GEM eDOT

03/06/2022

Uncounted Costs: Disconnected

A mass exodus began 100 days ago when Russia attacked Ukraine. In these first 100 days, more than eight million people, mostly women and children, have fled their homes. Amongst the many consequences, there’s one uncounted cost that might seem insignificant at first: the loss of cell phone plans and dependable internet access.

The loss of internet access only seems insignificant until you put yourself in their shoes. Imagine your husband has suddenly been conscripted into military service, and he dropped you and your children at the Romanian border with tear-filled promises to call you every day. Then you find out your cell phone service no longer works in Romania and those promised calls can’t happen unless you find Wi-Fi.

When you’re running for your life alongside millions of your neighbors, finding Wi-Fi is like finding gold. The network at most refugee centers was never designed to support so many devices. The need to stay connected with family and friends, the need to continue working if possible, and the need for your children to stay in school online—all critical for you and yet difficult in these circumstances.

Our team just returned from Romania where we helped solve these critical problems for almost 100 Ukrainians who have fled the war. This was our second trip to setup better internet access for them. When the first wave of refugees started pouring out of Ukraine, we were introduced to a church in Bucharest committed to doing whatever they can to help. Their church facility has been converted into a short-term refugee center housing as many as 150 people at a time until they can move on to a better and more stable situation. Every nook and cranny of the large facility has been converted to better serve the refugees. There’s even a temporary shower set up in a room marked “Electrical.” In April, we sent a team to wire the buildings for reliable, fast, and secure WiFi so they could stay in contact and continue with jobs and schools.

On this second trip we wired three more buildings, this time at an old hotel about 90 minutes outside of Bucharest near Târgoviște. At this moment, 40 women, 2 men, and 36 kids are making this place home… for now. Waiting for the all-clear to return to their real homes. We don’t know how long some of them will be here, but we’re committed to changing their lives by enabling them to stay in touch with their loved ones and all the other ways the internet is important for normal life today.

We understand that immediate needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing are first priority, and many groups focus there. In today’s world, being connected is almost as important. God has gifted us with the technical ability to help in this area, and we are grateful for the donations from you, for equipment and travel, that made it possible.

01/02/2022

Today starts the ICCM Europe 2022 conference, all online this year. Please pray with us for God's glory to be revealed, His purposes to be accomplished, and people drawn to Him. We have over 70 registrants this year. www.iccm-europe.org

ICCM-Europe 2022 will be an interactive Virtual Conference and a bit different than the usual 3 days; 3 – 4 February 2022 (Thursday & Friday), with workshops already on Wednesday & Tuesday evening. This will be an Online Conference. Registration is now closed, for exceptions contact us at registra...

19/12/2021

With all the restrictions over the past couple years, we felt extra blessed to be able to gather together for a Christmas celebration. Good food with great people!

10/12/2021

What's a deep fake? Are they just for fun or can there be serious consequences? How can you avoid being fooled or being a victim? Check out this article by some of our eDOT team members!
https://gemedot.com/deepfakes/

23/08/2021

Can anyone relate? 😂😂

20/08/2021

Is there someone whose life inspires you to live for Christ? For me, one of those people is Steve Saint. One of our eDOT team members recently read his book, "End of the Spear." (There's also a movie version.) Here is his review:

I wish I hadn’t read this book. Why? Steve’s multiple losses (you become aware of the murder of Steve’s father Nate), along with his sacrifice and loss while serving others are painful to read. The “end” of the book contains a real gut-punch in Steve’s life that left me questioning God’s goodness and provision. I was strongly tempted to put the book away and never finish it. Interestingly, it was the Waodani warrior, Mincaye, a “Stone-Age” tribesman, and fellow follower of Christ, who drew a picture of God’s intent and beautiful purpose out of overwhelming, paralyzing tragedy. Who is Steve, and why is this story significant? Steve Saint is the son of Nate Saint, who along with several other missionaries, was murdered while seeking to share the Gospel among the Waodani tribe in the Amazon. This tribe of people, described by a neighboring tribe as “Auca,” — “naked savages,” with a connotation of being sub-human (there’s something familiar about that line of thinking)—lived in “Stone Age” isolation in South America, viciously killing their own tribespeople, and any intruder stupid enough to venture into their territory. To be clear, Saint reports that the Waodani have historically been classified by anthropologists as probably the most violent society ever studied, having a homicide rate of over 60%. It was the goal of Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Ed McCulley, and Roger Youderian to reach this tribe with the Gospel, the redemptive message of salvation through faith in the finished work of Christ. You can read the story of their efforts in Through Gates of Splendor, written by Jim Elliot’s wife, Elisabeth Elliot. After the five missionaries were killed, God began a work of transformation in the lives of the Waodani, to the extent that in an incredible act of forgiveness and grace, one of the wives, Steve’s aunt Rachel, lived the remainder of her life with the Waodoni, teaching them the Truth from God’s Word. At a young age, as he lived among the tribe, Steve Saint was “adopted” by one of the Waodoni warriors (Mincaye). Over time, Steve learned that Mincaye specifically targeted and murdered his father—Nate Saint. Steve has, by God’s grace, accepted his father’s murderer as his adoptive father, and Mincaye has been the recipient of God’s salvation. The life of Mincaye has been transformed as he has lived in obedience to God’s Word, and now desires not only that his own people (the Waodani) hear of Jesus, but that everyone in the world hear the Good News. This drive to share the Good News has come at a cost. There are no words to describe the cost that God the Father endured to see salvation brought to humanity. The cost to Steve Saint’s family is recounted in various books, articles and journals. The ongoing cost of sharing the Good News is recounted by Steve as he portrays the struggles, triumphs, heart-ache and toil to continue bringing the Gospel to the remote parts of the Waodoni territory. And yet, by God’s grace, provision and guidance, Steve and his family re-located to South America to continue the work begun by his father and the other four missionary pioneers. At some point, every cross-cultural worker must decide that the national workers must take over the ministry, and take the necessary steps to ensure that this transfer really occurs. Saint makes a point in this book to discuss in detail his decision, and then the ways that he undertook to implement that decision. Mind you, this was no easy task, given the “stone-age” mentality of the audience. And yet, Saint managed to prepare the Waodoni even to fly airplanes for the continuation of the jungle ministry, among other responsibilities. There is NO PLACE to say that nationals are incapable of learning or performing the ministry. There is only a lack of preparation of nationals for the ministry, and possibly the ego of the cross-cultural worker. I wish I hadn’t read the book. Yet, I will read it again next year, and I will recommend it to fellow cross-cultural workers. I’ll read the book again the following year. I will probably regret it every time, because, from a human perspective, it is a story of tragic, and some might even say, senseless, loss. When viewed, however, from the perspective of God’s desire to see the Gospel shared with all peoples of the earth, the story contains grand themes of redemption, forgiveness and restoration where no of these themes would be present through human effort. It is a book that shines a light on the purposes of God for salvation, even when the circumstances appear tragic, senseless and out-of-control.

07/08/2021

This past week was the Greater Europe Mission conference. Usually, we would gather with all the missionaries in GEM somewhere in Europe (this year was planned for Slovenia), but with COVID it shifted to online. Fortunately, we were still able to gather with other missionaries from Kandern to watch the online seminars, pray and encourage one another, fellowship, and just have fun! Praising God for a great week.

27/07/2021

Tuesday funny. 😂😂 But, our guys at eDOT are there to listen and to actually develop solutions.

26/07/2021

Welcome back to Kandern, Gage family!!! Jeff and Carrie have been in the States for the past year for their home ministry assignment. The entire eDOT team is so happy to have him back in the office again!!!

17/07/2021

One of our team members, Jonathan, just spent the week with his family in Königsfeld, Germany for GEM's first termers retreat. It was an amazing time of regeneration, encouragement, and even a few reunions. We are so grateful that Greater Europe Mission goes above and beyond to care for the mental and spiritual health of its missionaries.

29/06/2021

School's out for the summer! Time for freedom? Not when your dad can put you to work sorting cables at the eDOT office!
What summer chores do you have planned for your kiddos?

25/06/2021

What does your COVID "normal" look like?
Here's a pic from daily life here. If we have yet to be fully vaccinated (which is most of us since the vaccines have been a little slower here), we must take a "schnell Test" (quick test) in order to eat in a restaurant, travel, or participate in certain indoor activities. This was part of my 45 minute wait this morning. But, we are happy that things are moving in the right direction and opening up again! 😃