Virginia Mennonite Missions: Called. Sent. Transformed.

Leaders in East Asia gather to develop and enrich leaders, worship and pray for each other. In a meaningful time of worship at On Sunny Slope Farm, near Dayton, Va., on July 17, the following persons were commissioned for mission service: Jonathan Cranston, Justin and Melanie Erb, Caleb and Veronica Kiefer, Joshua Kirkman, Katrina Schmid and Whitney Specht. Sathian, a new believer living near Det Udom, Thailand, sings in his rice field during a Bible study. The Life Enrichment Church seeks to reach and disciple new believers and develop local leaders. Nancy Marshall was ordained as a minister by the Belize Evangelical Mennonite Church. She is the pastor of a Deaf Church plant called Jesus’ Deaf Church in Orange Walk Town, Belize, and also relates to St. Peter’s Anglican School as a tutor for young deaf children. She serves in partnership with <a href='http://emm.org'>Eastern Mennonite Missions</a>. Young people from all over Montenegro gathered for worship at a mission event where a powerful, challenging speaker shared his story of being delivered from a life of drugs and crime by the love and salvation of God. Jay and Sheri Hartzler lead a children's choir in Tigmandru, Romania. The choir is one of five choirs they are working with, along with teaching guitar classes and giving piano lessons. You can read more about their year in Romania at their <a href='http://www.romaniannotes.wordpress.com'>blog</a> or at their <a href='http://www.facebook.com/romanianview'>Facebook page</a>. Nelson Okanya, president of Eastern Mennonite Missions, addressed those commissioned for service at the 2013 Virginia Mennonite Conference Assembly and those who support them to always be open to God's invitation. Mark Schoenhals leads a Bible study for LEC church leaders. Shawn and Laura Green are beginning a mission assignment in the Bari region of Italy, along with their young son Lucas. Norma Teles works with Roma children at the Joshua Center, an early childhood education center where the children learn about God, good habits and making friends. Read about <a href='http://vmmissions.org/2012/04/mission-encouragements-at-joshua-center/'>Norma's work</a> earlier this year. Caleb Benner teaches an Economics class at Lezha Academic Center, Albania. 'We believe that we have been called to make an impact on the spiritual life of each student,' he writes. Rebekka Stutzman meets over coffee with friends in Bammental, Germany, to learn how younger adults in that community connect with the faith of their historic roots.

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Caleb and Roni are serving at Maranatha School for the Deaf, Jamaica. Caleb and Roni are serving at Maranatha School for the Deaf, Jamaica.

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