The world changes...so do we.

I'm so thankful that I was able to spend two weeks with my parents in Brazil in October. This year has certainly been full of changes, and the need to adapt. God has been helping me (Ben) adapt to the change my mom has gone through so far. Alzheimers is a very sad disease... I spent plenty of time crying with my mom, or on my own, processing the loss. It is so different than when we lose someone suddenly, such as our son, Noah, in 2007. Alzheimers is a progression of loss for the person and family over many years. I do grieve today, but not as the world does. I look forward to eternity where there will be no more pain, suffering, tears, or confusion. We will see clearly then, not as in a mirror dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12).

During my time in Brazil, I also had the opportunity to serve as a prayer intercessor at the Oasis Counseling Center. This is the ministry my dad and another Brazilian missionary founded in 2005, seeking to serve the "wounded warriors" of the Kingdom. Praying regularly for one of the families who had come was a privilege for me, along with being a part of the ministry there alongside my parents.

Working together, for the Kingdom

For a few years now I have been working to forge partnerships with like-minded organizations who make the gospel of Jesus Christ foremost in their work. One of them has been A Rocha International, a Christian conservation organization. A Rocha is made up of top-notch scientists who love Jesus and His creation. They believe, like we do at TEAM, that as Christians, it is our mandate, and privilege, to steward creation wisely and bring it to flourish and produce abundantly (Gen. 1:23-31). We have officially started our first project together called "A Rocha Adventures". It will be a 10 day short-term trip to the Titusville, FL area focusing on coastal and marine conservation ecology coupled with biblical and theological study. Some of the participants on this trip may go on to work on their Ph.D.'s in ecology one day. Others will head down the road of creation care as missions. If you know of someone who might be interested in this trip, let me know! The ultimate goal is to make the gospel the reason why we steward creation, whether it's in academia or with "boots on the ground" as I like to say regarding our Creation Care projects at TEAM.

Flexing is key

Travel and large groups meetings are limited with COVID, so in training and preparing new missionaries for ministry, TEAM has shifted to a virtual approach. I have done so as well and am developing a mini-online course on Creation Care. This course will be for our TEAM missionaries as well as our connected churches, which includes YOU. Pray for me as I continue to work with others at TEAM to complete this course and make it a viable, easy to access training that will encourage and equip many of us in our walk as Christ's ambassadors. 

Teenager in the House!

Hip Replacement Round 2

Christmas Picture/Prayer Card