Translate

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Historic Special Needs Ministries Advisory for the Southern Asia Pacific Division

Dear Friends,

Here is yet another travel report--the last international trip for the year.  It has been a busy year. I believe we've traveled to 16 countries.  Some trips were for various leadership meetings but most were for Special Needs Ministries -- making way for inclusion of those who are too easily marginalized.  It seems our steps are small in comparison to the needs.  At the same time, it is amazing to see how the Lord is blessing -- far beyond what any human can take credit for.  Please pray for the efforts that the 13 world divisions are making.  It is a new day of awareness. We must not slacken our efforts.

Thank you,

Larry R Evans, DMin
Assistant to the President for Special Needs Ministries
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Pictures/slides of the personnel can be seen at:  


THE FIRST ADVISORY FOR SPECIAL NEEDS MINISTRIES IN THE SOUTHERN ASIA PACIFIC DIVISION. Accompanying me on this historic trip was Elder Jeff Jordan, a pastor who is deaf serving in the GA-Cumberland Conference and serving as the  (Honorary) General Conference Associate Director for Adventist Deaf Ministries International. , His interpreter, Elder Thompson Kay, a professor at South Community College in Lincoln, Nebraska, author and . 

We are indeed grateful for the support of the division President, Elder Samuel Saw, who attended most of the advisory.  We so appreciated the work of Vice President for Special Needs Ministries, Elder Johnny Lubis.  It would be a terrible oversight if we did not mention the superb organizational work of Virgie Baloyo, the administrative assistant! 

Attending the training advisory were representatives of 7 unions (including 2 union presidents) and 2 attached missions. In total, 10 countries were represented. Also pictured is one of the two Sabbath services conducted in the Pasay church -- approximately 1000 attended. Special Needs Ministries conventions will follow next year in the Philippines and in Indonesia. Once again we were reminded of how important it is for division and union leadership to lend their support to this ministry. We could not ask for more support than what the division leadership in this division showed. The global "movement" continues!!

Friday, October 13, 2017

A HERITAGE TOUR OF HOPE

(The link to a pictorial gallery of this trip is at end.)

THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF HOPE--anticipating the Second Coming. I recently had the privilege of taking the Heritage New York & New England  Tour which was a reminder of the faith experience of our early pioneers. Seventh-day Adventists have long given emphasis to the Second Coming of Christ. We see ourselves as a movement of prophecy connected to the events described in Daniel 2 and 7-9 and Revelation 12-14.  Adventists represent a people who love Jesus and look for His soon return in the clouds. It is true that we cherish the Sabbath because it memorializes God's six-day creation of the world, Jesus' finished work on the cross, and righteousness by faith. The Sabbath is relevant in these days because it not only calls us back to worship the Creator and Redeemer but it is also a weekly reminder that God has a purpose for each person and that purpose begins to be fulfilled with a personal relationship with Him. That hope permeates our lives with a sense of certainty despite the uncertainty that threatens our world today.

One of the tour guides on this inspirational trip was Merlin Burt of Andrews University. In his book, entitled Adventist Pioneer Places: New York and New England, he wrote:

"First Samuel 4-7 tells the story of how God delivered Israel when they were spiritually backslidden from Him and were challenged by a most dangerous enemy. It begins with a terrible defeat when the ark of the covenant was captured by the Philistines and concludes with the establishment of a memorial stone named Ebenezer after their deliverance by a mighty act of God (1 Samuel 7:12). The word Ebenezer means 'stone of help.' This monumental stone reminded the children of Israel how God had delivered them from their enemies.  In many ways the historical sites and stories of God's leading described in this book are Ebenezers for those who are the spiritual descendants of the early Advent movement. They point to the mighty acts of God in the lives of people who, through weak and fallible, were used by God in remarkable ways to establish the Seventh-day Adventist Church that today circles the globe and includes many millions of people." (p. viii)

Today it is our desire, our mission, to share a hope that is greater than any disappointment, despair, or doomsday threat.  It was the Apostle Paul, who faced his times of distress and still wrote: "And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." (Romans 5:5, NLT) 

A PICTORIAL GALLERY OF THIS HERITAGE TRIP CAN BE VIEWED BY CLICKING ON THE FOLLOWING LINK: 

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Travel Report: 2017 Lisbon, Portugal


Lisbon, Portugal
August-September 2017
 
As a follow-up to our last travel report regarding Zimbabwe, you may find the article written by Andrew McChesney of Adventist Mission of special interest.  The article also includes a related report in Burundi, Africa.  Indeed, there is something taking place that is beyond human accomplishments. (Matt. 24:14) https://adventistmission.org/scores-of-disabled-people-accept-jesus-across-africa

Here are a few pictures of Lisbon, Portugal from our recent visit. Lisbon is the home of the devastating
 earthquake in 1755. I’ve include a few historic statements regarding Lisbon and the earthquake below.  The pictures from our visit can be seen by clicking on the following link

Lisbon & the 1755 the “Great Lisbon Earthquake”
(Wikipedia)
"Lisbon  is the capital and the largest city of Portugal.  It is the only Portuguese city besides Porto to be recognised as a global city. It is one of the major economic centres on the continent, with a growing financial sector and one of the largest container ports on Europe's Atlantic coast.  The city is the 7th-most-visited city in Southern Europe, after Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Athens and Milan, with 1,740,000 tourists in 2009.

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake, also known as the Great Lisbon earthquake, occurred in the Kingdom of Portugal on Saturday, 1 November, the holy day of All Saints' Day, at around 09:40 local time.[2] In combination with subsequent fires and a tsunami, the earthquake almost totally destroyed Lisbon and adjoining areas. Seismologists today estimate the Lisbon earthquake had a magnitude in the range 8.5–9.0.  Contemporary reports state that the earthquake lasted between three and a half and six minutes, causing fissures 5 metres (16 feet) wide to open in the city centre.  Survivors rushed to the open space of the docks for safety and watched as the water receded, revealing a sea floor littered with lost cargo and shipwrecks. Approximately 40 minutes after the earthquake, a tsunami engulfed the harbour and downtown area.  Estimates place the death toll in Lisbon alone between 10,000 and 100,000 people,[5] making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in history.

This following statement from the book, The Great Controversy,p.305, by Ellen White,  comes after quoting Luke 21:25, Mark 13:24-26, Revelation 6:12.
“The shock” of the earthquake “was instantly followed by the fall of every church and convent, almost all the large public buildings, and more than one fourth of the houses. In about two hours after the shock, fires broke out in different quarters, and raged with such violence for the space of nearly three days, that the city was completely desolated. The earthquake happened on a holyday, when the churches and convents were full of people, very few of whom escaped.”—Encyclopedia Americana, art. “Lisbon,” note (ed. 1831). “The terror of the people was beyond description. Nobody wept; it was beyond tears. They ran hither and thither, delirious with horror and astonishment, beating their faces and breasts, crying, ‘Misericordia! the world’s at an end!,’” 

Then on page 309 are these words:  “But as the spirit of humility and devotion in the church had given place to pride and formalism, love for Christ and faith in His coming had grown cold. Absorbed in worldliness and pleasure seeking, the professed people of God were blinded to the Saviour’s instructions concerning the signs of His appearing. The doctrine of the second advent had been neglected; the scriptures relating to it were obscured by misinterpretation, until it was, to a great extent, ignored and forgotten.”

Such thoughts raced through my mind as we walked the old streets of Lisbon. Sobering reflections as we saw the remnants of the earthquake and a reminder of lessons to be remembered as we face so many natural disasters today.  A reminder of the soon coming of Jesus.
The Travel Report
I write from Lisbon, Portugal where I first attended a meeting for interpreters for the Deaf which was then  followed by an advisory meeting. An advisory is an orientation meeting for leaders of Deaf and Special Needs Ministries. The commitment and enthusiasm of the Inter-European Division Special Needs Director, Coraddo Cozzi, is making a difference in this part of the world. Teaming up with him were his able assistant, Taida Rivero and the coordinator in Portugal, Claudia Dias. Seven of the 10 unions were represented.   This is a major endorsement from this division when this many unions participate. I have yet to see Special Needs Ministries expand rapidly without the endorsement and support from both the unions and the division.  While we speak of a "grassroots movement", it takes the whole church for a movement to gain momentum.  There are signs a global movement is forming. Such meetings are needed.  There is such a   short supply of interpreters for the Deaf. In many places this need is beginning to be filled.

One highlight of our meetings in Portugal was a discussion regarding the unfortunate plight of thousands of orphans and vulnerable children.  Alarming are the reports of hundreds of children who suddenly disappear.  It is felt they have fallen to human trafficking (prostitution, etc) and the harvesting of human organs.  That reality is weighing heavily on me and others.  We cannot sit and not do more than we are.  What can we do?   We already have some excellent organizations working for orphans. We need to support them but we must also find ways of significantly expanding this ministry to halt the disappearance of other children.  Stay tuned.  This ministry must be more about possibility than disability. With God's help and yours it will be!





Friday, September 1, 2017

Travel Report: Brazil & Zimbabwe



August 2017

PICTURES Novo Tempo Media Center near Sao Paulo, Brazil https://cincopa.com/~AwFA-HeEFQuM

PICTURES of TRIP TO ZIMBABWE: https://cincopa.com/~AEIARBuu2Dsk

Brazil
The meeting near Sao Paulo, Brazil was the venue for this year’s Hope Channel’s Leadership/Managers’ Meeting.  I was included in the invitation because I am considered the manager for Hope Channel – Deaf which is one of the 46 different channels of Hope Channel.  Hope Channel – Deaf is an Internet channel (www.hopechanneldeaf.org), as opposed to a broadcast channel.  By being an internet channel makes it available anywhere in the world where there is Internet reception regardless of satellite reception.  Zimbabwe, for example is not able to receive the satellite coverage for Hope Channel but it can receive ours. We use what is called VOD or Video On Demand which means programs are not aired according to a schedule but according to the viewers wish or demand. You don’t have to be deaf to enjoy the channel. Try out the section on nature!

The meeting was held at the South American Division Hope Channel site which is called Novo Tempo.  It is by far the largest facility of the 46 channels.  The General Conference, the mother station, employs 26 individuals with just a few sets for television production, Novo Tempo employs 496 and soon to be over 500. There are 26 different sets from which programs are broadcast.  Novo Tempo is a multi-ministry facility which includes not only television and radio productions but also a large Bible school program. It is state-of-the-art facility and has a tremendous recognition and ministry throughout South America.  The networking with various personnel that I was able to do there clearly made the trip worthwhile.  Our own Hope Channel – Deaf will certainly benefit!!

Zimbabwe
I cut my time in Brazil a little to attend the Special Needs Camp Meeting in Zimbabwe. What a life-changing experience for me in so many ways. Just two years ago there was very little organized in the way of Special Needs Ministries.  With an emphasis coming from the General Conference, things began to change rapidly.  Division, union and local conference leadership accepted the challenge. When I arrived, and spoke that Thursday evening, the meeting hall was packed with 350-400 individuals—deaf, blind and many in wheelchairs.  What a beautiful sight!  We introduced the new recommended theme song, “Not Alone”, and what an experience to hear these Africans sing that song—a song that originated in Uganda and recorded by the Watato Children’s Choir (made up of all orphans). The division leader, Passmore Mulambo, union leader, Logan Masaiti , and the conference president, Godfrey Musara showed incredible leadership for this ministry.  The conference president, for example, has a conference membership of 190,000 yet he makes it his practice to worship with a special needs group somewhere in his conference once a month. His conference has 17 different camp meetings this year. I can’t say enough about the enthusiasm of all the leaders, including lay leaders. An interpreter for the deaf from Pretoria, South Africa, Zee Purdy Lee, attended and added much to the meetings.

The camp meeting was held on the school grounds of a government facility designed for special needs individuals.   On opening night the Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare for the country of Zimbabwe was present and gave some opening remarks. His remarks regarding the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church were encouraging and inspiring.  My brief meeting with him was very positive and we spoke of working together in the future.  On Sabbath we had to move out of the hall that had been provided for us and into a tent that had been pitched on the school grounds.  The attendance on Sabbath was around 500!  I spoke about six times during the camp meeting.  I was asked to make an appeal for baptism after my Sabbath sermon. Forty had completed the Voice of Prophecy Bible Study Lessons. I made the call and 34 came forward for baptism!  I was overwhelmed with the response.  I had never experienced so many in “wheelchairs” come forward to an altar call. That afternoon 15 deaf, 10 in wheelchairs and 9 “able-bodied” were baptized,  Some of those in wheelchairs had no control of their legs or arms.  I was so moved by their experience.  Afterwards with beaming smiles, some shouted, “I’m baptized, I’m baptized, thank you Jesus.”  The impossible happened and they were visibly rejoicing.  In the midst of all the excitement, I paused.  Silently I prayed and thought, of all the uncertainties that I’ve faced over the last several years and now those uncertainties had a reason. I just couldn’t see why at the time. 

I must tell you about a special service –the last service of the camp meeting.  What an impression it made on all of us.. Three cakes were placed before three individuals: a blind person, a deaf person and a physically handicapped person. Each was asked to cut out a piece of the cake in front of them. A sighted person helped the blind, an interpreter explained to the deaf what to do, and the physically handicapped person (no use of either arms or legs) used the best resource he has--his mouth in which an able-bodied person assisted by placing the knife in his mouth. In each case a piece of the cake was cut. BUT IT DIDN'T STOP THERE! The sighted person fed the blind person the cake, the blind person fed the deaf person and the deaf and the physically handicapped person fed each other. No one was better than the other and each needed the other. The message was clear: we need each and each has been called to serve all. Surely, a powerful message for a world that disparages those often whom they call "disabled." The German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder observed in the 18th century that we cannot know ourselves without a reference point outside of ourselves. Perhaps, just maybe that reference, in part, are those with special needs who illustrate so powerfully that they serve as mirrors of our own brokeness. I attended as a student and was reminded that I must remain a student and while there they were my teachers. (By clicking on each picture you can see more.)


A little expression that I’ve coined for myself and applied to many situations—both mine and others—was once again confirmed:  “Don’t try to conclude the writing of the book when God is still adding chapters!”  Heavy on my heart now is, “What about others!  What about those who are being marginalized all around the world because of their “disability.”  As we now say about this ministry, “Our mission is not about disability. It is about possibilities.”  Each one of these individuals with special needs has possibilities that the world often overlooks or ignores.  We are out to change that!!

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Travel Report: The Alps of Italy, France and Switzerland

Family and Friends

[The link to the pictures is at the end.  I’ve placed the "nature" pictures up front and the “people” pictures at the end.  No doubt many of you will be most interested in the nature pictures.]

I am way behind with my travel reports – 15 countries so far this year and more to come.  While that is not a complaint, it is hard to keep up with the recording of all that has happened.  One point clearly stands out:  We have a wonderful God of creation – of the natural world but also in the world of people.  The pictures that I am sharing will have to tell most of the story.  The “2017 Field Conference on Faith and Science” was designed especially for General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist church administrators.  There were 48 of us which included some division presidents, secretaries, treasurers and some from the home headquarters of the General Conference (presidential and secretariat).  Some were able to bring their wives.  Carrie, my wife is caring for her sister who has a serious form of Leukemia and, at this point has been gone for 6 weeks with many more to come.  I am so thankful to have a wife who cares that deeply and is willing to help others.  In the meantime, I’m learning an awful lot about what make domestic life possible.  

We were led in this exploration of the Alps of Italy, Switzerland and France by six scientists of the Geoscience Research Institute.  This was the second such field trip for me but the first outside the United States.  The beauty was just amazing.  The insights into the cataclysmic activity of long ago was humbling.  The power to move continents, mountains, glaciers, etc. is beyond comprehension.  The pictures only tell part of the story.  I for one, believe the Bible’s depiction yet each time I read the creation and flood account I learn new things and often I find myself challenging some things I thought I knew.  I have concluded that it is not wise to try to put God into a box or to hold him to the way we perceive things happening now. (Read carefully 2 Peter 3).

The field trip was educational to say the least!  Trying to absorb new terms, new concepts while still finding questions yearning for answers was exhausting but also exhilarating at times.  The comradery that developed among us leaders from around the world was so encouraging.  We each left with a strong belief in our Creator God who has never and will never abandon us. Spiritually I can resonate with a comment Jim Cymballa wrote in Fresh Faith, 

“Let us face the fact that God will never let us remain the way we are today.  That is the reason for this refining process in our lives.  We are all ‘under construction.’ . . . We only move ahead by losing some things.  God still adds by subtraction.  Communion with him is our greatest need—but there are a lot of hindrances to that, aren’t there?” (p.187)

My prayer for myself and for you is that whatever hindrance we face will be measured with the size of mountains and power that are represented in the Alps that I visited.  Surely, there is no obstacle that you and I face that is any bigger or more difficult to change than the mountains that were raised, moved and removed in that mountain range.  I keep thinking about what Cymbala said, “God still adds by subtraction” and that “we are all under construction.”  In the hands of the Creator we are safe.

You may view many (but not all) of the pictures I took while on this trip.  Be sure to click on the two little squares at the top to get the full screen effect.  You may advance at your own speed by hovering your mouse over the sides of the picture and clicking on the arrow.


Saturday, June 24, 2017

TRAVEL REPORT: 2017 Ethiopia Leadership Summit






Travel Report:  June 2017, Ethiopian Union Mission Leadership Summit


Travel Itineraries:  Several have asked about the absence of travel reports.  I apologize.  With the rapid expansion of the Special Needs Ministries Movement, travel has increased significantly.  Speaking appointments, etc so far this year have included:  North American Division (Arizona), Mexico, Russia, Ukraine (2xs), Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, and Ethiopia.  Within the next two weeks three more countries will be added with additional countries later in the year. Each one is important.  Unfortunately, it is difficult to keep up writing reports though I have many pictures.  I am pushing myself a bit to try to establish a foundation of leadership so this movement will not collapse after I retire at the coming Session.  This isn’t meant to be an arrogant statement.  What I see happening around the world suggests that more than human effort is the reason for the expansion.

Personal Note:  Adding to these appointments was the passing of my precious mother-in-law, Garnet Bigger, at the age of 96 and the graduation of our grandson, Jared Evans, from Portland.  Jared has faced the challenges of autism but the progress he has made is amazing!  He has received a scholarship to Walla Walla University where he is looking forward to excelling in engineering.   At the present time, my wife Carolyn has been with her sister, Sandi Carlson, in Seattle serving as her caregiver.  It’s possible she will be there as long as four months but that is uncertain at this time.  No question about it, talking by phone and email isn’t just doesn’t quite cut it despite the fact that I have been gone a lot and will be a lot more this year. This is emotionally and physically challenging to Carolyn and frankly its drainng on all of us as family.  Sandi has always been a very special to us.  One other major challenge is the transition of Christian Record Services for the Blind from the General Conference to the North American Division.  What that organization has done for the blind globally (outside of North America) will now be my responsibility to oversee. We are working with the president of CRSB, Diane Thurber, whom I respect greatly.  We are hoping to still use CRSB on an outsource basis. Much work remains to be done as we coordinate this with the 12 other divisions.  Whew. So much to do!!

Travel to Ethiopia:  Other than stopping in the Addis Ababa airport I had never been to Ethiopia.  Every culture, every country is different in their own right.  I found the Ethiopians to be very gracious and who can quarrel with Ethiopia food featuring  the Injera--spongy, teff-flour crepe used with your hands to pick up bits of vegetables, etc. Some dishes can be a little spicy.  Ethiopia is Africa and is a reminder that Africa is not monolithic.  Of special note is the fact that all across Africa education is valued, as seen in the report we received from the University of East Africa (Kenya) that the university just graduated 81 with the Doctor of Ministry degree.  Africa is working hard to develop leadership for its rapidly growing membership.

This was the second Leadership Summit (4th country) that I have been invited to be a presenter. Earlier this year I presented in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand (Southern Asia Pacific Division). I am pleased for these opportunities to share concepts behind the “movement” of Special Needs Ministries. Other presenters included:  Willie and Elaine Oliver, GC directors for Family Ministries, Geofrey Mbwana, GC Vice President, and the organizer of the Leadership Summit, Philip Baptiste who is the Special Assistant to the President of the East Central Africa Division.  It was a great team and there seemed to be true appreciation of the material the team shared with them.

Sight Seeing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: As a group we did have a few hours to see some significant sites before we left.  The first was the Holy Trinity Cathedral.  Great mention is made of the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon.  This is the second country I visited within a year’s time that believes the Garden of Eden may have been there The Church compound is the burial place for those who fought against the Italian Occupation, or those who accompanied the Emperor into exile from 1936 to 1941. Emperor Haile Selassie I and his consort Empress Menen Asfaw are buried in the north transept of the cathedral. (See pictures).  We also visited the Addis Ababa University which is also where the historic Museum of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies is located.  The museum is located in the main campus of Addis Ababa University. This campus used to be the palace of the late Emperor Hailesilassie I for more than three decades. Its name, Genete Leul Palace, literally meant “the Prince’s paradise”.   So much history here and where much of the news focused decades ago. It was a privilege to visit these centers of political influence.

Prayer Request: I leave soon for the next trip which will be to three countries in Europe We would appreciate you prayers on behalf of my sister-in-law, Sandi Carlson who fighting a serious form of Leukemia and for my wife, Carolyn, who is serving as the 24/7 caregiver.  I nearly cancelled the trip but after discussing this with my wife it was felt that later, after the trip, might be a more appropriate time to be with her but even that has other complications.

Saturday, May 6, 2017

TRAVEL REPORT: Russia, Ukraine, Kazakstan and Romania


Dear Family and Friends.



PICTURES:   Russia/St Petersburg/Hermitage Museum:                  https://cincopa.com/~AgDAl4NfTRpQ

               Kazakstan, Junior Olympics and a Meeting in Russia:                        https://cincopa.com/~AkEAC8NFnlP4
 

TRAVEL REPORT:  See Below

[Note re Saint Petersburg and the Hermitage Museum from  Wikipedia since most pictures are not captioned: 

The State Hermitage is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the largest[2][3] and oldest museums in the world, it was founded in 1754 by Catherine the Great and has been open to the public since 1852. Its collections, of which only a small part is on permanent display, comprise over three million items (the numismatic collection accounts for about one third of them)[4] including the largest collection of paintings in the world. The collections occupy a large complex of six historic buildings along Palace Embankment, including the Winter Palace, a former residence of Russian emperors.

Travel Report for January 2017
Euro-Asia Division and Romania

The following is the first major trip of the year which lasted three weeks. Many names were left out but I am indebted to so many.  Once again, this trip, like many others, was life-changing for me.  I write as we are circling and circling and circling over Tokyo due to heavy winds.  This present trip will be followed another long one (4 weeks) to Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand for LEAD Conferences,   and then finally off to India for the last two weeks where we will have an advisory for union leaders and a training program for Gospel Outreach workers for the Deaf.  I will also visit orphanages and schools for the blind and deaf while there.  That report will be shared later.

Moscow, Russia

Moscow was the original destination of the invitation by the Special Needs Director, Pavel Liberansky, but it expanded from there.  The advisory (training) was held in the division office just outside Moscow.  The division office was purchased when the building was nearly completed as a children’s home or school (not clear).  It is a very nice but not elaborate facility.  In addition to office space, there are several guest rooms as well as a small cafeteria.  A very nice church was built adjacent to it. 

Moscow is a city of large/huge apartment complexes.  Rent, so it seems, is expensive when compared to salaries.  When converted into dollars alone rent seems on the low side. The graciousness of those who cared for us was very generous in every way. The food was exceptional--especially if you like me relish potatoes and soup/borsch the way I do!  The advisory was for union leaders throughout the division.  Their attention and interest was strong. Interest in Special Needs Ministries is well established in the leadership here though it is relatively new other that work with for the Deaf which has been going on for some time. I presented devotionals for the morning worships for the office as well as seminars for those who came to the advisory.  I am so encouraged as I visit the various “corners” of the world.  Just a few years ago there was little being done in Special Needs Ministries. However, I have yet to find a strong division program for Special Needs if it is not supported by the union leadership.  I have seen the work for the Deaf dwindle in my own division to only one denominationally sponsored pastor!    Independence is a good thing in some areas but it seems some divisions shy away from the resources the General Conference has to offer.  Synergy among all Special Needs Ministries is vital.

After a Special Needs advisory in Kazakhstan, I returned to Mosow in time to catch a city tour and a tour in St. Petersburg.  It was an amazing trip as you can tell from the pictures.  We visited many palaces and cathedrals whose beauty was breathtaking.  It was, however, sobering when we learned that the golden walls and doors and ornaments, etc., etc. was done while the poor financed the opulence in these places of worship and governance.  

As I write, I am on a 20 hour flight to Manila, Philippines. The division leadership there is very supportive of this ministry and have given strong encouragement to the union for their participation. 

Carrie, my wife, was supposed to join me on this trip but about a week before we were to leave, we learned that her 96-year old mother fell at home and broke three ribs.  Other family members with whom she was staying had to be gone.  She made the right decision to be with he mother – I have been truly blessed over the years with an outstanding mother and father-in-law. It’s the least Carrie/we could do. [Her mother died in February but just before her funeral Carrie’s sister, Sandi Carlson, collapsed while grocery shopping.  It was discovered that she has Acute Myloid Leukemia and is currently in isolation at a Portland, Oregon hospital.  She has now had two rounds of chemo therapy.  We are hoping she will soon be able to receive a bone-marrow and stem cell transplant. Cancer is plaguing so many of our friends!

St. Petersburg, Russia

The State Hermitage Museum is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the largest and oldest museums in the world, it was founded in 1754 by Catherine the Great and has been open to the public since 1852. The pictures depict the amazing beauty found there.

Almaty, Kazakhstan

With three days between meetings, it was suggested that we use that time to conduct an advisory (training event) in Kazakhstan, which we did.  Though this whole trip already had quite an intense itinerary, we are glad we made this extra stop.  It was good to see the support of the leadership of the mission.  I feel compelled to establish a firm foundation for this ministry before I retire in 2020 so anything I can do inspire, motivate and train and that is within my budget I try to do.  I see so many evidences of the Lord’s intervention – not only in my life, my career, but also countless others.  It just seems that this ministry has been put on “full steam ahead” by a Power that exceeds anything we do.

Our visit to Kazakhstan was in the southern part, the mountainous region where the city of Almaty lies.  The union mission office is located here—a beautiful recently constructed building. On Sabbath, we spoke in two churches.  We were impressed by both the friendliness of the members and by the quality of music—not just the special music presentations, which were spectacular, but also the people in the pews.  The response to our emphasis on “Special Needs Ministries” was encouraging.

The city is also the home of the 2017 World Winter Student Games (Olympics).  A small group of us took the gondola to the very top (3rd level) where it is much colder than at the base) the day before the “junior Olympics” were to begin.  It was quite amazing to see all the preparation that goes into such events. We saw skiers, snowboarders practicing.  We looked down and saw the skating rink for the competitions – uncovered (no roof) and we understand it is the highest skating rink as far as elevation is concerned. We saw the large security force and we even saw the emergency team practicing taking individuals down the hill on the well-crafted stretcher. Quite spectacular is the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension.  It is a beautiful brightly-colored building and was constructed in the late 1800’s and was made entirely without nails.  It is one of the landmarks of Almaty.  It is one of only a few structures that survived the devastating earthquake of 1910.  The Rakhat chocolate factory is a well-known tourist attraction though we never went there (but that doesn’t mean I didn’t get my share of chocolate while there!).   Apples, it is widely believed, originated in Almaty! They are delicious.

Leaving the dedicated believers and workers was difficult yet I’m confident we will meet again someday. Of special note were two interpreters for the deaf from Kyrgyzstan.  What a Christian spirit.  One is sponsored by Gospel Outreach.  We pray that the seeds planted regarding work for the Deaf and those with Special Needs will develop into a strong ministry for those are often overlooked.

Kiev, Ukraine

This was my second visit to Kiev.  Soon after my first visit, Dr. Jay Sloop, a physician from the northwest who had gone to Kiev to begin a health center, went missing and wasn’t found until about two years later.  He had gone to a park where I had gone with a friend. He went alone and never returned.  Such memories flooded my mind.  Life is indeed fragile.

The occasion to go to Ukraine was the annual GC Leadership Summit.  All speakers were given 20 minutes to speak and, of course, I was asked to speak about Special Needs Ministries.  Once again, the response was very encouraging!  It is so important to get the buy-in of leaders if this ministry is to become more than a “program”.  It is becoming a movement as leaders and laypersons grasp the heart of this work.  It is happening!!  We can settle for nothing less.  We often hear protestors within the church (outside the church too, of course) but I wonder why aren’t we protesting about the marginalization of those with Special Needs?   Some are never even given a chance to live.  I am reminded of the 56 million aborted lives between 1973 and 2014.  If we believe that we (everyone) is created in the image of God, then who are we to decide their fate.  It’s about giving them a choice too!   How can we be silent?  Far too often when this issue is raised in the United States it is confused with a political party. We must not let politics confuse the issue.

Bucharest, Romania

I’ve given up trying to make this a short report – believe me, however, it has been shortened.  Recently, I reluctantly accepted the invitation to add Romania to an already intense trip.  The union president and Duane McKey strongly urged me to go for at least one weekend to hold some evangelistic meetings for a special gathering of those with special needs.  I knew the group having spent four days with them last year.  Pastor George Uba and Daniel Constine lead out in what I hope to make into a global strategy for those who are disabled.  About 50 attended the meetings of which 90% (or more) were not members of our church.  The response was absolutely worth the extended trip.  What precious people.  Many were in wheelchairs.  I was never so proud to see an
Adventist Church crowded with wheelchairs and canes. Some, only a few, were mentally challenged but I’m proud to call them some of “my own.”  Surely they also have a need to feel like they belong somewhere.  Don’t they!  Some were bent and twisted from cerebral palsy.  To think that dictators in the past would have had them executed (in a variety of ways) because they were not “right” in their “form.”  Looking at them and their open hearts I saw the image of God.  Dignity is a gift from God but sometimes we are the “blind” ones.   It is an inherent quality that is not given because of what we can do or not do. The dignity is inherently there but some of us need to learn to see it and treat it as such.  My first first “evangelistic” sermon for this group was entitled, “Celebrate What’s Right!” It was the first time I ever began evangelistic meeting with this topic but such is the impact this ministry has had on me.  It only makes sense to start with what’s right and see where things went wrong rather than the other way around.  Mine was a call to come back to the relationship with God that we had at the very beginning.  The response was very positive.  I was not expecting any decisions for baptism after only four presentations but four made the decision to be baptized. Because of the accepting church of Pastor Uba they already felt loved and God’s Word had already spoken to them. I am deeply moved as I see God work.  The world is in a mess but we have a hope that is greater than any problem Satan can throw at us.  Keep looking up!  -- Larry Evans