Heading Out for a Year

As many of you know, we are heading out this coming week for a one-year ministry home assignment! Our organization recommends taking a home assignment every four years (or six months every two years) but we have never done this because it is difficult to uproot for a year, especially with the kids’ schooling. So, after nine and a half years of ministry on the field of Mexico, we are looking forward to what the next year in the United States brings.

The primary purpose of this time is to take a long rest from the demands of cross-cultural ministry, reconnect with supporters and supporting churches, and trust the Lord for new ministry partners. It will also allow us to spend quality time in our sending church, Grace Point, and give our children a chance to experience life in the American culture before leaving home one day.

To be transparent, there are mixed feelings in our home as we pack up. For Beth and me, we are going home for a year. For Jude and Iris, they are leaving home for a year. It will be a big change for them, and while Beth and I can see the opportunities the year will bring, we know it will be hard to leave their home and friends behind. As for me, I am tired and need a long break. We will likely spend the first portion of our home assignment pursuing intentional rest. Beth is feeling sad to leave but recognizes how much we need this time away as well.

To prepare for our home assignment, we have been working hard at finishing up specific projects and handing off our various ministry roles in leading and equipping on the field. Unfortunately, our landlady has requested that we return our house to her so we must fully move out before we leave. This change of plans has resulted in a lot of last-minute work, and we have been busy packing and cleaning! Thankfully, the Lord has given us the strength and patience to wrap everything up with the house, and a bunch of our friends are coming over this week to help us move everything out of the house and into storage.

Last Sunday, our church here in Chihuahua prayed for us during the service, and our Spanish language and Mexican culture study missionaries threw us a goodbye party this past week. Jude and Iris’ friends also threw them a going away party. 

Here are some answers to questions you may have:

• Is this a One-Year vacation? No! Though there will be built-in time for intentional rest (think sabbatical), we are still working as full-time members of our mission organization with specific responsibilities while in the United States.

• Will You Still Be Missionaries? Yes. We will still be members of Ethnos360 serving the field of Mexico, but we will focus on a different ministry assignment for the year.

• Do You Plan to Return to Mexico? Yes! We look forward to returning refreshed and with a renewed sense of His purposes for our family as we lead and equip in Mexico, all with the goal of seeing people reached for Christ!

• Will You Get a Job While You Are in the States? Ministry home assignment functions as one part sabbatical and three parts partnership development. Because of this, we will still be working as members of our mission organization.

• Will You Still Need Monthly Support? Yes! While on ministry home assignment, we are still working and will still have the same needs as when on the field. One of our goals for this time is to see an increase in our support before returning to Mexico.

• Where Will You Be Spending Your Home Assignment? We will be mainly located in southeast Michigan. However, from there, we will be taking trips to visit friends, family, and supporters. We plan to spend some time in Oregon, as well.

• Outside of Rest and Home Assignment Responsibilities, What Other Hopes Do You Have for Your Home Assignment? Our children are now teenagers and they have never spent more than two months in the States at a time over the past nine and a half years. We would love to be able to show them around the U.S. and visit some national parks, monuments, and other historical sites.

• How Can We Help You as You Head Out? First, please pray for safety as we travel! I had our vehicle checked out last week by a mechanic and everything looks good. Pray also for our stress levels in the transition. When we arrive in Michigan, we are arriving to a furnished house and our home church is graciously providing some groceries for our arrival, which is a huge help.

We appreciate your prayers for our family as we head out for this one-year ministry home assignment! We do not know what the Lord has in store, but we are confident that we rest in His loving hands.