Missionaries in Training

The woods are lovely, dark and deep, / But I have promises to keep, /

And miles to go before I sleep, / And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening tells of his brief pause amid a long journey to take in the scene, smell the roses if you will, and notice life for more than its distance, routines, goals, and destinations. I can’t help but feel a bit like the speaker here, when caught between two worlds with most everything changing, yet pausing as if in the eye of a great storm to take a breath and observe. Listen. Reflect. Before continuing onward. If you don’t know this classic, you can find it all here.

God has blessed us greatly in our journey thus far and has always been faithful. On the precipice of our big move to the Texas/Mexico border where we’ll start a Spanish language program, we are blessed to have solid, quality time to say our goodbyes.

Reflecting on CIT

August/September marked a giant milestone in our missionary saga, when we participated in the enriching month-long Equipping program at CIT (the Center for Intercultural Training) in the wandering western mountains of North Carolina. There, we expanded our understanding of other cultures, our biases due to our own culture and contextualization of Scripture. We had robust and challenging discussions about team dynamics and conflict management. Our teachers also addressed family transitions and provided practical tips for maintaining healthy relationships in the midst of change.

Brothers and sisters of CIT, ready to embark

With a staff full of former global missionaries and a cohort of 19 other adults, we had a really quick and powerful heart connection to help forge friendships in just 4 weeks. There was so much shared: testimonies, joys, trials, and memorable prayers, as well as group dinners, bonfires, and some really intense games of Monopoly. We were sad to leave one another, but emboldened as if a team, psyched up after a huddle, dispersing across 12 different countries as long-term missionaries. That experience solidified some friendships that will remain a source of support and encouragement in our missions.

Becoming MITs

Teaching on “Relationship Challenges” last weekend

Upon returning from CIT, we reinitiated our work with Parkside Green as missionaries-in-training (MITs?). I have taken on a variety of teaching opportunities spread throughout the fall, including during the Sunday school hour and our Sunday night “Deeper Waters” church history class. Besides these I’ve joined in on staff & elders meetings to better understand the nature of church leadership and decision-making, and had many 1 on 1 opportunities for specific topical training as well as discipling/discipleship meetings. It’s so far been a good use of time, an answer to prayer.

Pretending to Be Normal

Meanwhile, life at home continues, steady as she goes while the sea swells. We've started the next year of homeschooling as if nothing were amiss, integrating a daily Spanish curriculum taught by yours truly. Some of the 4 students are more excited than others, but all are beginning to sense the importance of bilingualism.

Ten o’clock table work on a typical Tuesday

Even outside the house, we have enrolled in a few final activities. Ezra just wrapped up a successful soccer season, Elia is nearing her spotlight in The Wizard of Oz, and Summer and Sophia are dancing through weekly ballet classes in preparation for their Christmas recital. All are excited to know that such activities also exist in Edinburg, TX and in Mazatlán, opportunities which we pray will help them feel at home and make new friends in a foreign culture.

The House on the Hill

Our wonderful house, the last battle, that fiercest challenge yet hangs over our heads (in a good way!). After returning from North Carolina, we started tackling a few final projects and, six or seven buckets of paint later, put it on the market. Unfortunately, the changing market has presented challenges, as we've only had a single-digit number of showings in three weeks. However, we remain hopeful about simply renting the property, if it hasn’t sold by the end of the year. The Lord in his timing knows the best way forward!

How to Pray

Many thanks to the prayer warriors reading this who trust in God’s plan for us! A few upcoming prayer requests include:

For persistence in finishing our support raising! We only need a few more small donors.
For continued work and training with Parkside, to finish well in these final 2 months.
For the physical & emotional challenge of clearing out our house, and finding a buyer or renter soon.
For our packing and move to Rio Grande Bible College in Edinburg, TX, end of Dec.
For goodbyes to friends and family!

Y como siempre:

For the missionaries and ever-changing and growing work of STS in Mexico. (https://www.facebook.com/shouldertoshouldermexico)

In this wild season of transition, we fully embrace the challenges and opportunities presented to us. With faith as our anchor and the support of family and friends, we look forward to what God has in store for us in 2025. The story is just getting good, and we are eager to step into this chapter together with you all.

By the by, blogs are great media for updates in the field, and we are excited to write many more for years to come. This, however, will be the last one written before we move, the last one written from home. And with that in mind, we hope to see many of you in person over the next two months before we set sail! Thank you, as always, for your prayers and support.

Grace and Peace,

The Josephs