Bethany DuVal, Author at TEAM Christian Missions Blog

How a Hospital Runs on 4 Hours of Water a Day

Two Karanda Mission Hospital doctors look at a patient's chart.

Karanda Mission Hospital is the only option most Zimbabweans have for surgery. But without dependable water, treatment becomes tricky.

Mar 16 2021

Imagine if the State of Pennsylvania had one surgical hospital to serve the general public. Wealthy people would have their pick of facilities. But the middle and working class would come from all corners of the state to get proper care. Now imagine that one hospital only had water for four hours a day. Thankfully, that isn’t reality for Pennsylvania. But it was for Zimbabwe, a country with 2 million more people than the state. And if Zimbabwe’s droughts continue, it could be the case again. Zimbabwe’s healthcare system consists of private and public hospitals and clinics, with public facilities…

Serving in international churches is a chance to minister to unreached people groups in closed nations - with the government’s blessing.

Feb 14 2021

In a world where missionary visas are increasingly hard to get, Hunter and Wendy* are doing something truly remarkable. They’re moving to a Muslim-majority country where local churches operate underground. They’ll work to make disciples among unreached people groups. And they’ll do it with the local government’s approval. It sounds impossible, but opportunities like this are opening around the world, thanks to international churches. “It’s kind of amazing because it’s a Muslim country, and it’s illegal to become a Christian there, … but I’m going to have ‘pastor’ in my visa,” Hunter says. Committed to the Unreached Hunter and Wendy…

Raising kids on the mission field is full of surprising challenges — even when you think you know what to expect. Let’s pray for missionary parents.

Feb 01 2021

Kacie was going to be a more adventurous mom. Growing up on the mission field, Kacie and her siblings spent many days at home, with their stay-at-home mother. “I assumed … that’s the way my mom wanted it to be.” But, says the missionary to Papua, Indonesia, “I was going to be different, in the community with my kids.” Her plan worked great at first. Out in the community, people doted on Kacie’s foreign babies. But when those babies became toddlers, they started resisting all the attention they were getting from strangers. And as Kacie kept trying to pull her…

What do you do when your Bible study books arrive in the wrong language? You could send them back — or you could see how God planned to use them.

Dec 10 2020

Heidi’s plan was simple: Teach her favorite Kay Arthur Bible study at church. Watch women grow in Christ. She ordered a dozen copies of the book in English, a common language in the Middle Eastern country where she served. But when the shipment arrived, something was horribly wrong. “There they were, 12 beautiful books, but … they were all in the Russian language!” Heidi says. Heidi’s co-worker said to send the books back. But Heidi realized God must have a plan. “OK, God, … You have brought these books in,” Heidi prayed, “and so we will keep them and give…

Can You Manage Student Loans on Missionary Support?

Sep 23 2020

Let’s start with the good news: The world is full of missionaries who are happily serving in ministry while paying off their student debt. They aren’t all stellar financial planners, and they aren’t living in poverty to make it happen. In other words, you can be one of them. The tips I’m about to give you are simple and practical. I’m not going to tell you what to do, because every situation is different, and I am not a financial advisor. But I will share what’s worked for missionaries before you and share resources created for nonprofit workers. I’ll also…

Kids play basketball at sports ministry Transformados

Drugs are a big lure for kids in La Paz, Mexico — but a sports ministry is getting kids off the streets and teaching them the saving truth of Jesus!

Sep 14 2020

“[If] my brother wouldn’t have invited me to Transformados, then I wouldn’t have known anything about God. … I would probably be on drugs, alcohol and sex,” Chuy says. Chuy’s alternate life isn’t hard to guess at because many of his friends are already living it. In the sprawling city of La Paz, Mexico, drugs are widely available. Some kids start using them as early as 13 years old. But in recent years, more and more children have found an alternative through a program called Transformados. Five days a week, they gather on a basketball court, eager to learn new…

The first step to serving God overseas is serving Him at home. Find out how these missionaries took their first steps! Photo courtesy of Kit Tischler.

Aug 20 2020

If you’re the typical aspiring missionary, there’s a question you may be dreading: How are you making disciples in your everyday life? When you’re applying with quality missions agencies, the question is unavoidable. Before you go through the trouble of raising support, learning a new language and moving abroad, agencies want to know you have a good chance at success. “If a person isn’t involved in ministry and reaching out for the Lord back home, it will be even harder to do that when they arrive in a new culture,” says TEAM missionary Jann Vander Mey. But if you’re like…

Two teen girls ride horses during equine program. This is one way Rancho el Camino does missions in Mexico

Equine classes at Rancho el Camino are a chance to learn discipline, patience and what it means to follow God.

Jul 17 2020

You don’t find Rancho el Camino without a bit of determination. Driving away from the beautiful beaches of La Paz, Mexico, you take the highway to the outskirts of town and turn sharply onto a dusty, bumpy, gravel road. But as you draw closer, you may just sense what has attracted so many people before you. People say they feel something different at the ranch. Some are moved to tears. Others demand to know what causes the strange sensation. Over the years, TEAM missionaries Pete and Emily Johnson have come to see the ranch as a “thin space.” It’s a…

Becoming a Christian was life-changing for Anne, but her partner hated it. Was following Jesus going to cost Anne her closest relationship?

Jun 18 2020

Despite its post-Christian culture, Germany loves a good Easter celebration. They take four days to celebrate, from Good Friday through Monday. They hold Easter markets and share amazing food. They shut down offices. Few people actually believe in the miracle of the holiday, but they know the story. So when a German celebrates Easter as a believer for the first time, it’s a day like no other. For the first time, this wonderful holiday has meaning beyond what they could ever have imagined. But on Easter of 2017, Anne wasn’t feeling all the joy she was supposed to. It had…

Two men sit outside at a table and talk. Feature photo: Preparing for missions during COVID-19

COVID-19 has forced us to adapt and live our lives in ways we never have before — kind of like missionaries. Turns out, preparing for missions during COVID-19 has big advantages.

May 22 2020

If you’re an aspiring missionary, COVID-19 may seem like a major roadblock to your plans. Short-term trips are being postponed. Carefully planned timelines for departure are now in shambles. And everyone keeps talking about how “the world will never be the same.” But Beth Fussner, a former missionary and TEAM’s learning and development project director, sees things with a bit more optimism. “There’s so many times when God’s people were on delays and detours. … And all of those things, when you look at the Scripture, at the stories, you realize that God either caused them or used them,” Fussner…

Author - Bethany DuVal

How a Hospital Runs on 4 Hours of Water a Day

International Churches: A Gateway to the Unreached

How to Pray for Missionary Parents

What God Can Do with 12 Books in the Wrong Language

How to Be a Missionary with Student Debt

Keeping Kids from Drugs — through Basketball and Jesus

6 Ways to Serve in Cross-Cultural Ministry Before the Mission Field

The Ranch Where Heaven Meets Earth

‘Nobody Believes in God Here’

How COVID-19 Can Prepare You for Missions