Meet our friend Johnson

Meet a friend of ours named Johnson.

Serving people living on the islands in Micronesia, quickly brings you face to face with their actual realities. It is one thing to imagine what sorts of people and situations you will encounter and try to make plans accordingly, but once you arrive and begin a conversation with these who live in extreme isolation you realize just how difficult it is to sustain healthy life removed from healthcare options.

The problem is evident – the lack of nutrition, communication, access to healthcare during an illness, lack of medical equipment and supplies, and the lack of knowledge. All of these factors create a difficult health environment. On these remote islands change appears impossible – so much so that many have given up dreaming about a different way of life and lapse into depression.

One of our medical crew, Kimberley Ward, noted, “With the reality of their life, the shortage of healthy foods, and unfortunately the easy access to canned goods it is understandable why by the age of 35, half of the population struggles to manage severe diabetes.” It is rampant in these remote places but you never hear of it on the news!

Due to the lack of healthy food options one in two persons you meet there will live half their life seriously struggling with health issues. They will suffer from poor or nonexistent dental care and optical care, have circulation problems, obesity, and the list goes on and on. This brings us to our friend named Johnson (below) who had toes already amputated was in desperate need to have more removed. He was trying to manage on his own but was needing to be evacuated before the diabetes ended up taking his life. Using HAWAII ALOHA as an ambulance we were able to get him to medical care in time – but it was close.

This is part of what our family has been part of, providing for the medical help for the physical body and spiritual help for the soul!!!

To be part of our ministry you can go to www.ywamships.net or click on the link below and make donations under "Missionary Support Fund" and in the notes type "Suderno Family".  These funds go to making it possible for our family to be part of what YWAM Ships is doing in Micronesia.

God bless!

http://ywamships.net/donate/

Perseverance!

Perseverance is;

1.

steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, 
obstacles, or discouragement.

2.

Theology . continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.

Although the word perseverance is in the Bible, it usually uses various other words and analogies.  Some synonyms for perseverance are: diligence, endurance, persistence, steadfastness, waiting and sometimes even patience.  

As Christ followers, we sometimes have to endure perseverance in order to follow where God leads us.  This is not always easy and sometimes it seems like a long wait. But God says;

"Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!"  
Psalm 27:14


We wait for the what God has for us because it is always better than what we could choose for ourselves.  Another reason for waiting on God is to win the prize.

Hebrews 12:1-2  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  


Focusing on the Prize; eternal life with Jesus, we can persevere. We do this by the power of the Holy Spirit which is given to all believers. When we take our eyes off of the prize, we fall. Isn’t it great to know that God will never leave nor forsake us? He is a loving Heavenly Father, so loving that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus to pay our sin debt.

God, give me the grace to endure the race!!

Our Family Returns from Micronesia

        In February we left for Christmas Island in the Line Islands of Micronesia.  We went to Christmas Island, Fanning Island and Washington Island which is all part of Micronesia.  While we were there we served in several different ways, creating relationships with school teachers and business owners, doing programs for children and doing minor wound care.  We also made friends with a man named Mikarite,  the Mayor of Christmas Island.  This will be great for when we go back there, we can communicate with him in advance and see what their greatest needs are.  Creating these life-long relationships was one of the major highlights of our trips!

        On our way to the Marshall Islands, we stopped at Washington Island, a remote island that only sees 3 to 4 boats a year.  We had a delivery for one of the chief's, a hearing aid that had been donated for him when it was discovered that he only had partial hearing in one ear and no hearing in the other.

      It was an amazing experience to be part of, he was all smiles when he told us, "I can hear the children laughing."  Isaiah 29:18 On that day the deaf will hear words of the book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. Wow, God is so good and we are so blessed to be doing his work.  We then went from Washington Island to Majuro in the Marshall Islands, a 2100 mile journey that took us 15 days.  At first, we were not going to do this with the kids, but the opportunity was put into our laps and after prayer and seeking elders in our organization we were at peace with this decision.  It was amazing!  Nick and Sydney were incredible, it was like they were made for being on a boat.  It was nothing short of a miracle that none of us got seasick, thank you Lord!!!  We continued our home-schooling on board during the crossing and the kids were great.  Sydney learned how to play the guitar and ukelele (a little) and Nick knows how all the systems on the boat work, he even became a really good dinghy driver!

Nick and Aaron on the dinghy

Sydney learning to play the Ukelele

      Once is Majuro in the Marshall Islands, we resupplied the boat and made some minor fixes and then picked up a team of DTS (Discipleship Training School) students.  They joined us making our boat full with 16 people on board.  We then headed to Kwajalein Atoll and Ebeye where we did many different kinds of ministry at churches and schools and once again creating life-long relationships with some wonderful Marshallese. 

Ebeye Island, The Marshall Islands

      Ebeye Island was small in size, about 80 acres, but had a population of 15,000 people.  Every inch was covered with people and 72% of the population were children age 18 & under.  While there we met one of the princes, Anjojo Kabua, and we were instant friends with him and his family.  We had a blessed trip, but were sad to leave, there is so much work to continue and we know we will return soon!

To support our ministry make donations to;

Desert Song Community Church

c/o The Suderno Family

640 SW Evergreen

Redmond, OR 97756

YWAM Ships Ministry

It has been too long since my last blog, I have been too busy and was going to stop, but someone asked me to continue, so here I am.  I wanted to tell you about the ministry that we have joined up with,YWAM Ships.  The main base of operation is in Kona, Hawaii.  This ship equipped ministry is a big step for YWAM (Youth With A Mission) because they are wanting to reach all people groups and some you can not get to unless you have a boat.

Imagine living up a tributary of the Amazon or Papua New Guinea where the isolation of
your small village or tribe is at the point the government does not include you in any of their statistics. You are in effect “off the grid”. Healthcare is practically non-existent and dentistry is so rare in a country like Papua New Guinea. There are only 23 dentists in the entire nation. Enter a ship with an all volunteer crew who have in recent months explained to their peers and supporters about their mission to offer compassionate assistance and training to people they have never met. Simple medical clinics that can treat conditions that have every potential of taking a life or leaving an individual so crippled from things like a broken leg, or an infected wound without the option of antibiotics in treatment.

In all we do, a major emphasis is – train the trainer! When what we offer is done with locals alongside to help and learn, multiplication continues long after we are gone. Instruction from a midwife in a place where 1 in 7 die during child birth, brings life. Basic instruction in cleanliness and the benefits of using soap can make a huge difference and lift the reality that 1 in 13 die before the age of 5 due to the lack of basic sanitation. Bringing mosquito nets to villages where almost everyone (94%) are effected with malaria can turn their health around.

YWAM’s Ship equipped ministries are committed to reaching those who are isolated and have limited or no access to the resources that sustain and build life. We carry dedicated volunteers of all ages from many different countries as young as 18 and as old as you are able to handle the conditions we face.

There is little more powerful than the efforts of a volunteer. People who pay their own way, willing to sail into remote areas, work hard each day, return to their bunk on board each night knowing they helped others discover more in life. You see such gratefulness in each of their eyes. Whether receiving a simple pair of
glasses, enabling them to go to school, or back to work, immunizations, health care education, clean water technology, these along with other options are all part of what YWAM Ships brings.

We as a family,  have committed to doing what God wants in our lives and this is what HE wants us to do right now.  We leave for Micronesia on February 11th and we are excited to see how God uses us!  Please be praying for us and I will do my best to keep you more updated.

www.ywamships.net