Ready to Give a Reason (I Pet. 3:15)

God is so good. He gives opportunity for service and then supplies times of refreshment. Dave and I are thankful that we have these few weeks to actually be together (!) in Michigan before the summer arrives. As you can see, our schedule even now is full, but at least there are moments to take a walk, go biking, sit and talk, and enjoy watching Kenan play soccer.

My time in Poland in March/April was very good. He continues to "wed" us more and more to the Polish culture and our love for the people deepens daily. If you would like to see some photos of my time in Poland, as well as my brief excursion in Amsterdam, please click on the following Facebook links:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2021105&id=1042840549&l=1cdc4c4097
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2021079&id=1042840549&l=9a6fc2480b
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2020989&id=1042840549&l=76b5eea3f2
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2020964&id=1042840549&l=609de628fc
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2020927&id=1042840549&l=03104237d6

Thank you for your prayers. We are praying that all of us, in whatever situation of life God now has us, will live lives of gratitude -- always ready to share the hope that is in us (I Pet. 3:15). It is truly amazing and I'm forever grateful that He has "rescued me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom I have redemption and the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1:13-14). Hallelujah!!!

Rest of April and May-August Schedule

The rest of April and May will be filled with emails, skype calls, phone calls, etc. with important contacts in North America as well as in Central and Eastern Europe. Thank you for your daily prayers as we serve our awesome God wherever we are.

April 19 Brighton Assembly of God, Brighton, Michigan
April 18, 20, 24, 25, 26, 28 and May 2 Vardar State Cup and MRL games with Kenan

May 3 Brighton Christian Church, Brighton, Michigan
May 7 Rockville Christian , Rockville, Indiana
May 8 Harvest Prayer Ministries, Terre Haute, Indiana
Maryland Community Church, Terre Haute, Indiana
May 9 College Park Christian , Normal, Illinois
May 10 Madison Park Christian, Quincy, Illinois
May 11 Jefferson Street Christian, Lincoln, Illinois
Creve Coeur Christian , Creve Coeur, Illinois

May 27 David's Departure Day with Lincoln Christian College interns to Poland

May 31-June 10 Seniors Camp with STW from Indiana/Illinois Ostroda, Poland
June 6-7 Christian Church, Kolobrzeg, Poland

June 13-22 Camp for Russian children with STW from Ireland/Michigan Ostroda, Poland
June 22-26 Polish Christian Convention in Zakosciele, Poland
June 28-July 7 English/Sports Camp for Polish children , Ostroda, Poland

July 8 Sandy will join David in Poland
July 10-11 Auchswitz-Berkinau Death camps
July 12 Christian Church, Dabrowa, Poland
July 13-14 Krakow, Poland
July 15 David returns to Michigan, Sandy stays on in Poland

July 27-August 6 Family Camp , Ostroda, Poland
August 14-23 Missio Musica music/worship leaders conference, Ostroda, Poland
August 27 Sandy returns to Michigan

Jerusalem now Poland

David and I are thanking God for a wonderful and significant time in Israel last week. We spent the first few days staying at a monastery in a Muslim town, Abu Ghosh, outside of Jerusalem. Just down the road is Yad Shmona, where Revive Israel has their offices and discipleship center. Revive Israel is a ministry in Israel which Brighton Christian Church supports and with whom we have been in relationship for almost ten years. Asher Intrater, a Jewish evangelist/teacher, is the director of Revive Israel and on Monday and Tuesday we had the opportunity to meet with him and a group of pastors and their wives from Poland. We were learning about the role of Israel and what significance this has for the Church worldwide and in Poland. It was a very special time of prayer, worship, and seeking God’s purposes. On Wednesday and Thursday we stayed in a guesthouse right inside the Old City walls. We walked atop the walls (“on the ramparts”) from the Jaffa Gate to the Lion’s Gate, praying over the city of Jerusalem. We climbed the Mount of Olives and read from Zechariah 14 about Jesus’ return to this very spot. Come and reign, Lord Jesus! Wednesday evening we had dinner with a Jewish man whom I met in language school in Poland last summer. He and his wife are orthodox Jews, and we are thankful that we can build relationship with them. We pray that the light of Yeshua (Jesus) will shine through us into their lives. Being in the Old City was an amazing experience. We were in Israel 10 years ago, but we were touring with a large group and had little time in Jerusalem. This time we were on our own and were able to explore the “real” Jerusalem. We walked the streets, met the people, prayed at the Wall, … At noon on Friday we found ourselves swept up in a river of Muslims pouring down the narrow streets headed for the Dome of the Rock. It was an experience we will never forget as we were engulfed in 1,000’s of Muslims heeding the call from the minnerets. A couple hours later, the Christian “stations of the cross” processional took place on that very same road (the Via Dolorosa). It is incredible that these three major religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) exist in such close proximity. We pray that God will reveal Himself in truth and that all men will call on the name of Yeshua, the true Messiah. On Friday we joined Asher at his congregation in Jerusalem. The place was packed with people, and we so enjoyed being among them at this “Hebrew-language-only” service. Saturday was a true day of “Shabbat,” and we enjoyed hiking in the forests and reading and praying over the Land. Sunday was our last day and we spent several hours at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem. We were overcome with emotion several times, especially since the names and places have become so familiar to us as we work in Central and Eastern Europe. Dave and I parted in the Ben Gurion airport in the wee hours of the morning on Monday. I am now in Poland for five weeks, while Dave is managing our ministry from our home in Michigan. Currently I am in southwest Poland at a recording studio for Christian musicians. Tomorrow (Saturday) I will teach on leading worship from the keyboard. On Sunday I will be teaching at a church in Olesno, Poland, next to Katowice to spend time with university students, and then later this week I will travel to Ola’s home to have time with her before her surgery on March 30. David will be traveling to churches and meetings throughout the month of March, especially in regards to upcoming short-term trips which we are coordinating. We treasure each of you and thank you for your prayers and encouragement as we are on this journey. As I sit in my room watching the snow fall on this grey day in a village in southern Poland, it is good to know that I am not alone. God is with me in strength, and I know that there are a host of praying friends and family back home remembering us before the throne. It means a lot. Thank you. To see 60 pictures of our trip to Israel, click on this link. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2018452&id=1042840549&l=79668 Each picture has a caption, so make sure to read and follow along. Blessings to all! …Sandy

2009 Camper Support letter

The primary mission of Global Missionary Ministries is to proclaim Christ’s unchanging message of salvation to the people of a changing post-communist Central and Eastern Europe.

March 31, 2009

Dear Friends in Mission,

Ten year old Nikita was shy and reluctant to participate in any competitive games or activities. He was also deaf in one ear. His grandmother had traveled with him from Kaliningrad, Russia to Ostroda, Poland so that he could attend a Bible camp. I found out later that he loved music and had played the violin since he was five. He came to camp without a relationship with Jesus.

On the first night of camp we gave the children a name tag with their name written on it in both Russian and English. This helps them to identify it if they do not speak English and it helps the English-speaking counselors begin to know the youth’s names at least in English.

Nikita had lost his name tag but I had found it. My only problem was he had not had his name written down on his name tag in English. I was trying to pronounce his name with my limited knowledge of the Russian characters. I got the N, the K and the T right but my vowels were a little shaky. He recognized his name tag and came to me to receive it. He thanked me with the only two English words he knew and my name, “Thank you, David.” We became friends for the duration of camp.

Through the course of the camp, Nikita attended all the Bible classes but not all the outdoor recreational activities. He did find his way to the “Main Event” each evening where he enjoyed the music and the large group games. On the final day, at the conclusion of the last Bible class, Nikita made a first time decision to give his life over to God and His purposes. He went home to Kaliningrad with his grandmother a believer in Jesus.

Nikita came to camp because someone covered his expenses. Otherwise, he would not have been able to attend. He found salvation through Jesus at Camp Ostroda. We are praying for 40 more youth to be able to find their way to Camp Ostroda this summer. The cost of camp for 2009 will be $150 for ten days in Ostroda. Remarkably, this is less expensive than it was last summer.

Would you be willing to assist one youth in attending camp in Ostroda, Poland? Your gift is tax deductible. Just follow the instructions below and place your tax deductible gift in an envelope addressed to Global Missionary Ministries (see address below). If you are able to do so, we would like to follow up by sending you a picture of one of the campers (after the camp has taken place) so that you can pray for them over the next year. The camp takes place June 13-22, 2009. Your prayers during this time would also be cherished. (Colossians 4:2)

God has opened a door for His Word to go forth. We are preparing to walk through that door. Thank you for helping us to accomplish His purposes.

David Hatfield, Global Missionary Ministries

P. S. Please mail your tax deductible gift to:

Global Missionary Ministries

P.O. Box 41201, RPO Rockwood Mall

Mississauga, Ontario L4W 5C9

Canada (this will require a 72 cent stamp)

Yes, I want to assist one youth to attend Bible Camp in Camp Ostroda.

 I would like to assist ______ (number of youth) youth to attend Camp Ostroda.

One for $150,

Two for $300

Three for $450

Ten for $1500

My tax-deductible check is enclosed in my envelope in the amount of $______.

Made payable to: Global Missionary Ministries with Camp Fund on memo line

Full Name _________________________

Address _________________________

City, State, Area Code_________________________

Email address __________________________ (needed if you want a picture of camper)