Summer Summary

“Therefore, since by God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.”

Here at the Center for Intercultural Study (CIT) Equipping program, we are working to memorize Philippians 4:1-12, which Paul opens with this beautiful verse and then goes on to outlay an encouraging memoir of a servant’s life in missions. There are a lot of details involved with completely changing a career, training for the new, learning a language and culture, moving logistics, etc., and all of it is exciting, all overwhelming, and so much to talk about. But it is an incredible blessing, an opportunity, to have this ministry. And it is all by God’s mercy, that He should grant us filthy-rag sinners a place on His team, to be used in His global redemptive work. “Stronger than darkness, new every morn, my sins they are many, His mercy is more.”

Parkside Missions Trip

Sorry about the big cliffhanger from our last post, as we were just about to embark on our trip! In June, our savvy team of 23 youth and adults from Parkside Green served for one week with Shoulder to Shoulder in Mazatlán, Mexico, our future home. Partnering with La Viña church, the team helped with various physical projects and relational events. STS always wants to see partnership: the week started and ended with a dinner shared between our churches, bookending the work and allowing it to be done intentionally, with a focus on relationships. The experience was transformative!

During our time there, we spent several mornings tackling rust-prevention and waterproofing projects at La Viña to battle the elements, and others at the mission’s pastoral center painting the exterior and adding a concrete slab. Those sweaty mornings were complemented by relational activities in the sweaty evenings, where we engaged with the church and community through games and gatherings for kids, teen, and evangelistic ministry. The most memorable for many of us was a night of outreach to a local squatter’s village to whom La Viña has been evangelizing for several years. In their outreach, we helped them run a medical clinic, clothing donation, and kids activities, as they presented the gospel via Scripture, testimony, and drama team for all to see and hear.

What a blessing to see our church and our mission join hands for a week! Erin says it was like taking a boyfriend home to meet your family for the first time. Not sure which is which in the analogy, but the parents approved.

Parkside Green & La Viña Church

Career Transition

After 12 years with Timken, June 28th was my last day. It’s a weird feeling to exit a building steeped in memories, knowing you won’t enter again, but the final weeks were full of great closure with friends and co-workers, and opportunities to share about the work God has called us to.

The next week began full-time ministry work, starting with Parkside Camps, one of our favorite church outreach programs! I led and supported 7 days of camps, which included planning and managing a soccer program for 30 community kids (ages 5-12).

Small group time during Squad Camp!

Nestled neatly after the transition was our giant yard sale, where we liquidated possibly half of our belongings. While it was more than a literal ton of work, we have a much lighter house, and lighter minds as we seek to organize, store, sell, and pack the remainder.

Yard sale of yard sales

Participating in staff and elder meetings has been instrumental in gaining insights into the dynamics of church leadership, allowing me to understand better the workings of our church, just as one reference point, when working with Mexican pastors in the future. Additionally, I contributed to a few DIY tasks: tough, sweaty and right up my alley. And after 4 weeks of that, we began and are on our “great journey” (as our kids would say).

Family Time in Pennsylvania

And thus our summer began concluding with a 2-week staycation in Pennsylvania, where we enjoyed quality time with the Joseph (western PA) and Kauffman (central PA) families, many thanks to the warm hospitality of our awesome kin. United with aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents, we focused on family fun with trips to Idlewild, Knoebel’s, and lots of other great-for-kid outings that included lots of funnel cake and Auntie Anne’s pretzels.

Many terrific conversations happened over so many terrific meals. We played tons of board games and I remained undefeated at cornhole. We are grateful for our wonderful and supportive families who we truly love to spend time with.

Training at CIT

And most recently, we just drove into town at Union Mills, North Carolina and started a four-week pre-field missionary training program called Equipping through the Center for Intercultural Training (CIT). This training, taught by former missionaries, will be crucial as we prepare for our calling to serve in Mexico, to help us know the reality of cultural, relational, and spiritual stresses we’ll endure and how to engage them. We’ve also been pumped to meet other families who are themselves preparing for cross-cultural missions (Japan, Bulgaria, Morocco, Turkey, Ghana, Guatemala, etc.). The opportunity to share and hear their God stories, and those of our staff, has been inspiring and is giving so much greater context to our mission.

How to Pray

Thanks to the Lord for He is good, and He was faithful in guiding us through some of these big summer changes already. A few upcoming prayer requests include:

• For our hearts to be open and receptive throughout the CIT training program to hear from God, to prepare well, and to make friends and deepen family bonds while we’re away from distractions

• For persistence in finishing our support raising

• For continued work and training with Parkside, to use well that final September-December stretch

• For the physical challenge of a few painting projects and emotional challenge of clearing out all the furniture and large items from our house throughout the fall. We plan on listing our home in October and pray it sells easily.

And in the meantime:

• For our brothers and sisters at STS and the evangelism and discipleship of the churches in Mazatlán. (https://www.facebook.com/shouldertoshouldermexico)

We are hugely grateful for your support and prayers as we went through some of those big trips and changes, and please reach out! We appreciate hearing from folks back home while we’re away at training.

Grace and Peace,

The Josephs