We had a great seven weeks in the U.S.A. (Thanksgiving through New Year) with family even though it was way colder than we are used to! It was a time for rest, seeing family, and planning for this ministry year. Mia and Zoe enjoyed their time with Nonna and Pops and seeing their cousins again (1 new). We were able to share updates in several of our supporting churches in the Lehigh Valley area, and God blessed us with one new supporting church (a bilingual church).
Mia and Zoe got to experience their first snow!
A LOT has been going on in Santa Marta in the past month and a half! We launched the Fire School on January 28, have been going strong with renovations, and have been learning the ins of outs of leading a church. We are so grateful that God has been sending us solid leaders and we have seen the church grow in numbers as well as spiritually. We have several testimonies of people who have returned to the Lord and people desiring to serve. We are doing missions months on Sundays during February and March, and our ultimate goal is to equip the church for missions, evangelism, and discipleship.
Mia and Zoe are growing so fast and are quite the duo! Mia is now in pre-k and Zoe eagerly waits for next year to enter school, too. Mia has been participating in ballet classes and is loving it. We try as much as possible to instill in them a love for Jesus, the Bible and winning souls. In March, Maria and I will be starting a one-year online theological program with Manna University (NC) to receive a Certificate of Church Leadership. The Lord has been putting the desire/need in us to be able to have our own house this year big enough to host volunteers and missionaries as well. For us this seems impossible, but we are trusting Him!
Mia and Zoe are growing so fast and are quite the duo! Mia is now in pre-k and Zoe eagerly waits for next year to enter school, too. Mia has been participating in ballet classes and is loving it. We try as much as possible to instill in them a love for Jesus, the Bible and winning souls. In March, Maria and I will be starting a one-year online theological program with Manna University (NC) to receive a Certificate of Church Leadership. The Lord has been putting the desire/need in us to be able to have our own house this year big enough to host volunteers and missionaries as well. For us this seems impossible, but we are trusting Him!
Ministry Center Renovations round 2
Renovations have been going strong since we returned to Santa Marta on January 6! Some things "we" have been able to accomplish:
Painting, drywall, and electricity in the 3 classrooms and office
Bought a stovetop and oven and finally got our gas line working for the kitchen
Installed security "fence" and bars around the building
Installed six different windows throughout the building
Tile flooring in all three classrooms and tile on front wall
Created two cement storage closets
Finished electric wiring in the entire ministry center (BIG job)
Painting, drywall, and electricity in the 3 classrooms and office
Bought a stovetop and oven and finally got our gas line working for the kitchen
Installed security "fence" and bars around the building
Installed six different windows throughout the building
Tile flooring in all three classrooms and tile on front wall
Created two cement storage closets
Finished electric wiring in the entire ministry center (BIG job)
These are the guys who have been doing lots of work on the ministry center!
Thankful for them!
Thankful for them!
Prayer requests:
1. For us as a family
2. For the house God has put on our hearts
3. For repentance and revival in Santa Marta and Colombia
4. For the kids of the Fire School - passion for missions and evangelism
5. For those in Ignite the Fire Church - passion for God, His Word and winning souls
2. For the house God has put on our hearts
3. For repentance and revival in Santa Marta and Colombia
4. For the kids of the Fire School - passion for missions and evangelism
5. For those in Ignite the Fire Church - passion for God, His Word and winning souls