St Andrew is proud to be sponsoring the following missionaries who are answering God's call around the world:
Jeri and Bill Savuto (Kenya, Africa)
Sam Mages (Nuevo Laredo, Mexico)
Kim Hargrove (Haiti)
Kate Pocklington (India)
Jerri and Bill Savuto
Kenya, Africa
Jerri Savuto is a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, along with her husband Bill, and served in Maua Methodist Hospital, Maua, Kenya from 1998-2003 where she was a tutor in the hospital RN program. Her responsibilities included teaching nursing students in the areas of anatomy, physiology, nutrition, pharmacology, medical and surgical nursing, pediatrics, and community heatlh.
In May of 2003, Jerri and Bill returned to the US to begin work as the Interim Regional Executives for Sub-Sahara Africa with the General Board of Global Ministries in New York City. February 1, 2004 they moved to the Dallas, TX area to begin their new jobs as Missionary Interpreters in Residence for the South Central Jurisdiction of the UMC. They rejoice with this new position. After serving in the US and overseas as well as their work with GBGM in New York, they know how important it is for United Methodist congregations to support missionaries and Advance Projects, the areas Jerri and Bill will be working with in annual conferences, districts, and local churches. Of her assignment as a nursing instructor in Kenya, Jerri says, "RN's are desperately needed throughout Kenya. I was able to train students to care for the health needs of the Kenyan people throughout the country while witnessing to the love of Jesus Christ."
Jerri, along with Bill, previously served as GBGM missionaries from 1982-1989. From 1982-1985 they served in Belize City, Belize in Central America where she established and directed the natinal breast feeding organization "Breast is Best League", and under Jerri's direction, breast feding increased from 18% to 52%. From 1986-1989 they served in Jos, Nigeria where she served as an assistant to Bill as well as doing school and rural health nursing.
A native of Santa Fe, NM, Jerri earned a BS degree in nursing from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX in 1968. From 1973-74, Jerri was campus nurse at the Navajo Methodist Mission School in Farmington, NM where she also taught health courses. She was commissioned as a GBGM missionary in 1982.
Jerri and Bill have one adult daughter, Corrie Lyn, and a new granddaughter, Lily. The Savutos are members of Plymouth Park UMC in Irving, Texas.
Jerri Savuto is available for Covenant Relationship support in Central Texas Annual Conference, New Mexico Annual Conference, North Texas Annual Conference, Northwest Texas Annual Conference, Texas Annual Conference.
Make an online donation to: Jerri Savuto.
Sam Mages
Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
Sam moved to Laredo, TX in August of 1999. For two years he worked with Victorious Christian Harvesters helping to take youth groups to Mexico on Evangelistic Mission Trips. For the past two and half years he has been living in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico working with different churches to help the poor of Mexico.
In October of 2003 he came in contact with St. Andrew United Methodist Church through Lupita. Luptia’s home was the first home St. Andrew built in Nuevo Laredo. He now works with St. Andrew to help set up trips to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico to help the groups while they are in Mexico and to maintain an on going relationship with the families who have received newly built homes.
Read more about Sam's calling to the Lord's service in his blog (online journal).
Kim Hargrove
Haiti
Kim Hargrove, who formerly served on the SAUMC youth staff and now serves as a missionary and teacher in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, reports that she is safe and helping the people of Haiti recover from the devastation caused by the tropical storms that struck the island. Keep them in your prayers and follow her progress on her blog; http://kimmieinhaiti.blogspot.com
Kate Pocklington
India
Dear Friends,
Huge greetings to each one of you from the muggy monsoon land of !ndia!! Attached is my latest newsletter. Many thanks to each of you who stand with me so faithfully. I seriously could not do it without you.There are two things that I want to invite you into. Firstly, for those of you with an eye for jewelry, I would love your feedback on the new ‘line’ of bracelets (and earrings) that we are making with the women. We haven’t really begun this… still playing with ideas, etc., but if there is anyone who wants to give some feedback, please let me know.The other invitation is heavier. As many of you know, Ramadan starts on Monday, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. One friend explains, “It is for the duration of this month that Muslims around the globe are called to observe one of the 5 pillars of their faith by fasting from sunup to sundown as a means of tipping the scales of judgment towards favour with God. Most Muslims believe that it was during the month of Ramadan that the torah, the psalms, the gospels, and the Quran were all sent from heaven. Though the exact day of the month is disputed, most Muslims believe that the anniversary of the night during which the Prophet Muhammad began to receive the Quran from the angel Gabriel is a night of special power. The Prophet Muhammad taught that Ramadan is a season during which the gates of heaven are open and the gates of hell closed.
Many followers of Jesus Christ around the world have made it a practice to pray alongside their "cousins" throughout the month of Ramadan. Some even chose to "keep the fast" as well. Resources like www.30-days.net provide a wonderful guide for those who wish to love Muslims through prayer.” My invitation is a little different. Probably about 70% of the women that we work with are Muslims. For those of you who are interested, I would like to invite you to pray for these specific Muslim women that we work with during each day of Ramadan. If you are interested in this, let me know (janpoc(at)gmail.com), and I will send you some more personal information on these women.
With much love, Kate
