FUNDRAISER - Care Kits for Anti-Trafficking Efforts

Friends, YOU have an opportunity to become involved in the very first step that happens when women come through the doors of Anti Trafficking Bureau (ATB) next year! 

Mark your calendar to join us Tuesday, October 9th on Facebook for a party with a purpose.

Allow me to introduce you to my dear friend Joanne Hebert. We've been besties since pre-teens, have had countless sleepovers at each other's houses, picked strawberries during the summers together as kids, played in a band together as teenagers, and been in each other's weddings as young adults!

Along with being wife to her paramedic husband and mom to their two precious children, Joanne has been an independent Lemongrass Spa consultant for the past 2.5 years. Lemongrass Spa (LGS) is a company producing over 400 affordable haircare, skincare, and beauty products that are all made with fresh, clean, natural, and organic ingredients. 

Joanne has been looking for an opportunity to contribute, in some way, toward the anti-trafficking work I've been involved with here in the Dominican Republic (DR), and that opportunity finally came when LGS recently released their Human Kindness Kit. 

This Kit contains lip balm, facial wash, deodorant, and lotion - all made with fresh, natural ingredients and has been specifically designed to positively impact at-risk persons. For every Kit sold, as a company, LGS donates $1 to their anti-trafficking organization of choice. To further the impact, they are encouraging their consultants to use these Kits in fundraisers, events, and other contribution opportunities where human kindness is desperately needed.

We are now on a mission! A mission to raise funds for at least 200 kits that will be given to women when they first come through ATB's Assessment Center in 2019 and beyond.

This fundraiser will be held in the form of a Facebook Lemongrass Spa Party 

beginning October 9th!

• Joanne and I will be hosting the event through multiple live video chats, fun games, drawings for prizes, and interactive posts including information on Lemongrass Spa products, how they are made, what benefits they have, and what they are used for.
• I will also be sharing my story about how I first became involved in missions and anti-trafficking, how I ended up moving to the Dominican Republic, what impact getting married played on that, and finally, how I got to where I am now with Anti Trafficking Bureau!
• We'll launch the party at 8:30 pm EST, going live in an interactive video with Joanne and myself chatting about all the fundraiser and party details, as well as answering your questions about ATB and anti-trafficking efforts on the spot.
• Everyone who attends the party will have the opportunity to purchase any Lemongrass Spa products, including the Human Kindness Kits, for their own personal use as well, just like a normal party. Joanne will be donating a percentage of her commission as a consultant for this party to ATB, so personal orders will also be contributing towards anti-trafficking efforts. 
• The party will be a multiple Mystery Hostess show, meaning-  everyone who attends the party and either donates 2 kits or purchases $50 value in LGS products, will get their name entered into a drawing to receive party hostess benefits, which include free products and discounted products. AND the party is going to be so big that we'll have up to 10 hostesses for this event!
• The party will last for 3 days to give everyone a chance to check out the Kits, re-watch the videos, participate in the games, and peruse the products; and the page will be open for 2 additional days so that we are able to personally answer questions and give everyone time to get their orders in.  

Join us directly on Facebook here or reach out to us via text/call/email at our contact info below - or simply leave a comment on this blog :) - if you'd like to join our fundraiser in October. It will be hosted in an open group, so you can even invite your friends to join the party, as well, once you are added to the group!

Joanne Hebert · 

(406) 242-0063

jonagirl.strums@gmail.com 

Rosy Terrero ·

terrerolife@gmail.com

If you'd like a physical catalog in preparation, get us your address by Sept. 28th and we'll send you one asap. (check out the LGS fall digital catalog here in the meantime) 

You all, I am SO beyond excited about this fundraiser! These Kits will be given to women rescued from trafficking, along with clean clothes, a bed, and good food, as their first welcome stepping into a safe, protected, prayed-over environment. The Kits will be used and enjoyed as their cases are processed and the road to emotional, physical, and spiritual healing and freedom begins. 

Spread the word and please be praying for this fundraiser! That God may be glorified and lives be changed, one small step at a time.

Presence and Being Present

When Miguel came home today for his noon break (and to escape some of the rain-drenched fields) he called me crazy for having the fan turned on claiming it's too cold! If you'd stop in at our home for a visit right now, besides no fans running, you'd find most of our windows closed and Miguel in a long sleeve shirt. It's raining! And it's the kind of "summer is over because it's raining" rain.

During the sweltering summer, we rejoice for the typical once-a-week rain showers because it cuts through the heat and stickiness. But really, sometimes those summer showers seem to make it worse because 5-15 minutes of sheer happiness in the rain quickly turn to sticking your face in the nearest pedestal fan, because the humidity after rain just went up a notch. Rain every day means the earth, cooled down by constant showers, has a chance to bring down the thermostat of humidity that clings to everything before all the freshness is sucked back into the atmosphere. Most people who know me know that Fall is my favorite season - I've talked about it often enough! It used to be because of the changing leaves and harvest parties in northern USA, but now it's also because of the glorious rain that ushers in hurricane season in tropical Dominican Republic. 

Other than the rain, our most recent personal highlight has definitely been a little mountain excursion this week. Last night, we got back from a 3 day/2 night get-away into the mountains that someone very generously gifted us with. It was the perfect way to end the summer! We found a beautiful lodge tucked away above a lake in the northern part of the island and thoroughly enjoyed the tranquility of watching the fishermen in their boats out on the water while listening to the wind in the trees during the day and insect chirping at night. Up until a few years ago, I could never have imagined adapting to living in a city, let alone in a tropical climate. Some days, I really miss living in the country and I miss living in the mountains; this spot was the perfect combination of both. Miguel is pretty sure someone should start an FCA program up there ;). 
In all honesty, though, something not enough missionaries feel like they can talk about is the need to get away and recharge every once in a while. The hustle and urgency of doing God's work can so often take precedence over just being with God. Remembering to take time at Jesus' feet like Mary did can be hard when our role usually looks a lot like Martha's. We are so thankful for that friend who knows this necessity and made it possible for us to get a boost of rejuvenation in our spiritual walk, as well as reconnect as a couple without distractions. All just in time for Miguel's weekend university classes to begin.

Blankita, the goat, seemed to like us a lot

We met up with a friend the other day who we hadn't seen in a long time and were conversing on our favorite topic - making disciples. He said something that stuck out to me and has been turning over in my head since. He was telling us a little bit of the story of one of the youth he is currently mentoring. This teenager told him, "I have Christian neighbors who look every bit the part. They wear the clothes, talk the talk, are super nice and polite; but they never reached out to get to know me personally. I knew they were Christians and would never question that - but they didn't tell me that there was something better for my life than alcohol and drugs. They never reached out to me." Our friend kindly reminded him that none of us can know what is going on in the personal lives of other people and his neighbors don't need our judgement. They probably have very purposeful lives. But that story turned into the three of us talking about how Jesus did ministry. He got to know people personally. He reached out. 
What I've been mulling over since then is the challenge of how to live our lives like Jesus did. This may sound cliche, but I think all of us need to be reminded of the importance of being present wherever we are at. Being present to those around us and the present to the voice of God. Hearing God's voice, can only happen when we spend time in His presence listening. I know Martha's challenge. I, too, get caught up in making things happen! Jesus' words with Martha weren't so much a reprimand that she was doing something wrong as it was a reminder to not give up what is better in order to accomplish what is good. 
Everything comes in seasons, and some of those mean every minute crammed with activities. But I also think that I like the feeling of "I did this". 
I led this person to Christ. 
I prayed for this person's health and s/he got better. 
I showed them a better way. 
When in reality, all of that is impossible for me as a human to do. It's only Christ. I can't change someone's heart, no matter how hard I try. I can never, ever be the perfect example. When I lose sight of Christ, when I wander away from His presence, I also pull away from others. I forget to see their needs and hurts up close and love them the way Jesus loves them. I start to see their weaknesses form afar and become impatient or get frustrated when someone doesn't understand. 

So, I'm taking on the challenge of being more present. More present with Christ and more present for others. Anyone wanna join me?



Luke 10:41-42 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Summer.Time.Ness

Am I the only one who, every single year, when July rolls around, the realization hits that the upcoming Christmas is now closer than the most recently celebrated Christmas? I mean, it's the middle of summer! Christmas is supposed to be a loooong way off at this point, not almost peeking over the horizon! There are times when I'm convinced that a day in summer is only half as long as a day any other time of the year. I call this phenomenon - summer.time.ness.

Photo cred to the greatly talented Levi Hebert

Last time I wrote, we were heading into June with our sleeves rolled up - or maybe with sleeves cut off since it's sweltering here ;) As most of you know, Miguel and I took the position of Team Trip Coordinators this year for FCA Domincan Republic. Prior to this year, FCA DR partnered with another local organization for hosting teams in one of FCA's multiple locations; but we wanted to be able to connect mission teams to more places where our staff is working and be more intentional in cultivating recurring relationships with our staff and the coaches and athletes being ministered to. 
Part of this strategy has meant creating the ability to host teams in three locations now, instead of just one, so that our staff members, spread out in these areas, each work with only several teams a year. This allows them the ability to continue with their normal ministry and discipleship work without too many distractions while still receiving the blessing of having teams add additional support and contribution to work projects for several of their coaches each year. This does, however, mean for Miguel and myself the responsibility of traveling to where each team is located. Since most teams coming down are connected to sports and schools, the vast majority come during the months of summer-break (June-August); this happens to the point of having multiple back-to-back teams where we would be telling one good-bye and welcoming another one sometimes within less than 24 hours. July finds us right smack in the middle of all this flurry of mission trip activities! This week's team has been doing a men's conference in Higuey, where we live, so I've finally been able to get ahead on work projects, including updating the blog and sending out a newsletter :D 

We, miraculously, were able schedule a necessary trip Stateside toward the end of June, and looking back, I still marvel that we were able to do so. It was God's hand holding those dates for us, because we surprisingly didn't even have a team wanting to book a trip over those ten days. Right before we left for ND, our wonderful friends, the Heberts, came and spent a week with us (our first personal visitors from the States!). 
Our ND trip was a time of great encouragement, as always. For the past 3 years, my sending church has held and continues to hold us faithfully up in prayer; and every time I schedule the yearly trip to ND, my heart is always full of excitement in being able to personally share what God continues to do with and for us here, as well as witness how He continues to work there. The picture below demonstrates with so much truth what we continue to learn, both within our local church here and other parts of the Body back in the States. Its message has resounded in our hearts so many times this summer and I am continually overwhelmed with gratitude for how God has provided for us through the Church on so many levels. 

The same day we returned from ND, our intern arrived. Hannah is with us for the month of July helping us out with the mission teams, doing some English tutoring with our staff, and pitching in with daily life. It's been a true joy having her here! Apart from having another pair of hands on deck, her joyful, serving attitude has been a big contributing factor in making all the crazy summer.time.ness go smoothly.
She'll be abandoning us (I mean, returning to her other responsibilities) the same day our last team of the summer comes in. 

In this season of crazy summer.time.ness God's whispering reminder to us has been "rejoice in the details." Just this week, we had another conversation of the slow transitions beginning at the close of this summer and moving into next year. It seems like so much when taking in all the factors - we came up with no less than 10 contributing factors that will determine how these transitions will work out. But as we live and move in this current season, we see how God works out all the details. He goes ahead of us before each team comes down and the details we think will be complicated all get ironed out with seemingly little effort. It's like He's taking this crazy summer.time.ness as a small scale demonstration of how He is more than able to handle the crazy life.ness coming up. 
I, as a human, have the habit of projecting things too far ahead of time and getting caught up in everything that could go wrong. Our Father, in His sovereignty, keeps whispering, "rejoice in the details." 

Rejoice in the complicated made simple. 


The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Deuteronomy 31:8

Living a Life of Prayer

I like living a life filled with charts, criteria, and check-lists. These are things that make me feel safe. Running down lists and checking off boxes gives me a great feeling of accomplishment, seeing right in front of me that I succeeded in something that day. 

As you can imagine, I tend to apply my charts and check-lists to all aspects of my life - marriage, ministry, friendships, relationship with Christ. I mentally write out my little list of criteria for what it means to be a good wife, a good missionary, a good friend, a good Christian, and once (in my mind) I acheive that standard, I raise the bar and keep on going. 

Please don't misunderstand me in thinking it's wrong to challenge oneself and set standards that keep us accountable, but...if we get to the point where we think we've figured out God, in my experience, we can expect Him to chuckle, bring something else our way, and show us just how mistaken that thinking is - especially when applying it to our prayer life.  

Now, do I think we shouldn't use strategies and charts in our prayer life? Absolutely not! In fact, I think we don't use them enough. 

Miguel and I have personally had many, many prayers answered simply by applying a discipline in the way we pray. For example, the home we live in currently was nothing short of an answer to a long list of requests in our prayers. 

At friends' wedding in May.

A few months before we got married, Miguel found an apartment halfway between where I lived at the time and where we currently live in Higuey. We knew we would be moving to Higuey that summer (in fact, ended up moving only a month after our wedding) so while he was working, he would keep his eyes open for a place we could rent. Between the two of us, we had a very specific list of what we wanted. 

- At the top of that list, even though we had no plans to buy a place or live in one place permanantly, our greatest desire, knowing it was part of what God was calling us to, was to have a home where we could host people - coaches, youth, friends, strangers passing through, family. Whether just to enjoy a home-cooked meal, spend the night, or even temporarily live with us, we wanted to be able to open our doors into an atmosphere of welcome and encouragement. 

- For Miguel, that meant a house not an apartment. He despised living in the apartment building we spent our first month of marriage in. He had lived there several months by himself and it just felt too lonely after having grown up on a street in a town where everyone knew eachother. And along with the house, he also wanted an outdoor patio area since we'd have a dog running around to keep the place safe. And... it should have some fruit trees. I threw in the request of having it be large enough to plant at least a small garden - and having some grass would be nice. I love sticking my feet in grass (pebbles and cement just aren't very friendly to bare feet) but it can be hard to find around here. 

- For myself, it meant having at least two bedrooms and a decent sized kitchen. The bedrooms request was obvious. The kitchen request was practical because Dominican kitchens in general are small, sometimes with only enough room for one person to move around in. I also specifically requested a place that had reasonably dependable electricity since most of my work is done on my computer via internet. 
- We both also wanted barred windows and doors, especially after my computer had gotten stolen out of my former apartment through the windows. And really, really wanted a quiet, reputable neighborhood without worry of music blaring from the corner stores at all hours of the day and night (a very common occurrence around here!)
- And of course, all this had to be within our, pretty low, budget!

At one point, about 2 months into looking (again, Miguel had been keeping his eyes open even before we got married), we added up all the places we had looked at - apartments and houses in every shape and style - and it came to a grand total of 22 places. Of the 22 there was 1 house and 1 apartment that would maybe be ok if we were willing to let go of some of our criteria. We were frustrated but kept looking, confident that God had the perfect place for us. 
This brought us to the day that we had a conversation, discussing all this, with our pastors; they referred us to the realtor who had helped them find their place, and we were able to still meet with him that day. After giving him the list of what we were looking for, he told us he had 2 places he could show us right away. On the way to what was going to be the first of the two places, he pulled up to this house that he said made him think of us but wasn't going to be on his list to show that day. 

Current picture

As soon as we saw it, before even getting out of the car, Miguel and I looked at eachother and both said, "This is it - this is our house!" It was painted two-tone orange and the patio wasn't cleaned up, but that didn't matter. Cleaning and painting would be easy. 
It actually ended up being a house that the realtor's company wouldn't be getting the keys to, from the landlady, until the following day and we were the first clients to see it. No one had lived in it for 2 years and the landlady, who lived in Puerto Rico, was trying to sell it. The realtors convinced her to allow them to rent it out for her in the meantime so that it would remain lived in and not fall apart. 
The front had a patch of grass that was nicely shaded by the big tree on the corner. We walked around to the back to find two huge mango trees, a cherry tree, and plenty of space to create a garden.  Through the windows, I saw the largest kitchen that could possibly fit into this size home and to this day we joke that Miguel said yes to the patio and I said yes to the kitchen without caring about the rest of the place! It ended up meeting every. single. one of the criteria listed above, plus a few more, and in the year since we've lived here, we have had minimal upkeep expenses (bonus blessing). 
Our house has since been used to host many, many people. This past month has been no exception, with hosting multiple dinners (like when new missionaries moved into a town close by or when a coach currently seeking more spiritually wanted to bring his girlfriend over for deeper conversation on what Christianity means), a few overnight guests coming through town (the most recent just left this morning), and friends coming from the States to spend a week with us. And even though we still don't have any idea of how long we'll be here, we praise God for His provision in what has really served as a valuable ministry space for this season in life. 

Answered prayers such as these have added up over time, and I reached a point in my prayer life that I kind of assumed I could keep making lists and expecting the same results. So when Anti Trafficking Bureau (ATB) approached us to invite me to join their team (read more on about those details in Come What May), I assumed I could take the same approach - lay out my list before God, do a little fasting, do some intentional praying, have a few conversations with Miguel about logistics, and, wala! get our answer within our timeline.

ATB team and partners

Again, I don't think that approach is wrong. But at this point, the approach I was taking came out of a prideful place. I thought I had the solution to resolving all things and if it didn't work, then it wouldn't be my fault. 
A week went past and no answer. I had no peace about saying "yes," and zero peace about saying "no." So, I talked to Miguel again to see what he was thinking or if maybe God was telling him something that I wasn't hearing. I was following my checklist, so by this time someone should know what we were supposed to do. I didn't know, so obviously Miguel, as the spiritual head of our home, should at least have an inclination, right? But he didn't.
So, then I got frustrated. Frustrated at God and at my husband. And I started casting blame. Obviously (from my viewpoint) it wasn't my fault that we had no clue what our answer was supposed to be because I was doing all the right things. It must be Miguel's fault. He must not be doing his part correctly. And it was also God's fault for not cooperating with my little strategy plan. After all, I was being reasonable; I wasn't being stubborn in asking for a "yes" answer - I was ok with a "no" answer if now was not the time. That must mean I was being humble in my asking, right? 
The result of this blame casting was a tension in our marriage that we hadn't ever had before. One evening, after arguing about what to do, I told Miguel I was tired of this - we rarely argue and the tension was taking over our home. I didn't have peace either way, "yes" or "no," and if he didn't know what we were supposed to do, I was just going to tell them "no." At least that would take care of making a decision and we could get past this. 
"But do you have peace that saying 'no' is the answer God is actually giving us?" he asked.

Ouch. 

My pride in my lists and strategies had brought me so far, that I didn't care anymore what God's answer was and instead was willing to create my own answer. My problem with saying "yes" is that Miguel couldn't go down my little checklist and say that every one of my expectations in how the answer was supposed to come about was met. Instead, he was completely willing to have me join the ATB team and see where God would take us without fully knowing how it would work out long term. He was willing to take a step of faith. 
But was I? 

A call to faith. That was my answer. Faith in God speaking through my husband and faith in my husband's advice. 

I texted my used-to-be-former boss to let him know that, yes, I was on board; but sending that text was a shaky step of faith. I was still so uncomfortable to step outside the box I had created this decision to fall into that it took several weeks before I truly surrendered and allowed God to give me peace to walk in the "yes." 

Since then, my position with ATB has been officially named Executive Assitant, meaning for now, I report to my used-to-be-former boss (the cofounder of ATB) and assist him and the director (the other cofounder) with the large project of setting up an assessment facility for all victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, along with other little details in the administrative department such as translation, liasing with legal processes, etc. 

At a recent build project with our latest team. Miguel decided to hide his face behind the palm branch at that exact moment. 

As time goes on, we'll be including more about the ministry and work of ATB while continuing to include FCA ministry details. 
In the meantime, we want everyone to know that basically nothing has changed:

1. I am still in the same position with FCA DR as administrative assistant and mission trips coordinator. As of now, I'll be continuing full-time this year. ATB is an additional role that will develope with time. 
2. Miguel is still doing what he's always been doing, including coach discipleship and leading visiting team trips. 
3. We also continue to be heavily involved in our local church, as I've briefly touched on in other posts and updates. 
4. Our fundraising remains the same.


We are excited for new opportunities for ministry and to be able to be used in multiple ways to spread the love of Jesus and share the Gospel, individually and as a couple. 
If you have any questions, please, please let us know and we will answer them!


"When we take the talents God has given us and hold them with open hands, knowing they really belong to Him and not us, then we are able to truly live a life of full potential, making an impact for eternity." 

Come What May

If you head over to the "About" tab on this blog, you'll read at the very top, "Being a voice for the voiceless and bringing healing to the broken and abused are those heart-tugs that keep me awake at night. They are what God uses to refuse to allow me to live a mediocre life or do anything that is void of purpose or meaning."

If you've been following along with our journey, you know that last year I put my involvement in full-time anti-trafficking ministry on hold for at least a year, knowing that it was time to take a step back from the intensity of what my life had become to be able to fully focus on investing the necessary time and attention to beginning our lives together as a married couple. Even before we got married, our desire and dream was to work in ministry together, in some way or form, and when God opened the doors last year for me to take a part-time administrative position with FCA DR it was a huge answer to prayer that allowed both of those things to happen.  

When we made this change, it was difficult for a lot of people to comprehend. Everyone who had known me before getting married had no doubt of what I was most passionate about - and sports was never mentioned! It was a big change. We even moved a month after getting married so that we could plug into a good church and start in a new place where neither of us had any history and thus no prior expectations from other people around us would interfer in being able to walk in obedience to the steps God directed us to take. 

At the bottom of the same "About" tab mentioned above, you'll read, "There are so many details that come along with carrying out the call of Christ to go and make disciples of all nations. This blog is our way of sharing stories of what God does in our own lives and the crazy twists and turns He takes us on."

I wrote everything currently on that tab last year, knowing that the decision to come on board with FCA DR was the decision God had for us - for now. Knowing that He does not change, even when He takes us down those unknown roads. Knowing that sports may be out of my league (I am learning a little!) but discipleship isn't, ministry isn't, and administration definitely isn't. 


But another factor that has played a part in the background of all this is something I wasn't very public in writing about. I was exhausted last year - emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. Without taking that step back, our marriage would have been strained before it even had a chance to start. Without making a move in location and focus, we would have had a very difficult start to marriage and ministry together. 

Along the way, a healing process took place. The first three months after our move, I found myself sleeping a lot without knowing why. I loved having time on my hands to organize our home and settle into a new part-time job, working from home, and  most days I holed myself up at home with my own work and didn't venture out much. It got to the point that Miguel was worried that I kept to myself too much and wasn't making friends, but I told him I preferred it that way for now! The thought of being around people more than several times a week exhausted me. Don't get me wrong, I love people, but I also love alone time and was getting it for the first time in way too long. Having this time also allowed me to better process my brother's death, which had a habit of getting pushed to the side prior to making these changes. 

God knows just what we need when we need it. After about 3 months, I started getting restless and went through a period of time of not feeling useful. The drastic change of being on call almost 24/7 to only working part-time, and by myself no less, caught up to me. Miguel, wonderful husband that he is, started pushing me to connect more with people from church and we started opening our home in various ways. It was a slow process, but everything happened at the right time when it needed to happen. Spiritually, I was getting strengthened again (our church playing an important role in that), emotionally I was much stronger, and physically my energy started coming back. As time went on I started taking on more, such as Mission Trips Coordinating, and becoming more personally involved with ministry and church. 


Sometimes it's hard to believe it's already been a year since these pictures were taken! Yet, looking back over this past year, it seems difficult to grasp that so much has happened in only 12 months. 

We headed into this year knowing that changes would be coming ahead. Miguel is set to graduate university at the end of this year. Miguel's ministry here in Higuey is growing, the church is growing with more opportunity of involvement, more teams are coming to the DR through FCA, there are general shifts in the minstry as a whole taking place, and Miguel and I began having random conversations of the possiblility of me becoming involved in anti-trafficking ministry again this year, if the right opportunity came along.

In January the girls' home I worked at previously shut down, due to various reasons. They talked about moving it and there would have been opportunity for me to get more involved, again, but we don't know if that will ever happen. 
My former bosses, with who I had moved to the DR in 2015, had resigned before I got married and have been going through a similar healing process. At the same time, they have been influential in registering the Anti Trafficking Bureau, a Christ-centered training model to combat trafficking and develop victim care, here in the DR. I helped with translating the paperwork and was offered a position on the board last year, but turned it down because of the above reasons.  

Last week marked one year since we legally got married (yes, we have two anniversaries!). And that same week, my former bosses came for a visit to catch up with what has been happening with ATB and to offer me a part-time position as their lead planning and development strategist for an assessment center for victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. It would begin as a part-time position, meaning I can continue with FCA without making changes at least this year. However, in the long run, there is potential of becoming more involved, creating a team, yet having the flexibility to set my hours as best for our family. If this happens, it means we'd need to look for a new Mission Trips Coordinator for FCA next year and possibly even someone to take on my admin responsibilities. It really all depends on how involved we want to become. Down the road, the trainig model will include community outreach through sports, churches, schools, and other avenues to create awareness and teach Christian values specifically pertaining to lowering exploitation risks. It seems like the perfect fit for our long term vision, but we are still praying about what the right decision is. We don't want to say "yes" when God says "not yet."

So we ask your prayers on our behalf. Please be praying for us and for God's perfect will to be done and His best to come about. 
Come what may, we are here to be obedient to His calling and to further His kingdom! 

Until next time.