July/August Newsletter Update

Hello Family and Friends,

Most of you who have been following our Blog or Face Book postings know of the recent whirlwind of events that ended up bringing us back stateside on June 29^th.  

Don developed, what we later found out to be, a squamous skin cancer on the side of his forehead.  While it grew slowly at first, in the last 2 months it became very large (2” in diameter) and needing immediate medical attention, which we could only get by coming back to the states. 

On the 29^th of July Don had his surgery to remove the cancer.  It was a long day…the surgery was 6 hours, but when the doctor came out of the operating room he was smiling…he got it all and it couldn’t have gone better.  PTL, God is so faithful. 

We couldn’t understand why this would happen now when everything was going so well in the ministry, but we must have rattled some chains in the enemy’s camp. I don’t think he knows how determined we’ve been to fulfill our mission in Guyana.

In a few weeks Don will begin 6 weeks of radiation treatment.  When that is over, we hope to know when and how we can continue our work in Guyana.  While concentrating on Don’s treatments for full recovery, we continue to 

• stay in contact with our ministry team there and, Veda Ram, Director of Child Evangelism Fellowship whom we have partnered with in the training and establishing of Good News Clubs on the Essequibo Coast. 
• We are also working with, ‘Why Not Now Ministries’ for the purchase and delivery of Water Filtration Systems to the Interior rain forests. 
• Praying and asking God's direction on how and when to continue Bible classes for Champions Bible Training Center. 

At the present time we are staying in a borrowed motor home on my daughter’s property in Tracy, CA.  It’s a little cramped, but we’ve been in worse places than this, and we are grateful to have a place where we can unpack a few suitcases.

MINISTRY SUMMARY

In the short 18 months that we have been living in Guyana, we have:

·      Preached the Good News to the poor, seeing numerous salvations.

·      Discipled, taught and helped to bind the broken hearted.

·      Seen numerous miraculous healings.

·      Seen those captive in spiritual darkness, set free through the teaching of the WORD and the “Change of Heart” series, resulting in changed lives. 

·      Rejoiced over children, some from Hindu and Muslim families now in neighborhood Good News Clubs every week learning about Jesus.

·      Completed Champions Bible Training Center’s first semester with 22 students receiving certificates for completion of classes. 
·      Anticipated growth of 40-45 new students in September, now on hold due to Don's surgery.     
*       Began delivering water filtration systems on the coast and Interior, blocking out hepatitis, cholera, etc. while providing clean drinking water in the villages.

Wow - what a tremendous joy it is to know that you’re right where God wants you to be, fulfilling your purpose and destiny in the Kingdom of God, with the privilege of seeing fruit from your efforts. Thank you for being the instruments that God has used making it possible for us to go out to a lost world needing to be saved and equipped, for these end times.

CURRENT GOALS

·      Once Don feels stronger we would like to itinerate and raise funds for the work in Guyana.

·      Resume the Bible School classes after Dons treatment is completed.  We anticipate this to be after the first of next year. 

·      Water Filtration Systems: There is an urgency to expand the purchases and delivery of water filtration systems ($150 each).  The need for water filters is great in schools and villages located in the Interior Rain Forest.  Water is plentiful in the rainy season but very scarce during the dry seasons of the year.  Many illnesses and deaths occur because of the poor water quality in these areas.

·      Put together short-term Missions teams to go with us to help distribute water filters and do outreaches for children and adults throughout the area of northwest Guyana.

·      Bring back children’s materials for Good News Clubs and continue working with Child Evangelism Fellowship to train leaders and add more clubs.

·      Continue, communicating, encouraging and discipling our leadership team from here.

PRAYER REQUEST:

·      Agree with us in prayer for the continual healing and restoration of Don’s body.

·      That through Itinerating we can be able to raise funds for water filters and ministry expenses, such as the air fair back etc.

·      That supporters would continue supporting us through this medical furlough so we can move forward to continue our ministry in Guyana.

·      That the Lord would provide our own place to live while we’re here.
We are in the Lord's hands.  He has proven to be our helper and provider and we know He never fails. Our only desire is to serve Him and be faithful to the calling He has placed on our hearts. 

If you would like us to share at your church or group, we welcome the opportunity.  Contact us at 209-232-0429 or 209-232-0419.


Also, if you would like to participate in generating funds for this ministry by shopping online for groceries, visit our website at www.mpbtoday.com/dwm and give us a call.

Rejoicing in the Lord,

Don and Maria Whitney

Don Whitney Ministries

P.S. As of Saturday, Don is already starting to feel much stronger and able to walk around by himself some.  Not taking as many naps during the day.  Yesterday his stitches came out and the doctor’s report was that they found no other cancer in the lymph nodes they took from his cheek and neck.  We are rejoicing and praising God. PTL   In the next several months, there will be many follow-up doctor visits to Palo Alto however, we will continue working toward our goals listed above.