CWO Yoder Update - August 2021

Yoder Update - August 2021

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Over the last month I could not help but think of Paul’s words in Romans 12 as he was communicating how we as Christians should be living. Verse 15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Lately, the last words mostly ring true.

On July 8^th CWO lost a good friend and board member. Dwight Anderson had a heart for serving others which showed in his business and his involvement with CWO ministries. I was asked to share about Dwight’s involvement in missions at his memorial service. I believe Dwight was with us every time we loaded a container to ship things used for ministry in Burkina Faso, Haiti, Zambia or Zimbabwe. He also introduced others to CWO or asked them to serve with him on the board. I know his interest in missions has been passed on to his four children because at his memorial service each one asked me to keep them up to date on the ministries of CWO. We weep with Dwight’s family but also rejoice because we know Dwight is with his heavenly Father.

Onias Tapera, our ministry leader in Zimbabwe, just informed me that his father passed away after struggling with an illness. This will add to Onias’ existing burden of leading ministry and caring for people. Zimbabwe is still on level 4 lockdown because of COVID. I do not know what all the cultural responsibilities are that fall on a son in Zimbabwe after the death of a father but I know Onias will honor these responsibilities. We weep with Onias and his family as they grieve the loss of his father.

I do not know how to describe my emotions when I heard that another earthquake hit Haiti. So many memories of the 2010 earthquake came to mind as I heard the news.I was hoping it was just a bad dream but it is reality and we again are dealing with another disaster in Haiti.This time the numbers of those directly impacted are not as high as before but then Topical Storm Grace came just days later causing flooding in the impacted area.

Knowing there are people who lost family, friends, homes and all their belongings, I feel strange praising the Lord that none of the CWO staff were injured during the earthquake.Also, there was no damage to the CWO headquarters or any of the CWO churches.We have learned that some of the ladies at the Feminine Training Center as well as some of the people from the Port-au-Prince and Ouanaminthe churches have parents in the impacted area.We are weeping with those who have lost so much and are looking for ways to help them rebuild their lives.

As I reread through these things again, I wondered what are ways I can weep with those who are weeping. There are three things that came to mind.

I can communicate with those who are weeping letting them know I am thinking about them. With texting, email and other ways of communicating these days, we can be an encouragement to those in places like Haiti and Zimbabwe who are weeping.
I can pray for those who are weeping bringing them before the Lord who can comfort them.
We can do physical things to help them while they are weeping. Here are some ways we have seen this happen already and will see in the future. We had someone pay for a table at the annual Making a Difference Banquet so that Dwight’s family can attend. People gave donations to CWO in memory Dwight and these donations are going to Haiti Relief. The proceeds from the CWO Get Movin’ for Missions event will also be used for Haiti Relief.

Laura and I will be hiking a trail for the Get Movin’ for Missions event. We would love for you to join this event wherever you are or sponsor us as we participate. You can go to cwomissions.org/news-events to sign up or sponsor us.

Thank you to those of you who contacted us asking about our friends in Haiti. It has been an encouragement. All of you have been an encouragement to us as we rejoice when we see God working through the ministries of CWO and as we weep when our staff and those we serve are weeping.

Serving Together,

Greg & Laura

Praise the Lord for:

For the opportunity to serve others through CWO ministries.
That the CWO staff in Haiti are safe.

Pray for:

Dwight’s family as they grieve their loss.
Onias and his family as they grieve the loss of his father.
Those in Haiti affected by the earthquake and tropical storm.
Pray for us as we search for ways to serve those affected by the earthquake.

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