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Connections in high places
"This seems to be a happy marriage,” says Dale Nafziger, commenting on his family’s relationship with their recently formed ministry support team. Dale, his wife, Bethsaba, and their two daughters, Shova (10) and Sushma (8), live in Nepal on the outskirts of the capital city of Kathmandu. Dale began mission work in Nepal almost 30 years ago. In the early 1990s, he and Bethsaba married and together made a commitment to long-term service in Nepal. Throughout the years, the Nafzigers have found ministry opportunities in a variety of community development and business enterprises. Bethsaba is a part-time nurse and midwife in local mission hospitals. In addition, she works with Top of the World Coffee, a small business based in two rooms of the Nafziger home, where employees prepare frozen pizzas and French fries for sale to local restaurants. Dale also juggles part-time jobs and activities: working with Wonder Products of Nepal, a company that makes juice, food for trekkers and handicrafts; working with Top of the World Coffee; and studying for his MBA in a distance-learning program at Eastern University in Pennsylvania. In addition to these professional responsibilities, Dale and Bethsaba focus their energy as well on parenting and in active involvement in the ministries of their local church. In conversations with Mission Network a few years ago, the Nafzigers realized that a new support system—the MST model—would best fit their dedication to long-term service. Dale explains, “We hope to continue living and serving in Nepal until retirement and, Lord willing, thereafter also.” Establishing a North American support group with the same long-term commitment to the Nafzigers and their work in Nepal seemed appropriate. In 2007, family and friends worked with Dale and Bethsaba to set up an MST with its base in Franconia Conference churches, including Vincent Mennonite Church, Dale’s home congregation. Although the MST model is still new for the Nafzigers, they appreciate the commitment their MST has made to their ministry. Dale comments, “Our MST is aware and supportive of our long-term hopes and dreams.” With an MST, Nafzigers find they spend more time in correspondence because keeping their MST informed is an important part of their ministry. Dale says, “Since we operate at such a geographical distance from our North American supporters, our MST is a necessary go-between.” The Nafzigers send out a weekly newsletter, a prayer update called “Top of the World,” and “Nepal News,” a quarterly report. John F. Lapp, Mission Network’s regional director for South Asia, also stresses the importance of communication. “An MST contributes to stronger relationships between North American churches and mission workers as it allows people to focus their support—both in finances and prayer—on specific people and projects.” In this issue: Features Highlights Viewpoints |
