After 39 years in ministry - 30 of them together - we are beginning a new direction in our ministry. Several times along the way, we asked God if could begin it earlier, but He has held it gently until now. On Wednesday, Novemeber 7, we were appointed as missionaries with the IMB of the Southern Baptist Convention. On February 2, we are headed to Richmond for orientation, and then in April, on to San Jose, Costa Rica, for a year of intensive language school before settling in Antigua, Guatemala.
Guatemala! In the early 1980s, we became closely aware of Guatemala through several missionaries who visited out church and encouraged us to pray, to come and visit, and to bring teams. And we have. Since it didn't seem as though we could move there as missionaries, our goal was to take as many as we could to see the sights, smell the aromas, feel the soil, hear the heartcry, catch the vision, and continue the work. And we have. We have seen one couple from those trips go to Uganda as ISC missionaries, seen another couple begin to lead numerous mission trips, seen others have a heatbeat for missions in teaching and challenging others to go, pray, and give.
At this stage of our ministry, we thought that perhaps we would finish in an easy manner - winding down to retirement. But God convicted us, like Caleb, to finish strong. We began strong in our youth, have served faithfully wherever He led, and now will finish strong in continuing service.
We just returned Monday night with another mission team of 12 from our church from the Yucatan, Mexico. Four of them had been with us in Costa Rica last November and for the others, it was their first foreign mission trip. What a delight to be with them and expose some new folks to first hand missions! More about that trip later.
Two immediate prayer requests for us include:
the sale of our home - beautiful home, at a good price, in a good school district, convenient to shopping and work, ready for the right family.
a good home for our dog - she's a 7 year-old bassett hound. It would be wonderful if the family who buys the house would be the right family for her as well.
Continue to remind the Father of us in this new direction.