Scattering Seeds in 2011

As Tony and I look forward to the start of a new year, we realize the Lord will continue to be faithful in our journey of faith. The year 2011 will mark the year in which we’ll move to a new state (Idaho) to receive the hands on training we’ll need to prepare for our eventual cross cultural move to San Jose, Costa Rica.

The first quarter of 2011, we will be attending three mission conferences in Southern California. The Calvary Chapel Mission Conference in Murrieta will take place January 3-6 and this year’s theme is: Let the Nations be Glad from Psalm 67:4. Later in the month of March, we will be participating in two Orange County church mission conferences. We are glad to report that Brea Baptist Church & Knott Ave Christian Church have invited us to be part of their annual conferences. With so many opportunities to share our ministry with remote and isolated church leaders in Latin America, the seeds will be scattered and only the Lord will provide the fruit that follows the labor.

 Along with presenting to churches and other ministries, comes the privilege and delight to share with friends and bible study groups the work Tony and I will be a part of as MAF-Learning Technologies partners with existing indigenous churches in the developing world who lack biblical and theological training.

So where do we hope to be by summer of 2011? Lord willing, we hope to reach 100% of our funding and Idaho bound! With seven months left to achieve the goal set by MAF, we hope to be on our way with a U-Haul truck packed and moving northward to join the MAF-LT team that awaits us. In the meantime, we will be busy sharing our ministry and looking to Jesus to multiply our efforts with success.-Laura

MAF Headquarters - Nampa, Idaho

Many of you have asked about MAF Headquarters in Idaho. So after some time searching through You Tube, Laura and I managed to find a home video someone did during their summer visit to MAF. Your tour guide is Ron Hilbrands. For those of you who have heard our ministry presentation, Ron was the first face of MAF for Laura and I. We first  met Ron at a missions conference at Downey Baptist church on Saturday afternoon back in 2008 . Early on, he was our "go to" guy at MAF. Any questions we had about applications, bible coursework, references, etc... he was the one who would patiently answer them.

In the video, you will see the actual plane that the five MAF missionaries who were martyred in Ecuador flew. The plane was dug up years later and brought to headquarters. You will also see the main office and the airplane hanger where all MAF planes at one time or another go to for maintenance and repair. Ron will also share a  couple of stories on how we transport our airplanes to different program bases around the world and a second story of how he used to transport live pigs in his airplane when he served as a pilot overseas.

We hope you enjoy the video!

Tony and Laura

Working Together Part 1

One of the questions that comes up often when we share our work as missionaries with MAF is how does it feel working together 24/7?

It’s a natural question if you didn’t happen to already know that for the last 15 years, Tony and I  had been working at the same elementary school. Even though we taught different grades, the challenges of working in the same professional environment were always there.

During this season of deputation, our ability to work side by side has been enhanced. Sure, we disagree at times and even argue at times, but we also extend grace to one another during difficult times. Grace is an attribute in marriage that is undeniably necessary. When I feel frustrated or disappointed over a missed appointment, Tony reminds me it will all work out. He gives me added grace by not lecturing or down playing the situation. Tony simply listens and affirms my feelings, whether they are rational or even irrational.

At times I have wondered what it will look like for us as out on the mission field. Will we thrive as a couple? Will we bicker over unfamiliar surroundings and strange foods? I am tempted at times to speculate and predict what it will look like. However, if the past is any indication of what lies ahead, I am inclined to think we will serve as husband and wife in the same fashion as we’ve always had…with Extra Grade Required.

-Laura

Thanking Him for His Goodness

I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart;

I will tell of all your wonders

Psalm 9:1

             Thanksgiving happens to be one of my favorite holidays. It is a time to reflect and give thanks to the Lord for the many blessings he has bestowed upon us. However, a wonderful surprise occurred today that made my heart soar with praises and thanksgiving. For weeks, we had been praying that God would grant us our first supporting church. “Lord, please bring us a church that will partner with us. Let one of the many churches we’ve contacted and presented, come alongside us,” was my heart cry during my morning prayers.

             How my heart swelled this afternoon when I received news that the very first church we ever presented our ministry to back in September was the one the Lord had chosen to be our first partnering church.

             It is not by chance that our partnership came to be. The Lord has been clearly working ahead of our present circumstances. Whittier Hills Baptist Church supported the ministry of the Good News Club at Sierra Vista Elementary since its inception in 2008. Although I was a trained Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) teacher and appreciated the support of WHBC, the Lord was orchestrating our partnership way ahead of anything I could have ever hoped or imagined. Little did I know that the church who had prayed and supported the ministry of sharing Bible stories with public school children at my former school, would in turn be the church who would share our vision to share the gospel with remote and isolated people.

             The amazing lessons that Tony and I are learning concerning God’ provisions and timing can only come about because of His great love and mercy. As we continue to process God’s marvelous deeds, let us give praise to the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness in every season of our lives.
-Laura

Matthew 25:14 - The Least of These

 

This is a short film shot by our Learning Technologies teammate, Brendan, in Costa Rica. Pastor Francisco is just one of many remote pastors that  MAF Learning Technologies partners with throughout Latin America. Laura and I thought it would be a good idea to share the story of one pastor, where he lives, and the types of responsibilities that he has beyond leading a local congregation. Through our partnership with pastors like Francisco (and your partnership with us), isolated church leaders have opportunities to access resources and training that will enable them to growth and lead strong healthy churches. 

                                                                                                                                                            

Mobile Missions

As Laura and I move ahead in our presentations,  people have asked us about the impact that cellular/mobile phone technology can have in missions. Currently, there is a mobile phone revolution taking place in the developing world (The part of the world where we will be serving.) Statistics show that 4 - 4.5 billion people have a mobile phone. By 2013, there will be cellular phones in the hands of 5 billion people. That is nearly 75% of the entire world. Most of that growth will be in the developing world where access to pastoral training and biblical resources is needed.  According to research, the reason mobile phones are growing so quickly, is because a mobile phone is an electronic device that has multiple functions, and it is easy to transport. At MAF - Learning Technologies, we are exploring effective methods for providing access to training and resources to pastors in the developing world through the use of mobile phone technology. One way that this is happening is through the use of an open source program called "Poodle". Poodle can be used to deliver distance learning courses offline. One way to deliver these courses can be through the use of the mobile phone. The phone delivers God's Word to remote locations and it can overcome many of the barriers that remote pastors face: geography, cost, and security. How great is that!  Looking forward to seeing more and more of you as the Lord leads us. Thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement. It means the world to us.

Tony and Laura

Missionary Talks Interview

www.missionarytalks.com

This past Friday, October 22, Laura and I had the unique opportunity to be interviewed on a podcast called "Missionary Talks with David Peach". David is a missionary to the deaf in Argentina and he is also a podcasting enthusiast. When Laura and I had returned from our one month stay in North Africa during the summer of 2008, Laura heard an interview with an MAF missionary involved in learning technologies (the ministry that we are now a part of!) After listening to that podcast interview, we sensed that learning technologies might be the ministry that was a perfect fit for the gifting and talents that the Lord had given us. Well, the rest as they say is history. Without giving too much away, here is the complete 20 minute interview with David Peach.

http://www.missionarytalks.com

Hope you enjoy!

Tony and Laura