Maria's Birthday, Prayer Requests, and Our Schedule

We arrived back in Louisiana on January 9.   As we had expected there were a lot of difficult good byes with many dear family and friends back up north.   There were several quiet moments in the car where the majority of us were wiping away tears.  We have been welcomed back by our new friends, 70-degree weather (It is January right?) and a renewed strength and conviction that we are in the center of God’s will and He is inviting us to serve the people of Mexico.

Over the past two weeks we have joined the other new missionaries in going through what we call “Intake, Part II.”   Like before we have been participating in community life, prayer, and shared meals.   There are formation talks, discussions on family and marriage in missions, and practical presentations on matters of finances and taxes.   We have also read excerpts from The Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis.   There is also more “free time” in the afternoons and evenings so preparations and packing can occur, as most missionaries leave for their assignments this upcoming week.   During the next seven days there will be another round of good byes to our brothers and sisters forged since last September as FMC missionaries are sent to Mexico, Costa Rica, Haiti, Peru, the Philippines, and other countries in Asia!

Our team leaves January 27 for General Cepeda.   During our first month, we will be focusing on acclimating to life in Mexico, forming community with our other team members, developing relationships with people and General, and praying which ministries God may be inviting us to consider.   Time will also be used to prepare our home for our newest little girl.  

At the beginning of March we will return back to Louisiana for the last month of Maria’s pregnancy and her March 30 due date.   After the baby is born we will remain in Louisiana to recover, adjust to being a family of eight, and apply for a new passport.   If everything goes well, we will then return to Mexico around the beginning of May.   As can be expected, dates are rather fluid at this time.

While in the U.S. our number one objective will be to have the baby, but we plan on being very intentional with our time.   We are called to be missionaries and we do not want to be idle.   There are several opportunities to do ministry and help FMC in Louisiana while stateside.  We also plan on increasing our efforts to learn Spanish through Duolingo and Rosetta Stone.   We will also concentrate on our children’s education with the “slower” schedule.

Maria's mom, Darlene, Christmas 2016

We do have two special prayer requests that are very dear to our hearts.   As many of you know, Maria’s mom, Darlene, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of the last summer.   She has received chemotherapy throughout the fall and the doctors are pleased with the progress.   On Thursday, January 26, Darlene will enter the next phase of her treatment with a double mastectomy.   Please join us in praying for her, Maria’s dad, Ron, and the rest of the family, especially those at home.

Josh's dad, John, with grandkids

Please also pray for Josh’s dad, John.   Last weekend Josh’s parents and two nephews were traveling from Buffalo to Baltimore to visit Josh’s sister’s family.   Just past the Maryland boarder they were rear-ended on the expressway, crossed the median and oncoming traffic and landed on the far shoulder.   It is truly miraculous that no one passed away!!   Most received only bumps and bruises, but Josh’s dad went into the hospital for a sore back.   He ended up with a crack between vertebrae five and six.   During surgery he had two rods and sixteen screws implanted.   For God’s glory, John’s recovery has been amazing and the doctors are surprised at how quickly he is recuperating.   He has already been moved to rehab and has begun to work on stairs!   His doctors hope that after two weeks of rehab, he will be able to return home in Buffalo.   God’s hand has also been present in that while John was not able to travel to Buffalo, he was able to be admitted to a rehab center only twenty minutes from Josh’s sister.

And then one last prayer request… Yesterday was Maria’s birthday.  (Okay so obviously Josh is writing this blog.)   Please join me in thanking God for the blessings and graces that He has poured out on all of us through her.   I am so blessed to have her has my best friend and wife.   It was in her heart that God first planted the seeds of invitation to serve Him as missionaries.  May the Lord continue to pour forth His love and grace upon her and bring her new life through ministry and family.

Our next post will be from Mexico!