Pretty much everyone in the world has something in common now. Nearly all our plans for the year have been blown out of the water!
In our last letter, I mentioned my expectation of participating in the fall missions conference being hosted by Church on the Hill in San Jose. I’m afraid that’s not going to happen — not this year, anyway.
I had also been asked to interpret for a Global Partners Forum in Colombia in November, an event I was very much anticipating. Unfortunately, they had to postpone it a year and they’re moving it to Asia.
However, next week I’m scheduled to interpret for a Global Partners Virtual Regional Forum, and I’m translating materials in preparation for that. The subject is our four training programs in Latin America, unifying goals and methods and discussing opportunities for missionaries from our region in countries of restricted access.
It’s very moving to feel the passion of our Latin American partners as I read and translate their presentation notes. They have such a heart not only for the people groups in our hemisphere but for those in difficult and dangerous places on other continents. You won’t find our faces in the title photo above, but we used it because it represents Global Partners, a fellowship of mission organizations from all over the world. Ethnos360 is the seedbed of Global Partners, and our SLR team is dedicated to helping this partnership of God’s ambassadors from many countries work together to reach the unreached. 
Current face of missions — a missionary team of 3.5 gringos and 5.5 latinos, all of whom are our friends, some of them former students.
Back to more mundane news… I’m in my office! In June, I was given the green light to move into my workspace in our Home Office building. There’s only a skeleton crew coming in so far. We keep our distance and wear our masks when appropriate. Group meetings are held online.
A couple of our Home Office staff families have contracted Covid-19 but they were working from home when it happened so the rest of us were not exposed. The two men have had a rough go of it, but we trust they’ll pull through. So far, here at the Homes of Ethnos360, where we live, we are Covid-free, for which we thank God.
Even our resident gator is pretty chill about the whole thing. We hear he might be moving soon, though. Once they get to be 4 ft long, it’s time to call Gator Control.
We haven’t found replacements for Eida’s vehicle or desk yet, but we’re managing. We did find a good physical therapist for her, and he has been quite helpful.
For the last few years, we’ve been able to fly to Nova Scotia in late July and visit Esther and Curtis and our grandkids through the first part of August. Sadly, it’s not going to happen this year. The USA-Canada crossing is still closed. Even if it weren’t, we’d still have to self-isolate for two weeks once we got there, so there wouldn’t be any point.
We pray that you all are safe and as healthy as possible. We love you and praise the Lord for each one, with heartfelt gratitude for your continued faithful partnership with us in this ministry. May our Father keep you in his abundant grace and care.
In Christ and for His kingdom,
Steve & Eida Irwin
Ethnos360
Spanish Language Resources
408-515-1721
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