for him he said that his heart was filled with joy. The whole experience really made me think about God's work in the world and what is really important to the Lord. I was very thankful for the opportunity to be there and be a small part of that ministry."

Continue to pray for Ben and Caleb as their summer progresses. Pray for good health and safety. Pray that God will do many good works through them both. Pray for Ben and Pepo as they prepare to begin life together as husband and wife (and one of them has to deal with the culture shock of their new home).

Ben and Caleb Arrive in Ethiopia

Ben Hickey and Caleb Burke arrived safely in Addis Abeba yesterday. Both Ben and Caleb plan to spend about three months in Ethiopia.

Ben will be marrying Pepo Negash, Negash Gemeda's daughter. The wedding is set for July 8.

Caleb will be working alongside Negash and other indigenous ministers.

Concert and Banquet

Plans are being made for this year’s Robin Mark concert to be held in Tennessee, and an awareness banquet to be held in Mississippi. The concert is set for August 16 and the date for the banquet is September 6. To volunteer or for more information, please call Patrick at (731)664-9960.

Speakers Available
If your church or organization would be interested in having Patrick or another speaker present the work of IOI please contact us today. Call (731)664-9960.

Coffee & Conversation - May 22

You are invited to have coffee and dessert with us on Tuesday, May 22 at 7:30pm at Union University Coburn Dining Room in Jackson, Tennessee. This informal meeting will be an opportunity to get an update about IOI and introduce the ministry to others.
Space is limited and reservations are encouraged! An offering will be taken. Call Tina Varughese for more information (731)616-3589

Proposed Support Increase

The Board of Directors recently decided to increase the support given to missionaries in Ethiopia from $50 US to $60 per month. This is the first increase since the founding of IOI over eight years ago.
The increase is necessary due to inflation and a desire on our part to be a greater blessing to our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia. It is hoped that the increase will ease some financial pressure.
The price of teff, the staple of Ethiopian diet that is consumed at most every meal, has increased over 100% in the past eight years. This increase has had a trickle down effect on the cost of other goods. Housing costs have also risen dramatically.
Donors are being asked to consider an increase in giving from $50 to $60 per month. We are also seeking additional supporters who can help to make up the difference for those who are unable to increase their monthly giving. Donors will now have the option to provide “half-support” of $30 per month and share their missionary with another supporter.
This change is scheduled to be fully implemented by the end of the year. v

Sponsor Visits Child in Ethiopia

by Arlene Norton

A little over four years ago I decided to help support an orphan in Mekele, Ethiopia at an orphanage called Operation Rescue. The amount was only $15 dollars a month.

Patrick told me that he would personally pick me a girl to sponsor while he was there on a visit. I really didn’t know much more than a name, age and small photo at the time.

Her name was Emebet and she was twelve and had never been to school. We exchanged letters and I sent her packages of candy, clothes and books. I was amazed at how well she was doing in school and hoped to see her one day. In Ethiopia you have to pay to go to a government school. The cost is out of reach for most. The average Ethiopian makes only a dollar a day. With this in mind you can see how the cycle of poverty keeps repeating. If you’re an orphan, because of AIDS, war, sickness, death, or abandonment - then you have to survive by living in the streets and begging or worse.

Emebet’s father left when Emebet’s mother died of tuberculosis. Her grandmother took her and her sister in when they were just small children. The grandmother could not afford to send them to school and she prayed and cried about it often.

The grandmother cannot physically work, but she does rent out two small rooms about the size of a walk-in closet. With her windfall of $40 a month she has to feed, clothe, and take care of two granddaughters and an aging mother.

I decided to go to ORE in January of this year and meet Emebet. It took a precise series of miracles to get me there. My husband would have to get 10 days off in a row, and they had to be a certain 10 days. I would have get out of the U.S. before my flight was cancelled by a storm. I had an impossible 5-minute connection in Detroit. Patrick and I would have to get the last two tickets to Mekele on the major Ethiopian holiday weekend. We would also have to secure the last two rooms in the last hotel in town. I would not suggest to travel like this unless God is your “Plan A” and “Plan B.” Everything went eerily smoothly.

Meeting Emebet and her extended family was the highlight of my trip. She and her sister live in a two-room stucco tin-roof hut. They have no running water, sporadic electricity, and no kitchen. The two living rooms convert into bedrooms at night where Emebet, her sister, her grandmother and great-grandmother sleep.

I have never felt so welcomed as I did that day. I met her uncles, an aunt and nephews and friends. We had coffee, popcorn and a lot to talk about. The great-grandmother told me she had prayed that she would live long enough to see me. She was frail and almost blind, she walked with a cane over many boulders to meet me at the front gate because she wanted to be the first to see me. I don’t think that the Queen of England could compete with that.

I didn’t realize that going to ORE had helped so many people. ORE helped Emebet’s older sister start a small roadside business with her aunt. ORE gives the children an education, and a hot meal everyday, in addition to a family to live with. All grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers or sisters who are willing to take in an orphan are given a part of the $15 a month and free business classes, job skills and financial advice.

Emebet went from being a 12-year-old uneducated street child to an educated young lady heading for pharmacy school this fall. She completed all her classes at ORE and took computer classes at the Nile college in Mekele.

Emebet hopes to be a pharmacist in three years. Pharmacy school will cost about $3,000 total for books and everything! I told her we could pay for it and her whole family cried. I would suggest that you get involved with ORE on a personal level. Do write them and encourage them.

Emebet is well on her way out of poverty and of course I looked around for a new orphan to sponsor while I was there. I have a new girl, Blean. She is six and completely charming. Her father died of AIDS and her mother is very sick and is expected to die. She is being raised by a grandmother. Blean gave me a small bead bracelet while I was there and I will wear it as a prayer for her. I hope each day that these children can grow into their full potential .

Praise God.

Engagement

My change in relationship status...by Ben Hickey

Most of you know that I went on a mission trip to Ethiopia almost four years ago. I went To be a part of a ministry called Indigenous Outreach International.

The director of the ministry, Patrick Beard, goes to my church. As the name of the ministry suggests IOI supports Ethiopian pastors who are struggling to preach and also make a living. IOI provides funds so that the pastors can devote themselves to preaching and ministry without having to have multiple jobs.

One Ethiopian pastor in particular has been central to the success of IOI. His name is Negash Gemeda and he is the main overseer for IOI. Negash meets regularly with the other pastors, helps them send in reports, and does a lot of preaching and teaching himself. During my month in Ethiopia I stayed with Negash and his family.This was a great time for me.

In some respects living in Ethiopia is much harder for an American. You don’t have western style toilets, you have to filter your water, you have a greater possibility of getting sick, and so on and so on. I was all prepared for the difficulties, but what surprised me was the benefits! In particular the Ethiopian culture is much more people centered than America. Hospitality plays a bigger part of life. For example, if you go to a restaurant that is packed you don’t necessarily wait in line but you can go and sit at someone else’s table. They welcome you and you usually leave having made a new friend.

Living in Negash’s house I got to know his family. He has a daughter who is a few years younger than me. Her name is Abeba. She is a very beautiful person on the inside and out and I developed a friendship with her. When I returned to America we continued to correspond through email and our friendship developed even more. For many years I didn’t really think anything more than a friendship was possible. I could only think about the distance between us, the cultural differences, and the difficulties. Recently though, I have thought a lot about how special she is and how I want to move our relationship past being friends and onward to a deeper level. I talked to Patrick about this and he called Negash to see if she felt the same way towards me. I was very happy to hear that she had the same feelings!! Since then I have talked to the elders at my church as well as my family and many friends for counsel. The overwhelming response is very positive! Also many blessings this year have made it financially possible for me to visit.

Considering my feelings, intentions, and all of the pieces falling into place I bought a plane ticket to visit her in March (over my spring break). I have also been able to call her twice and develop our relationship over the phone instead of email. I know that this might seem sudden to many of you, but it hasn’t felt that way to me. It has been a long process to strip my doubt away and exchange it for faith and even love! (even though here at the end it seems to be happening quickly).

I would appreciate all of your prayers for safe travel and wisdom.

2008 Mission Bible Conference in Addis Abeba

The dates for the January mission to Ethiopia are January 17-27, 2008 - LORD willing.

The main purpose for this team will be to host the 2008 Mission Bible Conference in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. We also hope to take a small medical team on this journey.

The cost should be no more than $2400 per person (or less depending on the number traveling generally about $2200 pp). The team will be housed at a conference center in (or near) Ethiopia's capital city Addis Abeba. All meals, transportation and lodging from Memphis departure and return are included in the trip cost (up to 2 nights and 6 meals in Europe included --additional nights in Europe not included).

The needs are for: VBS (missionary children), women's ministry, medical personnel, seminar instructors (for missionaries and family members), etc.

The team plans to depart from Memphis on January 17 (one night in Europe in route) and arrive in Ethiopia on the evening of Saturday, January 19. Sunday, January 20 the team will go to various churches associated with IOI and spend the afternoon preparing for the conference. The conference begins Monday afternoon, January 21 and concludes on Friday morning January 25. Many team members will depart on Friday to host a clinic in the countryside. Saturday will be a sight-seeing/shopping day with a late evening departure for home with a Sunday afternoon/evening arrival in Memphis on January 27. (There is an option to spend a night in Europe on the return with a January 28 return). The stopover will most likely be Amsterdam, Holland or London, England. Team members may also choose to extend their stay in Ethiopia where they can go on safari or take a "historic tour" which includes many castles (Gondor) and famous rock-hewn churches (Lalebella). Additional expense.

An information packet is available for those interested in joining with this multi-denominational team. Those interested in going should request this packet by September 28, 2007. A deposit of $1,200.00 will be due October 31, 2007.

Stateside Ministry News

Electronic Funds Transfer
Regular donors now have the option of having their monthly, quarterly or annual giving deducted directly from their checking or savings account electronically through our EFT service.
Simply fill out and sign a simple form, attach a void check and mail it to IOI. The donation will be deducted from the specified account as designated and instructed on the form until given notice to discontinue the service.
If you are interested in this new form of giving download the form from the www.IndigenousOureach.net website. We can also mail or fax the form to you. For more information contact Patrick at (731) 217-0750. v

Tax Receipts Change
In the past IOI has mailed receipts for giving on a quarterly basis. In an effort to reduce paperwork and be good stewards we will now only mail receipts twice per year (January and July). Donors may receive receipts on a more regular basis, or at anytime by simply contacting the IOI office at (731)664-9960. v

Concert and Banquet
Plans are being made for this year’s Robin Mark concert to be held in Tennessee on August 16. There is also an awareness banquet to be held in Mississippi on Thursday, September 6 (Corrected Date from date first published in newsletter). To volunteer or for more information please call Patrick at (731)217-0750. v