Follow the link to my Holiday greetings!

 http://eepurl.com/bLwVdf

I'm excited to announce I was on the radio this morning on The Sunday Morning Drive.  They are interviewing missionaries and sharing their story each Sunday.  You can click on this link (or cut and paste) to hear the interview:  http://www.thesundaymorningdrive.com/missions/


Here is a snapshot of my itineration.
Grateful for a wonderful Sunday morning in early November with the lovely people at Sheridan Assembly of God. Thank you to Pastor Jerry and Sharon Carlson for the love, prayers and hospitality.

Mid-November I spent a lovely morning with the congregation at Owosso Assembly of God. Thank you to Pastor Herbruck for partnering with me as I head to Zambia.

Super enjoyed sharing about Zambia culture in Mrs. Wade's English class. They just read Things Fall Apart by Achebe and are reading Heart of Darkness by Conrad. It was great to tell them what Africa looks like now and how traditional culture, colonial power and missionaries have contributed to that picture.

I had a wonderful time at Flushing New Life Assembly. Everyone made me feel so welcome. It was rather apropros I talked about seasons of life with such the obvious change to winter this weekend. Thank you Pastor Tanner!

You know you are going into a missions-minded church when this is the entrance. Thank you Pastor Scott Thompson and Mount Hope Church for partnering with me and the people of Zambia.

I had a wonderful time at Poplar Creek Church teaching the kids in Camp 419 Thanksgiving weekend! It was great to share about Zambia and BGMC Bibles that I've given to kids in Zambia b/c they have given pennies, nickels, dimes and dollars. The picture is one prayer written on the prayer wall after.

I shared with them the story of Naaman. It's pretty amazing to think that the military leader of a foreign country came to serve God (and receive healing from leprosy) because of the faith and action of a little slave girl! My encouragement to children is God can use you right now.

What a tremendous day at The Chapel, EFC December 6th! I talked to the children for their missions window in each service and shared with the middle school ABF (Sunday school). Thanks to Cindy O'Neill, Suzanne Yonker, and Cathy and Frank Grumbir for making it happen. The kids did such a good job listening and responding. You know you are home when it takes an hour to catch up with everyone afterwards. I'm glad the family of God is so big!

The exciting project the children are going to do is raise money for antibiotics for ear infections and anti-malaria medicine for the Zambian children in the clinic where I volunteer. I told them how I get to give good medical care to the children and tell them about Jesus so they can be healthy in body and spirit.

Last week I spent visiting a friend from college in Memphis, TN.  Jocelyn and Mike and their girls, Olivia and Abigail, made me feel very welcome.  I spoke at Ridgeway A/G, her parent's church.  Thank you to Pastor Moscato and his lovely congregation.  They had such good questions!  I then shared with the Crucible, the college and career group Jocelyn and Mike run for their church.  We enjoyed a Christmas dinner and then a Christmas concert and day at the zoo and the park.  I caught up with missionary friends, the Willifords, for lunch.  The last thing was sharing at Bartlett First Assembly of God.  Thankful to Pastor Johnny Byrd for the opportunity to share about Zambia.  

What a wonderful weekend at Compelled Church! It was great to share with both the adults and kids in the Saturday and Sunday services. Thank you Pastor Nate and Wendy. I loved meeting so many different healthcare workers and people who have been on missions trips or are heading to the field in the future.

You are welcome to read the next e-newsletter.   Grateful for all of you!
https://us5.admin.mailchimp.com/campaigns/show?id=1162825

In an interesting turn of events,  I updated you about my surgery 2 months ago and had another one 3 days later.  For the past week I was having difficulty breathing again.  I went to my local ENT doctor at 8:30 Tuesday morning and he found a hematoma (bruise) on my vocal cords.  It was taking up all the space of the hole hence my breathing issue.  By 3pm I was in the operating room and it was lanced.  My voice is hoarse again but I can now walk up a flight of steps with minimal shortness of breath.  Grateful to the doctors here and to my friends who took me to surgery, stayed with me and let me crash at their house for the night.  I told the nurse I could just walk home after (can't drive after anesthesia) because I live only 1 mile from the hospital.  For some reason no one thought that was a good idea.  I am now back on the road to recovery of my voice yet again.

Here are a few pictures from the churches I've visited in the past two months.

Pastor Bob and Pam Fuller in Wayland, MI.  These are wonderful servants.  The Holy Spirit brought us together and directed the message for us that week.  I'm so grateful for their partnership.  

Wonderful time with Pastor Branham, his family and congregation. 

Pastor Bob Moody and his daughters put together a wonderful week in the northern section of Michigan.  A group of missionaries spent the week traveling to so many of the churches in the area.  

This year was particularly amazing b/c Pastor Moody is the organizer but was very sick in the hospital the past several months and on hospice literally a week or so before this took place. God miraculously raised him up. He still has healing to go, but I can tell you from a doctor's perspective it is truly a miracle he is still on this earth. God has more things for him to do! Please pray for his continued healing. Thank you to the Moody family and all the families and churches. We were truly blessed by you all and I am glad for all the new friendships formed.

My time in Standish with Pastor Colby and Jamie and their three girls was special.  I shared with both the adults and kids.  I loved how the kids filled up my hug tank.  

I spent the evening service one week with the lovely people at Allegan Assembly of God church with Pastor Paul Hays. I love meeting people connected around the world and with eyes for their neighbors near and far.

I spent a lovely Wednesday evening with the people at First Assembly of God of Greater Lansing. I was so encouraged when Brother Leach was moved to take an offering for Moringa trees. We will be able to spread hundreds of trees around Zambia in our Community Health Evangelism groups when I return! Also talked with two young women in different stages of life looking to be a part of the "going" of missions.

One Monday night was an amazing time joining with the missions prayer night at Christian Celebration Center. They enter into heartfelt, purposeful prayer on behalf of missionaries, national churches, and unreached people around the world.

Enjoyed sharing my heart at Calvary Assembly of God Church August 30th. It was exciting to be a part of the historic day they moved into their new venue in a school library so they are closer to where people live. As I found out how much more they are connected to their community, I realized they are another Michigan church doing Community Health Evangelism concepts in the American context.  Thanks so much Pastor Craig T. Owens for letting me be a part.

So enjoyed my Sunday sharing at New Beginnings Church. Had a beautiful worship service with the adults and then taught the children. They did a great job of listening and asking questions. The most common were about the food and animals. It was BGMC week so shared how I helped give 500 Children's Bibles from BGMC to a children's home and church in Zambia. One sweet little boy asked if when we give the Bibles we tell them who gave them. Absolutely!

I forget to take pictures because I haven't mastered living in the moment and capturing the moment on film, but the teacher had the kids gather around me at the end and 3 children prayed for me. The anointing and sincerity in these young people's prayers ministered to my heart. Thank you church and parents for raising up young spiritual warriors!

So enjoyed my Wednesday night with Christian Assembly of God in Portage, MI. Thank you to Pastor Ted Mitchell and everyone for such a warm welcome. I truly feel a part of your church. My heart was touched having someone who is 101 1/2 years old think missions is important enough to come out to listen and support on a Wed night. Many blessings!

Spent a wonderful day at New Life Assembly of God with Pastor Lori O'Dea et al. Got to meet the parents of some Evangel University (Official Page) alums I knew from the Sci/Tech Department (shout out to Erica and Monica Schmidgall), be ushered into praise and worship with a wonderful African beat, and connect with many people. Thank you also for the travel goodie bag-so thoughtful!

I had a great weekend most recently.   I shared with Grandville Assembly of God this morning. Enjoyed meeting everyone and had wonderful conversations.

The rest of the time was filled with catching up with my college roomie, Faith, her husband and three great kids. Fun to be around all that energy-now if we could just bottle some up for later!

Just last week, I spent a wonderful evening sharing at Brightmoor Christian Church. Thank you to Pastor Kjos, Missions Pastor Liza, Missions prayer leader Susie and many others for making me feel welcome. I'm grateful for your generosity and willingness to partner with me in spreading the Gospel in Zambia.

Had a wonderful day this Sunday at Eau Claire Community Church. They always make feel so at home. It was lovely to meet their new pastor and his wife, Ben and Nancy. Thank you for letting me give an update about Zambia and play for you! They have been faithful partners with me from the beginning of my missionary associate year. So blessed my fellow pediatrician, Dick Hines, shares his church family with me.

Every meeting has it's special story and people.  I'm so grateful for every one!.

The promised update about my surgery.  It's now been about 2 months since Dr. Bastian enlarged the hole in the back of my vocal cords with a laser so I have more room to breath air all the time.  The surgery and recovery has been good.  My voice came back to normal quickly and from everyone's report is that my voice is stronger than even before surgery.  This wasn't any part of point of the surgery.  In reality, it could only cause the voice quality more issues with a bigger hole.  I am thanking God for what has happened.  I recently have noticed I can talk in a crowded room without having my voice worn out by the end of the day.  I'm still waiting for better breathing with exercise but the doctor says another 1-2 months may bring more improvement.  The best part was the at the scope at my one week follow up, Dr. Bastian says, "Hey, look, I made your vocal cords look like Africa.  See what you think.

I have criss-crossed Michigan in the past two months.  I placed pins on a map this week of all the churches I've been to, going to or are supporting me.  Turns out there are 50!  What makes me more grateful than the number is the depth of connections I am making with each pastor and congregation.  I know we will be partners for a long time.  Thank to all who are in that group!  I also have people from Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, and Georgia supporting me.  

Each church and visit has it's own story.  I am grateful God allows us to walk together in this journey of life.  

I have ventured into a new form of technology and am using a texting program where you can give easily or get text updates from me periodically (promise they won't be overwhelming in number).  If you are interested 

Text "zambia" to 95577 to receive periodic text updates.
Text "heather" to 95577 to easily give.

Blessings!

I'm continuing to travel the country and state of Michigan sharing my heart for the people of Zambia.  I will update you on the travels and my vocal cord surgery soon.  Here is my newest video to give you a better understanding of where I've come from and where I'm going.


https://vimeo.com/134025105

Excited to share a Speed the Light Video with all of you.
Speed the Light is a missions program for the youth groups of the Assemblies of God.  I am proud to say they supply the money for all our missionaries transportation overseas.  They buy all our cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bikes.  We can't get the Gospel to people without them!   Thank you!

https://youtu.be/sMC3bcVCVF8

I went right from missions training to the itineration trail.  Pastor Alvin Thomas welcomed me to share at the Nations Church in Shelby Township, MI.  They welcomed me into their home, home fellowship group and church with open arms.

I caught up with Pam Austin, soon to be neighbor in Tanzania who lives in Holland, MI.  Pastor Joe and Sandie Coffman invited me to share my heart at Northpoint Assembly of God.  

I then travelled to Mississippi and met up with three pastors and others who came to Zambia last year.  They came and built three churches in communities with Archie and Nancy McGlawn.  I had a wonderful time sharing at Christian Life in Picayune with Pastor Darrell Worley,  Antioch Assembly with Pastor Tamber and Sheila Proctor, and Pastor Gene and Teresa Emswiler in Moss Point.  

There were several rewarding times of ministry.  One teenage girl is very excited to work with children in missions somewhere down the road.  I love being able to inspire the next generation of missionaries.  I spent three days with the women of Teen Challenge.  I shared in chapel where they inspired me with their openness about their journeys through drug addiction and how God is bringing them healing and wholeness.  The second day we celebrated with two women as they graduated from the year long program.  The last day was Family Fun day.  Besides meeting many of the families and enjoying good Mississippi catfish and hushpuppies, we baptized 4 women and 2 children.  I love seeing God's faithfulness in so many different circumstances.   This is a week I won't quickly forget the generosity, love and prayers lavished on me.  Thankful for team members from across the country.

My most recent adventure was in Leslie, MI with Faith Assembly of God.  I joined the Saturday car show and shared the next day in church.  Glad for pastors and congregations who reach out to the people in their community and around the world.  This congregation is already living out the concept of Community Health Evangelism in the American context.

District Council  was an amazing time of honoring Pastor William and Marilyn Leach for their 27 years of service as District Superintendent and Administrative Assistant.  I met many pastors and all five brand new missionaries shared our vision in the Missions service.  It was an encouraging time as Greg Mundis, executive director of Assemblies of God World Missions shared his heart.

Parade of Nations

Sharing my heart for Zambia

My other adventures included sharing  at Vicksburg, Grace Community Church.  They were so welcoming.  I was very impressed by their questions after my presentation, very insightful and varied.  I also was informed by a 10 y/o boy how to get out of a crocodile death roll while we enjoyed ice cream afterwards.  

I spent another weekend with my church family from residency in Cleveland, Ohio.  It is always good to go to a place that feels like home.  The time was too short but I loved catching up with everyone. 

I spent the month of June in Springfield, MO at missionary training and renewal.  It was an amazing time of connecting with new missionaries head to the field (and missionary associates), leaders in our country teams and veteran missionaries on furlough.  We spent time being grounded in Biblical missions theology, appropriate reaching of people cross culturally, meeting physical and spiritual needs, and meeting with our area leaders.  I am most impressed by our Africa leadership team.  They talk about needing to pray and have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but they also walk it out.  The second week of training we spent together as an African region.  Almost half the time we spent in prayer for various regions and countries and people groups.  They definitely walk the walk.  

We were invited to connect with retired missionaries as prayer partners.  Here I am with Phyllis Wagner who spent many years in Africa.  It is such a privilege to have her praying for me.  God certainly put us together as I met at her home and saw all sorts of pictures of plants, especially Baobab trees and rocks.  

We received stoles from our Africa team as they prayed over us.  Here I am with my Area Directors, Lance and Mindy Hines.  Every piece of my outfit has meaning.  I'm wearing a giraffe necklace, a gift from the Zambia team as I finished my missionary associate term.  My skirt is made by the pastor's wife at my Zambian church this last year.  My bracelet is from my very first trip to Zambia as a medical student when I felt God call me to Africa.

A wonderful surprise while I was in Springfield was a visit from Lovemore and Mavis Zulu.  Lovemore is one of our Community Health Evangelism (CHE) leaders.  It was great to catch up and hear them share about  CHE in a local church.

We had an amazing Commissioning service.  Here are most of my fellow Michigan missionaries along with our District leaders.

Selfie opportunity with Brother Trask. 

 This is the theme our class of 2015 missionaries chose to represent us in the years to come.
                                                                   So All Can Hear

My regional directors Gregg and Dana Beggs presented a Chichewa Bible and prayed over me during the commissioning time.  It was very moving to have Greg praying in my left ear in Kiswahili and Dana praying in my right ear in English.   The presence of the Holy Spirit was felt through out the entire service.  I was happy to have my college professor, Dr. Dissmore, leading an orchestra in worship and my parents praying with me and meeting all my incredible leaders of our team.

Exciting news!   Here is my first video explaining what I'm headed to Zambia to do.

This month I visited Saginaw First and had a great time meeting the wonderful people there and reconnecting with Pastor Kurt and Tonilee Cullison who were youth pastors at my church in Waukesha, WI many years ago.

Last Sunday I met an amazing woman.  Dr. Kue is from Cameroon and has a urgent care clinic in Lansing.  She has started a church in the basement of her clinic.  She picks up kids for children's church and then afterwards has an adult service.  They were such an interactive group.

I also shared at Dr. Hines church in Eau Claire.  They are always an very supportive and loving group.  Next week I head to the Michigan District Council and am excited to meet many pastors.

The past few weeks I have enjoyed meeting people in the Michigan District.
I got to know a number of pastor's wives, women  in ministry and missionaries in the district at the Women's Ministry get away the last weekend of February.  It was neat to hear the speaker, Tonilee Cullison who was at my church in Waukesha with her husband Kurt as youth pastors.  I taught her daughter when she was 3 years old.  This week, met the pastors of the Southwest section of the  Michigan District for the sectional meeting.  Glad to have several invitations from there to come meet and talk to churches.  It was meaningful to be commissioned as a licensed minister at the service also.  The newly commissioned ministers received a towel to remind us of servant leadership like Christ showed in washing the disciples feet.  (and a Bible).

Last weekend I had the privilege of driving our missionary speaker for the Blue Roof A/G missions convention to and from the airport and church.  It was so exciting because the speaker was Huldah Buntain.  I grew up hearing the stories about Mark and Huldah in Calcutta India.  She has been serving there almost 60 years!  Such a woman of grace and encouragement.

This weekend it was good to be home to celebrate my grandma's 92 nd birthday.  She is another pillar of faith in my life.  Grateful for so many good examples in my life.

Here's a link to my latest newsletter.  Thanks to all who are a part of the team!

http://eepurl.com/bb9wcr

Welcome to the new year!  I am overdue for an update on where my progress towards Zambia is headed.  The past few months have been full of catching up with family and friends and reporting to a few supporting churches from last year.  As I mentioned in my last newsletter, I now officially have a minister's license as of July 2014.  This October I spent a week in Springfield with other new missionaries-to-be.  We spent the week learning some of the ins and outs of missionary life overseas and at home.  We had our official interviews with the Missions Committee and our Area Directors.  I am now a fully-appointed missionary to Zambia with the Assemblies of God.

I am working part time at Southwestern Medical Clinic while I itinerate.  My plans are to take my pediatric board test in early 2016 (once every 10 years).  Around that same time I hope to have my funding raised so I can head over to Zambia.  I am grateful to have excess funds from last year.  They are enough to cover my $12,000 cash budget I need to raise.  I am working on my monthly support now which is a budget of $6,000 monthly.  I appreciate so many who have already supported me last year financially and through many prayers.  I would love to come talk to any church or home group about my plans for my next 3 year term.
I can be reached at heathermarten@peoplepc.com or 269-932-5859.
You can check out my AGWM web page at agmd.org/u/Drheather