Spring Update 2022

Pressing on....   Isaiah 26:3-4 "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock."  (NLT) Life these last 2 years during covid have not been easy! This verse has been one that I have gone back to so many times. Now as things seem to be opening up and we get glimpses of life after covid, we praise God for His peace and provision. We keep pressing on and we thank you all for your prayers and support that have helped sustain us this far.  One of our big next steps will be a 6th month Home Service (furlough) starting this June. So many details and plans will go into making this trip happen and honestly it feels overwhelming in our current situation. Like the verse above says, we will keep our thoughts fixed on the One we serve and why we are here. We pray for peace and provision but have confidence that God has always taken care of our family and we trust that He will continue to do so even now. Please be praying with us. Enjoy the photo update. Below is a list of how you can pray. We look forward to seeing many of you when we are back.

-We took our masks off for the photo (as they are still required everywhere) but at least we are able to go to church again. This was taken in March, after almost 2 years of not being able to go as a family. There is still no Sunday school for the kids but things are opening up and we see hope for the future.  -So cute! Special number by these kids at an outreach before Christmas.  -In the last update we were excited to report that Nhaya had a reliable car. Unfortunately it's now totaled after someone turned left in front of her in November.

These are the beautiful ladies in my care group at church.

Since the last update there have been birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries to celebrate. This is Josiah's 14th birthday.  Becoming a certified diver has been on his wishlist for a long time and he is finally old enough to do it.

-Gilmer's parents live about 8 hours north of us and it's been hard to travel these last 2 years. Thankfully they were able to come for a week and celebrate a late Thanksgiving and their 53 Anniversary. Unfortunately his mom had a stroke just a few weeks later. She is recovering but still can't walk on her own. Please be praying for her.  -They are blessed with so many grandsons! This is not even all of them.  -Mandatory family Christmas photo.   -This one is more like reality.  -Caleb turned 18 in January and will be graduating this May.

Some more ministry photos -This is the same outreach from above. It was so nice to be able to gather for a special Christmas party.  -Handing out rice and gifts. -This is the Christmas online event (try to find Gilmer). We have really been forced to use technology as a means to continue ministries and we have seen many open doors and much fruit. -Gilmer was so blessed to be able to baptize10 new believers at our churches sister church on Samal Island.

They finally let kids go into shops again mid February and going to the grocery store for the first time in years was a big deal! Caleb was the first one to be allowed to go back to school at the end of February. Our school was the first one in the city to go back to face to face classes, many school are still online. Currently Caleb and Josiah have a modified face to face schedule and Luke stays home with me doing an online program.

We can't forget Nhaya! She's finishing up her 2nd year at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and stays very busy with classes and working two jobs. She will be turning 20 this month.

Praises:   -God's continued provision and grace during challenging times. -Health. We think we had covid in January but it wasn't bad and after a few weeks we had pretty much recovered. -That things are opening up more and we can start to plan again and look forward to the future. -Our family, especially kids, doing well despite the challenges they have faced.  -We have a place to live during our time back in the States. This was a huge burden lifted from our shoulders. -Ministries continue. The church has been busier than ever, new ladies have joined my care group, Gilmer preaches almost every Sunday at one of the 3 areas our church operates and has daughter churches.    Prayer Requests:   -Our travel going back to the States for 6 months. Peace in the midst of unknowns. -We will need vehicles while we are back. This is always a hard one! Please pray for wisdom and provision for these needs.  -Nhaya also needs a vehicle until we can get back and help her purchase a new one. We don't get back until June and she is done with school the end of April. Please pray she will be able to get a job in Tucson this summer and that her transportation needs can be figured out.  -Unfortunately our plans to do a short-term missions ministry for young people is still on hold due to covid restrictions. Please be praying for those future plans. We will be back here in January of 2023 so we can get that set up for the summer of 2023. A vision that's been a long time in the making.  -Caleb's college plans are still unknown. Please pray for him as he finishes up high school and decides what path he will take.  -We will need someone to take care of our house and pets while we are gone. Please pray for the right person/family. -Pray for those who will step in and take over our ministry roles during the months we are gone.  -I (Julie) am on the school board here at our international school. The needs are great for staff and teachers but a huge need is for a new Head of School for this coming school year. Please pray that we can get the word out and the right person would be able to come.  -For Gilmer's mom (Nena) to be able to walk again and for the extra medical costs and difficulties that come with recovering from a stroke.

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Serving Him, Gilmer and Julie Paden (Nhaya, Caleb, Josiah, Luke)