MEET BARB: I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 44 years. We are the parents of two boys, Aaron and Andrew. Andrew has two girls, Ellie and Addi. We hosted exchange students while the boys were growing up, so I have kids and grandchildren all around the world. We have lived in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, in the same house for 43 years.
MISSIONS WORK: I am part of the domestic team. We are housed in Albert City, Iowa, about 20 miles from where I live. Our mission is to help those that can’t help themselves, whether it is because of personal or natural disasters such as tornadoes, flooding, derecho or ice storms. We deploy to areas affected and call for volunteers to come help us work. In 2022 I spent almost 4 months deployed to Kentucky and Winterset, Iowa, cleaning up after tornadoes. When we aren’t deployed we find people in our area that need help with smaller projects. I also lead short term mission trips, partnering with other non-profits, such as Abide Omaha or taking volunteers back to Kentucky to help rebuild homes after the tornado in 2021. I do a lot of speaking on behalf of GoServ Global. During the summer, we are also the promotion team. We take the Safe T Home® to a number of different fairs and events to promote GoServ Global. I also get to travel abroad with GoServ Global, helping to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. This year I got to go to Liberia with 10 Safe T Home® units and start a new village!
COMING TO CHRIST: God put Chipper Fyfe in my life. I grew up in church, played the organ, was in bible studies, praise team, and knew that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. The part I was missing was the personal relationship with Jesus. I was still, at 60 years old, carrying every failure, regret, sin I had ever committed. I loathed myself, was self-abusive, and truly believed I had to take care of everything and everybody all by my human self. I thought the door to heaven was opened by good works. Through conversation, it didn’t take Chipper long to realize I didn’t have that personal relationship. At that point I had no Bible knowledge. Chipper spent the next two years spoon feeding me the Gospel, giving me that relationship. We listened to and tore apart scripture and sermon after sermon, along with hours of dialogue. We say that God sent a 28 year old bachelor missionary that had been around the world teaching and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, to Albert City, Iowa, and through another unlikely circumstance, dropped him at my door step for supper one night, thus saving my soul. Chipper baptized me in Clear Lake on October 29 last year. It was incredible.
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE: Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” After 60 years of inner turmoil, the first thing I had to do was learn how to simply sit, be quiet and let it all soak in. Quedate Quieta (Be Still) is tattooed to the inside of my arm as a reminder.
HOW GOD IS SPEAKING: In three years I have done more, met more people and been to more places than I could have ever imagined. I have been richly blessed, though it hasn’t been easy. I still struggle with old habits and try to do things on my own. My life has changed so dramatically. But now I have Jesus in my heart, and know that He is the first place and only place I need to turn.
PRAYER REQUESTS: I am self-supported and not fully funded. That is my biggest struggle. I have learned however, that God HAS provided and I DO have everything I need. I have a loving husband, wonderful family and friends, a warm house and more food than I can eat. My view on wants and needs is completely different now. Also pray for funding for the domestic team so we can continue our work. Pray for health and strength so I can continue this job as long as possible. I love it and I love GoServ Global. It is an honor to serve, working to be the hands and feet of Jesus.