Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ!  Since we gave our lives to God, many things have taken place.  Madelon and I never thought we would find ourselves in Uganda East Africa.  It seems God has given us a love for the prospects of what He can do through us.  He has been molding us for His purpose for our lives, The Great African Commission.  We trust God will help us faithfully serve Him in Uganda as we plan to train people (especially men) to do the work of God. 
CHARLES SIEKBERT AUTOBIOGRAPHY
I was brought up from birth attending First Baptist Church of Milford Ohio.  Many at our home church addicted themselves to its ministries.  They built their foundations on The Rock, Jesus Christ.  Because of their investments, God sent out a small army of Christian pioneers from our church who loved God enough to pay the cost for missionary work.  My family is part of the dividends of their investments.  I wish I could name all the people who contributed to my life.  However, I will only be able to write about two pioneers involved in the influence of missions to me personally.
One of those people who came out of the midst of those pioneers was Ron Todd, missionary to Costa Rica.  He was the first missionary to invest in me (Charles) specifically.  After a missions trip I took to Costa Rica, Bro. Todd took a little time and interest to write me from the field.  It impressed me a missionary would hand-write personal letters to me.  When he returned on furlough to the States he took me to a few of his meetings as he reported from the field.  It was those times that gave me a vision.  Missions is done when God uses His most unlikely subjects!  God isn’t looking for dynamic speakers, powerful presentations, or good personality.  He’s looking for a man who will demonstrate His love to this world through the most powerful way known to man, personal relationships.
A second of those pioneers was a man who came into our midst at First Baptist Church many years ago named Bob Hayes, Missionary to Ghana West Africa.  At Sunday morning prayer meeting I could almost always find a seat next to Bro. Bob Hayes.  He was faithful!  In my college years, I had taken a trip to Venezuela and Bro. Hayes had been there.  How an old man could retain such youthful humor I don’t know but he could.  Years later I was with him in India on a mission trip.  The group gave me the privilege of helping him because it was difficult for him to mobilize from a previous stroke.  He was resolved to attend himself as much as possible.  The quiet concern he demonstrated was his love for God!  Bro. Hayes was an example that one man/family can make a difference.  God used his death (a car accident in Ghana West Africa that also took the lives of his son and daughter) as a means of confirming His plan for me in Africa.
MADELON SIEKBERT AUTOBIOGRAPHY
My family started attending Newtonsville Baptist Church as a result of the bus ministry.  I received Christ at age seven.  My Pastor’s wife led me to the Lord after a Sunday evening service.  At age twelve, I read a book entitled Hidden Valley about missionaries in Africa.  It concerned my heart for missions, but caused fears about Africa.  At a youth camp on August 9, 1990 I surrendered to be a missionary, willing to go anywhere but Africa.  I graduated from Crown College with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 1999, instead of the MRS degree I was hoping to receive.  I got a job teaching first grade at Milford Christian Academy (a ministry of First Baptist Church, Milford).  Teaching was great, but I knew God wanted me to be a missionary.  I spoke to Dr. Keen (then pastor) about my burden and he advised me to make it public at church.  He told me to finish the school year and then take some survey trips to find where God wanted me.  I was afraid of going alone, but wanted to please Christ.  The day I finally turned my fears of Africa and serving single over to the Lord was the exact day my husband, Charles, asked me out on a date.  God’s timing is perfect!  I enjoy serving the Lord with the wonderful husband and children He has given me.