Dear Prayer Partners,

We are so thankful for your prayers!  We are amazed at how God helps us in the little everyday things as well as the big things, and we know your partnership in prayer affects it all.

We want to let you know about our U.S. trip coming up.  It started as two of us wanting to attend our niece’s graduation in Kansas, but we added the other three when we heard about our nephew’s wedding in Wisconsin, then realized in prayer and talking with doctors, that this is the time for Brad to have surgery to address his stomach issues.

So this will be a relatively short trip for family events, medical appointments, surgery, and recovery.  We may see a few of you in Wichita, which will be great, but we will not plan to do any speaking or traveling to churches while we are there.

Being able to take this trip to be with family during this time and get medical care is a huge blessing that we’re thanking God for every day!

Here are some important dates:

• May 13-14: Fly from Rwanda to the US
• June 5: Brad’s surgery
• July 15-17: Fly from the US to Rwanda

 Will you please praise Him with us for this opportunity?

Please pray for…

• Healing and peace for Brad and his body.
• Logistics of getting everything ready and finishing up ministry here in Rwanda.
• For us to be depending on and listening to the Lord throughout all of this – in family time, when Sarai and Gideon go to camp, in the medical things, in the travels, etc.
• Safety and peace in travels.

Thank you so much!

Love in Him, Brad & Chelsea, Sarai, Gideon, and Ian

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

by Scott and Andrea Sward, EFM Great Commission Mobilizers

I want to tell you a story.

One night, deep in the jungle and off a bumpy trail, in a small village of tribal people, smoke curled up into the dark sky as a dying man had a dream. He was an old, sick man. His face was thin and worn from illness. He had been born into this jungle and had grown up in its trees. He had witnessed the slow transformation of a land once filled with wild, roaming elephants into a war zone of guns and starvation. After the guns left, the jungle people were forgotten again and left to sink into deeper and deeper poverty while the world around them rushed forward into development.

Somewhere during those years, new stories made their way into his village, stories about a God this man had never heard of before. He was captivated, at least for a time. But as his sickness worsened and this new God did not bring immediate healing to his body, his hope began to fade. Now he was sick, and he was dying.

His family gathered around him beneath their stilted wooden house. Fires burned for warmth, and the smoke rose to ward off evil spirits. Voices filled the night, loud and constant, in an effort to “prove” to those unseen spirits that there was nothing here worth lingering over.

In his dream, this old, dying man clutched a small booklet, the very one Scott had gone over with him earlier that evening. Scott had been summoned to the Kavet village just hours before with the message that this man, Joon, was dying. Even more striking, though Joon could no longer recognize his own family or remember their names, he kept repeating Scott’s name clearly, over and over again. How could Scott refuse that call?

When Scott arrived, he took out a small booklet filled with pictures and once again explained to Joon our sin and Jesus’ forgiveness upon our confession of our need for him. He showed Joon a picture in the booklet, a simple image of a cross bridging the gap between man and God. This man, so dear to Jesus, began tracing that cross with his finger over and over again, and at last a look of peace came over his face.

Later that night, he fell asleep and dreamed. In his dream, while holding tightly to the booklet, he saw his parents, long since gone, approaching him. They reached out their hands, but their faces were not kind. Their anger made it clear that they intended to take the booklet from him, not out of any desire to understand. Joon pulled the booklet closer to his chest. As they came nearer, he hid it beneath his shirt and turned away from their grasping hands.

In the gray light of early morning, his family found him sitting still, propped up in bed and turned to the side, the booklet tucked under his shirt, his hands folded protectively over it. When Scott departed later that morning, Joon remained there, holding the promises of Jesus close to his heart.

How we rejoice that even in a small, remote tribe in the jungles of Cambodia and Laos, God is at work in people’s lives. We are moved yet again by his heart for all the unreached people groups in our world. How many Joons are there, dying, restless, reaching for Jesus? And even more sobering, how many parents of how many Joons never had the opportunity to hear his name?

Would you pray with us this month for the many millions around the world who are still waiting to hear the name of Jesus in their villages?

Written by Andrea Sward, shared by Scott & Andrea Sward

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

I have a countdown app on my phone, and today it tells me that I will fly to the US in 24 days – May 18th. I have long lists of things that need to be taken care of in Ireland before I go. And I have long lists of things that need to be scheduled and organized for my time in the States. It is hard to stop my brain from spinning!

I’m coming back to the States with my monthly support as low as it has ever been. It is, of course, natural that support drops off between visits to the U.S.

Changes in situation and life circumstances can impact a supporter’s ability to continue to help financially. This is completely understandable, and we build into our support raising a margin for these changes.

The greatest impact on my monthly support has been an increase in housing costs, as well as an increase in the Irish tax burden I need pay each year. Three years ago, my landlord decided to sell the house I had been living in for eight years, and I lost the “rent protection” that I had there. When I moved, my rent increased significantly. This triggered an increase in my “income” for my Irish taxes.

These two things together have created a much larger gap than what was originally planned for. I am tempted to feel overwhelmed by the fund-raising goal before me.

There is a phrase that comes to mind when I am tempted to worry about funding (or anything else!). It comes from 1 Samuel 7:12. God has rescued the Israelites from the Philistines and Samuel sets up a stone and calls it “Ebenezer”, for he said, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

Thus far the Lord has helped me. For 25 years (and for 63 years) the Lord has helped me, and the Lord has used faithful people (you) to meet these needs.

I’m looking ahead to what will be my final years serving with EFM in Ireland. My plan is to retire at 70 – which will happen in 2032! Ministry focus has shifted in the past year from Mother and Toddler groups (which are now plentiful every day of the week) to grief work.

I am excited to share these things with you! And my hope is that I can build a ministry that will continue to reach out to those who are hurting, with support and hope that comes from our loving God, even after I retire.

This summer I will be at Yearly Meeting/Annual Conference for Rocky Mountain Yearly Meeting, Evangelical Friends – Mid-America, and Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends. I will also be in CO, KS, and OR for some time around those gatherings. I plan to be in Friends Southwest YM (CA) in August.

For more than 25 years I have had the privilege of sharing my heart, my calling, my love for Ireland with you. I have been the recipient of generous hospitality as I have travelled through different regions, and I am so grateful for enduring friendships formed. I look forward to visiting again, catching up with you, and sharing what God is doing in Ireland through your prayers and generosity.

To schedule a time for us to meet or for me to speak at your church, please email me at kathip@friendsmission.com.

My hope is to return to Ireland on September 13th. However, I cannot return until my financial support is back to 100%. I am currently at 64% and trusting God to raise the remaining 36% in monthly commitments. As I look ahead to this next step, there are two important ways you can partner with me: through prayer and through financial support. I truly need both.

Prayer Partnership

The first way that you can support me is through prayer. Your prayers are worth everything. I currently have 939 prayer partners with a goal of raising it to 1,200. If you know anyone who would like to pray for my ministry, please send them this link: https://friendsmission.com/kathi-perry.

Financial Partnership

If you are a current financial supporter, would you be able to increase your giving? I’m asking boldly. Could you even double it? I know that not everyone can (and I am grateful for every/any amount)! Some of you already have increased your giving, for which I am very grateful. If you are not part of my financial support team, would you consider partnering with me in Ireland? You can start a new gift or make changes to your current giving using this link: https://friendsmission.givevirtuous.org/donate/perry. You can also contact the EFM office at efmspanish@friendsmission.com.

Would your church like to take on another missionary?

I would be happy to talk with you about this.

My Missionary Care Team has set a goal for me – to be fully funded by my 64th birthday, August 30th. That would be a lovely birthday gift. Above all, as I look back at the years I have spent in Ireland and in relationship with all of you, as I’ve served, I feel privileged and grateful and humbled.

Thank you. Thank you.
Kathi Perry

The post Kathi Perry | April 2026 Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

In recent months, due to family needs and changing circumstances, the Swards have sensed the Lord leading them to return to the United States. While this transition comes with the sadness of leaving a place and people they deeply love, it also comes with a clear sense that God is opening a new door for ministry.

After much prayer and discernment, we are grateful to share that the EFM Board has approved a new role for Scott and Andrea: EFM Great Commission Mobilizers.

In this new season, the Swards will continue their calling to cross-cultural ministry by focusing on three key areas:

• Engaging unreached people groups in diaspora communities here in the U.S., particularly among Muslim populations
• Mobilizing and equipping Friends churches to rekindle a passion for the Great Commission and send workers into the harvest
• Continuing to mentor and invest in emerging leaders in Cambodia

This is not an ending, but a continuation of the same calling in a new context. We believe this role uniquely aligns with the Luke 10 vision God has given EFM, as we seek to send workers into the harvest and participate in what he is doing among the nations.

I invite you to hear directly from Scott and Andrea as they share how God has been guiding them into this next chapter:

Last year, Andrea and I sensed a shift coming. We assumed it meant staying in Cambodia and redirecting our focus to another unreached people group. But God had a different plan. Months later, we realized we were being called back to the US—a move that left us confused and uncertain.

In time, the Lord made his direction clear: our calling to serve unreached people groups (UPGs) hasn’t changed—only the place and the approach. While remaining connected to Cambodia, we’re now excited to serve diaspora UPGs in the US, and to help mobilize others to join God’s work among the world’s 7,000+ remaining people groups with little to no knowledge of Jesus. God is faithful, and we’re eager to see what he has in store in this next season.

As the Swards step into this new season, we invite you to prayerfully consider partnering with them in a few meaningful ways:

Become or Continue as a Financial Partner
Ongoing monthly support will sustain their ministry as they establish this new work in the U.S. and continue investing globally.

• If you are a new financial partner, you can set up your gift here:
  https://friendsmission.givevirtuous.org/donate/sward. Click on the “Donate Now” button and select “Sward Support Great Commission Mobilizers” from the dropdown. You will be given the opportunity to make a monthly or one-time gift.
• If you are already a financial partner and would like to continue at your current amount, no action is needed. Your giving will continue as is.
• If you would like to increase your support, you can either cancel your current gift and set up a new one or contact the EFM office at efmspanish@friendsmission.com and we’re happy to assist.
• If you need to stop your giving, please reach out to the EFM office so we can take care of that for you.
• If we do not hear from you, your current giving will continue uninterrupted.

Become a Prayer Partner
Commit to praying regularly for the Swards as they transition, build new relationships, and step into this calling. Your prayers are a vital part of their ministry.

• Fill out the form at https://friendsmission.com/sward/ to receive news and updates from the Swards.

Give a Transition Gift
A one-time gift will help cover the significant costs of relocation, reestablishing life in the U.S., and launching into this new ministry season.

• Go to https://friendsmission.givevirtuous.org/donate/sward. Click on the “Donate Now” button and select “Sward Transition Gift” on the dropdown menu and select one-time gift.

Your partnership has been vital to the Swards’ ministry over the years, and we are deeply grateful. We are confident that God will continue to use them in powerful ways as they follow his leading.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

In him,

Stanley David Leach
Executive Director

The post A New Season for the Swards first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

by Kathi Perry serving in Ireland

Queridos amigos,

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.

Por favor, oren...

• 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 aquí 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 aquí 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.