Germantown Church of Christ

The Germantown Church of Christ has been supporting the Williams family in Papua New Guinea since 2000. Leslie moved from his home in Canada to Papua New Guinea in 1982, spending two years working with the Mt. Hagen team. He left this work to study at Harding University, and completed his B.A. in Missions in 1988. While at Harding, he met and married LaVonna Lafferty, a Business Management major who was planning to do mission work in Scotland, until she met Leslie. Returning to Port Moresby in 1989, Leslie and Loopie worked with the Morata Church of Christ, and then the newly established Port Moresby Church of Christ from 1990 to 1994. During these years, their four sons were born (Logan, Zachary, Tate and Thomas). In 1994 Leslie took a six year Sabbatical to complete his Masters degree. With the support of the Germantown Church, upon graduation, Leslie and his family moved to Alotau in the Milne Bay Province. In 2005, Leslie and Loopie adopted a daughter named Bailey. 

 

The following is the latest update from Leslie:
     The tourism motto for Papua New Guinea is "Land of the Unexpected." However, the unexpected for us came from Canada this past month. Logan wrote us to announce that he and his fiance, Chante, had chased a whim and got married. they both have a birthday on April 18, and they thought it would be something to also have their wedding anniversary on the same day. Since Chante's father was visiting they got his permission, made plans and pulled off the elopement. Needless to say, Loopie and I are still getting used to the idea, but after making a quick trip in to Regina to visit with them, I am getting over the shock and can report that I am pleased to meet our new daughter-in-law. Chante is a wonderful (if somewhat spontaneous!) girl and all the great reports we have heard about her were confirmed. Loopie is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to get to know her as well.
       While in Canada I was able to sit down and visit with the administration of Western Christian College and discuss teaching and housing issues for next year. We are getting wxcited about working with the school - it should be a great challenge.
       On the home front, the church is responding wonderfully to the challenge of more responsibility. Philemon and John have taken the opportunity to teach and preach in my absence and the whole church planned a farewell meal for us this past Saturday. While the focus was on us, I could not help but remember all the success stories in the crowd. We reminisced about the early days of our work when it was just our family, the Reeses and the Ponifasios. All three local congregations were present so it was a wonderful time of fellowship for all.

 

Church-wide Camp March 23, 2008

 Congratulations to Logan Williams and Chante' Cox
who were married on April 18, 2008.

To access the latest PNG newsletter click here: PNG NEWS

GHANA, WEST AFRICA 

          “The Village of Hope” began in 1989 as an orphanage established by Christians in the United States and Ghana to care for orphaned, abandoned, destitute and needy children until they are able to take care of themselves or are adopted by a family. Since its establishment we have cared and provided help for many impoverished, hungry, and hurting children, some of whom have become faithful Christians. At the present time, the Village of Hope is caring for 115 children at the orphanage, and 51 children in foster homes. They are also providing meals for 82 “street” children in Ghana’s capital city of Accra.

GHANA MISSION REPORT FROM FRED ASARE

          Greetings from the Village of Hope. Thank you all for coming and for serving so well to the glory of God. We truly are grateful that you could come and make an impact in the lives of not only the VOH children but also so many others in the school and at Ojobi.

               The gospel meeting yielded much fruit. Eight people were baptized in Ojobi as a result of the preasching and teaching there. Six were baptized while you were here and two additional souls put on Christ last Sunday as a result of the follow-up that was done.

               Eight Village of Hope children were baptized into Christ.

               Seven students in the boarding houses of Hope Christian Academy were also baptized into Christ.

This means a total of twenty-three souls have put on Christ. The value: Immeasurable!

Donna Griffin Participates In Latest Medical Mission Team

School began in the week of January 21, and many more students have enrolled at Hope Christian Academy thanks to the excellent results that God grants our students every year. Our current student population stands at 528. Thanks be to God!

The Medical Outreach Clinic which involved staff of Andrea Browning Clinic and visiting brethren, was a great success and we are thankful to our Father for blessing us to be able to make an impact in the community.

The medical team went out on four different days to give consultation to the sick in the community. On January 21, they left the Village of Hope campus at dawn to travel to Asakraka in the Eastern Region of Ghana, where they were able to give help to 220 people who needed medical attention.

From January 23 to January 25 the team visited the neighbouring Senya community each day. Non-medical staff of the Village of Hope worked on each of these days as interpreters between the patients and the American team members. During the clinic, preachers also taught God's word to the people.

At the end of it all a total of 1106 patients including 5 physically challenged children were given medical care to the glory of God. We ask that you continue to commit the work of the Andrea Browning Clinic into the Lord's hands and pray for His blessings for the team that visited us at the Village of Hope.

Servant of the LORD, Fred Asare

Pictured are Ty Miller, Fred Asare, and Darrin Ruddy. Ty is one of our elders. Fred is the director of the Village of Hope. Darrin is the deacon who went on this mission trip to Ghana in 2006. Both Ty and Darrin were part of the group that left March 10, 2007.

   MEDICAL MISSIONS TRIP