2002 Report (continued)
SEPTEMBER
September 1 - 7
The DeLoach family has enjoyed vacation time this week!! Brooke met us in Florida and we celebrated Isaiah's entry into the country as an immigrant! This has been a four year struggle, but basically this immigrant status makes him a U.S. citizen. We are so thankful to God for this special blessing and to the many of you who have been praying on his behalf. Please continue to pray about his health issues. He has an appointment for his check up on September 17th.After several days in Florida, we arrived home with ALL our luggage on Saturday afternoon. It's good to be home. Now comes a different phase of our work. There is so much to do after being gone for four months.
Jerry and Pat have sure been busy this week. Pat saw 123 patients. She's been battling a cough/cold herself.
Jerry preached at Plaisance on Sunday. On Monday he went to the West Bank and contacted preachers and delivered the benevolence items. On Tuesday he taught at G.I.B.I. then went to the West Bank for the monthly preacher's meeting. Wednesday did visiting at Canal #2. Thursday taught at G.I.B.I. again then to Canal #2 to teach a new convert's class. And on Friday work in the office and gave Orin a lesson on using the Internet and email! Can't wait to hear from you, Orin! On Friday evening Jerry and Pat met with some of the other Americans there for supper and games. Jerry said that during spare time, he's prepared for sermons and classes. Doesn't sound like there was much spare time this week!
September 8 - 14
At the Operation Guyana clinic in Georgetown, Pat saw 120 patients this week. Many of the patients who come through are needing glasses. In the picture, Pat is assisting one of her patients in getting reading glasses.
Jerry preached at Plaisance both services on Sunday. He also taught his regular classes at G.I.B.I. as well as the new converts' class at Canal 2. The DeLoach's are settling in ... only to get ready to hit the road. We have spent this week unpacking, cleaning, paying bills, meeting appointments, getting cars ready for the road, restocking groceries, and on and on. I'm sure you are not interested in the details.
We have made application for Isaiah a Social Security number. Much to our disappointment, we found out coming back that he is NOT yet a U.S. citizen. He is an "immigrant," but still has to apply for naturalization. So, we're still working on that.
Next week we start doing some traveling. Please pray for safe travel.
September 15 - 22
Word from Jerry and Pat Veatch and Orin Ross in Guyana continues to be encouraging. Pat is seeing so many patients in the O.G. clinic daily, that they've had to put on hold making appointments. This is a wonderful way to serve the Guyanese. We ask that you pray with us for God to use this service in glory to Him. And that the lives that are touched through that outreach will see Jesus and have a hunger for Him that our ministry can help fill.Jerry preached at Industry on Sunday. This was his first time to preach a Sunday service there. Jerry has a great talent for nurturing and is such a blessing to a lot of congregations in Guyana. And I believe with his nurturing skills and helping so many different congregations, he is helping to bind the brethren together. He continues with his new converts' classes on a weekly basis. And this week he had a little bit of extra time for his own "personal Bible study." GIBI didn't have classes this week, so he used that time to feed himself spiritual food. Sometimes on the mission field we don't realize when our "sponge goes dry." We can't squeeze out more than we take in.
Orin Ross sent word to me that one of our dear friends in Guyana was baptized! This is a lady that my girls and I became very close with this past summer and is a friend of Orin's family. We are extremely thrilled over that news!!
Back in Arkansas, the DeLoach family left on Monday evening to head to Little Rock for Isaiah's doctor's appointment at Arkansas Children's Hospital on Tuesday morning. He had blood work done, but will take about 2 weeks to get all the results. The medical staff there is always so encouraging to us and helps us emotionally and physically. After our morning at Children's Hospital, Steve began his road travel in that area and the kids and I went on to Louisiana for a 2-week visit with family there.
Steve's travel is always lengthy this time of year. This past week, he started with us in Little Rock, then went on to Stuttgart, Arkansas. There he visited with Dr. Buddy Barwick, a long-time family friend and one who has worked with us in Guyana a lot through the years. After that, it was on to Memphis to visit with some prospective team members.
Finally, over the weekend, it was on to the Southwest Church of Christ in Jonesboro, Arkansas. They had a Mission Emphasis Weekend that was really an inspiration to all who attended. Southwest brought every missionary that they are currently supporting to Jonesboro for the weekend. They had missionaries from Romania, Kenya, Mozambique, Hungary, and New Zealand. They also called Steve to come to Jonesboro, because the Southwest Congregation has been down to Guyana every year for the past 14 years! Over 85 members of the Southwest congregation have been to Guyana and helped us in our efforts there.
Friday night, the Southwest elders met with the missionaries at a meal hosted at the church building. Then on Saturday afternoon, the missionaries, the missions committee, and the elders met for a meal and a devotional together. On Sunday during the morning Bible class time, Steve and all the missionaries participated in a panel discussion about missions in general and about each of their works in particular. Finally on Sunday night, Steve spoke to the congregation encouraging them to get involved in missions and let God "shake their house."
Over the next several weeks, Steve will be on the road working with a variety of teams and congregations in terms of their plans. More information will be provided on this as the time passes by.
September 22 - 28
As far as news from Guyana goes, the Veatches report that all is going well. Jerry continues in the classes he's teaching. And Pat saw 131 patients this week! Continue to pray for them and the lives they are touching there.TRAVELING. That about sums it up for the DeLoach family! The kids and I just returned home from a two-week trip in Louisiana. We had a real good visit with family. Now we are back in Arkansas trying to get settled in for a while. I'm tired!
Steve spent several days with our sponsoring elders in Jenks, Oklahoma. These elders are very involved in the work and oversight of Operation Guyana. They met with Steve and did some reviewing, planning and decision making. We are so thankful for their leadership and pray God's richest blessings on each of them.
After meeting with the elders, Steve has hit the road again. I'll report on his where-abouts next week.
OCTOBER
September 29 - October 5
Steve has been on the road a lot making several stops. He's sent me his report, which I will just add here in his own words. The rest of us are pretty much settled in back home in Arkansas. The kids are busy with their school work and keeping their eyes open for part-time jobs. I'm working with Isaiah doing some school work too.We got a great report from Isaiah's latest check up in September. His HIV is still undetectable and everything looks real good except his cholesterol. It keeps creeping up. We are hoping to be able to treat the cholesterol problem and NOT change his medication. His next check up is in December.
Traveling with Steve:
On Sunday, I visited congregations in Oklahoma. First, I attended the two morning services at the Jenks congregation in Tulsa. This is our sponsoring congregation. I gave a report of our last summer's work and a glimpse of our plans for 2003. It was a great time of encouragement and expectation.Then it was on to the Contact Church of Christ, which is sort of an "inner city" work in Tulsa. There were a lot of people there from Jenks as well, and we all enjoyed a meal after the morning service.
Then it was on to Oklahoma City, where I met with some individuals from the Northwest congregation on Sunday night. (They had a big morning and early afternoon service and didn't have evening services, so we were able to meet and discuss team plans for the coming summer.)
I also spent Monday thru Wednesday morning in OKC and met with several who either are involved in our work or hope to be. We discussed several things from the OKC Medical Team, to Live the Mission Encampment, to the Lectureship that we host in February.
On Wednesday and Thursday, I travelled to Greenville, Texas, and stayed with Ray and Debra Allen. The Allens have been coming and working with us every summer since 1995, and often their entire family comes down. On Wednesday night I gave a report at the congregation that the Allens attend there in Greenville, and it appears that a lot of interest has been generated there. We are hoping that several from Greenville will join us in the coming year.
On Thursday I travelled to Houston, where we have several who have worked with us long-term in Guyana. Gerald Bennett, who is an elder and the pulpit preacher at the Lindale Church of Christ, has been coming to Guyana for several years. He often comes for at least two sessions, both two weeks in length. He does a lot of work in the nurturing and teaching of the saints in Guyana.
I also visited with Jeff Dunn on Saturday. Jeff has been working with us in Guyana for the past three or four years and has helped us a lot with our Live the Mission Encampment.
Lots of plans are being made from our "Houston Team" for the entire year in Guyana, and as always ... we are excited.
Please keep us in your prayers.
October 6 - 12, 2002
As many of you know, the crime in Guyana has been worse this year than in the past several years. We ask that you pray with us that God will continue to keep the door open there and bless the work. Also that things there will calm down immediately.Due to the Guyanese protesting the criminal activity, on Wednesday the country was basically shut down. Pat only saw 15 patients that day in the clinic. But for a total this week, she saw 132. That's GREAT!
Jerry finished up teaching his classes at G.I.B.I. with all of his students passing! He also finished up his new converts class he was teaching at Canal #2. Jerry and Pat are getting ready to head back to the States in November for a few weeks. He will probably start his new converts class back when he returns to Guyana in February. Please pray that these students (both at G.I.B.I. and new converts classes) will take what they have learned and apply it and continue to grow in their love for the Lord, letting their light shine in this country that needs Jesus desperately right now.
Traveling with Steve:
Sunday, Steve was in Houston, Texas, where he preached at the Lindale Congregation. Gerald Bennett, who has been coming to Guyana and working with us for years, is the pulpit preacher there and also serves that congregation as one of its elders. Several others from the Lindale congregation have been to Guyana to work with us, too.On Monday and Tuesday Steve spent the days traveling to Florida. After a visit in Orlando for a couple of days, he went on to Jacksonville, Florida. We have a team that comes from the Jacksonville Beach congregation. He is also working with several other congregations in that area.
Stay tuned next week for some really exciting news that will have a major effect on our work throughout Guyana. In the meantime ... pray that God will open the doors we need opened.
October 13 - 19, 2002
All seems to be going as normal for the Veatches in Guyana. Still seeing patients and nurturing congregations.And all is pretty normal for the kids and me here at home. Just holding down the fort!
Following is the report that Steve sent about his travels this week.
Traveling with Steve:
What an incredible week! God has opened door after door after door!Sunday, I started at the Jacksonville Beach Church of Christ in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. This congregation has been involved in our work for several years and is always a joy to be with.
While there, they were hosting a Blood Drive that was put on by the Florida-Georgia Blood Alliance. The Bloodmobile was set up on the parking lot, and several members of the church donated ... but that wasn't the exciting thing. During the course of the blood drive, we started talking about how good it would be to have a bus like the Bloodmobile in Guyana to use with our Medical Missions. To make a long story short, that may happen. It seems they are about to accept delivery on a new Bloodmobile, and at least initially, they are willing to donate it to our work in Guyana. Pray that God will work this out! What a blessing this could be.
On Monday, Joel Dalrymple (the minister at Jacksonville Beach) and I met with the ministry staff of the San Jose Congregation in Jacksonville. Calvin Warpula is the pulpit preacher there. Calvin and I have known each other for over 20 years. Calvin may be able to come down and work with us during our Lectureship in February. We also discussed the possibility of the San Jose congregation coming down and joining the Medical Mission team from Jacksonville Beach.
On Tuesday, we did so many things. First, I spoke with the Blood Alliance CEO about the Bloodmobile. The door is certainly open there, and we are praying this works out. Then Joel and I had lunch with the ministry staff of the Mandrin Church of Christ, south of Jacksonville. Again, we talked to them about the possibility of working with us in Guyana.
On Wednesday we had four meetings. We met with the chairman of the Missions Committee from San Jose. Then we met with Bob Boles, who is a Christian Counselor who has been active in the church all over the area for over 20 years. Bob and I have also known each other for more than 25 years. It was great to meet with him. We are working on the possibility of him coming down during our Lectureship to teach our Guyanese ministers how to be better counselors.
That evening we worshiped with the Westside Church of Christ, which is a predominately Black congregation. WHAT A FANTASTIC CHURCH! It was such a joy to be with them. Several talked to us about coming down to Guyana and working with us this summer. PRAISE GOD!!! What a great evening.
We wrapped up the evening by having dinner with five members of the Jacksonville Beach team. We enjoyed each other's company, talked about plans for the coming year, and basked in the joy of a great week!
We also made plans for a fund-raising event for the middle of December. We are hoping to be able to promote this in such a way as to raise a significant portion of our needed support for the coming year.
Finally, we enjoyed several opportunities to visit with team members and potential members the closing part of the week.
All in all, this was a fantastic week with lots of blessings from God! Pray that we have many more great weeks in the months to come. With your prayers, and God's blessings ... great things will happen.
October 20 - 26, 2002
I seem to always forget just how spectacular God colors Fall! The trees here in the Ozarks are absolutely beautiful right now. My mom and sister were here this week and we would just drive around pointing at trees. They are just glowing in praise to God. Just beautiful!
Steve is still traveling about. Here is his report for this week:This week has certainly been eventful. I started off in Florida and ended the week in Tennessee.
On Sunday I was still in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, wrapping things up from the week I was there. Things really went great there, and I hope to see lots of good come from the meetings.
On Sunday night, I drove on up to Ozark, Alabama, and was there until Tuesday morning. While there, I visited with Glen and Lisa Van Zandt, who were missionaries in Guyana when we first arrived there. Glen is preaching for the Ozark Church of Christ and has involved several in that congregation in the work in Guyana. Glen is planning on coming down and working with us during the lectureship in February, so we had lots to talk about.
On Tuesday I traveled on up to Birmingham, Alabama, and was there until Saturday morning. It looks like we are going to have another Birmingham team soon ... at least that is one of the things we are working on. Pray that this works out and that God uses the people from Birmingham in Guyana this summer.
On Wednesday night, I ran up to Decatur, Alabama, and met with several team members there. They have been coming to Guyana since 1993 and always do a fantastic work.
Then on Saturday, I traveled to Hohenwald, Tennessee. Watch for next week's report as we will discuss what happend in Hohenwald and beyond.
Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to travel. Ask for God's protection, guidance, and care.
I love each one of you!!!!
Traveling with Steve:
This past week has really gone by in a blur. Lots of activity and lots of planning.On Sunday, I visited with the Hohenwald, Tennessee, group. We had a great meeting! I spoke to the congregation on Sunday morning briefly, and then that afternoon I met with those who are interested in coming down with the team next summer. Then, again, I met with the church on Sunday night.
On Monday I made a trip over to Henderson, Tennessee, where we have a group as well. This team has really grown in the past two years and always does a great job in Guyana. In fact, this past summer they not only did a medical mission, they also built a church building! You can check this out in our July report. Then on Monday night I met with a good portion of the team and they seem to be off to a flying start.
I was in Searcy, Arkansas, on Tuesday and Wednesday tending to several things. We have a team from Searcy and they always do a masterful job of bringing lots of people together from literally all over the country. I met with several of the team members and their plans are coming together quite well. I also met with several students at Harding University. Several there, from all over the country, have worked with us in the past with a variety of teams. I also met with a prospective intern and had a fantastic visit.
Then finally on Thursday I traveled home and made it just in time to enjoy Trick or Treat with Isaiah! This is my first time in years to be able to be home at this time and it's been such a joy.
My plans now are to be in the general area of home, with a few trips here, there, and yonder on a local basis, until Christmas. As you can imagine, while I am away on trips, lots of things "pile up" here that have to be attended to once I get home. (COLLEEN AMENS THIS!)
Please keep us in your prayers. We are working to get Isaiah's medical situation squared away and it is not an easy task. He currently has enough medicine to get him through the next two weeks and then we are "unfunded" again. We have several friends working on this. Please pray that God will work this out.
Thanks for your love and support!
NOVEMBER
November 3 - 9
Jerry and Pat Veatch have recently returned to the States for a visit. Their son, Jed will be getting married next month and they have a lot to get ready for. We are so excited for them and pray their stay in the States will be a wonderful time and they'll be loved on and encouraged. They are a great asset to the work in Guyana. For the month of October, Pat saw 596 patients!! That is the most she has ever seen in one month. Jerry is very much involved in working with the area preachers, especially on the West Bank. He recently spoke at the West Bank Preacher's Meeting and is working hard to pull the preacher's together in their work.Steve is home right now ... still working on my "Honey Do" list!!
Status with Isaiah and his citizenship is that he IS a U.S. citizen now, but we don't have all the documents. So there's still paperwork to do. We are thankful to say that C.M.S. is still paying for his medicine for a few more months and we plan to apply for other means of financial aid when we have all his documents in order. As far as his health, he continues to be doing really good. Thank you for your continued prayers on his behalf.
Steve was in Fort Smith on Friday and Saturday of this week for the West-Ark Church of Christ Missions weekend. They hosted a banquet on Friday night with Monty Cox being the keynote speaker.
On Saturday morning, Steve participated in their Missions Committee Prayer Breakfast for Missions. They prayed for each mission point that the West-Ark congregation is involved with. They also prayed that the money they raise on Sunday will be enough to fund the many different projects they are involved in.
November 10 - 16
This past week has certainly been an eventful one.First off, Steve was in Fort Smith on Sunday with the West-Ark Church of Christ. They hosted their annual Mission’s Weekend, and everything came to a conclusion on Sunday. For Sunday morning Bible Class, they had reports on many of the works they are involved in, including the work in Guyana.
Then, the Sunday morning service was special, too. Monty Cox, a former Missionary to Africa, and a Professor at Harding University, spoke on Missions on Sunday Morning. Then, the congregation collected almost $150,000.00 to be used for their mission projects throughout the year, and, finally, Steve offered the Invitation. Steve also led the singing for the morning service.
After the service, the entire congregation enjoyed a “Pot Luck” lunch together. Following the lunch, the congregation had their “evening” service at about 1:00pm. During this service, there were reports of local mission efforts taking place through the West-Ark Congregation. Steve also led the singing during this service.
Over 130 people from the West-Ark congregation have been to Guyana, and this was probably the sixth or seventh time that Steve has gotten to be there for this special weekend, so it was almost like going home.
We also found out that we have a tent to replace the one we have in Guyana, which is worn out. This past summer we realized that the tent we had was literally "on it's last leg," and we began to consider ways to replace it. The C.U.R.E. ministry at West-Ark has a tent that can be reconfigured in several ways and will allow us to use it in small places or large places. It even comes with a twin axle trailor to haul it, its poles and stakes, and move around with. We are currently working on how to move it to Guyana. There will be more on this in coming reports.
West-Ark is ALWAYS a special congregation to visit. If you are ever in Fort Smith, you should stop by, they will love to see you.
On Tuesday Steve and Colleen went off to Eureka Springs to celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary. Twenty-six years ago, Steve and Colleen enjoyed their honeymoon in Eureka Springs, and now ... 26 years later, they went back to enjoy an anniversary celebration. Reflecting over our 26 years together, we have seen God's hand so vividly. He has truly blessed us! Our work in Guyana is a huge blessing and we appreciate each one of you who have an interest in that work.
On Wednesday they were back in Springdale.
On Friday Steve spent the day driving back and forth to Little Rock to get medicines for Isaiah. This supply of Medicine will last until we go back down there on December 10th for his next check up. For the time being, his medication is covered by a program here in Arkansas, and we are hoping that once his immigration issues are resolved that his medication problems will begin to evaporate. Please pray for this situation.
Keep us in your prayers. Ask God to keep on using us in the way He would have us work.
November 17 - 23
The week began with sickness. The old saying, "When momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy," didn't prove to hold true in this household this week. I was sick with a cold, sinus infection, or something miserable. I couldn't talk and I was not happy. But the family was!! Seriously, though, they did great taking care of me. Then Isaiah started running a fever and was pretty still for a couple of days. After being in bed for the biggest part of the day for a few days, one night after he was feeling much better, he was running wild through the house. I just grabbed him up trying to hug on him and said, "You are wild!" And he said, "I can't help myself ... I'm out of control." We're all much better now.We want to use this opportunity to wish you all a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING. We all have many things to be thankful for. Let's not forget to offer our prayers of thanksgiving to God. May we all be more aware of God's blessings.
November 24 - 30
On Sunday, Steve and I visited the congregation in Tuttle, Arkansas. They have been involved in Guyana missions since we started going down in 1992. Steve gave a report during class time then preached the morning service. After morning services, we had lunch with several of the members and truly enjoyed their fellowship.Our traditional Thanksgiving turkey for the past ten or twelve years has been for Steve to Cajun fry them. This year he fried a total of five turkeys and two chickens. We have friends that he will fry for as well, besides us. So, with several to do, it takes up the week buying, defrosting, juicing up, marinating, and frying these birds. It's quite a tradition! And VERY GOOD!
The DeLoach family will be doing some traveling the first week in December. And I am sure the Veatches are busy preparing for Jed's wedding. We'll keep you posted on "happenings."
DECEMBER
December 1 - 8
This week was actually very hectic indeed.First off, we were in Searcy, Arkansas, on Monday to do a couple of things. My family and I met with Debbie Poss, the Team Co-ordinator for the group from the Searcy area. This team has been coming for years and often has people not only from all over the Searcy area, but also from all over the U.S.
Then we went on over to the Harding University Campus, where I spoke at a Medical Missions Class. We did a complete presentation of our work and encouraged several to join us.
Finally, later that evening, about 9 p.m., we met with several students from the Harding area to talk about coming with the Searcy team. All in all, a pretty good stopover.
After the meeting, my family and I left Searcy and drove to West Memphis, where we all spent the night.
On Tuesday we all loaded up and headed toward Birmingham, Alabama. Colleen had a day of tests and medical evaluations on Wednesday, there was shopping on Thursday, and then Colleen went in for surgery on Friday. Long story short, she underwent a hysterectomy and bladder repair surgery.
While in Birmingham, the family of Dr. Ted Cox has taken great care of us. We are staying at his house, and he is the one who did Colleen's surgery. They have bent over backwards to make us feel welcomed.
Colleen is doing fine! Resting well. And we will have more details next week. In the meantime, please keep us in your prayers.
Dec. 9 - 28, 2002
Well, this month is flying by and we've been lax in getting our report out. I'm sure we all pretty much share the same hectic lifestyle around the holiday season. It is hard to believe we are about to enter 2003! Where has this year gone?Jerry and Pat Veatch are still in the States and doing a lot of traveling around making church and family visits. They have also been preparing for Jed's wedding. Jed and Ashley Haddox were married on December 28th. We pray God's blessings on them and that He will use them in His service.
As for the DeLoach family, we have all been home together!! Colleen is still recovering and doing well. Steve and the kids are keeping busy with their regular schedules around here as well as helping with other odds and ends that Colleen can't do quite yet. Wayne and Brooke stop in and help out as well. With Colleen's surgery and recover, the holiday season has been even more hectic than normal ... whatever that is.
We enjoyed a beautiful white Christmas!! We spent Christmas eve at Wayne and Brooke's house and then they came to our house for Christmas day. It was great family time!
As this year ends, and the new one begins, we are thankful for you. For those who support our efforts, pray on our behalf, and hold up our arms in encouragement as we strive to do what God is calling us to do. Thank you so much for your love and interest in our work. We love you very much!
Yours in Christ,
Steve, Colleen, Meagan, Erin, Isaiah AND Brooke & Wayne
Praying that you have a Happy New Year.
