May - August, 2017 Newsletter It is always a joy to reconnect with our supporting friends and churches as we share an update about our ministry at the Quessua United Methodist Mission!
The children's feeding program continues to bear fruit. Currently between 400 and 500 children attend Sunday services and participate in the luncheon afterwards. Many volunteers also participate. It takes a village to feed our children!
May 22 - 26 we celebrated the Wesleyan Theological week at the Quessua School of Theology with an emphasis on the revival of the XVIII century in England. I was privileged to offer lectures on the life of John Wesley and the social impact of Methodism. The program is supported both by churches in the Florida conference and the efforts of the boys of the Boarding House.
About 50 people attended the event including Conference staff, clergy, and lay leaders. It was a true blessing to the community and the church!
Towards the end of May the boys planted onions. For the last three months (dry season), they have been going to the river daily to carry water for the garden.
Two days ago we harvested 1,400lbs of onions and are now able to plant tomatoes, potatoes, bell pepper, and corn for the rainy season.
In June my wife and I started working at the Quessua Clinic as volunteers. My wife, Dr. Cleivy Benitez, works all mornings as a pediatrician while I work two days a week, also in the morning, with the adult population.
Malaria is endemic in the area where we live. Just to give you an idea, out of the 601 children tended to in August, 585 were sick with malaria. A large percent of the adult population was also sick with malaria. We have been blessed and feel very excited that the Global Health unit of the General Board of Global Ministries, has approved a grant from Imagine No Malaria, to fight this terrible disease in Angola.
My wife is leading this program that includes the development of educational materials and preventive campaigns. We have great hopes for this community transforming opportunity.
I am happy to report that during this year, our church has continued to grow as more people have accepted the saving grace of Jesus Christ and many have been baptized and welcomed into the body of Christ at the Quéssua United Methodist Church. The Gospel continues to be shared and announced in this beautiful land of East Angola!
We invite everyone to be part of our ministry here. Your participation sustains our presence in Quéssua. You can be part of this missionary evangelical effort through: As I write this newsletter, a team of six from the Florida Conference is blessing the Quessua Mission with their presence and love. This team brought with them medicines and medical supplies to provide for the needs of those must vulnerable. They also brought clothes and birthing and newborn kits that will be of great help. All this has been possible through the generosity of many churches and individuals in Florida. To all we send our deepest gratitude and our prayer that God will bless you as you have blessed us.
Your prayers Your accompaniment via emails and social media Your financial support (Advance #3022182) Your presence through volunteers in mission
Send your gifts to your conference treasurer or to the Advance. For more information, visit umcmission.org/advance To enter into a covenant relationship with us, visit umcmission.org/covenantrelationships You can contact me directly by email at
[email protected] Many thanks and may God bless you!
