SHORT-TERM MISSION PROJECTS IN 2003

Four short-term mission projects were completed or are in progress by SERVE in 2003. These include:

1. Russian Mission, Alaska: Kako Retreat Center, Late May - Early June
As in previous years, the purpose for this two week project was to assists in building additional facilities and performing necessary maintenance for this non-denominational retreat center located in western Alaska.
The Center ministers to Native Americas from various surrounding villages. In the Summer months , youths are brought in weekly for programs similar to Vacation Bible school in the mornings, physical exercise in the afternoons and bibically based spiritual programs in the evenings . Adults are brought in for spiritual retreats.

2. Mozambique:
This team constructed a new church building for a congregation of about 25 to 30 people in Pemba, Mozambique. The new building was dedicated on September 7. Within the area there are many people who need to hear about and give their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Ethiopia:
A Team is working during October to help construct a training building in Gambala.

4. Peru:
This SERVE team helped at the training center called Runa Simi where Quechua people are trained to witness to their own people by learning computer skills and video editing. The team spent three weeks painting the complex.

SHORT-TERM MISSION PROJECTS IN 2002

Four short-term mission projects were completed by SERVE in 2002. These include:

2. Lilongwe, Malawi: June
The objective of this project was to construct quality housing for the foster families of AIDS orphans. Our team of twelve volunteers worked with local laborers to construct two complete houses. These houses will be part of many houses that will eventually make up a community being developed as part of the Kauma Orphan Support Initiative (KOSI) - an outreach of the Capital City Baptist Church (Lilongwe). KOSI is a comprehensive program to provide housing, education and support of AIDS orphans and their foster families. SERVE worked in conjunction with Action International Ministries of Mountlake, WA.

3. Kenya: April
God blessed this evangelistic project by SERVE in an area northwest of Mt. Kenya in which many people made decisions to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Our team worked in conjunction with Unity in the Word Ministries of Nairobi. Medicines were distributed as Kenyan medical personnel made diagnoses and wrote prescriptions, which were filled using medical supplies donated from the United States. The team also had opportunity to return to the site of our 2001 project near Nakuru and participate in an afternoon evangelistic crusade there.

4. Peru: September
This SERVE team of six volunteers delivered donated laptop computers from the United States to SIL International. These will be used by SIL in training Quechua people in digital recording and editing technology, making audiocassette tapes, producing teaching materials, producing radio programs and music recordings. While in Peru, the SERVE team attended the dedication of the North Conchucos New Testament that had taken more than 15 years to complete. The dedication was held in the high Andes. The team also went to Cusco where they saw laptops being used by Quechuas to record scripture and music for audiocassette tapes and radio programs.