Winter Traveling!

In Montana, Jon was able to be given a tour of an Air-Force base. Jon was also able to see much of the beauty of the mountains while traveling on the road between churches.

Ministry in Montana

The time for Mission Conferences brings excitement for those on deputation. Being able to meet new missionaries and enjoy fellowship with churches with mission hearts has been a delight. It has been a blessing to be under the preaching of main speakers like Dr. Creed, Dr. Sisk, and others. It has been evident of the Holy Spirit working in hearts where the Gospel is proclaimed and the Word of God declared. God has blessed our traveling from meetings into Canada, Indiana, Illinois, and even for Jon flying into Montana, all within these last two months. We appreciate those ministries who have allowed us to come present our calling for Peru and are praying that God will allow even more churches to support our ministry of spreading the Gospel and planting churches in Peru.

Pastor Scare!

We stopped at First Baptist in Goodells, MI on the way to our Sunday evening meeting, only to scare the Pastor who thought he might have scheduled a missionary in unawares. We assured him of us just visiting and desiring to worship with them.

We were able to preach and present our calling for Peru at Royal City Baptist in Canada. Our children became excited when given a tour of the school portion of the building after the service where they had a gym to play in and a rabbit to feed. Our time of fellowship into the morning hours with Pastor and his wife was a blessing.

It was then time to go back home in Michigan for Jon to catch a plane to Montana and for Nisha and the children to recoop.

God brought us encouragement by hearing of a church in California that took us on for support.

Our meeting at Grace Baptist in Plymouth, IN brought back many fond memories from when I served as Youth Pastor. It was such a delight to see those who remain faithful in their walk with God over the years. I appreciated the opportunity to preach in their chapel times in the school and to give an update on our ministry. Pastor Elliott's heart for missions is evident in his life and ministry. We thank them for the use of their prophets chamber and hospitality shown on our behalf. Our children appreciated the gym in which they could play and run in. We thank God for safety while driving in the snow storm and for the meeting in Beecher City, IL where God is being worshiped and growth is visible.

D.C. to New York City to Niagra Falls in three days!

Our cup was overflowing with blessing as we departed Independent Baptist in Maryland and began to make our way to Yonkers, New York. We were able to enjoy dinner fellowship with a host family whom we met up with in Baltimore. While in Yonkers, New York, we were given a tour of New York City by Pastor Dierking. We somehow fit in one day the Natural Museum, Central Park, Times Square, and everything in between. Needless to say, that our feet were sore from all the walking but our children slept good that night. The next day was spent traveling to our next mission conference in Simcoe, ON Canada. We were given the opportunity to stop and see Niagra Falls in the Winter time as we traveled through. Jon was stopped at the border crossing for giving too much detailed information but was able to work it all out eventually.

Traveling Protection through the storms!

As we conclude our meetings for the month of January, we reflect on God's Goodness to us. God gave to us traveling mercies especially noticed when coming over a hill and seeing a car in our lane attempting to pass a semi. Without adequate time for either of us to stop the car took our shoulder of the road and began fish tailing while applying their brakes. We found ourselves driving between the semi and car to escape a head on collition. We have drove over three thousand miles within the last two weeks and have seen our share of snow storms for this winter but through it all God protected.

Our time at Bethel Baptist in Simcoe, ON was a blessing. Their mission conference is one to be a part of in order to see their parade of nations, good preaching from Dr. Sisk, delightful fellowship, and heartfelt compassion towards missionaries. We are praying to hear back from them as possible supporters of our ministry.

We have seen God open up an unexpected meeting in Indiana in our travels and the blessing of presenting in Greenland Baptist in IL where God was being worshipped out in the farmland with some dear people. We find ourselves at our home in Michigan where we have two days to unwind, refresh, host a missionary family at our church, and repack for a trip back into Canada.

Thank you all for your time in reading this update and your continual prayers on our behalf.

Missions Conference in Maryland

We spent a full week at a mission conference at Independent Baptist Church in Clinton, Maryland where we were so blessed to serve and be served. The conference gave opportunity for us to share our ministry in the Christian School classes and chapel, preach in Spanish Church, preach to bus teens, and share calling and testimony during church service, meal times, and fellowship gatherings. We witnessed the Love for God within the church by their heart for missions and care for the missionaries. We found ourselves being overcome with abundant generosity by the church toward the missionaries. We express our gratitude for going beyond our expectations and reaching into overflowing blessings. I only hope that when the times come into our lives when we find ourselves lacking or discouraged that our memory of God's blessings will encourage us to remain faithful and endure to the end. We are thankful for the support and the willingness to co-labor with us in the spread of the Gospel.

We will be traveling to Ontario, Canada to our next mission conference beginning on Wednesday.

So this is Christmas?!

What a time of year to focus on Christ and to spread the joy of the Gospel message. I sometimes wonder how we fit so much in such a short amount of time. Our Christmas Season was filled with many delightful moments. We were able to be back in Michigan where we have family and our sending church during the month of December. We have been involved in our church choir, preaching, Christmas contada, Christmas Children's Program, Chimes choir, and part of the church clean-up crew. We found ourselves caroling to our neighbors and sharing gifts of baked goods. Nisha put much effort into sewing clothes and baking (chocalate chip cookies, strawberry bread, sugar cookies, buckeyes, and even a turkey). All turned out exceptional in the celebration of Christmas. We thank all who had a part with prayers, gifts, cards, etc... in making this Christmas one of the best as our children would say (of course they wish it could be like this all year but adults know that we would never survive). We thank the Lord Jesus for coming to earth through the virgin birth and giving His life to make Salvation from Sin possible for all who believe that He is the Son of God; for this is why Christmas is worth celebrating.

December Prayer Letter 2009

Dear Fellow Laborers of the Gospel, December 2009

Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

We are thankful for the many promises in God’s Word to hold onto. We thank those, who with patience have seen God work in and through our lives to bring us to the place of ministry today. This Thanksgiving reminded me of the many individuals that God brought into my life to strengthen my spiritual walk, some from childhood. I thank you for being a part of our ministry of spreading the Gospel. There is nothing better than knowing you are where God wants you, doing what He wants you to do and seeing Him order your steps. I pray more folks would be saved and God would call faithful men into the ministry.
I know missionaries, whether on deputation or on the field, want to have successful ministries, but it takes time, patience, prayer, the Holy Spirit, and many sorrows and tears along the way. We thank God for His Calling and the vision He has given us to plant churches in Peru. The process of deputation has been long and difficult, but we have seen God working in and through us along the way. We rejoice in sharing with you that our support level has increased to 80%. We are currently scheduling meetings through 2010 and have set the departure date for January 2011. We’re excited to begin making arrangements for the departure date such as selling some of our home items this summer, applying for our visas, and receiving details about starting things anew in Peru. With electricity in Peru running on 220amp rather than our 110amp it has reduced many things we would take with us. We ask for prayer in making wise decisions in the process of transition.
I know it is God’s will to finish what He has called us to do. We are thankful for your faithful support in prayers and finances to seize this opportunity and make it a reality. God has used you to encourage us while ministering to churches on deputation. We have been in Virginia and Michigan conferences in October and a month of meetings out in California thru November. We are praying the churches we have presented in would see fit to support us to make it possible for an even sooner departure date. We realize it takes money for churches to be planted and ask that more churches would consider partnering with us financially.
As we’ve just celebrated Thanksgiving and have given God thanks for His bountiful blessings, our hearts grieve over many not able to see God’s mercies and His saving Grace in Peru and our own country. May God give us eyes to see the needs of others as we approach this next holiday and seek to keep Christ in Christmas.
Thank you to all those who pray for us and our work for God. I had a lady who just this week came and told me that she has been praying for us every day. It is so encouraging to hear of your thoughts and prayers for us and believe that God honors those prayers as they line up to His Word and Will.

Twins 8th Birthday!

Our Twin Girls, Rebecca and Kathleen, turned eight years old on Thanksgiving Day this year. It was exciting for them to be able to celebrate with so many family members. Nisha's mom and stepdad along with her sister Heather's family came to visit from Rockford, Illinois to Ypsilanti, Michigan where Jon's parents live. Our children enjoy spending time with their cousins which most are close to their age. One cousin, Peter, was born the day after the twins at the same hospital. We thank God for our twin girls who have a Salvation testimony, a love for God, and a desire to share it to the Peruvians when the time comes.

Deputation out in California

We finished our Missions Conference in Jackson, Michigan just before meetings were scheduled for California throughout the next month. Not having suitable time to travel and the expense of the trip, it was decided to fly Jon out to the California churches interested in planting churches in Peru. Jon, and the churches, would have preferred if the family was together for the meetings but their absence was understood. We look forward to hearing back from the churches visited concerning the possibility of their support.

Jon is thankful to the Lord for once again providing the proper funds for this trip, safe traveling mercies, Spirit-filled meetings, and the decisions made for God's Glory. The Christian Fellowship at each church was such a comfort. It was an added blessing to visit Yosemite National Park with Ambassador Baptist Church. I once again was amazed with our Creator and the natural beauty of His creation with the rock formations, waterfalls, and landscape.

I will admit that it felt awkward traveling and eating meals without the family. It was a comfort to know that Nisha and the children were safe back at our sending church and surrounded by those who care. Our children are back into home-schooling but look forward to traveling to more meetings with Dad.

Jon had the chance to stay with his sister Jody and family, who live in Vacaville, between meetings while in California. They took the opportunity to show more of the West, such as Crabbing off the Pier in the Pacific Ocean, Golf, parks, and the Air Force Museum. He helped out after his sister had knee surgery and wishes her a speedily recovery.

We look forward to our next prayer letter going out to reveal how God has revealed our departure plans and the raising percentage of our support. Please pray with us that God will be magnified through our life.

Matthew's 11th Birthday

We celebrated Matthew's physical birthday on Monday, October 5th. We are so thankful for God entrusting us as parents, giving him life, and offering him eternal life by believing in God's Son, Jesus Christ, to be the saviour from sins penalty. As parents, we are so proud of his accomplishments and his growth over the years. Matthew has a testimony of trusting in Jesus to save him from his sins at the age of six and was baptized at Faithway Baptist Church. Matthew has a tender heart, a helper, good with younger children, and enjoys reading. Matthew likes to play, watch, and collect anything sports related. His birthday party was football oriented due to the fall football season.

After praying for the food, we noticed Matthew witnessing to the neighbor who made a profession of faith for salvation. Matthew was delighted that God was able to use him to present the Gospel to another. Nisha and I thought it was a successful party because no one was hurt playing tackle football and jumping on the trampoline but God allowed even more to be done for His Glory.

Happy Birthday, Matthew, and may God continue to use you to do His Perfect Will!