by Kathi Perry serving in Ireland

Dear Friends,

It’s difficult to believe, but I am 63 years old. After 24+ years I am now one of EFM’s senior missionaries on the field (maybe THE senior missionary on the field?). I love my work and I am so grateful to be in Ireland. Naturally, we (myself and EFM) have spent a good bit of time considering when and what retirement will look like for me.

 In October I was able to meet with a financial planner, and he suggested that I work until I am 70. This felt like a relief because I do love my work and any time before 70 sounds too soon!

In recent months I have begun a new outreach called Sólás Café (see the photo here). Already, I have seen people come in weighed down with grief, who leave saying, “I feel lighter.” In the Fall I hope to offer “Grief Share” (which some may be familiar with) through the local church. This ministry is something that speaks to my heart – both with my training as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a hospice social worker, and my own personal experiences with grief.

On May 18, I’ll be traveling to the U.S. for a season of deputation. With retirement on the horizon, this will likely be my final extended time reconnecting in person. I’m looking forward to sharing stories of what God has been doing in Ireland and spending time with many of you who have been such an important part of this journey. Would you pray that this time would be meaningful and fruitful – that God would guide each conversation and continue to provide what is needed for the work ahead? I’m deeply grateful for the faithful partnership that has made it possible to serve here for so many years.

Recently, while reading scripture, two phrases stood out to me. The first was from Mark 10:45 where Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” I may not have done this perfectly, but this has been my desire in Ireland.

The second phrase was from John 19. Jesus is on the cross and in v.28-30 it says, “… knowing that everything was already completed… he gave up his life.” What would it be like to know that “everything was already completed”?

What can I do in these final years to cultivate ministry that will last, and then, (figuratively speaking!) give up my life? These are my thoughts as I contemplate one more term. Pray that God would work through me, to love and serve the people in Ireland.

With so much gratitude for your faithfulness,

Kathi Perry

The post April 2026 | Prayer Letter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

I have been back in Ireland for nearly six months, and I am grateful for the work I get to do on behalf of our church and the wider Kingdom of God. As most of you know, I was in the U.S. for six months in 2025, where I got to spend lots of time with my family and friends, as well as travel to visit partnering churches. We also unexpectedly lost my dad while I was in California. He was a strong presence in our family’s life and a pillar of his church community. We continue to grieve the loss of our dad and grandpa. Thank you for your prayers for me and my family during that time of loss and grief.

I am writing to you from the warmth of my office in our church building at the Church of the Nazarene in Greystones, where I am blessed to serve as administrative pastor. As soon as I arrived back in Ireland, I was warmly welcomed by my church family here in Greystones. It has been such a blessing to have a strong support system here at “the Naz.” The holidays are typically a challenging time for me to be away from my family, especially considering how much time I was able to spend with them that year. We were blessed as a staff to have a Thanksgiving lunch made for us by a church member. We invited some other Americans you might recognize in the photo. I am honored to be on this pastoral staff and to serve alongside such gifted and talented leaders. Please pray with me and my colleagues as we lead our congregation in the New Year.

At the end of January, our congregation hosted an “All Island Gathering” of all the Nazarene churches on the island of Ireland. Currently, our congregation is the only Nazarene church in the Republic of Ireland, but there are twelve churches in Northern Ireland. Almost 150 people from those Northern churches traveled to Greystones at the end of January to join us as one unified body of believers in Ireland. It was an amazing time of fellowship, eating together and praising God for what He has done and will continue to do on the island of Ireland. Our church in Greystones was able to share our vision for a new building development that will further God’s mission in the Republic of Ireland alongside the churches in the North. We ended with a time of prayer over our Greystones church board and pastoral staff, led by the leadership of the churches from the North. It was a very sacred time. Please pray with all the churches on the island of Ireland as we continue to build His Kingdom here.

Just before Christmas, my family put my dad’s house in Corona, California, on the market. My brother, Mark, and sister-in-law, Nina, managed all the details, with a big assist from my sister, Amy. I am grateful for the strong bond my siblings and I share during this challenging time as we settle my dad’s affairs. We were able to secure a buyer for the house right before Christmas, and the keys were handed over by the middle of January 2026. It is a strange feeling to think that I will never go back to my dad’s house when I visit California. That house was a central physical touchstone for our family, and now we have moved on from it. Please pray with my family and me as we continue to navigate grief.

Please Pray…

• For myself as I continue to navigate grief thousands of miles away from my family that is also grieving. My dad’s death has awoken more grief about my mom’s death thirteen years ago. Pray that I can have grace with myself.
• For our church in Greystones as we are trying to raise the necessary funds to begin re-developing our building. Pray for the congregation to catch the vision and for God to provide.
• For favor with the Irish government as I endeavor to renew my visa.

There are four ways to partner with me financially:

• Online. Visit https://friendsmission.givevirtuous.org/donate/morton. You’ll be given the opportunity to indicate whether you are making a recurring or one-time gift.
• Credit Card. This may be given online (as stated above) or by calling the EFM office (303-421-8100) to give your information to a live person.
• Automatic Bank Transfer. Download the form here and email it to Debby McElroy (EFM Bookkeeper) at debby@friendsmission.com. Please note that ACH payments are processed on the 10th or 25th of the month.
• Check. Mail a check to EFM, P.O. Box 771139, Wichita, KS 67277. Make sure to mark your check “Morton Support” and note if you will be giving on a recurring basis (monthly, quarterly, etc.). Pay to the order of “EFM”.

The post Thank You for Praying. An Update from Ireland first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Dear Prayer Partners,

Thank you for continuing to pray with us as we walk and serve with Jesus in Central/East Africa. We are thankful for your partnership over all these years.

Brad has now been living in Rwanda for 20 years, and in June, Chelsea will have been here for 17 years. We praise God for the many ways that He has helped and empowered us to be a part of what He is doing!

Much has happened since we last wrote.

Thank you for praying for the trip to Burundi and South Sudan in December. The trip was great. It is exciting to see how God is leading Burundi Friends in preparing a plan to send missionaries to unreached people in Tanzania, and Rwanda Friends preparing to send missionaries to South Sudan in May.

In January, our EFC-Rwanda Friends hosted a team from EFM who led a 5-day Small Business Development training that we believe will be an important part of how God wants to give Rwanda Friends new ways to do His mission here in Rwanda and beyond. Mission through businesses is exciting and will open many opportunities for ministry in the communities.

On January 29–30, the Administrative Council of EFC-Rwanda met to discern the Lord’s plan for who the next executive leaders of EFC-Rwanda are to be. We believe that the Lord helped the group make wise decisions.

On February 14–16, we will have some important D4D meetings with David Thomas, one of our D4D coaches.

On February 17–18, there will be an important Pastors’ retreat. On February 19–20, there will be Yearly Meeting sessions to fill several other leadership roles for the coming years. Please pray for God’s blessing and help in those days of discernment and decision.

Please also pray for a retreat that Brad will attend in Kenya from February 19–24 with others working in Disciple-making movements. Pray for good connections with God and others who are doing similar work. Please pray for Brad to have special times that are renewing and refreshing with the Lord. Also, please pray for Chelsea and the kids, who will be home in Musanze.

We continue to be so thankful for the ways the Lord helps us stay healthy in general, and the ways He heals us when we do get sick. We are still praying for Brad’s stomach issues that interfere with his sleep. Our kindergartner, 4th grader, and 7th grader continue to show diligence and kindness at school, and we also all enjoy the school events that help us feel like a community. We are thankful to have rhythms of hosting special visitors and everyday home life—normal days and exciting days, work and rest. We pray the Lord blesses you with these things as well!

Brad, Chelsea, Sarai, Gideon, and Ian

The post Brad & Chelsea Carpenter | February Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Amados Familia y Amigos,

Estamos seguros de que también ustedes como nosotros han experimentado el amor, la misericordia, y la bondad de Dios múltiples veces. Los últimos tres meses del año 2025, para nosotros fueron de grandes cambios, noticias, y también de oportunidades intencionales de descanso y renovación. En medio de tantos sentimientos encontrados y transición es muy hermoso ver las manifestaciones de amor y gracia de nuestro Señor.
Dios nos permite seguir sirviéndole a Él con pasión y emoción haciendo nuestra tarea de movilización de misiones con EFM. Prontamente nuestro calendario se está llenando con invitaciones de varias Juntas Anuales de Latinoamérica para llegar a motivar y movilizar a las iglesias para que crezcan en su involucramiento en el envío de más misioneros y apertura de nuevas obras. Alabado sea el Señor por todas las oportunidades que El nos está permitiendo.
Para empezar, del 20 de enero al 7 de marzo estaremos participando en las sesiones de la Junta Anual de Honduras, visitando iglesias en El Salvador, y estar presentes y participar en las sesiones de la Junta Anual de México, para seguir ayudando en el avance de VM32 y promover misiones.
Como mentores, estamos trabajando uno a uno con varios jóvenes de Latinoamérica que se están sintiendo retados por Dios con un llamado misionero o plantadores de nuevas obras y están dando pasos hacia el discernimiento y confirmación del su llamado. Por favor apóyennos a orar por Ana de Guatemala, Daniel de Bolivia, Angélica de México, Maribel de Philadelphia, Luke y Ximena de Kansas, y Grace de Oregón. Oren para que nosotros seamos efectivos en nuestro trabajo y Dios nos use para animar y ser mentores para caminar con ellos en el proceso hasta un día verlos salir al campo donde Dios los envíe.
Seguimos sirviendo de Coach para el misionero José Olivas, él ya está de regreso en Ecuador ahora con su visa de residencia, ¡sirviendo y viviendo entre el pueblo Shuar en el Amazonas! Vemos muy obviamente la unción y respaldo de Dios en la vida y ministerio de José. ¡Gloria a Dios!
Estas diferentes tareas que Dios nos ha dado para desarrollar vienen con sus retos, pero también nos sentimos bendecidos y emocionados. Y también agradecidos por todos ustedes que son parte de nuestro equipo con su apoyo, su amor, y sobre todo sus preciosas oraciones que apreciamos y valoramos grandemente.

Noticias de nuestra familia

¡Una de las noticias que queremos compartir con ustedes es que nuestros hijo Edwin Isaac entregó el anillo e hizo la pregunta y su linda novia Jessica Grace dijo que si!! entonces estaremos celebrando su boda en el verano de este año. Increíble que Edwin Isaac solo tenía 3 añitos cuando Dios nos llamó a las misiones, y ahora está por casarse. Oren por la bendición de esta unión y que Dios los use para que ellos sean ejemplo de un matrimonio y familia bajo la voluntad de Dios.
Nuestra hija Faviola está disfrutando mucho su trabajo como terapeuta en comportamiento para niños con autismo. A nosotros nos encanta cuando ella nos cuenta del avance de sus pacientes. Damos gracias a Dios por que ella tiene la maravillosa oportunidad de ser las manos de Jesús para estos hermosos niños y sus familias.
Otra de las noticias es que nosotros nos mudamos y ahora nuestra base de residencia es el sur de Houston. Dios siendo tan increíble nos ha proveído, nos ha abierto puertas y oportunidades expandiendo ministerio para nosotros servir e impactar el reino. Estamos inmensamente agradecidos por la Iglesia de Bayshore Friends quienes nos han adoptado con tanta generosidad y nos han recibido proveyendo una casa transicional mientras buscamos la que será nuestra nueva casa permanente. Pedimos a Dios que pronto podamos tener la casa adecuada que sea donde lleguemos a renovarnos y restaurar nuestros espíritus, mentes, y cuerpos en la presencia de Dios después de cada viaje, y que sea de mucha bendición para la familia y amigos que desean llegar a visitarnos.
Una de las muchas razones que nos emocionan de este cambio es nuestro involucramiento y colaboración con la Junta Anual de MidAmerica, a la cual pertenecemos ahora. Soñamos y pedimos a Dios que nos use para ver ánimo y crecimiento para seguir la expansión de su reino. Algunas de nuestras pasiones es ayudar a levantar nuevas obras, capacitación de liderazgo y desarrollo de discípulos. Deseamos y pedimos a Dios que para su honra y gloria use, nuestras experiencias, talentos, dones, y pasiones para ser de bendición a MAYM.

Peticiones de Oración

• Para que Dios nos permita seguir con buena salud, energía y ánimo para llevar a cabo nuestros diferentes roles siendo efectivos y productivos.
• Por nuestra adaptación a nuestra nueva base en Texas. Para que pronto podamos tener nuestra propia casa de descanso y restauración.
• Por su unción, gracia y sabiduría en cada presentación, taller, capacitación, etc. en donde tengamos la oportunidad de compartir. ¡Toda la honra y gloria sea a El!

The post Actualización de Giron | Celebrando juntos la fidelidad de Dios first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Beloved Family and Friends,

We are certain that you, like us, have experienced God’s love, mercy, and goodness many times. The last three months of 2025 were filled with significant changes, news, and intentional opportunities for rest and renewal for us. Amidst so many mixed emotions and transitions, it is truly beautiful to witness the manifestations of our Lord’s love and grace.

God allows us to continue serving Him with passion and enthusiasm, carrying out our Missions Mobilization ministry with EFM. Our calendar is soon filling up with invitations to various Yearly Meetings in Latin America, where we will travel to motivate and mobilize churches to increase their involvement in sending more missionaries and establishing new ministries. Praise the Lord for all the opportunities He is providing us.

To begin, from January 20th to March 7th, we will be participating in the Honduras Yearly Meeting sessions, visiting churches in El Salvador, also attending and participating in the Yearly Meeting sessions in Mexico, to continue supporting the advancement of VM32 and promoting missions.

As mentors, we are working one-on-one with several young people from Latin America and the U.S. who feel challenged by God with a missionary calling or a call to plant new churches and are taking steps toward discerning and confirming their calling. Please join us in praying for Ana from Guatemala, Daniel from Bolivia, Angélica from Mexico, Maribel from Philadelphia, Luke and Ximena from Kansas, and Grace from Oregon. Pray that we will be effective in our work and that God will use us to encourage and mentor them, walking alongside them in the process until one day we see them go out into the field where God sends them.

We continue to coach missionary José Olivas, who is now back in Ecuador with his residency visa, serving and living among the Shuar people in the Amazon! We clearly see God’s anointing and support in José’s life and ministry. Glory to God!

These different tasks that God has given us to carry out come with their challenges, but we also feel blessed and excited. And we are also grateful for all of you who are part of our team, for your support, your love, and above all, your precious prayers, which we greatly appreciate and value.

Family News

One of the pieces of news we want to share with you is that our son Edwin Isaac proposed to his lovely girlfriend Jessica Grace and she said yes!! So, we’ll be celebrating their wedding this summer. It’s incredible that Edwin Isaac was only 3 years old when God called us to missions, and now he’s about to get married. Please pray for the blessing of this union and that God will use them to be an example of a marriage and family according to His will.

Our daughter Faviola is really enjoying her work as a behavioral therapist for children with autism. We love it when she tells us about her patients’ progress. We thank God that she has the wonderful opportunity to be the hands of Jesus for these beautiful children and their families.

Another piece of news is that we’ve moved, and our home base is now in South Houston. God, being so incredible, has provided for us, opened doors and opportunities, and expanded our ministry so we can serve and impact His Kingdom. We are immensely grateful to Bayshore Friends Church, who have so generously adopted us and provided us with a temporary home while we search for our permanent residence. We pray that we will soon have the right home, a place where we can come to renew and restore our spirits, minds, and bodies in God’s presence after each trip, and that it will be a great blessing to family and friends who wish to visit us.

One of the many reasons we are excited about this move is our involvement and collaboration with the MidAmerica Yearly Meeting. We dream and pray that God will use us to see encouragement and growth as we continue the expansion of His Kingdom. Some of our passions include helping to establish new ministries, leadership training, and discipleship development. We desire and pray that God, for His honor and glory, He will use our experiences, talents, gifts, and passions to be a blessing to MAYM.

Prayer Requests

• That God would grant us continued good health, energy, and enthusiasm to fulfill our various roles effectively and productively.
• For our adjustment to our new base in Texas. That we may soon have our own home, where we will go back to after each trip, for rest and restoration.
• For His anointing, grace, and wisdom in every presentation, workshop, training session, etc., where we will have the opportunity to share. All honor and glory be to Him!

The post Giron Update | Celebrating God’s Faithfulness Together first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

I have arrived in California!

After a month of rest in Kansas with my family and time visiting Thomas’s family in Florida, we drove from Denver to California. During our travels, we both came down with a cold, and it took a few weeks to fully recover. I’m grateful to share that I’m now feeling well, though Thomas is still on the mend. I also experienced some back pain from long hours in a very bouncy truck, but praise the Lord—I was able to find a chiropractor who is not only skilled, but also a wonderful educator and truly helped a sister out! I’m now pain-free and committed to continuing the exercises needed to stay strong and healthy.

I’ve been here for almost a week and have truly hit the ground running. I was able to get my room set up and organized and store items I won’t need right away, which has helped me feel more settled and ready to focus on what’s ahead.

This weekend, I had the opportunity to meet with Letty from Lot 318 and follow her closely to observe how she leads and runs the nonprofit from a top-down perspective. I’m really looking forward to learning from her, keeping up with her pace, and soaking in as much wisdom as I can.

I also connected with the other NCP interns and received orientation for what my schedule will look like moving forward. We kicked things off by playing a game together—lots of laughter and a great way to build community. My assignment for this coming week is to develop and practice my three-minute testimony and three-minute Gospel presentation with as many people as possible. If you’re interested in learning these tools as well, you can download the NCP Connect app and explore the resources page. There is so much to learn, and I’m excited to dive in. I especially enjoyed learning from Ivan Penrose and watching him teach from what he himself has learned over the past year.

I also attended a service at Iglesia Amigos Yorba Linda, and it couldn’t have been a better first Sunday. They are beginning a new church-wide series focused on corporate fasting and prayer. After the service, they hosted a luncheon for newcomers to meet the staff. I was able to introduce myself, share who I am, and express how I would love to serve and be involved. I can honestly say I don’t think I have ever felt so welcomed at a church where I arrived knowing no one.

Thank you so much for praying for me and being on my team during this apprenticeship. I am currently 74% funded and still in need of additional monthly partners to help me finish this internship strong. Please continue to pray for me as I step out in faith—pray that I would recognize the areas where God has gifted me and serve well in those strengths, while also identifying areas where I need to grow. I ask for prayer for courage to expand my comfort zone and embrace new and challenging opportunities as the Lord continues to shape me.

I am deeply grateful for each of you who pray, give, and walk alongside me in this season. Your faithfulness truly makes this work possible, and I do not take that lightly. I am expectant for all that the Lord is going to do in and through this apprenticeship, and I trust Him to continue leading each step. Thank you for partnering with me as we seek His kingdom together—one step of obedience at a time.

With gratitude,
Cassi

I am currently 74% funded and still in need of additional monthly partners to help me finish this internship strong. If you are a current monthly supporter, thank you. There are four ways to partner with me:

• Online: Visit the NCP Apprentice donation page by clicking the button below. Once there, scroll to find my tile and select your gift amount. You’ll have the opportunity to indicate whether you are giving monthly or as a one-time gift.
• Credit Card: You may give online (as stated above) or by calling the EFM office at (303) 421-8100 to provide your information to a live representative.
• Automatic Bank Transfer: Download the form here and email it to Debby McElroy (EFM Bookkeeper) at debby@friendsmission.com. Please note that ACH payments are processed on the 10 ^th or 25^th of the month.
• Check: Mail a check to EFM, P.O. Box 771139, Wichita, KS 67277. Please mark your check with “Cassi Coleman NCP Apprentice Support” and indicate if your gift will be recurring (monthly, quarterly, etc.). Make the check payable to “EFM.”

The post January 2025 Update | Cassi Coleman first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Preparing to Join God’s Work in Croatia
Please Pray for the Liddell Family

Fred and Jonelle Liddell, along with their children Alex and Jael, are preparing to move to Croatia in early 2026, stepping into a calling shaped by prayer, patience, and deep trust in God’s timing. They are joining God in what he is already doing among the people of Croatia, long before they arrive.

During recent prayer walks through Croatian cities and towns, Jonelle was struck by the image of an old house, weathered, cracked, yet still standing after generations. It became a powerful picture of the spiritual landscape they are entering. In a place where religion often exists as cultural identity rather than living faith, the Liddells are praying that God would do something new and that the knowledge of him would no longer be distant or abstract, but personal, present, and transforming.

Their preparation season has been full and at times heavy. Training, travel, meetings, and international planning have been layered with unexpected health concerns and logistical hurdles. Yet through each interruption, the Liddells have continued to sense God’s steady invitation: Will you notice what I am already doing? Will you join me? With open hands, they are answering yes!

In the midst of transition, family life remains central. Alex eagerly talks about Croatia, while Jael fills their days with songs, coloring, and imaginative play. Together, the family anchors their hearts in simple truths: Jesus is strong and kind, he calms the storm, and is near in seasons of change.

As they look toward their move in early 2026, the Liddells are asking others to join them as supporters and as prayer partners. The work ahead will require language learning, cultural humility, spiritual discernment, and endurance. Above all, it will require listening closely to the Spirit as they seek to walk faithfully among the people God loves.

God is already at work in Croatia. The Liddells are preparing to join him!

Please pray:

• For health, strength, and clarity as ongoing medical needs are addressed.
• For peace and focus as preparations and logistics continue.
• For language learning and cultural understanding once they arrive.
• For open hearts in Croatia, that many would encounter Jesus personally.

The post January 2026 Prayer Letter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

A 10:2 Prayer Trip is an annual trip to the mission fields where EFM has committed to sending missionaries. Teams are asked to pray for the soil (Matthew 13:1-23) and pray for the workers (Luke 10:2). Teams are sent or guided by sponsoring regions/yearly meetings of the new EFM fields that have been leading exploration. 10:2 Prayer Trips will target appropriate communities for prayer walking and interceding that “the Kingdom come, and God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven” in those places.

In November 2025, a 10:2 Prayer Trip took place in Athens, Greece. The following is a report written by team member Evelyn Portillo.

Who Was On The Trip?

• Kenn Dirrim – Missionary to Greece for almost 20 years (Southwest)
• Matt Macy – EFM staff (MidAmerica)
• Robert Garon – Pastor to Sherwood Community Friends Church (Northwest)
• Alexis Lopez – Canyon Hills Friends Church and Immigration Services Volunteer (Southwest)
• Evelyn Portillo – Friends Southwest Staff and Orange Friends Church (Southwest)

Reflections From The Field

Greece is an entry point for refugees, with the hope of establishing themselves in other countries throughout Europe. As they are on the “go”, so is God pursuing their heart and lives. At this point, some refugees are returning to Greece after months or up to two years of trying to complete their immigration status in other European countries. If their immigration documents have been denied, they need to return to their entry point in Europe. This can be heartbreaking, for their dreams may be shattered but it also provides an opportunity to support them and strengthen their faith. 

Church planting is possible in non-traditional ways: home churches, small groups with a mentor, and a church site. We need to keep in mind that our goal is to form communities of believers and make disciples who will go make other disciples.

How You Can Pray

• Pray for a new team of EFM missionaries to begin a new EFM disciple-making effort with Muslim refugees in Greece.
• The immigration laws and processes continue to change. Pray that people with knowledge in this area will continue to step up.
• Pray for God’s grace and mercy for the refugees as they navigate complex documentation and financial hurdles.
• Pray for the worldwide missionaries who serve in Greece as their hub, that they will continue to work in unity, led by the Holy Spirit. May they continue to experience divine moments.
• Pray that national leaders will continue to develop and step up. Also pray that new believers will continue to take leadership roles with passion and grace.
• Pray for freedom from oppression, and that refugees may be able to fully live a life in Christ.

Are you Feeling Called to Join EFM?

Are you interested in exploring missionary service? Do you know of anyone of any age who might be interested in exploring the idea of serving as a missionary overseas for two or more years?

EFM is currently looking to contact and connect with people about opportunities to explore serving as missionaries with the Friends Church!

To learn more, visit here or fill out this interest form!

The post Luke 10:2 Greece Post Trip Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Dear Prayer Partners,

Many things have happened since we last wrote. We are so thankful for your prayers and partnership in the whole-life discipleship movement here in East Africa!

From Saturday, December 13, until Sunday the 21st, Brad will be on a trip to Burundi and then South Sudan. Time in both countries will be focused on starting new mission work and partnership with our African friends. Please pray for wisdom and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and to each other, as we (EFM) work with EFC-Rwanda and EFC-Burundi. We are praying for God to lead us into the best ways of partnering together for more effective mission to the nations. Please pray for health, safety, and blessing over those who are travelling and for their families at home.

We are thankful that we are all fairly healthy after being sick recently. We are also really thankful that Brad’s parents are with us until the beginning of January! We look forward to spending this Christmas season with them and some friends in Musanze.

Most of all, we pray that all would hear about the hope that God offers through Jesus. May He be glorified all throughout the world!

Thank you!
Brad & Chelsea
Sarai, Gideon, and Ian

The post Brad & Chelsea Carpenter | December Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

What a great opportunity in this important month of 2025, the month in which we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, to share with you an account of what God has allowed us to accomplish and the advances of our Missions Mobilization Ministry. 

In 2020, when we began this EFM Missions Mobilization Ministry for Hispanic Friends, we never imagined how far God would allow us to develop this task. 

Praise the Lord for the second Future Missionary Retreat in Mexico, where we had 31 attendees, including four young people who traveled from Bolivia! We are so happy because, since the first retreat, we have had young people interested in exploring the call to missions, and some of them have since begun training at the Friends Theological Institute in Mexico City. These young people are praying earnestly that God will guide them to the places where they will be sent. Another fruit of these retreats was the calling of José Olivas, who has been serving as a missionary for a year now among the Shuar people of Ecuador. Another fruit of these retreats is the Moscosa family (Pedro, Sandy, and their two little daughters), who will be sent in January to start a new church in the state of Jalisco through the VM32 project. We hope to witness and be involved in the process of sending many more.

Let us praise the Lord together for the EFM Latin America Sending Learning Conference held in Guatemala in August. We felt privileged to have been part of the planning team for such an important event. It was truly beautiful to see representatives from 11 countries, including several superintendents and influential leaders of the Friends of Latin America, all gathered in a shared sense of unity, fellowship, respect, and mutual learning. As a result of this conference, several Yearly Meetings have expressed interest in having us share about EFM and missions and in encouraging their leaders and youth to be more active in sending, participating in support, and even going. We have already scheduled several trips in 2026 to some of these Yearly Meetings. Also as a result of the conference, a young, single lady pastor from Guatemala was challenged to join us on the Luke 10 prayer trip to Ecuador. There, she felt God’s prompting to pray for her to explore the possibility of going as a missionary. Although she won’t be sent at this time, this young lady pastor is influential at her Annual Meeting, and we know God will use her to inspire and mobilize others. Glory to God!

The recent Luke 10 Prayer Trip to Ecuador was valuable and purposeful. The main intention was to have very intentional times of prayer with national leaders and in places where God allowed us to go this time. We are grateful that we were able to visit and have ministry experiences in Shuar communities. On this trip, God allowed us to meet and strengthen relationships with key people whom we believe he has allowed us to meet in order to have alliances and national coverage that will serve our EFM missionaries who will be sent to this field in the near future. Thank you so much to all of you who were involved in this trip with your prayers from home.

2025 was fast-paced, very busy, and very intense for us, but very fruitful for the honor and glory of him alone! In the midst of raising our funds, all the events, trips, and experiences have been worthwhile because we see that the kingdom of God is being impacted. God willing, we will continue to strive and be obedient in this mobilization effort to see many more workers sent to the fields where the harvest is ready. “And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?” Romans 10:15 (NLT)

In Obedience to him,
Edwin and Maria Giron

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