COMING HOME

We’re back! Our two-year term with the International Mission Board has come to an end. We are praising God for safe travels and His provision during our transition! Mark, Rachel and I arrived home on Thursday, October 21^st, to Reagan National Airport. Mark’s parents picked us up and drove us back to Harrisonburg, our new (old) home. Right away we got into the swing of things with family and friends…we attended Mark’s grandpa Bob Huffman’s 80^th birthday party on Friday night, then on Saturday we had another big birthday bash/apple cider making party with the Sharpes’, Mark’s other side of the family. On Sunday we were able to be reunited with our Aletheia Church family – and what a sweet reunion it was.

We are so grateful to my parents for welcoming us into their home for the next few months, as we get our bearings. Mark was able to purchase a computer (since we sold ours in Mexico) and a vehicle this week, so we are very grateful to be mobile and in touch again! We are still in the process of discerning which jobs are right for us, so please pray that we make the right career decisions.

LEAVING TUXTLA

We referred to the last couple of months in Tuxtla as a “sprint to the finish”. It was a challenge to tie up all the loose ends and make sure leaders were in place for the on campus groups as well as the church plant. The guy that we appointed to lead the church is named Jose Antonio Giron Ovalles…he goes by Tony. God provided this young man who is so passionate to see students saved, discipled and mobilized to reach others. He prayed and sought the Lord for direction and felt a clear calling to lead this effort in Tuxtla. A big prayer request for him is that God will provide several solid leaders that will help Tony as the church grows.

We are thankful for the team of 4 rowdy guys (Paul, Cameron, Jon and Dereck) that came down from VA to help us in mid-October. They helped us with a “Rally in the Park” event that was a blast. Other exciting news in the month of October - we had a baptism on October on 16^th and attended a wedding on the 19^th! Congratulations are in order for Deysi and Gonzalo, who got hitched and Alvaro, who got dunked! Great things are happening for the members of Aletheia Church in Tuxtla. They threw us an awesome “despedida” or Farewell Party. We are already looking forward to going back for a visit sometime next spring to encourage and support the believers in this baby church.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Aletheia Church in Tuxtla – especially for Pastor Tony (he is working full time at a university as well)

Pray for additional leaders who will lead music, disciple new Christians, etc.

Pray for Deysi and Gonzalo in their new marriage relationship