It's Been 1 Year!

Recent trip to the Trampoline Park for Ariel and Josiah's Birthday!

It's hard to believe that it's been a full year since we moved here as a family. This current adventure still feels very new. We're just getting started, but we are rejoicing in the work God is doing. Our suffering list isn't quite like Paul's list but we have experienced car breakdowns, water leaks, cockroach infestations, sunburns and skin maladies. By God's grace we have not had to face hurricanes...yet! The Lord has been faithful to preserve our family. Here's a list of the things we've done in partnership with the work God is doing!

"Apart from me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5).

MINISTRY ACTIVITY

• We have served the local U.S. Coast Guard by providing sports clinics once a week. We have led soccer, flag football, and volleyball clinics in different seasons of the year.

• We have served in partnership with Send Relief on various work projects. One was a home that was being renovated for a single mom. I've done some pressure washing here and there. My uncle Greg and I were also able to help with some office space projects.

• We have visited a nursing home on multiple occasions. We sing songs in Spanish, read Scripture, and pray for the tenants there. We also provided gift bags for the employees of the nurshing home care facility.

• We have visited an orphanage multiple times located in Isabela, PR. We play with the kids, lead games, sing songs, and talk to them about Jesus (as best we can with our broken Spanish). [No picture-sharing allowed]

• We have enjoyed a Family Prayer Night pretty much every Wednesday we've been here in Puerto Rico. The Family Prayer Night has grown and we will have anywhere from 15 to 20 people gathering for worship, prayer and fellowship.

• We started gathering as Table Church Puerto Rico on the first sunday of January 2025. We average about 15 to 25 people every Sunday. God has been faithful to bless us with many visitors and some committed families that are actively serving the mission of God's kingdom through Table Church.

• We have baptized 10 children at Table Church Puerto Rico. All the dads got to baptize their kids. These have been sweet and memorable moments.

• I'll randomly put out a call for a bunch of guys to gather for a Coffee & Theology get together. Anywhere from 3 to 10 guys show up. These are good times of fellowship and brotherhood.

• I led a WordPartners Preaching Workshop for some local pastors and Bible teachers. It was not greatly attended but it was a start. We're planning for something bigger and bilingual this fall.

• We have had many neighbors and families over as we seek to be missionally engaged through hospitality. We have had conversations with atheists, Jehovah Witnesses, agnostics, "spiritual people," and fellow Christians, both nominal and devoted. On both Thanksgiving and Easter we gathered 40+ people at our house food and fellowship. We have shared the gospel with many people who do not know Jesus...yet!

• I've been a guest preacher at 3 different congregations and so far have preached through Titus and 2 Peter at Table Church. I also did a short lenten series on what the cross accomplished. You can listen to some of the sermons here.

It's definitely been a full year. We are praying for God to move even more powerfully in year 2 of our being here. Let me say this, and it's so important I'm going to bold it:

WE COULD NOT DO WHAT WE ARE DOING WITHOUT YOUR PRAYERS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT! THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH!

We really do believe God is going to build his church here, and we also believe that Table Church is one piece of that mission. Please continue praying for us! And please continue to support us financially. God has provided for all of our needs so far but we do have financial burdens ahead in the future.

[Financial burdens from least to greatest]

• Our kids school books and curriculum for 5th, 8th, and 9th grade this upcoming year.

• We are planning a stateside visit this December to be with family. Plane tickets are very expensive. We will also need a vehicle to use while we are in the U.S.

• We are looking for a building to rent or purchase. When this time comes we will need to raise the funds necessary to make it happen.

• I would love to bring another family here to serve with Table Church Puerto Rico and help us live missionally. We're praying the Lord puts us in a financial position to be able to offer this opportunity to the family God leads to join us.

Please join us in praying for God's provision. He has always been faithful and we know he will continue to provide for all our needs in his good time. We're ready to dive in to another year!