November Newsletter

Spanish Language School has started!

This is our 3rd week since we started our Spanish language school in Antigua.  We are attending Christian Spanish Academy.  It is a great school with one-on-one instruction and we are working at an individualized pace. Brinson goes to school in the mornings from 8-12 and Lori goes to school from 2-5.  Elijah is also attending for two hours a day, in addition to his regular school (Bible, History, Math, Science, & Language Arts). Seth and Asher have also started school at home in the mornings. It is nice getting into a more regular schedule with the boys.
We also found a home, and we moved in a few weeks ago.  It was mostly already furnished, so we did not have to buy too many things.  Which was great, because we have found that some things are hard to find, like furniture.  Other things like food and other grocery store type items are easier to find.
We are meeting lots of new people both at school and around town. The Guatemalans are so nice and patient as we fumble through are words in Spanish.  But we are learning so much and are astonished at how much we have learned in just a few weeks.  As we study Spanish, in our hearts and minds we are always thinking about the precious people that we will be able to minister to, lead to the Lord, and encourage soon.  But even now, the Lord is always faithful to show us people along the way that we can encourage and minister to that either speak English or know a little English.  And sometimes just a hug, a smile, or a helping hand ministers and encourages too.
Please remember that even in America there are so many ways to minister and encourage those around you daily and those people you meet along your way! We love you all and are so grateful for your friendship, encouragement, and prayers.  They mean so much to us! We are only an email away, so please feel free to send us a note and please let us know if there is any way we can pray for you!

brinsonandlori@gmail.com

First week in Antigua and with the NCC Mission Team in Quiche

We just returned from the mountains in Quiche.  It was a wonderful time of ministry to the children and their families.  It was special to able to take our kids with us this time to experience a different way of life on the mountains in Quiche and to enjoy making new friends. Brinson and I enjoyed seeing some of the ministry leaders that we met last year and meeting even more  It was great having the NCC team with us this week, and wonderful to have friends around during this transition time for our children. The NCC Mission team did a great job using their gifts to share the love of God to each person they came in contact with everyday. Brinson and I helped the team and began learning how to lead other mission teams in the future. On one visit up in the mountains, we prayed for the mother below who had just suffered a stroke.  She has been told by an uncle that she would die in 15 days.  He was not a doctor, but was speaking from some type of Mayan tradition.  We were able to share with her the love of God and his healing power.  We encouraged her to put her faith in God and not in man.  She received our encouragement and she rededicated her life to the Lord as we prayed together.   It was fun (and frustrating at times) trying to use what Spanish we know.  We can definitely see the importance of us being in Spanish language school soon and learning it fast!
Thank you for your continued prayers!

We're Here!

We made it to Guatemala!  The traveling went pretty smoothly.  We did sit on the plan two hours longer than expected, but the kids did wonderful!  The other missionaries on our team picked us up and we drove to Antigua.  We were all tired from the traveling, but were so glad to be here.  Elijah even said when we landed, "It feels like home!"  We all slept well, and are enjoying exploring the ground.  Seth has already played in the fountain, helped the guards open and close the gate, and caught some bugs. Asher and Elijah are exploring too and really like the dogs here. We are starting to be immersed with the culture and learning the ways here.  Today, we will be going to look at homes to rent and getting our cell phones.
 
Thank you for your prayers. We truly feel at peace here and excited about what's to come!

Importance of August 7

Two years ago, the Lord put it on our hearts to move from our house that we built in the country to Heron Lake Apartments in the inner city of Valdosta. We moved there to minister to people and families on a day to day basis, instead of just the previous occasional outreach.  As we were moving there, a passage in the Bible that the Lord put in our hearts was Isaiah 61:1-4,

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance for our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified"

When we woke up on the first morning we were in the apartments, August 7, 2011, we listened to a devotional from Voices of the Faithful (written by missionaries). Click on the link below to listen to the devotional we heard.

The devotional was profound, and a confirmation that we were where God wanted us. This scripture in Isaiah has become one of our life scriptures as we go forth in God’s calling.  

The other day we realized that we would be moving to Guatemala on August 7, 2013.  And this devotional from Aug. 7th, is still so true and profound for us as we move to the foreign mission field. It is always amazing and comforting when the Lord continues to confirm in us His will for our lives.

Also, a missionary couple we will be serving with in Guatemala, Ana and Steve McDaniel, also moved to Guatemala many years ago on Aug. 7.

God is so good!  We hope it encourages as you follow Jesus! Let's all remember to have a eternal view!

Please continue to be in prayer for us on Tuesday and Wednesday as we are traveling!  

Friends and Family

This past week has been overwhelming.  The love of Jesus has enveloped us through our family and friends. Last Sunday at New Covenant was so incredible.  After being gone for several months, it was such a joy to worship at our home church.  It was a powerful day that moved us to tears. Pastor Randy and the elders prayed for us and commissioned us to Guatemala.  The Lord has been so good to us to surround us with many friends.  The reality of our departure and the gravity of our call has dawned on us as we approach only 5 days till we leave (Aug 6th).  We truly value your prayers in the next few days as we say our last goodbyes and prepare to leave.  

-Please pray for grace for our family and parents as we depart
-Bags to not be lost and to be in Guatemala upon our arrival
-The leading of the Lord as we secure a residence & vehicle in the first few days in Guatemala
-Grace upon us as we adjust to our new life in Guatemala
-Our kids to adjust and meet friends quickly

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Two weeks Away!

Only two weeks away!  Time has gone by so fast! We will be leaving from the Valdosta Airport on Tuesday, August 6 at 5 pm.  We preached at our last church this past Sunday.  It was such a blessing to be a part of different congregations throughout Florida and Georgia.  However, our hearts have longed to be with our church family, New Covenant Church.  We will be there the next two Sundays.  They will pray over us this Sunday and we would love for you to join us!  We are looking forward to having family in town this weekend for a 70th birthday party for Brinson's dad and to see us before we leave.  We will have Seth’s birthday this weekend and have already began celebrations with last night’s piñata busting.  We just put up our van to sell a few hours ago, so please pray for it to sell at a great price, quickly.  We are enjoying continuing to learn Spanish from a dear friend of ours twice a week.

We put a sermon below if you would like to listen to what we are sharing at the churches we have been in.   Thank you for your continued prayer as we make this transition.  We can’t express in words how deeply we will miss our family and friends.  You have poured in so much!  Hope we can see you Sunday at New Covenant Church in Valdosta!

On the Move

It has been such a joy to share and connect with friends and family in different cities and churches the last few months as we prepare for our departure to Guatemala on    August 6.  It is beautiful to see the uniqueness and diversity of each church we have been ministering in. We are going to be in Lake City, FL this weekend where our married life and ministry started 13 years ago.  Lori and I were only 6 months into marriage when we moved to serve as Youth Pastors at Christian Heritage Church.   It was a place of firsts for us; first house, first child, first time leading a mission trip, and many other firsts.  It was also the first time Lori and I met Ron Kelly, the director of Living Water International, the missionary we will be serving under in Guatemala.  We will be on the move the next couple of weeks traveling to different churches and the CFN conference.  We would appreciate your prayers.  We are still extremely excited about moving to Guatemala but have recently found ourselves taking deep breathes, as we reflect and realize we are about to move away from our family, friends, and our hometown to begin a new life. 

Philippians 4:6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Here are a few items of prayer for our family

1.   Grace on our family as we say our last goodbyes

2.   More monthly & one-time financial partnerships as we still are in need of help

3.   God’s protection on us as we travel hundreds of miles in the next few weeks

4.   God’s gracious anointing to surround us to encourage and motivate the churches to engage their mission field

Prayer Video for Guatemala

Thank you for your prayers for the people of Guatemala! Operation World produces prayer videos for countries and people groups all over the world.  Today the highlighted country was Guatemala.
Please watch the video below and continue to pray for the gospel to spread in Guatemala.

Click here for Prayer video

Week of Transition

This week we have had a lot of transition! Last Saturday, we had our BIG yard sale to sell the bulk of our things. Then on Monday, we moved in with Brinson's parents near Hahira. Today will be the last time we attend the bible study at Heron Lake.  We are so grateful that David Mullis will be continuing it. And Brinson will conclude his last day on staff at New Covenant today. We have been very blessed to serve with such amazing people! He will be preaching at New Covenant Valdosta this Sunday!
With all the changes this week, the kids are doing well.  They are enjoying all the open spaces to run and play at the Barker's. And tomorrow, we are celebrating Asher's 6th birthday!
Thank you for your continued prayer and support.  We know that we are walking and living in His peace and grace.

We're Starting a Blog!

Welcome to our Blog! Please be patient with us as we are new to blogging and learning how to do this.
We will send periodic blogs with updates of our progress getting ready to go to Guatemala and our ministry in Guatemala.  Since God has called our whole family to Guatemala, this blog with consist both of personal adventures with our family and ministry news. If you would like to receive these updates, please subscribe to our blog! You can enter your email in the right hand column to receive it through email.
We are busy right now packing up our apartment to move out to Brinson's parent's house for a month or so until we leave for Guatemala.  Some piles of boxes are for a yard sale we are having next Saturday, some are boxes to go into long term storage, and a few are going with us to Guatemala. We have sold most of our furniture already...Praise the Lord! Sometimes it feels overwhelming looking at all the things to pack, but it is making think about what I really need.  If you want to curb your spending, start downsizing, and you can see what is easy to live without!