Missionaries

As Light Patrol’s Director, John oversees Light Patrol’s street teams; strengthening existing initiatives and pioneering new efforts to reach homeless and street involved youth. As a 25 year veteran of youth work, John’s achievements reflect not only the commitment to providing excellent short term care for marginalized youth, but also building into their lives the support needed to achieve full life potential. John is responsible for raising the fund necessary to run Light Patrol, including his own salary and benefits. MHBC has been supporting the Cassells since 2008.

Bill and Jen graduated from the missions course last year. On March 8 they fly from Chicago to Hong Kong and from there they fly to Lai, New Guinea. The flight from Hong Kong to Lai is only once a week. If there is some delay and they miss that flight they would have to stay in Hong Kong for a week. Another route to New Guinea is by way of Australia. The disadvantage with the Australia route is the baggage allowance restrictions. As I heard Bill talking about all that is happening for them to travel to New Guinea, I was struck by all the details and considerations that need to be taken into account. What if the flight is delayed and they would have to stay a week in Hong Kong? Maybe it would be better to go by way of Australia? How do we make these decisions? And these are the little considerations. How will our boys do in a new country? What will we do for their education? Sickness? Finances? Family and loved ones? Language? Working with people we don't know? And, why are we doing this anyway? It always comes back to the Lord and His Word. Pray for Ernest Jones. He works in the shop. He is a mechanic and teaches technical classes on electronics and mechanical classes. Ernest hurt his back. He fractured three vertebrae. He fell into the pit through a gap left inadvertently. Today he was able to teach the tech tips course and he is feeling relief from the pain. Along with Bill and Jen, there are 4 other families and 3 single missionaries who are preparing to go for the first time. Mark and Emma are in Saskatchewan. They leave for New Guinea in June. Mark was an atheist. He was raised a Catholic in Poland and emigrated with his parents when he was 11. He is leaving his father somewhat alone. His father has heard the Gospel. He is estranged from the rest of the family and Mark is the only one who still maintains contact with him. Leaving him will be difficult. Jag is a friend from Toronto. We see a lot of her during the week. She is writing a book. A year or so ago she came to faith in Jesus Christ through a friend in a gym. She is growing in the Lord and has so many questions. Melinda is in a new apartment and she loves it. In March she will find out if she will continue full time at the hospital. Melinda has a roommate, Mandy. Mandy is her cousin and was looking for work. Last week Mandy had two job offers. She has a job and it is close to where they live. These are many answers to prayer. Karly is a beautiful granddaughter. She is learning so much. We are thankful for her, for her mom and dad who are doing such a good job, for their jobs. Michelle goes back to work after having a year of maternity leave. This was such a good time for her to be with her daughter. Karly will be in a daycare for two days and the other two days her grandmothers will have her. We are glad we are close enough be involved in her life. Bill, Michelle's husband, has a lot of work to do on the farm as well as his regular job as a manager at a welding and manufacturing shop. Fencing, moving his cattle from his father's farm to his place, and all the arrangements of setting up operation on his land are a few things. He applied for a grant for part of the fencing. He needs the funds for the job. Mary and I are healthy. Winter is at times depressing. We are asking the Lord for people and activities that will turn our attention away from ourselves and to others. On Tuesdays evenings we have a Spanish class, 5 students who are local. We have a good time together. The friends we make through these classes are open doors for sharing our faith. And, we are traveling to California in April. We are thankful for our church family at Valley Church. When we return to the places where God has used His people to encourage us along the road He has been leading us, we can't help but be encouraged at His love and care.