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by Judy Smith, Major –
The Great Commission clearly commands all believers to “go into all the world,” preach the gospel and make disciples!
For some this is a call to minister to their families, or to go into their neighborhoods or into the inner city to minister to people regardless of race, financial status or lifestyle preferences. But for many, this is a clarion call to go into unknown lands to preach the gospel through word and deed! God is still actively calling Salvation Army officers, soldiers and laypersons to leave their homes to serve in lands across the seas, sharing the Good News in all that they do.
At Territorial Headquarters, the Personnel Department’s Officer Services/Missions staff supports the ministry of 25 officers serving in eight countries/non-USA territories, and five lay missionaries serving in four non-USA territories. We also partner with and support five lay missionaries who serve voluntarily in four different third world countries/territories. Our support is designed to meet a multitude of needs—financial, spiritual, physical and material—both overseas and when they are on homeland furlough.
While our main focus is on those serving in overseas appointments, we also remember the 10 Western officers serving in the Central and Southern Territories and at National Headquarters.
God continues to call committed servants, providing an opportunity to serve in various ways and in locations all over the world. As long as he keeps calling his people into ministry, it will be our joyful task to support them by doing all we can to keep their ministry alive and filled with the love of God!
USA WESTERN – OVERSEAS PERSONNEL
Majors Rafael and Raewyn Aspeitia, corps officers, Manukan, New Zealand. “We endeavor to link clients to the Salvation Army worship services through Recovery Church programs, Bible study, life skills for single mothers, Employment Plus and an invitation with each food parcel. The corps is continuing to grow as we are leading and promoting discipleship.”
Commissioners Donald and Debora Bell, territorial leaders, New Zealand Territory, Wellington, New Zealand. “We have been quite busy visiting divisions and corps, as well as doing some international traveling.”
Commissioners Kurt and Alicia Burger, territorial leaders, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Territory. “The territory is a mixture of different cultures and values. Switzerland and Austria are very wealthy countries where poverty is hard to detect. Then there is Hungary where poverty confronts you at every corner. In Switzerland, and to some degree in Austria, we have to fight primarily against major social and spiritual problems, including loneliness, a decline in values, and fear of commitment.”
Karen Freeman, Liberia. “My responsibilities are working the Education Secretariat in primary and elementary schools and overseeing child sponsorship. The Salvation Army operates some of the finest schools in the country and is striving to improve those schools while bringing more schools into the network. There is a great need for textbooks and libraries—great need and few resources.”
Major Candice Frizzell, Children’s Home, Mazatlan, Mexico. “Here at the Children’s Home we are more than just a healthy-food-and-clean-bed place. We have the opportunity to touch the lives of these young people and give them the tools they need for their future. The learning skills are important, but introducing them to Christ and living the life in front of them is what they need to be truly happy.”
Lt. Colonels Walter and Ardis Fuge, International Headquarters, London. As of February 1, 2010, the Fuges were appointed as Finance Secretary, Business Administration Department, and Associate IHQ Chaplain and City of London Liaison Officer respectively.
Shanon Hawkesworth, Kakamega, Kenya West Territory. “I am currently teaching English and P.E. in two different 2nd grade classrooms—about 115 students altogether. “A challenge that I’m facing is lack of necessary supplies. Some students come to school without even pencils and paper. I worship at the Kakamega Central Corps where I am involved with the band, songsters and youth programs; I also play in the Kenya West Territorial Band.”
Captains Daniel and Anya Henderson, Tallinn, Estonia. Captain Daniel is the regional commander for the Estonia Region in the Finland and Estonia Territory. Captain Anya supports her husband in regional responsibilities and is part-time corps leader at the Tallinn Kopli Corps. The Hendersons have five children.
Commissioners Kenneth and Jolene Hodder, International Headquarters, London. “I serve at IHQ as both the international secretary for personnel and as legal and constitutional adviser to the General, and my wife is the associate international secretary for personnel. Our appointments keep us busy, but it is a joy to work together and to see how the Lord is building up the Army around the world. Our daughter, Jessica, is concluding her last semester of the International Baccalaureate program, and she hopes to attend college on the East Coast later this year.”
Majors James and Sallyann Hood, Mexico City, Mexico. Major James Hood is the territorial property secretary and the director of “La Esperanza,” a dormitory for homeless men. Major Sallyann Hood is the territorial social services secretary as well as the director of the Army’s mental health clinic in Mexico City. Both La Esperanza and the clinic are located in the Colonia Morelos, which has the highest crime rate in all of Mexico. Although they need to be careful, the Hoods feel the Army was born in similar areas, so this where they need to be now.
Majors Ted and Debbie Horwood, International Headquarters, London. “Our responsibilities involve the management and oversight of the international projects system. Working in this section at IHQ has given us the opportunities to address many issues facing the global family: poverty, justice, dignity, peace and righteousness. We work with Salvationists all around the world to learn from them and encourage them in their ministries.”
Major Linda Manhardt, Training Principal, The Philippines. “I teach three to four classes a day, and for the most part I have to create the subject notes for each class. In Sept. 2009, Typhoon Ondoy took a terrible toll on the small town of Tanay where we are located. We immediately deployed the cadets to bring food, water, clothing and other supplies to the devastated victims. As a result The Salvation Army is now well known and respected in the area.”
Roseanne Morse, Kakamega, Kenya West Territory. “I am assigned to the local Salvation Army-sponsored primary school where I’m working with the Special (education) Unit. The Army has a strong presence on our primary school campus where one of the corps leaders leads prayer on Friday mornings. The corps is also taking a leadership role in getting some improvements on the campus. I have seen some change already and am happy to be spending a year—three school terms—in Kenya.”
Lt. Colonels Zoilo and Magali Pardo, Costa Rica, Latin America North Territory. As chief secretary, Lt. Colonel Pardo works directly with divisional and regional commanders in 10 countries: Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, El Salvador, Dominic Republic, Venezuela, Honduras and Nicaragua. The laws and types of currency are different in each country; it is a challenge. Lt. Colonel Magali Pardo is the territorial secretary for women’s ministries and enjoys getting to know the people and diversity of cultures in the territory.
Major Beryl Pierce, Chikankata, Zambia. Major Pierce has five corps under her direction, as well as counseling with HIV/AIDS patients at Chikankata Hospital. She says, “I have now been given a fifth corps. It is a new opening and already has a small congregation. We have not managed to get there as the rains are still with us, but I think we will manage very soon. I am told we can drive part way, then we’ll leave the vehicle on the main road/path and walk for two hours including climbing a mountain to the village. I am grateful that God continues to give me lots of energy.”
Tracy Pilewski, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. Tracy has been serving at a children’s home and home for the blind since December 2008.
Majors Ian and Isabel Robinson, Sheringham, England. Majors Robinsons are corps officers in Sheringham in the United Kingdom Territory.
Rachel Thieme, Mexico. Rachel arrived in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico in Sept 2009, where she is working at the children’s home. Read about her experience in the summer 2010 issue of Caring magazine.
Captain Turnie and Major Evadne Wright, Corps Officers, Waihi, New Zealand. “Ours is a mining town, and if the mine were not here, the town would not exist. We pray that the mine will remain open for at least another 12 years and that the town will be able to find alternative sources of employment. We also pray for our young people and that God’s Holy Spirit would move in people’s hearts and that Waihi would be a place of God.”