Traveling Dedication Team

From Spokane, WA

Sam and Anna Danforth

Sam and Anna both grew up in Cameroon with Sam’s parents proclaiming the gospel in the Congo and Anna’s parents serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Cameroon. Sam and Anna have been blessed with 2 children, Elaina and Sawyer.

You can learn more about their family on their family blog: http://danforthfour.blogspot.com/

Sam was born in Congo as an MK and at a young age decided he wanted to serve God through mission aviation.  He met Anna in boarding school in Cameroon as a freshman in high school  He is a pilot/mechanic and currently takes classes and instructs at Moody Aviation in Washington State to gain aviation experience before heading overseas.  Long term, he is hoping to serve Wycliffe Bible Translators as an aviation maintenance specialist with JAARS.

Anna:  A daughter of Dave and Cindy Lux and loved being raised in the village of Lassin (can’t wait to share it with all of you who have invested so much in our family!!!!).  Anna met Sam as a senior in high school and knew right off the bat that they were designed to serve God together overseas   Until this year, Anna was a public high school French teacher in Iowa but now home school both kids of our kids.  Long term, I hope to teach at Rain Forest International High School where Sam and Anna both attended.

Dustin Greenup

Dustin is honored to be able to be a part of this Dedication Team. Dustin being on this trip is a clear orchestration of the work of God. If you want to read more about how God ordained for him to be on the team, read the BLOG POST HERE.

Dustin is a Realtor in Spokane WA has a treasured wife named Heidi and 4 children. Ezra is the oldest, Olivia is the next, and then Camille and Moses. God has given them the privilege to be involved in international adoption on two separate occasions and Dustin is giddy about the honor and extreme privilege of traveling with this Dedication Team to Cameroon to celebrate with the Noni people. The Greenup’s are a part of Faith Bible Church in Spokane, WA.

They blog semi-regularly at www.ChangeYourWorldForOne.com

From Iowa

Bill Lux

Bill is Dave Lux’s father.  He has been to Cameroon twice and to Nigeria several times in support of Heifer Project.  He is a retired poultry farmer.

Anna’s words

Bill’s contribution to the Nooni project is massive in the way of spiritual family leadership, building personal relationships with Noni friends, and releasing the Lux  family with his full blessing and support to further God’s Kingdom in Africa.

Bonnie Clark

Bonnie is a retired nurse who has practiced in several states and Liberia West Africa.

In her own words

I was a mission nurse when I had color to my hair.   I have had white hair since in my forties and wont see 70 again.  I have a quirky sense of humor. This is going to be a return to my memories.  I look forward to eating some of the African cooking and tropical foods.  I don’t look forward to the heat rash I had before, but it will  be worth it.  Gotta make trade offs.  I look forward to a couple of weeks without presidential advertisements–Iowa first in the nation…I also will be glad to be out of any snow Iowa may have.  White Christmas?  Not if I can help it.

In Anna’s words

Bonnie’s church in Independence has faithfully supported the Nooni translation project for many years.  Bonnie will have a wealth of knowledge (and hopefully stories!) on the work of the Lord in Liberia.

Kathy Morgan

Kathy has been a christian art teacher since 1974 and currently work in two schools. I am married to Daryl (35 yrs.) and have 2 married children and 1 grandson.  She has been a member of Cedar Valley Community Church for her entire life as a believer, working with children and women’s ministry, small group and serving anyway she can.  She loves people and the beauty of Christ in them and His marvelous creation.  She likes to experience new places and people but loves being a  homemaker and being with family more than anything!

Anna’s Words about Kathy

Kathy is a childhood friend of my dad and had an impact on him coming to the saving knowledge of Christ.  How awesome to know that this woman who helped lead my dad to the Lord will witness the fruit of 20+ years of labor to bring others to Christ in another continent.  Her spiritual fruit here on earth has multiplied many times over across many lands!

Reatha Aronson

Reatha:  Married to Jim for 36 yrs. Attend cvCc  in Waterloo, IA.  I’m a mom of two, grammie of four.  Love childrens missions projects.

In Anna’s words

Reatha is not kidding when she says she loves missions projects.  She works hard, long summers to help fund her trips to various places in Asia.  Her son visited Lassin several years ago leading the CVCC youth group on a mission’s trip.

Steve Debner

I am a father of 3, the youngest of which is a sophomore in college, and I now have 3 grandchildren. I run a small business selling/ servicing electric heating systems. My wife, Lonna is a registered nurse working at the county public health office. This is my first mission trip lasting more than a single day or overnight. I am anticipating what the Holy Spirit has in store… I always pictured going on a trip to be “doing” something like dig a well, build a church or home, helping. This trip seems to be more about “being” there. I’m excited! I serve the Lord at First Congregational Church Parksburg.

Barry Bedford

Barry will hopefully give me a thumbs up on the bio I create for him (Anna writing this)  He is hoping to join the team with another man from his church in Iowa City.  He is married to Roxie and has 2 children.  He is the chief of police of Coralville.

In Anna’s words

Barry was Dad’s college room mate and I am a bit jealous that he knew Dad before Dad knew the Lord and can track the full story of the miraculous changing power of Christ in Dad and Mom’s lives that has led to this day  To God be the glory!

Eric Johnson

I am 30 years old and have been married for 9 1/2 years to my wife Rebecca. I have two young children, Hannah and Alan.  I am going on this trip with Steve from our church called First Congregational in Parkersburg, IA.  I am a farmer and a business owner.  Our business specializes in handling/ transporting seed beans for seed companies around Iowa.

In Anna’s words

Eric and Steve’s community of Parkersburg faced massive devastation several years ago when a tornado swept through and destroyed their town.  The Parkersbug Church’s faithfulness and dedication to the Nooni project in the midst of their own community pain is humbling and precious.

Mike Miller

My wife’s name is Lisa, and I am father to seven children ages 10 to 27.  I work at the University of Iowa as an engineer in the Physics Dept.  At our church I teach the 2 & 3 year old Sunday School class and am known as Mr. Mike.  I am the mission’s chairman and have been to Haiti several times, so it will be interesting to see how Cameroon differs from Haiti. The most amazing thing about me is the tremendous love and patience my Father has for me in spite of my daily rebellion.

North Carolina

  Diane Martin

Diane grew up in Indiana and have been a member of Wycliffe for 19 years, the first 12 of which were in Cameroon as guidance counselor at Rain Forest International School.  She currently lives in North Carolina, where she works with applicants to, and new members of, Wycliffe.

In Anna’s words

Diane has supported the Nooni translation efforts through her work at the high school the Lux children attended.  Translators sometimes have to leave the field due to educational needs and her work was vital to keeping translators on the field as she met the needs of their children and helped ensure a smooth transition to college.

From Florida 

Mary Ellen Kluck

Kluck Family Photo, but only Mary Ellen is traveling on this trip

I had the privilege of living in Cameroon from 1993 – 2004, with my husband, Pete and our two kids, Nathan and Abbie (now 16 & 13).  Pete worked as one of the administrators there in Yaoundé.  I worked as one of the nurses and then as a full-time mom/homeschooler.  I’m excited to be returning to Noni because it is the village where we stayed for three weeks during our African Orientation Course.  Mary Ellen has 3 friends (Dave, Martha,  from church coming along as well.

In Anna’s words

Pete and Mary Ellen’s service to translators was invaluable in administration and health and they became fast friends with Mom and Dad shortly after living in Lassin for those 3 weeks.  They have maintained contact with the Landji family who their host family in Lassin many years ago.

Mike Andrus

1st Photo - In Cameroon 2nd Photo - Present

Today I am a mild-mannered research engineer at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, where I live with my wife Kay, daughter Claire (15), son Aaron (13), and mother-n-law Esther (84). In a prior life, however, Kay and I served God for 13 years as members of Wycliffe. During Nine of those years we worked in Cameroon. For five of those nine years, we had the awesome priviledge of serving alongside Dave and Cindy in the Noni project as literacy consultants. We left Wycliffe in 2003, and resumed “plain-clothes service” to God, when He asked us to care for our aging parents.

In Anna’s words

Mike and Kay’s work with literacy on the Noni team was essential to preparing the hearts and minds of the Noni people to receive and READ the Word of God in their own language.

LaVerne Cluff

I’m the mother of two girls, 18 and 16.  I run my own businesses – by day I’m busy doing handy-‘man’ work with “Renaissance Women” and by night I’m a cake decorator. I’ve lived in Tampa for 26 years and I enjoy riding my motorcycle.   I have known and followed Pete and Mary Ellen’s ministry in Wycliffe since their early years in Africa.  As treasurer at their home church – I’ve been writing their support checks to Wycliffe for many, many years.  This will be my first trip to Africa and I’m excited to have this opportunity to see the hard work and dedication of so many come to fruition.

Dave & Martha

Dave Dorsey

I am married to the most incredible Proverbs 31 woman!  After spending more than 30 years in the business world, I had the privilege of joining our church staff almost 2 years ago.  My wife, Martha, and I have also had the honor of being good friends with Pete Kluck before Mary Ellen came along.  Watching their marriage and family grow has been a great encouragement to us.  We are honored to be a part of seeing the “finished product” of the translation work.

Martha Dorsey

I have been married to the greatest man on earth for 37 years.  I have worked at our church as secretary/office manager for 28 years.  As my husband mentioned, we have known the Kluck family for many years.  We enjoyed helping them with some of their Prayer Letters when they were sent out via snail mail (a few years back!).  Having been invited to visit Cameroon by Pete  &  Mary Ellen many times, we are excited to finally be able to do so.