A little spring ministry update!

Hello friends! We hope you are all doing really well. We gotta say, a new city, a new home, new jobs, and a new baby really makes the time fly by. It's hard to believe how much has happened since we last wrote, but spring is in the air, bringing with it a newness and we are welcoming this season with expectant hearts.

Our hands have definitely been full with our new little guy (both holding him and googling soooo many things, ha). We have absolutely cherished our first few months welcoming Shep into the world. Right around the time he was born we also started new roles with YWAM and moved to Chula Vista. It's been a bit of a wild ride, but we are learning so much, and feel incredibly blessed by the Lord.

Here are a few of our favorite things from the last several months. Upon moving to Chula Vista last October Ronnie spent the first couple months remodeling the YWAM apartment we have now moved into. During that time we hosted the North American Mission Adventure Theme Team week! We spent a week meeting with leaders from other bases in North America, waiting on the the Lord and creating the new theme for MA 2023. It was stretching to step into the role of leading the event, instead of just participating, but I am so glad we had the opportunity to do so. Working with MA leaders and asking the Lord for his heart for youth never gets old. We are excited for the hundreds of young people that will experience His presence and be forever changed by his word.

Mission Adventures celebrated 25 years of being a network in 2022. We attended a weeklong celebration down in Ensenada. People young and old, currently involved in MA, and some OG members showed up to reflect and lean into what the Lord has for the next 25 years. It was so much fun to connect with old friends, make new ones, and learn from the wisdom of those who have gone before us.

Ronnie has been able to get back out and build a few Homes of Hope houses, which always makes him happy, and there are several more coming up in our calendar :)

In March we had the privilege of leading a few days of staff training for YWAM Rancho Abierto, located south of Ensenada. This is a beautiful YWAM base with farm animals, gardens, and a heart for families. They are getting ready to run a family DTS. It was such a sweet time working with the other staff that will be leading and serving the 15 families that are coming for this school. From Rancho Abierto we headed to Ensenada to speak for Mission Adventures for a week. 2 different youth groups, 70 students total, and 1 amazing week back in the MA magic. The youth were hungry for more, and the Lord moved in deep and meaningful ways. During the day the students worked with a girl’s rehab center, built 3 homes, volunteered at soup kitchens and did street ministry. In the evenings we dove into Psalm 34 through teaching, worship, creative arts, and prayer. Ronnie and our friend Josh had the privilege of baptizing one of the students in the freezing, pacific ocean. It was pure joy to be back in Mexico.

We are back home now, in Chula Vista, where we are working in our YWAM office serving in different capacities. Working reception, helping with our mail room, and Ronnie is helping to purchase new vehicles for the YWAM fleet.

This past Easter weekend our little family took our first camping trip to Joshua Tree. Shepherd did great and we always love getting to visit JT, it is so beautiful and special. There is something healing about the Joshua Tree desert.

I was reflecting today and realized that we have been in missions for over 9 years now. It's pretty incredible and quite humbling to think about all the people that the Lord has woven together, creating a beautiful story, and allowing us to continue walking in the path that God leads. Thank you for being a part of our family, and a part of the work that God is doing.

We have some exciting opportunities coming up this year. We will be teaching a few weeks in some of our YWAM schools. We have a couple ministry trips planned. One of which will be with the IMAC, (International Mission Adventures Circle) in Scotland! There are a few others we are praying about and we plan to visit family back east this summer.

Here are a few specific prayer requests:

*Preparation for upcoming teachings/speakings. Also prayer for all the Mission Adventure programs that are gearing up to start their summer programs.

*Shepherd and our family. We will be on the road quite a bit this summer so prayer that Shepherd travels well is very welcomed;)

*Finances. Now living in California and being a family of three we definitely have an increased need. Would you consider partnering with us?

Please reach out, we'd love to connect!

countless selfies

countless snuggles Thank you Brian & Sue for

inviting us to the ranch

Easter weekend Rancho Abierto Homes of Hope

prepping for teaching is now a family affair

Shepherd's first Homes of Hope build

we're contemplating getting him a tiny tool belt and hammer

Ronnie speaking for MA