West-Ark Newsletter, 8 July 2004

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Family Lines Newsletter, July 8, 2004
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"How do I help?" Likely that is a question we each ask ourselves many times. That question does not focus on the desire to help--the desire is there! The question focuses on being helpful to the need and the situation--"I want to help, but what do I do to be helpful?" The issue is not the desire. The issue is the what.

In the early 70's, Deborah Wilson, Joyce, and I worked as part of a mission group in a country in West Africa about the size of California. Deborah Brown Wilson had not yet met Jim. She, as a single lady, worked as a nurse with the mission group's mobile clinic. She also taught numerous ladies' Bible classes. Joyce and I, with our children, worked as a family unit in the teaching and evangelizing portion of the mission group. Much of my work focused on stabilizing newer congregations--those were times of rapid growth for the church in that country.

Those were also turbulent times in that work. Within the first two years of our time there, for numerous reasons the number of known congregations grew to be almost 100. Most of the congregations were small in size and rural in nature. In this same period of rapid growth there were few national preachers/teachers. At its full strength, the mission group numbered no more than six families. If fully staffed, we had only two single nurses. The need for teachers and preachers far exceeded the available preachers and teachers within the mission group.

For that reason plus other reasons, the mission group began a preachers' training school. Most [not all] of the students were teenagers. One of those teens was Eugene Elangwe.

It has been over 30 years since that school started. Eugene finished his training, and some time later moved to a remote area of the country--where he continues to work today. He has a large family, serves numerous congregations [at times his circuit takes a month to visit, and he walks], and has little resources available for the work. Yet, he has begun a school to train others to help teach and preach.

The question I face is the same one you face. The desire to help is there, but what do we do to help? With the aid of the C.U.R.E. program and the help of Bob Fisher, we plan to send a large container of medical supplies [greatly needed!] to the medical clinic in Eugene's remote area. With those supplies we plan to send Eugene some Bibles and some basic reference books. In this way we hope to (1) increase meaningful opportunities for Eugene's work, (2) address some urgent medical needs, and (3) supply some basic Bible study aids to those studying with Eugene.

As plans come to conclusion, we will seek the help of anyone interested. Everything supplied will be a gift. Our costs for shipping and for a few of the medical supplies must be raised. We will keep you informed of the situation as needs in collecting the gift become specific. I would much appreciate you putting this effort and Eugene in your prayers.

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**VBS 2004**
"His Last Week"
Monday - Thursday
July 19-22, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
* Join a Bible-Time Family
* Visit the Synagogue
* Listen to the Storytellers
* Visit and Participate
in the Marketplace!
Parents, please pre-register your kids!
Call (479) 452-1240 or
register online at www.westark.org

**We're Getting Ready for West-Ark's
Community Outreach Day**
Saturday, July 31, 2004
9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
in the Family Life Center
Question: What is Community Outreach Day?
Answer: An opportunity for our church to help anyone in need of:
* Summer clothing
* Household items
* Furniture
(Lunch is also provided at 11:00 a.m.)
Workers are needed Thursday and Friday,
July 29 & 30 to get things ready in the FLC.
If you can work or have items to donate,
contact Kathy Rosalez at 452-2157
or the church office at 452-1240.

**Getting Ready for VBS!**
The following are needed for VBS

PEOPLE:
* Marketplace Shop Keepers
* Marketplace Helpers
* Family Helpers
* Bakers to bake candies for our Candy Shop
* Bakers to bake bread for our families and Baker's Shop

ITEMS to be donated or loaned:
* Greenery/Trees
* Old sheets/ fabric
* Pottery
* Baskets
* Rugs
* Old bicycle tire rims
* Any instruments that might have been used in Bible times (string harp, pipe, etc.)
See Dena Jenkins if you have items to donate or loan.

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**In Our Thoughts and Prayers**
* Kay Marchant is in Sparks Hospital, room 583.
* Clayton Amos had a pacemaker put in. He is in Sparks, room 574, and may go to Rehab soon.
* Maile McDonald
* Judi Green

**Bereaved**
We extend our love and sympathy to Grace Peters in the recent death of her son-in-law.

**Prayers for Military**
Continue to remember Daniel Kweekul, Phillip Lux, Johnny Lindgren, Jeff Amos, and Lori Dotson, who are currently serving in Iraq. Brandon Daws is home on furlough.

**Gateway Kids! **
July 11 is Celebration Sunday! We will meet in the FLC during class.
BE PREPARED!! You may need some "wet weather" protection for our celebration.

**Cards Welcomed!**
John Berger is working as a counselor in Bible camp this summer in Maryland. Cards and notes would be welcomed while he is away.
John Berger
Ganderbrook Christian Camp
310 North Raymond Road
Raymond, ME 04071

**Notes of Thanks**
West-Ark Church,
My deepest appreciation for all the prayers, cards, food and the lovely peace lily offered during my precious daddy's illness then ultimate passing. God has doubly blessed me with a wonderful father and wonderful church family. I pray to be worthy
My love,
Patty Kaiser

West-Ark Family,
Thank you once again for your love and prayers. My life port was inserted a couple of weeks ago. The port area is healing nicely and really was never very uncomfortable. On a very positive note -- chemo with the port was wonderful! It did not hurt at all! Praise the Lord! Consequently I didn't have the anxiety, nausea, etc.

I started on the second 3-month part of the chemo on Thursday. It is once a week for 12 weeks. The good news is that the drug(s) in this portion are supposed to be less harsh and have less side effects. My one experience last Thursday confirms that. I slept for 4 hours afterwards and then felt well. I felt energetic and not the least nauseated! I am so thankful! Maybe I can have a more normal life this 3 months!
Love you,
Judi Green

*Wedding Invitation**
Rick and Rennie Williams
Jim and Leah Henderson
Invite you to share in the marriage
of their daughter
Julia Suzanne to
Brian Thomas Hughes
son of Tom and Janet Hughes
on Saturday, July 24
at seven o'clock in the evening
Camp Tahkodah
Floral, Arkansas
Reception immediately following

**Church Directories Available**
Question: How can I get a list of current addresses and phone numbers for our church?
Answer: Updated church directory listings (text only) are printed monthly and available in the Information Center. The date the information was generated is included in the directory header.

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Congratulations to Andrew Todd and his family! As I write this article, it's actually 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning and Daniel Word, Nathan Griffin, and I just returned from Green Valley Bible Camp. I baptized Andrew in the famous Green Valley Bible Camp pool earlier tonight.

There are a lot of great things about getting involved with the youth group each summer. One of them is the opportunity each person has to keep a constant focus on Christ for 3 straight months. A focus like that would do all of us some good.

Up to this point in 2004, we have baptized 15 teenagers here at West-Ark. That is simply FANTASTIC! The Lord is doing some great things in the lives of our teenagers.

I am thankful for Senior Week at GVBC, Uplift at Harding, and Craig Frost's week at GVBC. These events have helped provide the environment and focus our teens needed to develop deeper relationships with Christ.

Then, Soul Lift will take place in St. Louis from July 24th-27th. There are currently 60 people signed up who plan to experience this family trip together. The deadline to pay for Soul Lift is this Sunday, July 11th.

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM 680
Bible Classes 426
Sunday PM 212
Small Groups 21
Wednesday P.M. 248
Contribution $16,843
Children's Home $222
The Way NA
Hispanic Attendance 35
Hispanic Contribution $138
Laotians Attendance 26
Laotian Contribution $175

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