New Season & New Steps of Faith

Time flys when you're working hard and hanging out with friends. The last couple of months have been a bit of a whirlwind but we have felt God grounding us through it all.

Shep loves being literally grounded, ha

We finished up October having the privelede to lead the Mission Adventures Theme Team at the beautiful YWAM Salem base. 11 other MA leaders joined us for a week of creativity, and co-creating with the Lord. We left feeling inspired and encouraged for Gen Z & Gen Alpha and all that the Lord will do through them.

the MA crew creating our new theme, & celebrating Succoth with dear friends

At the beginning of November we got to host a team from Ronnie's hometown. Their time started off with building a Homes of Hope house for a beautiful family and working at an orphanage. It is such an honor to play a small part in changing the trajectory of people's lives. After that, the team packed up and we all headed down to YWAM Rancho Abierto. We spent the rest of their trip working on the barn. It was a great time of deepening friendships, whiel working together. Ronnie and I felt so encouraged by the time together. And Shepherd was thrilled to have Papa Byrley on the team as well!

another lovely home built for a very deserving family, & 3 generations of Byrley boys

baby kittens, building, painting, & shoveling, moving a beehive from under our outhouse to a box, & enjoying a group hike

On Thanksgiving we got to celebrate Shepherd's 3rd birthday. Three years of Shep and it just keeps getting sweeter and sweeter (with a few new toddler meltdowns sprinkled in). He is very inquisitive, inclusive, and has discovered a new love for ALL the bugs : )

it doesn't get much better than birthday balloons, macaroni, and a walk to the beach

The rest of November brought down some of our Ohio buddies again and a friend from Idaho to continue working on the barn. Alot was acomplished in a few weeks. So many people have contributed to this place, we truly couldn't of done it without the help of everyone Big shout outs to the Nettings, the Giehls, and Papa Byrley!

We spent Christmas out at the Ranch, and my parents were down to help us move out of our old house and into the barn. It was such a blessing to have the extra hands packing up boxes, loading up trailers, and playing with Shepherd. I think they set a record for the number of trips made down the long, bumpy road to the Ranch in one week. Shepherd was completely enchanted by the Christmas season, and he even decorated our tree all by himself. We were so grateful to have Papa & Gigi Bullington with us during this time.

Christmas eve party, packing up boxes, and shopping for snacks

At the beginning of January we welcomed several families back down to Rancho Abierto and on January 5th, we kicked off our Family Homesteading School! 7 other families are joining us for 3 months of learning what it looks like to "lead a quiet life.... and work well with your hands" I Thess. 4:11-12.

Week 1 was all about laying a biblical foundation for why this matters to us as believers. We looked at our original calling to steward the Earth, what kingdom permaculture looks like, & learning how to use what the Lord has already put into our hands. We also made Water Soluable Calcium (good for humans and livestock) and Lactic Acid Bacteria ( good for plants, humans, & livestock)

preparing rice water, planting tree, & cooking egg shells for calcium soluble water

Week 2 was all about construction, the basics of homesteading, and how to use animals in the restoration of land. We built a couple chicken tractors, some raised garden beds, and walked the property gaining a deeper understanding of what is needed here and what we can do. It was a beautiful week of practical tools and wisdom and we wrapped up reflecting on forgiveness & reconciliation.

we have 11 baby lambs now, moving our chickens into their new home, building garden beds, puppy time, & Topaz living his best life

And last but certainly not least we have some very fun news to share....

We will be adding a little baby Byrley to the family in August!!! And we are completely overjoyed! We have been praying for 2 years that the Lord would bless us with more kiddos. This sweet miracle still doesn't quite seem real (although the ultrasound helped). Shepherd is already suggesting names and getting excited for his baby sister, or brother (he wants both, ha) So many of you have been praying with us for our family and we are forever grateful! Our little bean is healthy, and I am healthy with all the pregnancy symptoms to go along with it.

Thank you for choosing to be a part of our family, for choosing to walk with us, and for supporting the work that the Lord is doing. We are always encouraged by your love, your messages, and your support. We can't do this alone and there is something so powerful when the Body of Christ works together.

Prayer Requests

• Prayers for all the Mission Adventures programs through out North America that are preparing for their season. And prayers for all the youth that will participate, that they would encounter Jesus and be empowered by the gospel.

• Prayers for our Homesteading School. That each of us would remain open and ready to be molded by the Holy Spirit during this time.

• Prayers for our marriage and family.

• Prayers that we would continue to experience a healthy, joy-filled pregnancy.

If you are interested in partnering with us financially you can do this a couple ways.

Click this link for a tax deductible donation. Search Jamie Byrley

https://ywamsdb.givingfuel.com/staffsupport

You can donate via Paypal: byrley32@yahoo.com

You can donate via Venmo: 360-207-7502 @Jamie-Byrley-1

We are still looking to increase our monthly support by 1,000$.

                                          WE LOVE YOU ALL DEARLY!!!!