Dreaming of the Future

This past month our family had the opportunity to travel to Santa Cruz, Bolivia to meet with SAM's other missionaries and staff members for our SAM 2020 conference. The purpose of the conference was for the leadership of South America Mission to challenge us to think above and beyond what we are normally used to thinking about, and consider and dream about what we could experience in our lives and our ministries if we all lived a life totally devoted to God.

We were challenged by the chancellor of my seminary, George Murray, to really consider if we truly believe that Jesus is who He says that is.  The time that was we spent together as a mission was really challenging and refreshing.  God really blessed us with a renewed sense of His desire to work in us and through us. What we loved most about this conference wasn't that we now have some new ministry technique or some strategy that we are following, but first and foremost, we affirmed the truth that God is more concerned with who we are than what we are doing.

We spent a week praying and trying to see clearly where God is desiring to take us in our ministries. We are still wrestling with were God wants to take us this next year. We have several ministeries right now: teaching in the school, discipling in the school, the youth group at the church, and two church plants. We are praying for focus and clarity of mind as we begin this next year. Jon is really excited to be working in the school this year and having more of a presence with the students and teachers. We pray that this will be a great time to build relationships and bridge the gap between the church and the school. Amanda plans to help with the preschool classes until the baby comes in May.

Thank you so much for your prayers as we continue to grow and learn along with our Colombian friends.

Prayer Requests:


1)  Jon was able to share the gospel this week with a new student from the school.  He accepted Christ with Jon and we pray that this will be the start of a great new relationship. Pray that this youth will grow in his understanding of the Lord and that we can be an encouragement to him in his transition.

2)   Jon and Amanda will both begin discipleship groups in the next couple of weeks. Pray that the students come with prepared hearts and that their love for the Lord will grow. Pray also that the Lord would communicate to us what is most beneficial for them to learn.

3)   Pray for our time in the school's English classes. Pray that this will be a way for us to bridge the gap between our ministry in the church and the school. Jon will be helping with the 9th and 10th grade classes and Amanda will be working with the preschool kids.

4)  Over the past several months, we have been helping with two church plants. Our pastor has encouraged us to pick one and focus on that community. We are wrestling over which group to select. Pray that God would make this decision clear to us as we determine which location is best for us to minister.

We met in General Sessions several times a day to be encouraged and challenged in our lives and our ministries

Some of the wildlife near us

This is the Colombia field's attempt at humor

We brought in the Chancellor of Columbia International University George Murray to encourage us in our relationship with Jesus...It was amazing

This is a good look at the Bolivian and Colombian Missionaries, somehow though, we are not in this picture 

Kendall and our teammate Sam

Amanda is a good looking pregnant lady