20030831 Brigada Today

USA TRAVEL BEING OVERLOOKED — Many missionaries are called to service right here in North America. Missionaries travel for as little as two weeks and have a permanent health insurance policy already in place to facilitate any medical needs while in North America. Adams & Associates International has a travel insurance plan for trips in the USA & Canada for under $1.00 per day. Coverage includes accident medical benefits to help offset co-insurance and deductible costs that permanent medical insurance doesn¹t cover. It also includes an Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Paralysis benefit. For more information, call 800-922-8438 or visit http://www.aaintl.com . (And thanks, Adams & Associates, for the sponsorship gift!)

NEED GREAT INT’L PHONE RATES? — Sorry we left out the referral information in the previous Brigada Today. Need great rates? Try an international calling service that reportedly has the cheapest country- to-country phone rates in the industry. Learn more at https://brigada.org/phone.html [Thanks to the Japanese missionary who is a key agent with this service. He’s committed to making a sponsorship gift to Brigada for each and every sign-up through the above web-page. We’ll keep you apprised if and when we receive any sponsorships through this avenue. We’re trying all kinds of options. If you have to make int’l phone calls anyway, and if this service has better rates and great customer service, would you consider giving it a try to help us underwrite the cost of the new Brigada secretary? Thanks for considering…. Doug]

COMPUTER BUYING ADVICE — Tom (of OM Lit) is looking for advice on purchasing a laptop and digital camera to be used in China. Brands to lean towards and to avoid? Tips on power, software, etc.? E-mail him at . Tom we’ll count on a full report — in English, if you please! :-)

STILL TRYING TO DE-SPAM YOUR INBOX? — One user recommended switching to Yahoo Mail’s “This is Spam” feature. In addition, when ordering or requesting items or information online which request an email address, he recommended the use of Spamgourmet. After signing up for this service at http://www.spamgourmet.com you may make up amount-limited email addresses which expire. Thus, if your address is sold or passed along, it will have no connection with you, and will be “eaten” by the Spam Gourmet. Thanks Bill!

UNREACHED PEOPLES CONFERENCE — For those interested in reaching the unreached peoples of the 10/40, check out the conference, November 9- 14. The “Revolution” conference is an interdenominational, inter- organizational missions conference. Groups such as New Tribes Missions, Red Sea Team International, Pioneers, Frontiers, YWAM, Operation Mobilization, Calvary International, Wycliffe, and many more will be represented for this “10/40-focused” event. The goal is to get the word out about the needs in the 10/40 Window and to provide a place for those working there to meet and share their experiences. There will be speakers, workshops, booths, and time just to fellowship with those who share a similar heart. The conference will be held in Talladega, Alabama. For cost, registration form and other information check out http://www.revolution1040.com If you would like more information, contact Jose at 904-221-0114 or email Therevolutionconference@yahoo.com

LINKS FOR MISSIONARIES AT “MISSIONFINDER” — Our friends over at MissionFinder.org continue to expand the usefulness of their web site. There is now a page, “Resources for Christian Missionaries” that is a collection of many useful links, such as where to find special items and equipment useful in missions work, transfer money, find housing for retreats and furloughs, get dental care, sources for solar cooking, water purification devices, and so forth. Visit them at http://www.missionfinder.org/resources.html or email webmaster@missionfinder.org

DOES YOUR MISSION WORK NEED HEALTH CARE WORKERS? — MissionFinder.org posts some currently-available Christian health care workers who are seeking mission opportunities to serve. Most seek short term volunteer positions, although some are interested in long term possibilities. Skills vary from pre-med students hoping to become acquainted with medical missions, to seasoned medical doctors and specialists. You may find pharmacists, osteopaths, dentists, and a variety of skills available (the list is updated regularly). Visit http://www.missionfinder.org/Volunteers.html or email webmaster@missionfinder.org

DO YOU NEED A NANNY? — MissionNannys recruits mature Christian women to serve missionary families who sometimes have special needs with the care and/or education of their children. These volunteers expect to pay their own transportation and may be able to help with the cost of their room and board. Duration of service can be from a few weeks to a few months, depending upon the situation and the availability of volunteers. You’ll find more information on their web site (and also list yourself as a potential nanny) at http://www.MissionNannys.org or you can write betty@missionnannys.org

THE BACKPAGE: FOR E-ZINES, LESS IS MORE — We get mail… and some of it is very encouraging. For example, we recently rec’d this note from Jonathan: “Thank you a thousand times for the way you construct Brigada Today. I wish everyone else doing ministry through e-mail had as much restraint and common sense. I get so many prayer letters that run dozens of KB for twenty lines of content and all that so it can contain one line of light green bold italic text that’s almost illegible anyway.” :-) I can empathize with Jonathan… Thus our format for Brigada Today. So here’s a tip… for whatever it’s worth… from nearly 9 years of e-zine production experience: less is more. Lose the HTML formatting. Sure. I like leaf backgrounds as much as the next guy, but when I’m connecting via my cell-phone, those backgrounds are a real hassle. The truth is, when you send simple text, those viewing through browser-oriented email clients won’t curse you for it. You’ll just look… “lean”. Those using text-based email-clients will *love* you for it. You’ll look *smart*. :-) Trust me… Less is more.

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