Fully Devoted followers to Africa

If you haven't checked out the team sent to the Central African Republic, then please visit here. It is our passion to develop fully devoted followers in all nations of the world.

We have established a partnership with villages in Central Africa to address spiritual and physical needs. Wooster Grace reaches out to all people groups because people matter to God. Regardless of the ethnic makeup, each person matters to God.

Jim & Stephanie Fish are Home!

In their own words--

Hello All,

We are back and up and at 'em! What an experience! There is soooo much to share.

We want to thank you for your prayers, love and support. We apologize for not being able to keep in contact. Unfortunately, we did not have internet hardly at all. If it came up at all it would usually come up around 10 am for a couple hours, which of course we were out and about doing other things by then. I did try the one day, but by the time I got the email typed up and addresses in it booted us off again and we couldn't get it back at all for a few days. (Problems with SIL)

Electricity was another problem. We were VERY lucky if we would have it for 12 hours. At one point we went without for 36 hours and then it came on for only one hour and 20 min. It did come on a couple hours later again for a bit. It just made life a bit more interesting! And with the time difference it was very difficult to reach someone. And calling a cell phone was out of the question, which are mostly the numbers we had of people. From what I was hearing it was quite costly. I certainly wasn't doing that unless I had to. I just surrendered to the idea God had other things he wanted us to do with our time.

Sun goes down around 6 pm and a lot of times we would loose electric shortly after. It made eating dinner and keeping food and water bottles cold a challenge at times. The neighbors had a backup generator on their fridge so we could put meat in there if we had to. It would be nice to have a schedule as to when the electric would be on or off. However, they (powers that regulate) don't seem to see it that way.

It will be good to see you all and share what God is doing in CAR and in our lives through this experience! To share briefly, Jim and Tom worked hard to make repairs to the current "garage" door and worked at getting in the second at the ICDI orphan care mission center. This was difficult with the electricity going off and on. They were needing to weld and drill metal. They did have a back up generator, but it becomes quite costly to use. It becomes very time consuming. They had success overall. Steph helped Sue with her English classes, helped in the clinic, and observed the sewing class. Jim and Tom also helped in English the one day teaching the Africans the parts of their motorcycles in English. We went to some of the orphan care weekly groups. There are 8 groups which meet various time throughout the week. We had the privilege to meet our sponsored orphan and Tom and Sue's gals in home visits. We went to the Pygmy village, saw a water well repair, a Seminary graduation, a wake, visited the "markets" and artisan shops and had opportunity, of course, to eat CAR food in some of their homes. We celebrated the 4th of July at the GBIM center with grilled chicken and a "bonfire". No fireworks though. It was relaxing, especially since we were suffering from jetlag.

It was good to meet some of the missionaries from various denominations and see the GBIM guest center and new orphan care center/school. Their new facility is wonderful! We also met many ICDI workers who are from Africa. We had opportunity to hear them share what God has laid on their hearts.

In some ways words cannot really share what we experienced. We are still sorting through some of that. We have prayer requests that we will pass on soon too from many working there. Please continue to pray for the work of God's people in CAR, the Africans who live there and their government.

Love you all,

Stephanie and Jim

News from C.A.R.

Just got off the phone this morning with Pastor Tom Peters from Bangui, Central African Republic. Technology is amazing!

In the early days of missionary work in Africa, news came via letter and it took months. Presently, news can come via cell phone and telephone on the ground immediately (when electricity cooperates). So I was excited to hear from Africa.

Tom shared how Jim & Stephanie Fish arrived safely, jumped right into helping with the clinic and assisting in completing the project for the boys. They say thanks for the prayers. Jim & Stephanie arrived on the ground in Bangui at 5:45pm Friday, July 4 (OH time). I do not know if their luggage and packages arrived with them. I'll let you know when I find out.

Tom was able to travel north into "bandit" territory to meet with some men to teach and to train men in community awareness, family health, and spiritual growth. He was surprised and encouraged to have over 100 people attend at Bossangua (I don't think I spelled that city correctly).


He is investigating the possibility of getting a team to help prepare the well drilling project funded by the Wooster GBC VBS. He is asking for discernment as they discover if this team is possibility due to bandit activity and tenuous safety issues. Still, Tom is psyched about investigating what could be done to impact a community for the Lord.



Finally, Pastor Tom appreciates our prayers. Without the prayer of God's people, God's work is idle. I believe that we must pause to pray for God's work to be done in the CAR. May God bless our efforts to impact one community at a time where every person is developing into fully-devoted followers of Jesus, here and in the Central African Republic.

Tom & Sue Peters begin their l-o-n-g journey to Bangui. Jeana estimated that it may take about 34 hours to go from Cleveland-Hopkins to Bangui. So, they should arrive on Thursday, June 19 at 1am (Wooster time), which is 6am (Bangui time).

Pray for their travels to proceed without delay and with their luggage in tow. :)