We’ve been in the U.S. for about a month! And it’s been a constantly changing mix of activity, travel, work, family fun, and downtime. We’ve been to Wichita (KS), Friendswood (TX), Denver (CO), Quaker Ridge Camp (CO), Camp Quaker Haven (KS), and Chandler (OK).
In each town, we have had the privilege of sharing the Sunday morning message at the Friends Church, meeting with small groups, meeting with some people in their homes, and having some fun along the way! Over and over, we have felt overwhelmingly blessed by love and support. We have also felt like people in the churches have connected with the messages and stories from Central Africa – like about Africans growing with the Lord in every part of their life, and those Rwandans and Burundians who are willing to give up country, comfort, and money to start missions movements to the unreached people groups in South Sudan and Tanzania. We have all been challenged to surrender more to the Holy Spirit so he can empower us to join him in mission wherever we are.
At Quaker Ridge Camp, we had a great time at the Future Missionary Retreat, as well as at the EFM Board meetings. Not only was the Colorado mountainside a beautiful place to be with the Lord and with others, but it was also so invigorating to worship, study, and grow with this group of future missionaries, mentors, and EFM staff and board. I (Chelsea) was personally challenged by them and by the Lord to open my hands more in surrender to the Holy Spirit and be willing to do hard or scary things for and with the Lord, who loves me and loves everybody! Being at Camp Quaker Haven in Kansas was extra special for Brad and I, since we have loved growing up attending and working there, but hadn’t been back in about 20 years! We were privileged to be the speakers for two evenings there, telling the kids about Rwanda and our call as missionaries. We 
hope and pray the Lord used us (even though we’re not used to speaking to kids!) to show that he loves and calls all of us every day, normal people to himself and to be on mission with him.
After we had been traveling for a few weeks, Brad asked our kids what they were thankful for. And they answered, “we have so many friends wherever we go.” It’s been such a blessing to introduce our “old” friends to the kids, and also have them be brave and make new friends in each place. We are so proud of them for their patience with travel and their fresh perspective each morning, even after a hard night or stressful experience. We’ve been hot and cold, tired and kind of rested, high-speed and low-speed, and trying to make awesome family memories out of all of it!
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Here are some of our memories and photos from this first month:
- Getting through that long trip from Rwanda to the U.S.
- Being welcomed to Wichita by our family and also by our church family.
- Attending our nephew’s graduation from high school.
- Enduring a long wait at baggage claim, only to have a long wait to rent a car, only to encounter some broken glass in the rental car!
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- Swimming in pools and playing in splash pads!
- Sarai and Gideon sharing at Uncle Jeff’s school and at the children’s church.
- Attending a friend’s baseball game.
- Seeing the ocean and petting the sting rays at Kemah Boardwalk.
- Visiting the Space Center in Houston, with its massive rockets, models, and displays.
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- Going on a bike ride in Denver with friends.
- Visiting kittens, goats, peacocks, and ducks at QRC (Quaker Ridge Camp).
- Hiking up Soldier’s Mountain and seeing deer on a morning jog at QRC.
- Making new friends with the resident kids at QRC and building an awesome place to play in called “Car Land”.
- Getting to hang out with our niece, who came along to help with the kids at QRC.
- Sarai attending CQH (Camp Quaker Haven) for the first time and loving it!
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- Gideon conquering the swim test, doing a flip off the diving board, and reaching the top of the climbing wall at the CQH pool – all for the first time!
Ian conquering his fear of the BIG SLIDE at CQH – and then asking to do it again and again! - Celebrating our nephew’s 14th birthday!
- Seeing lots of family, friends, and mentors: laughing, and reminiscing.
- Spending some family time at a bookstore, a big swimming pool, and the science museum in Oklahoma City.
- Joining the Friends Church and all the town residents at the big ice cream festival in Chandler.
- Ian learning how to jump in the pool for the first time, thanks to a new and daring buddy.
- Special times with our family – playing Barbies, planting flowers, playing board games, playing soccer with cousins, flying drones, and laughing around the table.
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Thank you so much for your support!
Love,
Brad & Chelsea
Sarai, Gideon, and Ian
We currently have 973 prayer partners and have a goal of raising it to 1,200. If you know anyone who would like to pray for our ministry, please forward this form to them.
We are currently at 81% of our ongoing monthly need. If you are a current monthly supporter, thank you. It is important to let EFM know that you plan to continue or increase your giving. If you are not currently giving, please prayerfully consider supporting our ministry in Central Africa.
There are four ways to partner with them financially:
- Online. Visit https://catalog.friendsmission.com/carpenter. 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 “Carpenter Support” and note if you will be giving on a recurring basis (monthly, quarterly, etc.). Pay to the order of “EFM.”
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