Cuba

I have another opportunity to visit the ministry in Cuba (August 17-21). We will travel to numerous places on the island to explore opportunities for short-term mission trips and meet some of the national leaders with whom we will co-labor with in the future. During this time Bill Yarbrough will have the opportunity to teach a second time.

Belize

I will also go to Belize the following week (August 25-29). The purpose of the visit is to see how missionaries are doing, and to talk through the transition plan for the ministry there. The working force there has been reducing. Country Director, Marc Summers and his family are in the States now for home ministry assignment (HMA) and further education. Garry Chambers is serving as the Country Director on the field. Wiley Smith (MD) has returned to work with MTW’s medical department. There is a great need for a physician in the clinic there. The Arensman family (church development ministry) has also returned to the States due to financial shortage and Carla Stevens (education ministry) will return for HMA this fall.

We have developed an exit strategy for missionaries with MTW in Belize to be executed over a period of three years. In the meantime, however, we need to exercise some intentional steps in order to faithfully honor the work the Lord has given us. Therefore, the MTW work in Belize will:

· Make investing in people the priority (walking along side people) over the established period of time (i.e. the bulk of missionaries’ time and effort would be preparing leaders). The key to any successful transition is the development of leaders and people in the ministry and their ownership.

· Create current and future ownership of the ministries with the national leadership.

· Establish any guidelines for interdependent involvement after the transition (possible on-going resources or even personnel under the total direction of the national leadership in the ministries).

Please pray for the Gospel to be furthered in Belize. Please also pray for this time of transition for all involved.