Good News!

We have some very good news for you!  After 6 years of being 'independent' missionaries we decided to partner up with the Evangelical Free Church of Canada Mission (EFCCM).  We are very excited to be working together under the umbrella of this awesome Mission organization.

 Presently the EFCCM is involved in over 21 different countries, has over 100 full time missionaries, 6 directors and 10 home staff.  It will be thrilling to see all the good things He does as we work together! 

 Their ethos is simple.
  In essentials:  unity;

in non-essentials: charity, and in all things Jesus Christ!

We enjoyed a 4 day orientation  in Langley, BC.  The EFCCM hold interviews for Career missionary candidates twice a year. We were happy that we were able to attend this "pre-acceptance orientation" which gave us a plethora of information about EFCC, the EFCCM, and other topics regarding cross-cultural life overseas. Some of the topics included EFCC doctrine, becoming a career missionary, communications, support team building and cultural transition survival training.

 We are happy to say that when they accepted us as Career Missionaries we said: YES!

Group photo: Mission director, staff and fellow missionaries

 We were so thrilled  that during our stay in Langley we were able to stay with our friends Alice and Brian Barnes.  It was great to reconnect with them again!  It was also wonderful to spend a few days visiting my sister Bonnie and her husband Tom in Surrey, BC.  It's great to connect with family and friends!

We were given the opportunity to share at our home church, Grace Bible Church in Vernon BC. This was the last church we pastored before going out on the Mission field and we are so deeply grateful for their support in our ministry both financially and prayerfully!  It was wonderful to share about our ministry and see so many people we know and love!  (and... I got to visit with my sister Kathy as well!)

Grace Bible Church, Vernon B.C.

 We were also able to set up a "Made in Roatan" table at Kelowna Gospel Fellowship and the sales from that definitely will  help the poor on the island of Roatan.

Made in Roatan sale at Kelowna Gospel Fellowship

We had an evening at the home of Julie and Mark Kent and were able to share more extensively about the great things that have been happening in Roatan.   It was wonderful to visit with several families who have served on the Island. Jake shared a story that evening with tears in his eyes about his experience on the island.   He and his wife  had come on a cruise ship and we arranged for a local islander to take them on a tour.   They had a wonderful day exploring the 'real Roatan' and hearing many interesting stories about life on the island.   We met them at "Muddah's Kitchen" restaurant for lunch and the thing that impressed Jake the most was how intertwined we were with so many island people.  As he was returning to the port, he asked Bob if there was anything he could do!!  He was touched by the poverty and yet those same impoverished people were so happy and caring!   He wanted to help!

Jake is in the back row in the white tshirt.  Zenola is sitting in front of him

 Bob mentioned that our friend Zenola needed an operation but since there is no health coverage she couldn't afford it.   Jake went back to his small group in Canada with this need weighing on his heart.  Within less then a week they had raised the funds for her surgery!!   We all sat in the dimly lit room and were moved as he shared that he was a changed man because of that one act of love.  

That is what we are excited to be doing: changing the impoverished by the message of Christ and giving them hope.   We love to change the view of the tourists to see beyond themselves to help someone else in need.  It is simple: others!   Imagine if we all put into practice Phil 2 "do not merely look out for our own personal interests but also for the interests of others".

Perhaps you'd like to get involved!  You can!    :-) We are interested in expanding "Team Roatan"!

We need and value prayer support.We also need financial help to continue to do His work. Presently we need approximately $750 a month more.  Anything you can give would be so deeply appreciated!!

You can now be tax receipted by giving through the EFCCM!

It is as simple as making a call to the phone number on our prayer card, mention our #2-2046 and they will help you set things up!

We have 2 more days before we return to the island of Roatan.   We are so happy to have been able to spend quality time with our Texas and Oklahoma friends/partners in ministry and now we are using these final days to get caught up on correspondence, brush up on Spanish, print out prayer cards, do some very necessary shopping and basically enjoy some R & R before returning to the field.

Please pray for a smooth adjustment as we return to Roatan

Pray for our artist families' encouragement, spiritual growth and provision

Pray specifically for Pedro that he would surrender to the Lord

Pray for our kids in Canada as they navigate life without us near.

Made in Roatan

Spending of funds is confined to organization approved programs and projects. Each restricted contribution designated towards an organization approved program or project will be used as designated with the understanding that, when the need for such a program or project has been met or cannot be completed for any reason determined by the organization, the remaining restricted contributions designated for such program or project will be used where needed most.

Mil Gracias!!

This is a small presentation of the people we stayed or visited with during our 5 months in Canada and the States.  There are many people who are not in this photo but we love you and thank God for you just the same!!

 Thanks for sharing your lives and your hurts with us! 

 Thanks for letting us sleep in your beds (13 different beds in total)

 Thanks for listening to our endless stories about Roatan

 Thanks for many delicious meals

 Thanks for driving long distances to visit us

 Thanks for letting us drive your cars

 Thanks for taking us sailing

 Thanks for having coffee together

 Thanks for wool socks when our feet were freezing in Canada

 Thanks for taking us shopping

 Thanks for meaningful times of prayer together

 Thanks for breakfasts together

 Thanks for day trips exploring either Canada, Texas or Oklahoma

 Thanks for going for walks with us

 Thanks for your financial support

 Thanks for believing that He will continue to use us in Roatan!

You have made our time here very special and we are blessed to have such wonderful family and friends who love us, support us and encourage us to continue to serve Him well.  Blessings!!

I thank my God every time I remember you!!!

Phil 1:3

Family Time

His light makes everything beautiful!

Usually, missionaries go on 'home assignment' for 2-3 months.  We decided that due to some family issues that we would return to Canada for 3 months to be near our children and then do home assignment for 2 months.   Just for the record: 5 months is a very long time to be living out of a suitcase!!!   :-)

The rental basement suite.. perfect!

But I love how the Lord works!   We wanted to actually rent a place in Halifax where our kids were.   A place for them to come to eat, hang out and play games together.  A place we could call home for awhile.  It isn't easy to find a furnished rental place within a missionary budget but God did it!   As it a coincidence that our friends just happened to be doing some work at a ladies house who had a rental basement suite available within the exact dates that we needed it?  No it is a "God incident"   AND, here is the amazing part:  the apartment was within walking distance to both the boys apartments and a short walk to the ferry to go see Emily.   My words cannot express how wonderful it was to spend a summer with our kids!

so many wonderful memories!

Some of you have been praying for Matthew.    He is doing so well!   He has his own apartment, a steady job and has been clean for about a half a year.   Please continue to lift him to the Father.   The Lord is our only hope and we cherish your prayers for our dear son.   Thank you!

Mattie and I

David and I

Bob and his dear Emily

We are so grateful that the kids made the extra effort to spend time with us!
You may be wondering if it was hard for us to leave them?  The answer is yes definitely!  It is always hard to say goodbye not knowing when we will see them again.   But as we leaving I believe the Lord gave Bob a nugget:  "We may be leaving them but the Lord is staying with them!"

We are called to serve Roatan.  It comes with a cost but it worth it.   Please remember to hold up our family in prayer.   We so appreciate your support in this way!

We may be leaving but the Lord is staying!