Joe and Erin are very excited about where God has led them. Joe is serving in maintenance in Western Brazil where he has been able to be a part of many projects on the grounds of PQQ, an MK boarding school. From fixing wires, freezers, and mowers to digging holes by hand in the jungle and raising new telephone poles. He has also helped with the digging of a new well and putting up safety window bars on housing along with flood lights along the river to increase security, to name a few!
Joe is also the head of the solar power department and he helps to design, order, install and repair solar equipment for missionaries living in remote tribal locations. He is able to do most of this job through email and video chats, but he also has opportunities to go into the tribes to help build and do new solar installations. This helps the missionaries to have the equipment they need to live in such remote locations and to help them in translating bibles, teaching and discipling unreached people groups.
Erin has been homeschooling their 3 kids Gavin, Liam & Anora. She also has really enjoyed being able to help the school by teaching art, home ec. ESL and study hall. She also helps fill in occasionally in the dining hall and helps with guest housing. On the weekends they are able to spend lots of time with the kids playing sports, fishing, hiking and doing outreach with local communities that are invited. Sunday mornings PQQ has a church program and they both appreciate the opportunity to help with music, media and teaching as well.
Boarding schools were something they had not been very familiar with before now and they are so thankful how God has shown them how important places like PQQ are. They didn’t realize that many of the missionaries serving in the tribes were from different countries than their own and that many have restrictions on schooling that they do not. That being said, without PQQ many of the tribes currently having bibles translated would not be if it weren’t for the schooling offered for the missionaries children. First hand they have learned how misunderstood boarding schools often are and hope to share with others how desperately they are needed and how God uses many missionaries and volunteers to keep them going, as well as how well the students are loved and discipled. The school always needs teachers and helpers to volunteer and they are glad to help out as they can.
As Joe and Erin look at the ministry and see Joe’s exact skills being used, it seems nothing short of divine leading. His experience in the workforce; his hobbies; acquiring construction, engine repair, computer and management skills; logistics and more were the perfect training for missions. And now God has handed Joe his dream job. His passions, experience and talents all fit into what Ethnos360 needs. They feel they are truly blessed by God to be able to serve in such a wonderful place.
Did you know that craftsman types, like Joe and Erin, were some of the first people God called into service? Check out Exodus 31. GOD spoke to Moses:
“See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you.”
Pray for Joe and Erin as God uses them as part of the Ethnos360 team to reach the lost for Christ.