We were so blessed to be able to go back to Alabama and spend 2 weeks for Christmas. We enjoyed time with family, friends and had several opportunities to share about our mission work and training. Thank you for all the prayers as we traveled and for those of you who helped make our time in Alabama so special.
PAPAU NEW GUINEA TRIP
I (David) will be leaving for Papau New Guinea on February 18 and returning March 13. My trip is now paid in full and we would like to thank each of you who sacrificially gave to help make this trip possible for me. Please continue to keep this trip covered in prayer that God would accomplish much through our time in Papau New Guinea and that He would give us wisdom and insight as we bring the gospel to the villages we serve. We will be sending out a Papau New Guinea (PNG) Prayer Guide soon and would appreciate you keeping me (and Gretta and kids who will remain in Texas) covered in prayers each day while I am gone. I look forward to updating you upon my return.
TRAINING CLASSES
We were blessed to have Dr. David Sills as a guest instructor this month in training classes. He taught on the subject of Culture and Contextulization working off his experience of reaching and teaching through his mission work with the Quechan Indians and other tribal groups. This class was enlightening and very valuable because Gretta and I had worked with Quechan peoples in Peru in 2011. They are an oral culture meaning stories, poems, songs, etc. are passed down through word of mouth. Dr. Sills taught how important it is to get to know the culture and customs of the people group we are serving on the field, the need for Oral Bible Storying (which we have received training in) and why discipleship plays a key role in ministry. This class and training provided us with great tools as we prepare to serve an oral culture people group.
POTENTIAL DIRECTION AFTER GRADUATION
It is with much excitement that we are able to share with you that we have a possible direction for the next step in our lives after we complete our training with To Every Tribe in May. We have submitted our initial application for a potential missions opportunity and our application is currently under review! Our job would be disciple making that leads to church planting (which would be our primary objective) with an unreached people group. We know you are anxious to hear where this opportunity is (and we can't wait to share that with you) but at this point, we are still in the early initial stages of this process so we are very limited on what details we can share. However, we would appreciate your prayers over our application and necessary steps as well as wisdom and patience for us as we are walking through this process and continually praying for God's direction for us after graduation.
NEW MISSIONS VIDEO
We have a new missions video! If you haven't had the chance to watch the latest video you can watch it by clicking the "Our Missions Video" tab at the top of the screen. It gives you an overview of our training, a brief glimpse of life at the Tex-Mex border and why we desire to follow the Lord's calling to reach the nations with the gospel message of Jesus Christ.
We are currently at 33% of our monthly support need. If you would like to help support our mission work, you may do so by clicking the "Partner With Us" tab at the top of the screen and scroll down to the link to donate online. All gifts (one time gifts and monthly support) are tax-deductible!
We thank you for your continued partnership with our family in our mission work and we appreciate you keeping our family lifted up to the Lord in prayers.
"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith.
For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross." Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
