Interesting times - A Baby and A Pandemic

We started this year off very busy. With ministry here in Ensenada, building several Homes of Hope houses, preparing for MA, doing a pastoral visit to Mexico City and then traveling to Malaysia and Thailand to meet with our international MA crew.

We attended a conference in Tijuana at the beginning of March and got to hear YWAM's founders share. Once we returned from that conference we started MA staff training. We had several staff come from all over the US and Mexico. About the time we finished our training...

It was with a saddened heart that we had to cancel our Mission Adventure Spring season due to the virus. We had to ask our Spring MA staff to return to their homes. The Ensenada base is basically empty and we are not receiving teams through April.

Homes of Hope and our Schools have also cancelled through the end of April. Many full-time YWAM staff have decided to go home. We are hopeful that we will be able to host teams this summer but too much in unknown at this point.

Our ministry is slowing down but we are not stopping. Jamie and I have decided to self quarantine in our house in Mexico but we are still meeting via the internet often. We are meeting weekly with our Ensenada campus, Leadership team, IMAC, several one-on-ones and we will start weekly MA meetings this week. All of this done via internet:)

Many of you know that Jamie and I serve as the North American MA conveners. This break in our ministry here in Ensenada will allow us to connect/focus with MA leaders all around North America and the globe. Over the last year and a half we have not been able to dedicate much time to this roll so we look forward to this season of connecting with our network. So while this season can be frustrating and difficult we are excited about the opportunities that will come forth.

Most of you already know that Jamie and I are expecting our first child this September:) What a crazy time to be preparing for a child! The other day I was food shopping and had to go to several stores to get everything and I had the thought "It's not easy shopping for your pregnant wife during a pandemic in another country!" I never thought I'd say that sentence. Despite the uncertainty of our world today we are confident and grateful that the Lord is leading us. We prayed and thought about finding a place to stay in California where we have the best health insurance, or staying with family back east to see this situation through but at this point in time we are remaining in Mexico. That could change if the virus situation gets worse, we have pregnancy problems or if we find an affordable place in CA that fits our needs. But at the moment we are safe and in quarantine in our house in Ensenada.

At the conference we attended earlier this month Loren Cunningham talked about the efforts of YWAM and several other bible translating organizations to have one of the Gospels and Genesis in audible formate available in every single language on the planet by Christmas Day this year! How crazy is that, what a huge step forward in Jesus' last command to us. However, with the recent effects of the virus I am sure that this deadline will be even harder to reach. I cannot help but see the spiritual battle happening here. For the first time in history every person on earth would have a portion of the Bible in their own language (that's no easy feat) and within the same year a virus breaks out and isolates us all. The enemy is gleaning because we are easy prey when we isolate ourselves. Although maybe a better way to say it is we have been dispersed. Just like the early church was dispersed in Acts (due to persecution) we will grow stronger through this. Use discipline during this time to seek the Lord and stay connected to a community. While bible translation and church services and many other ministries have halted or are having to re think the way we do things, lets all use this time to know our creator on a whole new level. Stay connected despite being dispersed.

Jamie and I are so thankful to you all. Looking at the future there are many unknowns and it's easy to worry about having a baby, health, finances and other things but we are trusting the Lord now more than ever:) We are thankful to have all of you as friends. Please continue to pray for us.

Prayer Requests:

* The YWAM SDB ministry

* Our health along with the baby:)

* Wisdom for leading the North American MA network

* Finances. As we all enter into a tight season please pray with us for increased provision as we continue in ministry and grow our family.

For those interested in partnering with us financially you can sign up on this link. Please make sure to designate to Ronnie and Jamie Byrley.

https://ywamsdb.webconnex.com/StaffSupport

Love you all!