Transition into Peru

We have made it to Peru safely and with quite an adventure so far. It all started by showing up at the airport two and a half hours before our 6:00am flight out of Detroit to find complications with the airlines who did not open the registration desk until 4:00am and had all their self check machines break down and needed to check everyone in individually. We were the first to the counter but were told we needed return tickets purchased in order to confirm our flight and needed to do this on our own. After purchasing the refundable tickets and approaching the counter, they had difficulty processing them and all of our luggage even though I called the manager and showed up at the airport a week prior to explain our situation to avoid such complications. Needless to say, time was escaping and it began to look as if we would miss our flight out of Detroit. We found ourselves at the counter still at 5:30am needing to get our tickets, go through security check, and walk across the airport to our gate to catch our plane which had already begun boarding. Not long after we got through security and began making our way to our gate, we heard our name over the intercom for "last call for the Harris group leaving for Miami" with still a ways to go. I wish I could have captured the moment on camera of us running to our gate being overloaded with carry-on bags with Matthew beating us there as they were shutting the door. Matthew told them that he was part of the Harris group and that we got held up at the counter. They allowed us to board as we all caught our breath on the plane. We than realized that this should be quite an adventure. We arrived at the Miami airport with an eight hour lay-over before our flight to Lima, Peru. We had a pastor in Florida who was gracious enough to pick us up at the airport and take us out to eat, provide us hotel rooms to catch some rest, and drive us back to the airport with plenty of time (and less adventurous) to catch our flight to Peru.

Upon arriving in Peru at 10:30pm, we came to the point where we have asked many of you to pray for a green light. Once you get off the plane you must check in with your passport and than pick up your luggage and approach the security checkpoint. After checking your paperwork they have you push a button which randomly turns red or green. "Green" means you can take your bags straight through without any check and no hassle, "red" light means that you would have to go off to the side and have every bag thoroughly searched and if you have not claimed any item that was suppose to be taxed over a certain amount they would confiscate that item with serious financial penalties. We loaded our 24 blue footlocker totes along with our carry-on luggage onto carts with airline workers helping us transport them to the checkpoint. They had Jon show the paper work and told him to push the button (who was hoping to pass that opportunity to his dad or someone else to blame). The light turned "RED" to everyone's disappointment. They escorted all of our luggage to the tables for the search that would take hours and be charged a huge tax. We had been warned by Gary Greenwood about his bags being searched upon his arrival into Peru with a huge fee. The airlines sent out a man who opened up the first three containers and searched them and asked if we had a list describing what was in each bag. We gave him our list which was written in English and explained that we were missionaries who were moving to Peru and therefore the reason for the extra baggage. He took our list into the office and came out about two minutes later opened up two other containers just to glance at the top items and than waived us through without any charges or further search. Praise the Lord!

God is good all the time! We were greeted out in the lobby of the airport by Missionary Joe Kotvas, his wife, and about six of his staff team who assisted us with our luggage and gave us a ride to their compound where we arrived just before midnight.

Our first day in Peru consisted of introductions, tours of the compound where we will be receiving our language training, and shopping for food supplies. Nisha is adjusting nicely as Jon and Ray each day breaks out items from their stored luggage to encourage her (Day 1 was her own pillow; Day 2 was the peanut butter M&M's; Day 3 was chocolate covered pretzels; etc...). Our children instantly made friends with the other staff children on the compound and enjoy the fact that there is a playground set, basketball/Soccer cemented area, and animals (chickens, dogs, cats, a lamb, a horse, birds, and butterflies). The hospitality and kindness of the staff here has been such a blessing to us. We are currently staying in a two bedroom dorm facility while our apartment is being completed and furnished for the next two weeks. Please pray for this to be completed before January 25 which will be the beginning of a Pastors conference held at the ministry here at EFATA Baptist Church. We praise the Lord for bringing us to Peru safely and find us all with good health and adjusting nicely. Our good friends from the jungle of Peru, Buddy and Loren Fitzgerald, have just came back from a medical leave in the states and have been able to visit the compound for a couple of days to get some work done before leaving back into Puerto Maldonado, Peru. Gary Greenwood also came down from the Mountains to do some paperwork and met us at the compound from Monday until he left early this Wednesday morning. The main missionary, Joe Kotvas, took the Fitzgerald Family, Gary, Nisha, and I out to Lima for shopping for furnishings for our apartment and a blessed time of fellowship. The coast-line of Peru has many modern conveniences to enjoy that the mountains and jungle doesn't provide but yet is so different in many ways from North America. It doesn't take long for you to realize that you are in a third world country with the landscape and the lifestyle. The driving is notoriously different with people cutting each other off and four lane roads being used as six lanes, horns honking, and bad road conditions which my dad will be returning with many stories I'm sure.

EFATA ministries is specifically directed towards the deaf of Peru. They provide a deaf church, orphanage, school, and institute along with having a hearing church as well. We are running into situations in which communication with the deaf staff members as well as Spanish speaking members becomes a challenging task especially when you are working together. We are in the process this week of filing out our paper-work, getting supplies, building our apartment, and getting involved with ministry being done here at the compound. Our hearts were encouraged on Sunday with the sound doctrinal preaching along with the conservative music and God honoring worship at the church services which were translated for us. I believe that it is God's Will for us to be here and that He has directed us to a place where we can grow spiritually as well educationally with language and culture training.

Thank you for all your prayers and support,

The Harris Family

Jon, Nisha, Matthew, Nathan, Becca, and Katie

Your missionaries to Peru

Christmas 2010

We send Christmas and New Year greetings to you and your congregation. We have been able to celebrate the holidays with Jon's family in Wisconsin where 35 gathered together. Christians have much to celebrate during the season for our Saviour was born! We have a message to share found in Luke 2:11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” and joy to share as the angels declared in Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

We have entered into what many have described as “crunch time” with much to organize, store, and pack before leaving on January 6^th. We thank you for your support in prayers and financial gifts. We have seen God answer many of our prayers of good health, furnishings for lodging in Peru, safety while traveling, those coming to hear the Gospel and souls being saved.

Our missionary partners in Peru have asked prayer for Isai, a boy of 10 who has a brain tumor that needs to be removed; Jon Carlos, a newly saved teen who has decided to leave his rock band and friends to follow Christ; Juan Carlos and Bridget, newly married in the catholic church for family pressure but returning to a Baptist Church; Alfredo, a newly baptized father and husband wanting to grow and leave his struggle with alcohol; and Carlos and Julia, a struggling couple.

There is an awkward feeling for a missionary arriving into a foreign field with his family and their belongings to start a new beginning. I’m thankful to the EFATA ministry who has agreed to greet us and pick us up at the airport upon arrival. We have recently made arrangements for Jon’s dad to go with us in helping with the final construction of our apartment and assisting us with our children. We will be in Lima, Peru for one year in order to process our paperwork, purchase furnishings and supplies, learn the Spanish language with a private tutor, and learn the culture and customs while living at the EFATA ministries (a Baptist church, orphanage, and school). We will than be teaming up with a church planting missionary in the Andes mountains working in Andahuaylas, Peru for our first term. It is our desire to plant churches in other mountain villages, as God would lead.

After January 5^th, it would be best to communicate by phone (734) 244-6567 or by e-mail (amazonmissions@comcast.net) as we will be out of the country and will find it difficult to receive hard mail. We will be communicating with you concerning our new Peru address and phone numbers when it is set up.

November Prayer Letter

We reflect back over these past couple of months and have much to be thankful for in the Lord. Since we last wrote, we have completed our trip out west presenting in churches in TN, TX, NV, CA, British Columbia-Canada, and MT. We rejoice in the safety God has given to us while traveling in the van over 10,000 miles. We’ve heard from three churches who have taken us on for support and others considering. We are at 89% of our updated support level, having met the minimum support requirement to leave. We are confident that God will provide our every need.

We have purchased our departure tickets and will be leaving for Peru from Detroit Metro Airport on January 6, 2011. We have a renewed zeal for we see a specific answer to our prayer of serving God in Peru. We thank those who have been praying for us and have sent financial support for our transition. We have seen God provide funding for our tickets, luggage, passports, apartment to be built in Peru, and a new computer. Once we arrive in Peru, we will need funding to furnish our apartment with beds/mattresses, table/chairs, stove, refrigerator, etc... We are limited to only two bags per person to take with us on the plane and have opted to not ship a container due to the expenses and timing.

We rejoice in finally getting our children’s birth certificates sealed by the Peruvian Embassy in order to process our visa paperwork in Peru. After a failed attempt at the San Francisco consulate, where our van got towed and ticketed, we were able to complete the process at the Chicago consulate. We look back at these times and see God working to teach us and to build our faith.

As mentioned in our last letter, we will not be going to Costa Rica for language training but will be spending our first year in Lima, Peru to process our paperwork and receive language training at EFATA Baptist Ministry from a private tutor. EFATA has already begun building us an apartment on their compound where we will be able to stay during our time with them.

Our children have experienced many adventures while on deputation and have witnessed God working in churches, in answered prayers, and in their own hearts. They have seen much of God’s creation while traveling. We’ve been able to celebrate the 12th birthday of our son Matthew on October 5th and the 9th birthday of our twins Becca and Katie on November 26th. Thank you to those who sent birthday cards and encouragement to them.

We were able to spend Thanksgiving in Michigan with our sending church, Jon’s family, and Nisha’s step-dad who came to visit. We thank all those who have been praying for Nisha’s family concerning the unexpected death of her mother who is now in Glory with her Savior.

Looking ahead at these days before departure, we will be presenting in churches in West Virginia and Ohio in December and will be in TN to have our exiting meeting with our mission board. Jon’s family has arranged for Christmas to be celebrated with all of his siblings in Wisconsin. Our home church will be having a sending off service on Sunday, January 2nd. As our computer ticker counts down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds to departure, we are sensing the urgency of finalizing our packing and storage, along with saying our farewells to family and friends. These days ahead will be filled with emotions and transitions but with assurance that God never changes and will be with us all the way.

For God’s Glory,
The Harris Family
Jon, Nisha, Matthew, Nathan, Becca, and Katie
Your Missionaries to Peru

Deputation into new areas

On October 18th we embarked into areas that we have never been before: Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia/Canada. We left California and had opportunity to find lodging at Harvest Baptist in Medford, Oregon. They were such a blessing to us. We were able to get our van checked and updated with an oil change and tire rotation. We than traveled as far as Seattle, Washington where we stayed in a hotel two blocks from the space needle. We took the time the next morning to go up to the viewing floor in the space needle despite the fear of our oldest son who is afraid of heights. Our next missions conference started at Grace Baptist in Surrey, British Columbia, which meant that we would have to cross the Canadian border. To our surprise, and with the help of some friends near the border, we made it through without any delays.

The conference was a blessing! Jon preached, we showed our DVD, Nisha taught the childrens' class, our children sang special music, we enjoyed fellowship with the church and missionaries, and got in some sightseeing at Stanley Park in Vancouver. Dr. Storz was the main speaker on Sunday to wrap up the meetings. It was such a blessing to be hosted by Mrs. Dorothy Newcombe who also hosted another missionary during the conference going to the deaf of Peru, Miss Jamie Rowe.

We will look to visit other area pastors and churches until our next meeting on November 7th at New Testament Baptist.

California Meetings in 2010

We arrived in California to give updates to some of our supporting churches as well as present in new churches for possible support. We faced some unexpected delays with Jon cutting his head on a dinosaur statue at a rest stop and the van breaking down after presenting our calling at a church. We are currently presenting and giving updates in churches in Northern California.
It was exciting to reserve our airline tickets to depart from Detroit Metro at 6:00a.m. on January 6th, 2011 and arrive in Lima, Peru at 10:10p.m. that same day. Less than three months from fulfilling God's calling on our life of being missionaries in Peru.
Thank you all for you prayers and support.

GPS leads to Destruction

Travelling through the rest of Texas and into New Mexico was a thirteen hour trip in the van where we arrived at Jon's uncle's house for lodging. My wife was less than enthusiastic when the GPS led us at night into an Indian Reservation away from all civilization. We went from a divided paved road, to a single paved road, to a dirt road, to sand paths in the field where we were beginning to lose phone signal. My wife and children had to ask me if I really knew where we were at. After going a couple of miles out in the field, thinking that it was just a short cut to a main road, we heard the GPS tell us that we had arrived but there were no signs of civilization. My wife was waiting for a witch doctor to jump out and the girls began to pray out of fear setting in. Nathan was imagining what an adventure it would be to have a dirt bike on the trails. Jon was entertaining the idea of shutting off the lights and scaring everyone even more until the thought of his wife's response made him think twice. I was able to turn the van around without getting stuck in the sand and found my way back out safely.
Once out of the field, my wife double checked the address to my uncle's new house, and discovered that Jon put the wrong address in the GPS. I'm sure God allowed this adventure for a reason. It will be one of those stories that is funny once the initial scare has wore off.
The next morning we got the GPS and an atlas to show Jon's uncle where we ended up driving to. He told us how lucky we were that we didn't get our van stuck and how many dead bodies have been discovered out in those fields. That just made the story that much better, to realize that God protected us.

Traveling West on Deputation

After completing the moving sale, starting homeschooling, renting a full size van from MO, and packing, we hit the road once again for another two month trip. On September 18th, we left Michigan for churches out west to present our ministry. We appreciated being able to stop in Memphis, TN to visit Jon's sister on the way to TX. She just had her fourth child, Amelia Jean, in which our children got to take to the Memphis Zoo. Their pastor was a missionary to Peru and gave some helpful advice.

Our first missions conference was held at Temple Baptist Church in Flower Mound, TX. We had opportunity to participate in the conference by teaching in the children's program in the morning service, Awana, Youth Group, men and ladies fellowships, show our DVD, and share our calling at our table display. Time spent with the other missionaries and Dr. Don Sisk was an extra blessing. The church took the missionary men to Dallas Cowboy stadium while the ladies went shopping. Matthew and Nathan were excited to play football down on the field. The conference ended on Sunday night with the joyous news that the church would be supporting us.

We found lodging at a missions trailer in Dallas for a couple of days before traveling out to NV for more meetings. It was good to spend time with the Brough family and catch up on what God has been doing in their lives. They have been our friends since our college days when we all counselled together at Camp CoBeAc in Michigan.

September Prayer Letter

SEPTEMBER 2010

Dear Faithful Prayer Warriors and Co-Laborers,

What a whirlwind these last two months have been for us! There have been many life altering changes for our family, besides the fact that we are leaving for the field in January, and God has been gracious and kind in all matters.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 115:16

The morning of August 5th we received a phone call from Nisha’s step-father that her mother, Denise Taylor, had passed away in her sleep and woke up in the arm’s of her Savior. She was 55 years old. The unexpected death has been difficult for the family because she was not ill and had no known ailments. There is still no “resolution” as to the cause of death other than natural causes, but the family accepts the fact that God decided it was time for her to go Home. We rejoice in her testimony, which was clearly evident at her workplace, as we heard story after story of her mother’s faithful witness to her co-workers. Although we miss her, we are confident in God’s timing and purpose. Please pray for Nisha’s step-father as he adjusts to life with out his beloved wife, and for Nisha and her siblings as they adjust to life without their mother.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” I Timothy 6:6-7

We had begun the process of packing up our home in Michigan when we received the call of Nisha’s mother. We returned three weeks later, to complete the process, only this time, we were adjusting our packing around the meetings we had scheduled in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Finally, we have completed the moving sale and are finishing getting the house ready to turn back over to the church. It was difficult to see most of our earthly possessions being sold, but know that it is a step closer to Peru. Please pray as we still have our vehicle and a couple of other items to sell to complete this process of moving.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8

It was our intention to begin language training in January in Costa Rica. However, in the last month, another option has been made available to us through a ministry directly in Lima, Peru. They have a Spanish language professor on staff willing to teach us for a year. This would give us an opportunity to learn the Peruvian Spanish dialect from a Baptist ministry, build ministry relationships, help us begin the process of acquiring our ministry visas, as well as getting used to some Peruvian culture before heading to the mountains and jungle.
We are heading west for our fall meetings. A new addition to our ministry has become a full size van to complete our deputation. Our current car was in need of repair and we didn’t feel it would last through all the travelling we are doing this fall. Baptist Missionary Transportation Ministry, BMTM, came through for us with a seven passenger van and we are in awe of all the room it has! After spending the last three and a half years in a Taurus station wagon, you can imagine how we feel traveling with this! This will give us enough room to do school while we travel and eliminate the need for a car top carrier. We are blessed to have this van to complete our deputation ministry. Please pray as we present our ministry to churches in Texas, Nevada, California, and Vancouver, BC this fall and for continued safety as we travel.

Here are some remaining things you can keep in mind as you pray for us:
1. Completion of our deputation ministry.
2. Paperwork for visas: We need to certify the kids’ birth certificates this fall at a Peruvian embassy in the states. Please pray that we will be able to find one as we travel this fall and there would be no complications in the visa process.
3. We will be purchasing our airline tickets for Peru this month.

Thank you all who faithfully pray and support our ministry. We know many of you pray daily for us and we want you to know that they are felt and appreciated!

For His Glory,

Jon, Nisha, and the kids

Moving Update

The moving sale has come finally as our children have been announcing it for months it seems. They helped put a lemonade stand together and painted it. They enjoyed being a part of the sale by demonstrating many of the toys for customers. They also felt like salesmen with blunt statements as when dad quoted a price to a customer for an item that one of our children announced mom priced cheaper earlier. The children want to find out how much we make each day financially and what their cut will be for letting go of many of their toys.
Each day shows more signs of our departure day quickly approaching. The children were delighted to see their passports come in the mail. The dreaded day of Hep A shots came for all the children, who have been praying for the courage to not be overcome with fear. It didn't help to have all four in the same room together to see each other get the shot but they all did very good. God answered their prayers.
Jon is flying out to Baptist Missionary Transportation to rent a full size van for our trip out west these next two months. We don't believe that our car would make the long trip. This will allow us to put our car up for sale earlier. We will be traveling as a family from Michigan to Tennessee and than on to Texas. We will presenting in churches throughout California and British Columbia the next couple of months as well.
We thank all those who pray for us.

The Loss of a Loved One

Sandra Denise Taylor, Nisha's mother, went home to be with the Lord on August 5th, 2010.

Nisha and I were in Michigan taking a few weeks to pack up our belongings and move out of the mission home in preparation for departure this winter. We were woken by a phone call at 6:50a.m. on Thursday with the news that her mother passed away during the night. This came as shock to the family for she was only 55 years old and had no known ailments. We found ourselves adjusting our priorities and schedules in order to be with family during this difficult time. We rejoice in the testimony of her mother's faith in the Lord Jesus saving her from her sins and the hope that it brings to those who have the same faith.

Psalms 116:15 says "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

Sympathy is expressed to her husband, John Taylor; children, Nisha (Jon) Harris, Jason (Erin) Adams, and Heather (Bryan) Neal; six grandchildren; and her mother, Margie Smith.

Denise Taylor was a faithful servant of Christ who expressed her love to her Saviour, family, friends, and co-workers. It's never easy to lose a loved one who was so close and dear to you. Our family has count it a privilege to have known her as mother, mother in law, and grandmother. She will be greatly missed.

Home again Home again jiggity jig

After some vacation time with Jon's family in Florida and taking a couple of days as a family to visit some parks while traveling back to Michigan, we arrived home with some big tasks ahead of us. Knowing our departure in January is during the winter season in Michigan, we have the task of moving out of the church mission house by selling off all the items that we are not taking with us to Peru during the summer. We are praying for wisdom during this time of transition and strength to let go of items that we cannot keep.

Lord provides even Lodging

We look back on our trip these past two months and once again see how the Lord provided us with safety in traveling over 4,000 miles and lodging in some wonderful mission houses. One family even heard of our need and provided lodging at a hotel when we drove thru their area. God showered us with blessings by providing not only a place to stay but places where we could be refreshed and relax as a family. We thank all those who allowed themselves to be used by God to meet our needs. We are grateful for your kindness.

Mission Conference in Currytown, NC

What a blessing to have a part in the mission conference at Currytown Baptist Church where we were able to sing music, share our calling, go soul-winning, and enjoy the preaching from Don Sisk. Friendships were made and the fellowship opportunities were a delight. There were fourteen missionary families at the conference and the most MK's (missionary kids) we have seen in one conference. The church picnic at the park provided a blessing for extra fellowship with the church and the missionaries where a small bird was rescued by MK's from a drain. The town is known for their ceramic pig displays throughout the area. Over 100 ceramic pigs but we only took enough time to see 30 of them.

It was a blessing to see the Holy Spirit work in hearts during the conference and see many decisions made at the altar before the Lord. It was a joy to hear of them take us on for support.

Sligo Baptist Church in Maryland

Sligo Baptist Church in Maryland has recently been added to our list of churches co-laboring with us. We enjoyed the opportunity to present our testimony, calling, and field. We also had the privilege of preaching, fellowshipping, and building friendships during our time in Maryland. Pastor Corrigan, a BIMI church planting missionary, was very kind to us in allowing our family to stay at his house. Our children enjoyed playing with his children in the tree fort in the back yard and the boys remember playing basketball as well. Katie, who almost fell from the tree, will remember when Quinn rescued her from the broken tree limb. Nisha and I will remember the outing into Baltimore where we ate dinner at a Brazilian Steakhouse (Fogo de chau).


Upon the news of Jon's brother, who hit a deer recently with their van while traveling at dawn, it reminded us once again to be thankful for the many traveling mercies that God has given us, including the trip to Maryland.

Two Bikes for One Soul

Deputation has us traveling and away from our mission house back in Michigan. It has been a blessing to have a place we can call home. Upon returning from a recent trip, my boys noticed that their bikes were missing from the garage. As I approached the garage entrance, I noticed a muddy footprint where someone had kicked in the door. The two boys bmx bikes were stolen.

Our boys first response was "Who could do such a thing?" along with disappointment of not being able to ride them. I had my suspicions of who done it and began following up on the clues left behind. I approached the young teenagers and their parents about the possibility of getting the bikes returned but was made aware of them being passed on to someone else already. One parent reprimanding her son and requiring reconciliation to take place and another parent admittance of losing control of her son and seeking to have son sent to jail for even other crimes, I began to pray to the Lord as to how to handle the matter of the stolen bikes.

It seemed as if God was allowing this incident to happen for a reason. This gave me a chance to share with our children that all the material possessions obtained in life belong to God. We have been given things for a purpose. As the boys began to reflect on the many blessings of God, they began to play with other toys rather than get bitter at the ones missing.

Later that week during our family time we were talking about God's forgiveness offered to us for our sins debt in which the boys replied that they wanted to forgive those who stole their bikes from them. I took our oldest son to see each of the boys. As I talked to the parents and explained God's Forgiveness toward us and how we would not be pressing charges but willing to forgive them, I noticed my son talking to the boys individually as well. My heart softened even more when I looked across the room to see my son walking through a tract with the boy and seeing them pray together to God. My son praying to forgive as God has forgiven him, and the boy, who earlier stole his bike, was asking God to forgive him for his sins and to save him by putting his faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for him. As the boy and my son concluded their prayer, I notice them give each other a hug and fist bumped to their friendship.

We never fully understand what God is doing when we are wronged but may we never lose faith in knowing that He is in control and knows what is best. At the end of it all, we look back and thank God for the stolen bikes which led to a soul being saved.

Birthday's in June

There are many birthdays in the Harris Family in the month of June. June 1st is Jon's Dad; June 2nd is Jon's brother Rory; June 3rd is Nisha's; June 12th is Jon's nephew Sean; June 14th is Jon's mom; June 22nd is Jon's birthday; June 27th is Jon's nephew CJ. We received word that Jon's sister, Renee, delivered on June 5th her fourth child named Amelia Jeanne. We find ourselves celebrating multiple birthdays together on one designated day. Jon was sure to find a babysitter for our children to be able to take Nisha out on a special date to make her feel special for her birthday. We thank all of those who sent cards and wishes to her. We cherish the times we can spend together.

Church Meetings and Family Time in May

We have found ourselves spending a couple of weeks in meetings close enough to be able to stay at our home. This allowed us to spend some time with family members who are realizing our departure time is drawing closer. Nisha and girls where able to go to Chicago with Aunt Heather and spend some fun time at the American girls store and Navy Pier; while Jon and the boys spent time with Jon's brother and his mother at the Toledo Zoo. Many fun moments took place at each which will be remembered and cherished.

As a family, we've been able to present in Indiana, Illinois, and will be finishing this month in Maryland. Jon appreciated the opportunity to set up a table display and attend the Pastor's conference in Rockford, Illinois.

We are at 95% of our support and must meet the criteria of the full 100% and have passage fund secured before approval of purchasing tickets and setting specific target date. If criteria is met by June than we can further pursue August departure but if not met by June than it will be a January departure. Please pray with us that God will allow us to depart in August.

Indiana Meetings on Mothers Day!

We had the joy of returning to two areas that we had previously lived in at the beginning of us serving in full time ministry. The first church was Calvary Baptist in Lapaz, IN which is pastored by Ryan Wardlow, who was a teenager when Jon was the youth pastor in Plymouth. It was a blessing to see him in full time ministry today. Our children will remember the church as the one with eight little bunny rabbits found in the grass at the church. What excitment that brought.

The second church was Dyer Baptist Church in Dyer, IN where we attended as members back in 2000. Pastor Atkinson has been a tremendous example of a compassionate Christian. What a delight to be able to present our calling of church planting in Peru with these two churches. Once again, God provided safety in traveling, food, and lodging for our family during this trip to Indiana.

May 2010 Prayer Letter

Dear Fellow Laborers of the Gospel, May 2010

We returned back to our sending church for their mission conference and had opportunity to give an update and preach. We have just completed a busy spring schedule filled with good mission conferences. Over two months of meetings and only seeing our support increase by one percent left us reluctant to report our percentage in our prayer letter. However, within three days of writing this letter, God has saw fit to allow us to hear from a group of churches who voted to support us which has increased our support level to 95% and has rejuvenated us to consider packing up for a sooner departure. Praise the Lord!
We had an opportunity to sit down with our Pastor to express our desire and urgency for departing in August. This would allow us to attend the fall semester of language school in Costa Rica. He was thinking that it would be in January of 2011, but with God providing the surge of support and showing the possibility of it happening in August, he was thrilled to entertain the idea. We are scheduled to meet with our deacons on May 25th for final approval from our church and June 28th for the exiting meeting with our mission board before we purchase our tickets. So much to do before August! It seems as if someone has given us a huge push down a steep snow hill on a sled. We have responded with tears of joy and are overwhelmed with the excitement. May God be praised for all He has done!
We will be purchasing Rubbermaid containers to begin packing items to take with us. We are watching prices for tickets and are considering taking extra baggage with us on the plane so that we would have it available to us in Costa Rica and in Peru while avoiding shipping a container altogether if possible.
Please pray for us to raise the remaining support needed, see God provide the funds for exiting, homeschooling to be completed, passports for children, packing, meetings, traveling, and all the other details that we must meet to have a smooth transition.
We rejoice in the Lord for providing each of us with good health these last two months and safety in our travels. We have been encouraged to see our children’s desire to share the Gospel. Our son Matthew was able to lead a neighbor to Christ and Katie is praying to lead one to Christ on her own. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. We pray that fruit will abound to your account as we faithfully serve together for the sake of our Savior’s name.

Jon and Nisha Harris