Guatemala
Global Missions Of Mercy
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| For Traci Venable, God’s call for her to work as a missionary came as clear as day, and with a purpose she feels she has already seen. Venable, 23, is a lifelong member of Highland Park Baptist Church. Her mission field, Huaraz, Peru in the central part of the country, is a place she describes as aesthetically beautiful yet very much in need of the knowledge of the gospel. “It’s a mountainous region, very beautiful but with people who have a real need for Christ,” she said. “I’ll be working with a family and church there with emphasis on children’s ministry.” Traci loves working with children and for the past year, since her graduation from the University of North Alabama, has taught at Florence Christian Academy, her alma mater. At UNA, Traci earned a Spanish degree and played on the Women’s National Championship volleyball team. She plans to use her athletic skill while in Peru where, “they actually love to play the game.” Traci is no stranger to Peru as she spent six weeks there last year doing mission work. Prior to that, Traci’s overseas mission work included a weeklong trip to Guatemala. This time, there is no time limit on how long she’ll remain in Peru. “I feel like I’ll be there until God calls me to go elsewhere,” she says. “He hasn’t said how long and I’m not asking. I just want to serve Him.” As for her passion for working with children, Traci says the children of Peru are easy to reach, truly hungry to be fed the Bread of Life and know Jesus. “The children in Peru absolutely soak it in,” she said, “and, I’ve never done anything in my life I enjoy as much as mission work.” June through September is the winter season in Peru. For those who wish to contact Traci to offer encouragement, email her at tlv2107@hotmail.com |
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ABOUT PAUL MABONNE: * South African pastor-evangelist. Pastors Marulaneng Baptist Church and works for Samaria Mission. *age: 43 *married to Mable since 1990; two children, Precious (8) and Joy (7) *saved in 1979, attended four years of seminary and upon graduation joined full time ministry. |
| Paul Mabonne lives by a simple philosophy: that Christian ministry exists to glorify God in exalting Him and reaching the surrounding South African villages and towns teaching the people to be complete in Christ. The church he has pastored since 1997 has grown significantly, especially the past three years, now with 100 members. He currently lives in the yard of the church, but is in the process of building about five miles away. His call to the ministry came in 1986. A lifelong resident of Petersburg, South Africa, he began studying English in grade school and at the same time studied many different languages of various African villages. Today, he speaks 12 languages fluently, including English. His first trip to America came in March, 2006, as he preached at Baptist churches in Colbert County, including Highland Park. To say Paul was impressed with America is an understatement. And he reminds every American he meets how blessed they are to live in, "such a blessed land." "I've imagined how America would be, but it's much more grand than I ever imagined in my mind," he said. "I had never been in an airplane until coming to America. It was amazing. In my country, many people still travel by foot--10-12 miles in some cases, to get the things they need for their families. Very few people have cars. Only the large cities have shops, unlike here in America." The majority of people in his rural town are unemployed, Mabonne said. Of the residents who are employed, most travel to the nearest city to find work. The oppression of the government in South Africa through the years has forced a separation of races, even today. In many areas of the country, blacks remain second class citizens. "But praise God, Christianity has never been forbidden by our government," Paul said. "In 1997 there was a reconciliation of the white Christians and black Christians and now we're one. God is good and he continues to work." |
