Less Than Four Weeks To Go!

I Can’t believe it’s December 11th!  In less than four weeks we will be on a jet plane towards Mazatlan.  I realized today that I’d only been doing a few updates on Facebook and other social media to keep in touch. I haven’t posted in awhile to let you know how our our ministry is going, how the fundraising is going, and the thoughts rolling around in our old brains.

House Update:

 Many of you have been asking… have we rented our house yet for the three full months?

Short answer:  No,  But we have one family renting for all of January. So if you know anyone needing to rent for Feb. and March let us know.

Are we still going?   Yes we are. We had someone ask that the other day. We honestly don’t know how everything is going to work out, but we leave it all in Gods hands. We are confident in his plans, even while we can’t see through the thick fog.

Ministry Stuff:

Darryl is chugging along with the software for the Vineyards Child Sponsorship program. It’s getting tougher to be here in Canada, while most of the other volunteers are already in Mazatlan serving along the staff there. He regular has online meetings with the volunteer group, FaceTime meetings, and many emails back and forth.

I (Jodi) is getting excited as the plans for the Vineyard Lobby are going to happen this year, or so we think! The main Vineyard church is located in a very busy tourist area.  This church provides a hub for worship on Sunday mornings (up to 350 attend each Sunday in the winter) and a meeting place for various programs. One of the more visible programs the Vineyard provides is a tourist phone program. The church doors are open every day to offer phones access and internet to tourists passing on foot. This is a fantastic opportunity for people to feel loved as they walk in, but at the same time to learn more about the Vineyard Church.  It is their desire to expand on the feel and awareness of the church to tell the store better for their mission.  I have the desire to work with the other volunteers to modify/enhance this space to better create a great opportunity to share Gods story with the tourists that walk in those doors.

Head Stuff:

We are trudging along.  A few weeks ago I felt very anxious. For obvious reasons I know, but one Sunday morning I knew I needed to give it to God.  I wept in my seat, and asked him to forgive me for not trusting more. He holds the world up with his hands, how can he not hold up my family as well? So many things swirling around in our heads.  Work deadlines here, not enough hours in a day to complete. School is wrapping up for the kids on December 18th, and getting support from some of the teachers has proven to be quite difficult. We take each year as it comes, and I know every year as we prepare for this trip we will learn a little more and more.

Fundraising:

Both of us have realized that we have a lot to learn about the topic of Fundraising. One thing we know for sure is that God wants us on this trip and he will provide the funds to tackle it.  God has asked us, we have said yes, and we are going.  

We are encouraged by those have partnered with us for this year. We thank you. As of this week we are at 39% of our $9,000 goal needed to serve with our family this coming year. If you are reading this info for the first time, welcome here. If you’d like to hear more about what we will be doing in Mazatlan we always have time to meet for coffee.

If you’d like to hear more about what the Vineyard Church is doing, and how you can help we’d love to hook you up.  Are you looking for a week away this winter and you like to share your  holiday with volunteer time with your family?  Let us know, we’d love to connect you.  Nothing warms our hearts  more that seeing people connected in a place where they can use their gifts and passions for good, big or small.

Prayer:

1. Please be praying as we prepare to go. Even while we have done this before, it is a daunting task to put your life and home on hold for even three short months. Please be praying for Ben and Emily. Emily is quite concerned that the new friends she has met this year will all but forget her while she’s away. Being 11 has it’s own challenges, but we know that God has good plans for both of them while they are away and that leaves us feeling confident in the kids we are trying to raise.
2. Please be praying for the remaining funds needed for this trip. Our flight funds are due ($2800) at the end of this month and we are short. The biggest first expenses are the flights, insurance, and our first months rent for the apartment we’ve rented just a ten minute walk from the church.
3. Pray for work here to be able to come to completion with success.  Our minds are committed here, but our hearts are in Mazatlan already.  It’s our second home!

Again, thanks for coming along on this journey with us, we feel supported, but mostly asking for Grace,  and strength to complete what lies ahead. Even if it is unknown.

To God Be the Glory!

Jodi, Darryl, Ben and Emily.