New Season of Ministry?
Dear Friends,
I am finally writing to our new prayer letter list. Thank you to all of you who wrote that you would like to continue receiving our prayer updates and praying for us - what an incredible blessing that is!
A missionary with China Inland Mission (the former name of OMF) said this, “It is necessary for me to go around preaching, teaching, exhorting, rebuking; but the amount of progress made depends almost entirely on the state of the spiritual tide in the village – a condition which you can control upon your knees as well as I.” (J.O. Fraser, pioneer missionary to the Lisu people of China; early 1900s)
Over the years, Scott and I have continually seen that we will not see any fruit in the spiritual realm without prayer, inviting God's leading and guiding, submitting to His will, fighting the spiritual forces of evil. I feel like we are in an incredible season of change and new possibilities - and we need your prayers!
First, the "new season of ministry" that I alluded to in my last email. Scott and I are sensing that God is moving us... to Florida!! Through a combination of my struggle with cold and lack of leaves/flowers for many months of the year in Colorado, as well as Scott's mental exhaustion from almost 7 years of preaching/pastoring, as well as concerns that there may be another lockdown in the fall due to Covid-19, we are feeling that we should move to a warmer climate where we can get outside in the winter. We plan to move mid-September. Scott will take a few months of sabbatical for spiritual, emotional and mental refreshment, and then seek the Lord about his next job - something more physical, perhaps a secular job - or perhaps a ministry job, as God leads.
Meanwhile, I have been talking to our international center in Singapore for a number of months about becoming the next International Facilitator for Third Culture Kid (TCK) Services (IFTS). I had been hoping that the final appointment would come through before writing this email so I have delayed until now, but the appointment process is still in consultation with the international leadership so I thought I would invite you into this time of prayer as we see how God is leading.
So, what in the world is an IFTS - what a fancy title?! Actually, the previous name for this OMF role was International Coordinator for TCK Care and Education (ICTCKCE) - my all time favorite OMF title - and I'm kind of sad they changed it :) But I really like the position description -
"The IFTS, as the international advocate for TCKs in OMF, has a vision to see families with thriving children, who understand and value their TCK experience, growing in faith towards all that God desires. The IFTS will oversee the caring for and equipping of families in raising their children by providing encouragement, resources and educational support. To do this, the IFTS will lead the International TCK Services Committee and maintain a network of field and home side TCK personnel to work with leaders, TCKs and member families."
Your next question may be, "What is a Third Culture Kid or TCK?" Wikipedia states that TCKs "are individuals who are (or were as children) raised in a culture other than their parents' or the culture of their country of nationality, and live in such an environment during a significant part of their early development years." By this definition, I am a TCK as I lived from ages 4-8 in Penang, Malaysia while my parents served at Dalat International School. All four of my children are also TCKs as they grew up in Thailand.
The reason why the term TCK (or CCK - Cross-Cultural Kid) is used now instead of MK (missionary kid) is that TCK or CCK includes many more people - missionary kids, military kids, expat kids, people who study internationally and raise kids in another country during their study time, etc. All of these kids have common experiences that give them a common identity with both strengths and challenges. If you'd like to read more about this, Ruth Van Reken is an expert in this area - https://www.crossculturalkid.org/who-are-cross-cultural-kids/
So, if I am appointed as the next IFTS, I will be working with TCK Advisors and Child Safety Officers and Educators in each of our homesides (18 sending countries) and fields (at least 12) to help our OMF children thrive and become all that God intends for them to be. This will probably include one trip to Asia per year of about one month - something I'm very excited about! Please pray with me as to whether this is God's will for me, and if not, that God will provide the right person for this role for OMF.
Meanwhile, I am finishing out my current role with OMF in member care. My boss, the Vice President for Personnel, is stepping down at the end of July. He and his wife plan to do some other ministry in OMF. I will help our leadership transition to the next VPs for Personnel who will begin January 1. I will do the job as an intermediate, more fully at first, but gradually handing over responsibilities in the fall, and (if appointed), begin to gradually take up the IFTS role until I can fully take this on January 1, 2021.
One of the hard things for me to leave is the neighborhood Bible studies in my town. Over the years, a number of ladies have joined in for a time. At the moment, Moya, Marlene, Bev and Julie are regulars in the morning Bible study, and Claire and Tasha continue in the evening Bible study. We have been studying "Son of God" in the book of Mark and I've found it an excellent study - very challenging https://www.cruciformpress.com/product/son-of-god-vol1/ This morning I said to God, "Will these ladies keep studying the Bible if I move? I guess that's up to them and the Holy Spirit. I can't save anyone." I long for each of these women to grow in her relationship to God and to firmly fix her life on the foundation of God's Word, reading it and obeying it for the rest of their lives. Please pray for them!
Scott is particularly finding it hard to leave our church. We love this group of people who have been so kind and supportive of us over the years (almost 7!) that Scott has served here in his first pastorate. Please pray for God to provide another couple who will be called to teach the Word of God here and reach out to the community of Louviers and surrounding area.
Alysha has decided to spread her wings. Our plans to move have spurred her on to take flight. Alysha would like to start a future in Equine Assisted Therapy (a treatment that includes equine activities and/or an equine environment in order to promote physical, occupational, and emotional growth in persons suffering from ADD, Anxiety, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Dementia, Depression, Developmental Delay, Genetic Syndromes (such as Down Syndrome), traumatic brain injuries, behavioral issues, abuse issues, and many other mental health problems.)
Alysha plans to move to North Carolina in mid September. Initially, she will look for any kind of work to support herself while hoping to volunteer at an Equine Therapy facility, and as God opens doors, she hopes to get a job in that area.
At the moment, Alysha is working on selling her horse, Cinnamon. This is a big loss for her, but at this stage of life, she doesn't feel she can transport Cinnamon across country and pay for her boarding while establishing herself as a young adult. Alysha is also praying about whether she should have follow up surgery at the end of July to remove screws from her broken leg in January. Please pray with her about these things.
Meanwhile, Matthew, Rachel, Joshua and Nathan are all doing well in their jobs. Matthew and Rachel bought a home in March and are thoroughly enjoying life in Edmond, OK. Matthew is a corporate trainer with Express Employment and Rachel is a real estate agent. They have found a church family they enjoy. Josh was deployed this spring on his Navy submarine. Now the sub is dry docked for over 1 year for necessary repairs which Joshua is involved with. Josh bought a home in Bremerton, WA last fall and has fixed it up - it looks great! He is currently looking for renters and we are praying for moral guys who will pay faithfully! Nathan continues to work for John Deere as a computer engineer in Dubuque, IA. He recently found a new church that he's enjoying.
We miss our kids, but are grateful that we get to see them now
and then. Jennifer and Alysha with Jennifer's parents are
planning to visit Nathan in mid-July. We're also planning a
trip to see Joshua and his new house in August. Enroute to
Florida, we plan to stop by to see Matthew and Rachel in their
new home. A big loss will be moving away from Jennifer's
parents, three siblings, their spouses and kids who all live in
Colorado. It has been a wonderful blessing to live near them over
these past 9 years (after 23 years of living far away!)
Thanks so much for praying with us as we explore these new
seasons. We'd love to hear from you how God is working in your
life and leading you! Let us know how to pray.
Your friends,
Jennifer and Scott
PS I'd appreciate your prayers as I plan to be in upstate New York from July 3-16 helping Scott's dad care for his mom as she struggles with memory issues. Thanks!