Meet the Missionaries
David & Paula Mahawon
David and Paula have been in ministry for more than 38 years. They founded Trumpets of Christ International in 1992. TCI was to be used as a means of reaching the nations for Christ. They also oversee Faith Village Children’s Home.
David Mahawon was born into the royal family of the Shan people, the son of a Shan princess. His Shan lineage has given him a heart that beats for the salvation of his people. Paula Mahawon is part Cherokee and was born in the US. Together they serve as missionaries to the Shan people located in the critical 10/40 window of Asia.
The Shan people have been an unreachable population until as recently as 1953 when the first Christian missionaries arrived. The Shan people are friendly, but generally unresponsive to missionary outreach. In early 1995 David and Paula moved with their two small sons, Shan and Tai, to the notorious Golden Triangle in Northern Thailand. David and Paula began evangelizing and pioneering churches among the Shan people. TCI now has three established Victory Churches in Thailand, located in Thaton, Pang Mae Pa, and recently, in Chiang Mai.
Shan & Lindsey Mahawon
Founders of Victory Church, Shan & Lindsey Mahawon. Shan and Lindsey planted and now serve as pastors of Victory Church in Chaing Mai, Thailand.
Shan grew up in Thailand with his parents, Pastors David and Paula Mahawon, and his brother Tai. When he was two years old his parents started Faith Village Children’s Home, where Shan and his brother grew up amongst the orphans, seeing first-hand how the ministry was run. Growing up, Shan helped with youth group and translation, fully accepting his call into the ministry at age 18.
Around the same time, Lindsey took a mission trip with her family to visit Faith Village, where she met the Mahawons. She immediately felt the call to Thailand, and took several visits to learn the language, teach, and become accustomed to the culture. Shan and Lindsey fell in love, were married in 2013, and moved to Thailand together to pursue full-time ministry. Together they have been doing ministry in Thailand since then. They have two daughters Sierra and Lila. Shan and Lindsey direct Faith Village Children’s Home with the help of a staff of locals and missionaries.
Don and Margie Cook
Don and Margie’s objective was to start building houses for the widows and very poor people in villages south of Chennai, India. The 2004 Tsunami was one of the triggers leading them in this direction. Initially Don and Margie thought they would work in fishing villages along the coast, but they soon found that the greater need was in villages not affected by the Tsunami. Don worked tirelessly to engineer a quick, affordable, tilt-up building that can be built in five days at a cost of only $4,500.
They built the first house on land assigned to a Widow’s Assistance program under the leadership of John, a local Vineyard Church pastor. Very soon, a friend of John’s, Pastor Jayaseelan, started helping wherever he could. Fifteen years before Don and Margie arrived in India, Jayaseelan had been praying and asking the Lord to send someone to build houses. Don and Margie’s friendship and love for Jayaseelan and his family has been crucial in the work they have been doing in India for the past 13 years. Jayaseelan has often guided them in the right direction and has helped them avoid potential pitfalls due to a lack of understanding of local culture.
One of Jayaseelan’s most important pieces of advice has been, “People in the villages will not understand the Gospel unless they experience how much we care”. At first it was shown through consistency. Continuously returning to communities to complete what was started. Several other agencies had been to the same area of Southeast India, begun good work, but had not brought it to completion. As a result, the locals were hardened and skeptical. Don and Margie have stayed the course and have become established as a credible ministry.
Spencer & Patti Jeffries and children, Della, Idah, and Silas
Patti and Spencer received the call to missions over 20 years ago. They have faithfully served and patiently awaited the right time to launch into their calling. In May of 2023, the Jeffries will become full-time missionaries as Directors of the WOMF Mission House in Seguku, Uganda.
Located just outside of the largest city in Uganda, Kampala, which has over 3 million people, lies WOMF Mission House (MH) in Seguku. This is where the Jeffries will start their ministry as Mission House Directors. Being in charge of the MH allows them to minister to both short-term mission teams, as they help oversee the team’s trip, and to the staff in their care. In addition to day-to-day operations, Spencer will be seeking opportunities to put his vast maintenance skills to work. Patti will be completing her schooling in Christian counseling and be available to help wherever it is most effective.
Here is Patti’s testimony, “At the age of twelve, I found myself feeling worthless, whilst being painfully abused and used by those around me. It was one encounter with God that change my life forever. I was attending a Third Day, Michael W. Smith concert when a World Vision commercial was played. I felt as if I left my body, and I was in the presences of Jesus. I could hear God’s voice so clearly say, ‘I give you Africa’. It was from that moment on that I knew no matter what it looked like, no matter what it would take, I would devote my life to getting to and serving Africa. In recent revelation I have heard that His message of hope and of how much He values His children will be the message I am to bring with me.”
Here is Spencer’s testimony, ” In 2014 my wife was signed up to go on an NHC mission trip to Uganda when she found out she was pregnant with our son. I nervously took her place. Being a big American dude who had never traveled outside of North America. While I was there I soon discovered that I had much to offer. After my two-week stay, many new friends and loads of amazing experiences, I discovered that the passion that my wife had was really a passion for our whole family.”
Joining Spencer and Patti in Uganda will be their three beautiful children. Della, born June 2009, will continue her dreams of becoming a Youtuber. Idah, born December 2011, is excited to join her mother at Women’s Empowerment Centers as she loves sewing and bead working. And Silas, born March 2015, hopes to one day start an animal rescue for endangered species, starting with the Pangolin.
Together, this family believes God has called them to Uganda and the works of WOMF as the representation of their home church, New Horizon Church in Fife, WA.
Andrew and Susan Wesonga
The Wesongas birthed Buzzi Worship Center (Uganda) in 2007. Since that time, their ministry has grown and expanded greatly. Their vision is to transform their community with the love of God through children’s outreaches, worship services, an empowerment center, and a soccer academy, to name a few.
Andrew and Susan have an intense love for children, their own and those of the community. They have seven children: one adopted, two foster, and four birth children. Their love overflows into the community through a vibrant children’s church along with outreaches. They have a soccer academy of 30 elementary boys, all coming from vulnerable family situations. These boys have been trained to a level of skill that has earned them scholarships to various schools. Not only are these students advancing in soccer and academics, but they are also being raised up spiritually. All 30 boys call the church compound “home” especially on school breaks when they all share a room, chores, and ministry work.
Since 2014, Susan worked with the vulnerable women of her village and has created a Women’s Empowerment Program (WEP). Starting with three sewing machines, a knitting machine, and an open shed with dirt floor, these ladies have learned a skill and have purchased their own machines to start supporting themselves and their children. Through this program countless families have come to Christ.
In 2018, the Wesongas built a two-story, eight-room building on the church property. New Horizon participated in the building project and then purchased furniture, ovens, and equipment needed for the facility. Schools for hair-dressing, baking and catering, sewing and tailoring, computer IT, and local crafting, all have waitlists, due to the popularity of the programs. This God-inspired model for empowering the vulnerable and impacting hearts for Christ has been used to graduate 250 students and launch 10 other empowerment programs.
During the Covid lockdowns, Buzzi was significantly impacted, closing down the WEP. All nine of the Wesonga family members and a portion of the soccer academy boys moved into the second floor of the Empowerment Center. It was a God-ordained time as they quickly transformed the WEP into a bakery to begin feeding themselves and the community. New Horizon gave provision to start four to five bread cycles per week. The family and community members pitched in, as small amounts were sold and the rest was given to sustain people who were unable to work or gather food. It was truly a “divine season” for all, as Andrew and Susan were at the church as people came for help, love and salvation. The Wesonga family is working to change the Buzzi community through the love of Jesus and by meeting practical needs.
Justus and Rose Twikirize
With his wife Rose, Justus founded the Divine Hope Maternity Clinic in response to the great need he saw at the Sango Bay refugee camp.
Justus was born and raised in Masaka, Uganda, located between Kampala and Mutukula. In July of 2000, as a high school student, he attended a WOMF crusade where he accepted Christ as his savior. Justus sought out discipleship and grew in the Lord very quickly and became active in the local church. He joined UCOM (the Ugandan side of the WOMF ministry) and trained as an HIV specialist, then attended nursing school. It was at this point that Justus began working in the Sango Bay Refugee Camp, specializing in maternity care. Justus delivered many babies in the small mud huts of the camp.
Justus’ greatest desire is to see his community find and develop a loving relationship with Christ. Every medical encounter includes prayer and an invitation to salvation. Justus and his team have had great success leading many to Christ. After meeting spiritual needs, the team then meet physical medical needs.
Justus regularly sees between thirty and fifty expectant mothers per week for prenatal care. He also treats them for basic medical needs. Justus and the team also run an immunization clinic, seeing between ten and thirty children and roughly 25 to 35 mothers each week.
Steph and Jon Souliere.
The Soulieres manage the New Beginnings maternity home in Puyallup, WA, overseeing the care of women who have chosen life over abortion.
When Jon married Steph in 2018, they couldn’t have imagined God’s beautiful plan for them! The Soulieres, along with their two-year-old son, Areli, have answered the call to maternity home ministry. Their combined experience in the spheres of birth and management prepared them well to be “House Parents.” They are thrilled to be serving God together as a family.