Family Visit

In March, we were back in the States for a few weeks for some vacation and bereavement time. We were able to see some of our family & and a few of our partner churches, but if we didn't make it to your area, don't worry, we'll be back for longer the end of the year. 

We had a wonderful time with both sets of parents, some of it together and some time where I stayed with my parents and Steve with his. Both our parents are in Florida now, so it was fun exploring some new places. So thankful for our family and how supportive they are of what we're doing.

Big News & a Big Meeting

We have some BIG NEWS to share - our teammates passed their Tagalog language requirement! This means that they can now move from their language-learning location to their ministry location (down in Bicol). Since our team house is not yet complete, they'll be camping out in a little airbnb for a couple of months - pray with us that we can finish their house quickly! 
This pic of our team was taken after some meetings we attended in a nearby country - we spent a day at the zoo after the meetings & had a great time.

Elephant rides were a highlight for sure!

While we loved the time with the team, we were also so blessed that some very old friends (my friends from high school!) joined us for the day at the zoo. Such a wonderful time catching up with them!

As for the "Big Meeting", we recently attended both board meetings and then the tri-ennial meeting where churches from all over the Philippines gather together to focus on how they can more effectively send out their own cross cultural workers - the nations reaching the nations! We were very encouraged by the results of the board meetings, and we're praying that decisions that were made will make a big impact on how they send.

The meetings themselves were also a blessing. Pray with us that God would keep bringing this focus to the front for our churches across the Philippines!

In the culminating service, four individuals came forward to say they felt called to be one of the ones sent to the nations. Pray for these individuals as they process through their calling & begin to count the cost.

Christmas & Kids

Ok, so I know they're not actually "kids" anymore, but since most of you have followed us forever, here's a quick update on them...
Mikayla completed her 2 yr term here in the Philippines and was part of the team that started a new after-care home for girls rescued out of trafficking. She's now back in the States, switching to a different organization in order to expand her role when she comes back to include training for the staff not only in that home but also other homes around the country. She also enjoyed coaching some girls rugby at her alma mater here.

Zach graduated college in May and is working as youth pastor at our home church in Missouri. He is also in the application process to head overseas for a 2 yr term surveying unengaged, unreached people groups.

Ben is still in college in Mississippi and super involved in his church there, besides working at going to classes. He brought a friend home to my parents over Christmas; we haven't been able to meet her in person yet, but are very much looking forward to working with her this summer as she has tickets to come join us for a summer internship on our tribal team.

Super proud of all 3 and loving watching how God is guiding them into next steps.

For Christmas this year, we traveled up to the mountain city of Baguio with some friends, and Mikayla was able to join us. We had a blast in the chilly weather together. Missed the boys but thankful they are where God has them for now.

Cambodia

At the end of Nov into early Dec, Steve & I traveled first down to Palawan to visit the family we supervise there - had a wonderful time but didn't take any pics this time. We then went straight to Cambodia for some leadership meetings. The time didn't go at all like we had planned because we were supposed to be attending with our supervisors, and the purpose was to discuss the 10 year plan for strategy for engaging all the people groups in our corner of the world. However, our supervisor ended up in the hospital at home the day before the meetings started, and he was in the hospital the whole time, which meant we attended it as the only members of our leadership team, without our supervisor, so that was challenging. But we see where God still worked, and we sent lots of good notes to our supervisor for once he was out of the hospital. :) At the end of the meetings, I (Jen) got really sick and ended up in bed for several days of what was supposed to be our vacation. But once the antibiotics started doing their job, I was able to get out on the last day, and WOW we highly recommend visiting Siem Reap Cambodia if you ever get a chance. Amazing things to see, beautiful little town, great food & cheap prices. We rented a little scooter to get around, and I took SO MANY pics, just sharing a few here.

Also saw lots of monkeys at Ankor Wat, but they were incredibly well-behaved (NOT true of other monkeys, for those of you who have traveled much, you know what I mean!)

The one with all the trees (Ta Prohm) was our favorite.

Highly recommend a visit if you ever get a chance!

France!

Before 2024, we had never been to Europe, and this year we had meetings TWICE that took us there! This time, we were blessed to be a part of meetings with globalization, networking about how the nations can partner together more effectively to reach the unreached - not just Americans being sent out, but how we can work with other nations to partner together to accomplish the Great Commission. The time together was such a blessing (though Steve got sick, so I had to carry most of the load for this one). I can't share pics from those meetings due to security concerns, but we stayed at an old abbey, and I can share this great rainbow pic from our time there. 

After the meetings, Steve & I tacked on a couple of days to explore France. We stayed in a lovely little airbnb & had a nice time exploring. We saw lots of different castles (Mount St. Michael was our favorite!) and enjoyed the little taste of fall foliage (don't get that in the Philippines). Of course had to get that obligatory Eiffel Tower pic, and we drove the circle around the Arc de Triumph (sites said it is the craziest in the world, but those travelers obviously haven't been to Asia - we can know several that beat it hands down). 

So incredibly thankful for the many opportunities to be involved in His work!

Summer Sojourns Pt 2

Claire's family headed their own way at that point, and we continued on with our 3 and my parents. We stayed in a airbnb Italian villa in a tiny village in Tuscany and thoroughly enjoyed exploring Orvieto (a highlight for sure!), Siena & Florence.

 

We even found a field of sunflowers so of course had to take some pics!

I can't even say how thankful we are for this blessed time together. While Italy has always been on my "bucket list", I NEVER would have expected that we'd be able to go, much less with the whole family. He is so very good to us.

After a fun food tour in Florence, we split ways again. My parents headed home, the fearless 3 headed to the Swiss Alps by train to crash with a friend, and Steve & headed trained to Cinque Terre, Italy to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary (ok, so a year late so our 26th because that was when we had meetings in Europe so tagged it on!).

Mikayla, Zach & Ben had a great time together in Switzerland, and I loved seeing their pics!

Steve & I stayed in a the tiny town of Corniglia - it's it adorable?!

We enjoyed the sunset from our tiny balcony (and lots of gelato!)

We also enjoyed the fact that our credit card points paid for our stay! :)  

Our hearts are overflowing with thankfulness for His many blessings! Never would have thought we'd have meetings in Europe, our family would get to join us, and that we would have this amazing opportunity.