Change of Plans

Sorry it's been a while since we've blogged about our mission trip. There have been some developments with our trip to Kyrgyzstan and we've been in a bit of a whirlwind of decisions and plans changing and trying to contact our sponsors and the like. As we were getting close to having to book our tickets, we got word that the team in Kyrgyzstan that was going to be our main point of contact (who would be coordinating our trip and hosting us while we were there) got news that there were concerns on their ultrasound with their fourth child. The scans showed fluid on their baby's spine and brain and it was recommended they go somewhere w/ better equipment to get more ultrasounds and tests made.

After they packed up and flew immediately to Istanbul for more testing, they got confirmation that their developing baby has spinal bifida and some brain development problems. It was obvious that this was no time for us to be planning a mission trip with this couple in the midst of this heartache. Paul and I agreed that we should not pursue physically going to Kyrgyzstan right now but perhaps seeing what we could work on and plan to help with computer training this fall over skype or over video conferencing of some sort.

Pretty much as soon as we decided that we would not be going to Kyrgyzstan, we were cleared to attend a trip to Guatemala this summer (July 9-17) with the team who will be doing construction projects and Vacation Bible School for our church plant down there. The team leader told us that his worship leader who would normally be in charge of setting up the technology and sound for worship during the trip had found out she cannot attend, leaving him to coordinate the trip/people as well as teach the pastors down there and try to set up and lead worship. He asked if we'd be willing to take the responsibility of heading up the technological portion of the trip and helping to train how to incorporate technology into worship. :) So Paul and I will be going to Guatemala this summer instead of Kyrgyzstan. However, we are still planning to partner with Kyrgyzstan as soon as we are able (and as soon as the host couple is able).

Please pray for them and the rest of their pregnancy. Their baby (they've picked out the name Jonathan) is not eligible for in-utero surgery, but they have been told he will have to have surgery as soon as he's born to close up the skin around his spine. They are not yet sure the extent of his brain damage or how severe his handicap will be. They are obviously devastated at the news, but trusting God through it. They would appreciate your prayers as they move forward and try to find the best treatment they can for mom and baby.

To all of you who have given toward our trip, THANK YOU so much! We are only $1500 away (total - $750 each) from reaching the amount we need for Guatemala. We love and appreciate all of you for your giving and your prayer support! :)

Update on our trip

We just got done meeting with our Director of Global Missions at the church. She just got back from Central Asia and while she was there, she met with some of the people who will be key players in our trip in June-July. It was great to hear that we should be able to have internet access for our computer training, which will be a huge asset in helping us to be able to offer more skills to those we're training as well as be active in future trips by being able to "meet" from the United States if possible/necessary.

Our trip will be the first of several more trips in which we'll be teaching computer skills to believers in the area who will be assisting in church plants. The goal is to be able to give the church planters the necessary skills to be able to train others. We'll give them some of the basics while we're there, then the team going back this fall will be able to build off what we're teaching them, and so on. We're hoping to have at least a three-year partnership with the people of Kyrgystan and this has been a need that many of the people over there have asked for so this helps build relationships. Praise God!

Since internet will be so accessible, and since we will probably not be able to go back on most of the subsequent trips, we're excited that we can at least be available to stream video through Skype if need-be to help facilitate more training in the future.

Giving believers these skills will give them opportunities to take what they learn into the surrounding areas and villages to teach others how to use computers and to share Christ with them in the process. And since the ability to use a computer is such a desired skill set, this will be a great bridge to build future relationships. We're excited about the possibilities for the people we'll teach to branch out and teach others who will, in turn, teach others. We can't wait!

Mission Trip

Dear friends and family,

Can you envision a land where people of the modern world still practice ancient farming techniques using hand and horse; where families spend their summers living in the high mountains in tents, herding sheep and yaks? We want to share with you a challenging ministry opportunity God has presented to us. During June 24-July 10, we will be going to Central Asia with a small team from Biltmore Baptist Church.

Our trip will focus on the people of Kyrgyzstan, the second poorest country in Central Asia. The purpose of our trip will be:

-To train and equip local believers in computers and in teaching computer skills in order to give them a way to reach out to the primarily Muslim community/country.
-To go out into nearby villages to do hands-on teaching of computer skills such as Microsoft programs, email and web.
-To open doors to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a people group who is still considered “unreached”.
-To participate in exploration to lay foundation for future work in remote areas.

We are excited about the opportunity and experiences that lie ahead. We hope you see the value in what we will accomplish. As you can imagine, a trip like this requires financial support froma number of people. We need to raise $3,600 by mid-April and a total of $5,400 ($2,700 for each of us) by the dates of the trip. If you can support us financially, we would be very grateful. We also need your prayer support. Prayer is the fuel that will allow us to be successful as we follow God's leading in ministry. Without prayer, nothing will happen.

If you would like to be part of this mission through financial support, please send the attached document and a check to Biltmore Baptist Church, 35 Clayton Rd, Arden, NC 28704. Please make your check payable to Biltmore Baptist Church and include a note that says "Zoller: Central Asia". Do not write our names on the check. All contributions are tax deductible.

While money is important, we have a great need for your prayer support. Since prayer is so important to the success of this mission, we would like to know if we can count on you in that area. Enclosed is a bookmark that you can put in your Bible, on your bathroom mirror, on the fridge, or anywhere else you will see it at least once a day. Please pray daily for our involvement in this trip and for the people we will
be reaching out to in Kyrgyzstan.

Click the picture to see the bookmark and to print it out. :)