Don and Gwen Volle

Ministry Focus

The Navigators, Seconded to Resource Exchange International - Development and Discipleship among Muslims in Central Asia and now a land-locked Buddhist country of Southeast Asia. 

Primary Ministry Activities

My job title: REI Project Support Desk. I contribute to the success of our on-the-ground teams in Central Asia and now one country in southeast Asia. You can learn more about REI at our new website www.resourceexchangeinternational.com. 

Personal Journey - Call to Christ

I was raised in a very religious home on a small farm in southern Indiana.  Early on I had a great respect for God and the scriptures. Given the weekly readings I heard at church for years, I’m sure I had the ‘information’ of the gospel.  Yet I did not put this all together until my senior year in high school when my older brother (who had come to faith at university) helped me understand that Jesus lived, died and rose that I might have relationship with God; that I had turned away from that offer and that ‘believing’ was the way to have that relationship restored. I had no choice but to respond in confession and faith. Since then I have been mentored by a succession of individuals in my walk with God, in personal ministry, and in major life issues and decisions.

Call to Missions Service

I see 4 stages of God’s call on my life:

1. to Himself
2. to a Role 
3. to an Organization and 
4. to a job or geography. 

The first never changes. The second seldom changes. In my case the Role is Support, like the God-chosen deacons of Acts 6. The niche for which God made me has been confirmed at several stages (Purdue, Navy, Zellerbach Paper, US Navigators, Overseas and now Resource Exchange International). I’m in a support role, though the geography has changed from US to Middle East to Central Asia and now Southeast Asia. 

Fruits of Our Labor

• We have sent 8 teams of doctors and English curriculum specialists to Mittaphab Hospital in Laos. Our resident family in Laos is designing a Medical Residency program.
• Rachael, recent USF graduate, is in Djibouti teaching English and developing redemptive relationships.
• I am ‘eyes and ears’ for our president. He is high energy with lots of ideas.
• I will be SKYP-ing weekly with Uzbek teachers of English to give them routine exposure to native English speakers.
• Meeting twice-monthly with Bryan, a brand new believer and also newly married.

Prayer Requests

• Gwen and I are now empty nesters. Pray for growing intimacy and transparent communications.
• Personal intimacy with my Lord.
• Pray for direction on adjustment of focus of our local ministry. To the poor?
• Skilled bi-vocational laborers who are able to understand and integrate holistic ministry. Development and Discipleship. Authenticity. Contribution.
• Gwen’s Mom’s adjustment to life without her husband of 59 years.
• Gwen’s comfort after Dad’s death in November.
• Doug’s assignment with Navy after commissioning in May.
• Growth for new believer Bryan.
• Visit of Lao Supreme Court Justice in March.

Praise:

• Grant; teaching HS Physics in Tulsa.
• Mark; engineer in Mt. Shasta, CA.
• Doug; senior at Purdue.
• All 5 Volles visit Cyprus in March. We lived there 3 years; Doug was born there

Support Needs

Monthly: $1,500

To:
The Navigators
P.O. Box 6000
Colorado Springs, CO 80934