We have been "missionaries" for a few years already. Our mission is to follow Christ and be obedient to his calling on our lives. For those who don't know the history, let me outline it for you, as I believe it is a testimony of God's patient working in our lives and his amazing faithfulness.
When I was 12 I was at a missions conference, when missionaries shared that they were needing more missionaries to go out into the world to proclaim Christ as Lord, I felt God calling me.
When I graduated from High School, I resisted going to Bible School as I was concerned about how I could afford to do something that would not provide an income. I went to University to become a teacher, dedicating myself to teach for God's glory.
When I graduated, I looked into working with MCC on the mission field in Ethiopia and Egypt, but in the end decided to fulfil the obligation to teach in the Fort Vermilion School Division for 2 years, as they had provided a bursary with that condition.
When Karlene and I started to talk about long term relationship, I mentioned that God had called me to missions; she said she would follow if that is where God led.
Within 2 years of marriage, I was teaching in a Christian Private School, Bearspaw Christian School in Calgary, as Karlene went to Massage College.
Soon after, I felt God asking us to go on missions. We were reading the prayer of Jabez, and sensed God wanted to expand our territory. We saw a posting with MCC for teaching positions, contacted them, they asked where we would like to go, we said where they had the most urgent need. It ended up being Zambia. We were there for 3 years, 2002-2005. Had a tremendous experience of God using us in so many ways. Teaching, coaching, leading Scripture Union, being a part of a church plant, starting a street kids ministry...
After a short while in La Crete, I again felt God calling us to missions. I looked at MCC first, and proposed different types of service work, but they did not feel called to partner with us. Then I contacted EMC missions, but they were feeling hard hit by the recession, and urged us to follow God's call with TEAM if we felt God wanted us to do that. We applied to TEAM, but in the middle of this, we saw a posting that leaped out to us from MCC for a post in Zambia for one year. The process with TEAM was not complete and was taking time, so we applied to MCC, TEAM approved us doing so, and went Zambia for a year, 2010-2011.
When we were there for 2 months, the application process with TEAM was completed and we were accepted as missionary candidates. We finished a challenging but great year in Zambia, where I was a teacher mentor. When the year was up, we decided not to renew, despite a change in the assignment presenting the opportunity.
We are now in La Crete, have had an interview with TEAM for a placement, and are praying, seeking and waiting for confirmation and direction as to where and when we go to the field as part of a TEAM church plant. My passion is to work with youth through small group ministry or sports. Karlene is passionate about music and radio, compassionate ministry to the vulnerable/abused and fighting to end modern day slavery.
This is our mission experience, and our call to a new mission field for us. Please pray with us!!
Thank you for your prayers, as an update, God has directed us to serve Him with TEAM in.........MEXICO!!!!!!!! This is our new mission field and we are excited to get there! Thank you in advance for your continued prayers and support!
We wish God’s blessings on you as He works through you to build the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth today.
