We all know the phrase, “Where did the time go?” and lately we have been asking ourselves that a lot! When we first embarked on the call to missions our oldest was just a baby and now he is going off to college. We first set out as MIT (missionaries in training) and had the opportunity to work with an amazing mentor missionary couple. Now we find ourselves being referred to as “veteran” missionaries. We have been blessed with many experiences in ministry and missions over the years and have learned so much for the successes as well as the failures and mistakes.
The last few years we have begun to serve in a few different leadership ministries within the Asia Pacific Region, specifically as an Key Ministry Area (KMA) advocate for Compassion Health and Education Ministries, as well as regional strategic leaders on the Global Leadership Team for Asia Pacific. This means we have the opportunity to serve our leadership and the missionary body in a greater way. In February Doris traveled to New Zealand for a meeting of all the KMA advocates where leadership discussed the challenges of the upcoming year, and praised the Lord for all of the amazing things he did across the region last year. As a team we bonded in middle earth and celebrated the goodness of God at a feast fit for a hobbit (never despise the day of small beginnings!) We have such incredible leaders, we are honored to serve with them.
March took Doris to Thailand where she and a handful of other KMA advocates had a time of ministering to, and helping our missionaries across the regions with like-minded ministries (specifically Compassion, Health, Education, Anti-trafficking and Children’s Ministry) network and collaborate with one another. It is said that no man is an island unto himself, but when you are working hard for the Kingdom and scattered across the many islands and countries of Asia Pacific, it can sometimes start to feel this way! Modern technology is a great way to stay in touch, but the several days we were able to gather together in-person were critical and may serve as the foundation of relationship those connections can build upon!
We never imagined back when we were young missionaries learning from our mentors, that someday we would be mentoring and helping other young missionaries as they take steps of faith and grow and serve. We especially never could have imagined that this would be even outside of Indonesia. It is truly an honor and a privilege to serve and encourage so many others that are following God’s call all over Asia Pacific! Next year we will celebrate 20yrs of serving in missions as a family. Thank you to everyone who has been part of sending us and praying with us over the years! We are just getting started!
