15 November 2016 Update!

A New (Deja Vu) Assignment!

Dear prayer partners,

These past 18 months have been full of transitions for our family. We left Oaxaca in July 2015 to spend ten months in the USA on Stateside Assignment. While in the USA from July 2015 to May 2016 our mission agency underwent radical changes. Our job assignment changed and we have been praying for months for the Father to show us exactly where He wants us to serve.

Over the past couple of months the Father has led us back home to our Sending Church at First Baptist Church, Oxford, MS. Jeff will begin serving as Minister of Students/Missions on January 1, 2017. We're excited about this new ministry opportunity in a very strategic place with a wonderful church family. We will end our employment with the IMB but hopefully we can continue our relationship with IMB as FBC Oxford increases our commitment to the unreached of southern Mexico and other places as the Father leads. The local church is the center of global mission and we're looking forward to this next challenge.

This season of service as full-time cross-cultural workers has been all good. We treasure the deep friendships that we developed in Costa Rica, Peru, and Mexico. We pray that the unfinished work will be finished soon. Here are a few prayer requests that we wanted to share with you:

• Pray for the unreached of southern Mexico. There are still many communities without access to the Gospel or a healthy church.
• Pray for the team of workers in Oaxaca. The Father has put together a great team with so many gifts. Pray that they will not grow weary in the work in southern Mexico.
• Pray for us as we transition back the USA. Buying a house, adjusting to the USA, and starting new jobs are exciting but also stressful times.

Thank you all for your partnership and for 'holding the rope' over these past 9+ years. You have been a VITAL part of all that God has done in and through us.

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

15 November 2016 Update!

A New (Deja Vu) Assignment!

Dear prayer partners,

These past 18 months have been full of transitions for our family. We left Oaxaca in July 2015 to spend ten months in the USA on Stateside Assignment. While in the USA from July 2015 to May 2016 our mission agency underwent radical changes. Our job assignment changed and we have been praying for months for the Father to show us exactly where He wants us to serve.

Over the past couple of months the Father has led us back home to our Sending Church at First Baptist Church, Oxford, MS. Jeff will begin serving as Minister of Students/Missions on January 1, 2017. We're excited about this new ministry opportunity in a very strategic place with a wonderful church family. We will end our employment with the IMB but hopefully we can continue our relationship with IMB as FBC Oxford increases our commitment to the unreached of southern Mexico and other places as the Father leads.

This season of service as full-time cross-cultural workers has been all good. We treasure the deep friendships that we developed in Costa Rica, Peru, and Mexico. We pray that the unfinished work will be finished soon. Here are a few prayer requests that we wanted to share with you:

• Pray for the unreached of southern Mexico. There are still many communities without access to the Gospel or a healthy church.
• Pray for the team of workers in Oaxaca. The Father has put together a great team with so many gifts. Pray that they will not grow weary in the work in southern Mexico.
• Pray for us as we transition back the USA. Buying a house, adjusting to the USA, and starting new jobs are exciting but also stressful times.

Thank you all for your partnership and for 'holding the rope' over these past 9+ years. You have been a VITAL part of all that God has done in and through us.

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

21 September 2016 Update

Thank you to all who pray for the people of southern Mexico and our family. Here's an update from the last few weeks along with some prayer requests. :

• Our team retreat went well as we gathered together for prayer, planning, and fun. Southern Mexico continues to have so many communities without a church and access to the Gospel. Pray that we can do our part as we work with Mexican believers and other Great Commission organizations to plant churches and make disciples.
• Haylee is now a sophomore at Mississippi College. We're counting down the days until we're able to see her again. Pray for her as she prepares to study abroad in London during the Spring 2017 semester.
• Jackson has begun his 12th grade year! He's also taking a college course on-line. Pray for Jackson to be able to stay on task amidst the distractions of being a High School Senior.
• Liesa is busy with keeping all of us in line along with keeping the expense reports and budgets organized along with her ministry at the children's home. Pray for her to have opportunities to invest in the lives of others.
• Jeff is busy with lots of phone calls, meetings, and planning for upcoming Vision Trips to Oaxaca. Pray for Jeff as we face some transitions in our work over the next few months.

It is such an encouragement to know of your prayer support! Thank you!

Thank you also for your generous financial support through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Please let us know how we can pray for you!

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

1 August 2016 Update!

First time for any work in this village and several dozen
showed up for Sports and English camps. While there they
heard stories from God's Word.

Thank you so much for your prayer support over the past few weeks. We've seen the Father do some amazing things and your prayers are an integral part of all He is doing in our midst.

We shared some prayer requests with you a couple of weeks ago. Here are some updates:

Will you pray for more workers to be called out from Mexican churches in Mexico? It is amazing how the Father is working among those churches/believers with whom we partner. We are preparing to begin a Training Class for Mexican believers who sense a call to missions. How 'bout that? Amazing.

Will you pray for our teammate Ashley and the relationships she has made with nationals? Will you pray that God will call out more workers from this group? Several members of this group are wanting more training to help them reach out to their own people.

Every morning, from July 9 to July 24, will you pray that the Father would use the students attending camp to make an eternal difference in the lives of many people in Oaxaca? We had a phenomenal two weeks of Access International Camps. Every one of our ministry sites saw people beginning a relationship with Christ or coming One Step Closer to Him.

Will you pray for the tension between the teacher's union and the government would decrease and that peaceful solutions would be found to the conflict? Nothing has slowed down our work over the past few weeks. There has been a reduction in the number and intensity of the protests.

Will you pray for Haylee and Jackson as they grow close to our summer team only to see them get on airplanes and return to the USA?  Haylee and Jackson served faithfully alongside our summer teams and developed some new friendships that have kept their social media tools buzzing.

Will you pray for our team of high school girls living in an unreached community until July 16?  Pray for A, B, E, L, M,  M, and N. This group of girls completed their assignment in a very TOUGH place. They have returned to the USA and we pray they will continue to serve faithfully there.

Will you pray that the village of 'T' will become less hostile to Christians and that we will find a way to share the Gospel in this community?  While doing some business at a local store we met a young man from the 'T' village and we are following up on a potential great opportunity to work in the 'T' village. Only God can do this and your prayers are the catalyst.  

Things slow down just a little bit in August before a busy September arrives. We will head to the Pacific Coast of Oaxaca in just a few days for a time of retreat with our teammates. We always look forward to these times. After that, we're back in Oaxaca and will be getting Jackson ready for 12th grade and Haylee ready to return for her sophomore year at Mississippi College. We also have two Hands On students coming in to work with our team. We would love to have you covering these events in prayer.

Thank you so much for 'holding the rope' through your prayer support, your giving to the Cooperative Program, and your support of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

A short visit to the 'Nacho Libre' church is a great way to
start a busy three week stretch run.

Access Week One Leadership Team!

Hillcrest Baptist New Albany, MS came down for a visit!

Access Oaxaca Week One Team!

Ronnie knows napping and the tools needed.

Worship with James Tealy was the BEST way to
start the day!

The IWC Encouragram legacy continues...

The Access Week Two Leadership Team!

Liesa leading training for Week Two.

Circle Soccer!

These folks came down from California to bring the Light!

Apparently, Ronnie learned his napping skills from his wife.

Duck, duck, goose works everywhere.

Mindy and Sebastian are the best!

Jackson teaching kids in a village.

This is very cultural in Mexico. Really.

How much coffee is too much for two weeks of camp?
We never found out.

Even charter buses in Oaxaca go mud riding.

A GREAT team of workers!

We LOVE Ronnie and Diane.

Feeding these California folks breakfast before putting them
on an airplane.

Rebecca. THE BEST. She has left us and gone
to her new field of service.

Ronnie and Avery with the Bacon Tornado.

7 July 2016 Update!

After a busy June we landed
in Oaxaca ready for a
great July!

Greetings from southern Mexico!

We've had a busy month of June. Thank you for your prayer support! June began with Jeff attending Affinity Leadership Team meetings in Peru. On June 5, Jeff, Liesa, and Jackson left Jackson, Mississippi and drove to Laredo, Texas. On June 6, we crossed the border into Mexico without any problems and drove to Mexico City. We were in Mexico City for a few days so that we could begin the immigration process. We arrived home in Oaxaca on June 10. Since then we've had a lot of action with ministry work, teacher's union against the government clashes, team meetings, welcoming more summer students, saying good-bye to summer students, a trip to Costa Rica for the 2016 High School MK Retreat, and a Fourth of July Party. Time flies when you're having fun.

July is another busy month with two weeks of Access International Student Mission Camps coming up. We'll begin on July 9 and finish up on July 24. We're excited about working alongside some of our Mexican brothers and sisters and some great USA churches. We are praying for two great weeks of sharing the Gospel. We'll be partnering up with local churches in the city of Oaxaca to reach their neighborhoods with the Gospel.

While all of that is going on some of our great USA partners will be coming to work among the people to whom God has led them. Folks from churches in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, California, and Mississippi will be joining us in Oaxaca during July. We are grateful for the workers that the Father continues to bring to the harvest in southern Mexico.

Saying 'See You Later' too many times is one of the realities of missionary life. Our teammate Christy Willis has returned to the USA after almost two years on our team BUT will be coming back to Oaxaca in September and we hope it's for a long, long time. Rebecca Harrod leaves us the last week of July and she will be SO MISSED by so many people here. Rebecca and Christy have poured out their lives for their Savior and have left an impact that will last for eternity. Goodbyes STINK!

We are so grateful for your prayer support! Here are some specific requests:

• Will you pray for more workers to be called out from Mexican churches in Mexico?
• Will you pray for our teammate Ashley and the relationships she has made with nationals? Will you pray that God will call out more workers from this group?
• Every morning, from July 9 to July 24, will you pray that the Father would use the students attending camp to make an eternal difference in the lives of many people in Oaxaca?
• Will you pray for the tension between the teacher's union and the government would decrease and that peaceful solutions would be found to the conflict?
• Will you pray for Haylee and Jackson as they grow close to our summer team only to see them get on airplanes and return to the USA?
• Will you pray for our team of high school girls living in an unreached community until July 16?  Pray for A, B, E, L, M,  M, and N.
• Will you pray that the village of 'T' will become less hostile to Christians and that we will find a way to share the Gospel in this community?

Thank you for praying for the truck repair. It's still in the shop but hopefully it will be repaired before the end of this week. The teacher's union is blocking the highways in/out of Oaxaca so getting supplies into the city is very difficult.

Thank you for your prayer support and your giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program. 

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

Haylee at work!

Jackson has found ways to deal with international travel.

The 2016 High School MK Retreat in Costa Rica.

Liesa hanging out with some Awesome MK's in Costa Rica.

You know it's gonna be a fun flight when
Mark and Pam Grumbles are on the plane at 6 am!

We turned Ashley's translator training class into
a Fourth of July party!

22 June 2016 Update!

You might have heard about Oaxaca in the news over the past few days. Our first few days here have included some intense confrontations between the Teacher's Union and Federal Police. We are safe and have stayed away from any of the trouble but we do pray for all of those involved. This has been an ongoing clash for over ten years and there is not an easy answer. We are praying for meetings that are happening today. Here is more info: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/06/21/mexico-radical-teachers-to-hold-talks-after-deadly-clashes.html

While all of this is going on the Gospel moves forward in southern Mexico. Our team of Summer Students continue to work hard to share the stories of God's Word in some very creative ways. This week, a USA church continues their work among unreached people. Our IMB team continues to facilitate the Gospel going to unreached people and places of southern Mexico by training leaders and developing relationships with national partners. There is trouble all around but we are focused on the task to which we are called.

You can 'hold the rope' for us through prayer! Pray for the following:

• Pray for our Summer Student Team (Names begin with R, A, G, S, E, E, L, A) as they are working so hard and so well.
• Pray for our Endeavor team living in an unreached community. This is a group of high school girls and a leader who have given a month to serve in a very hard place. Pray for A, B, E, L, M,  M, and N.
• Numerous USA church teams are planning to come to Oaxaca in the next few weeks. As expected, some are having to 'count the cost' of coming to southern Mexico during this time of unrest. Pray for them to follow the leading of the Father regarding their plans.
• Lottie Moon's truck that I drive has been in the shop for TEN days waiting on parts from the USA. Pray that the road blocks would open and allow the parts to get to Oaxaca.

Some praises:

• We had some flood damage to our home in Oaxaca but all has been repaired better than before.
• Reunions with our IMB and Mexican family have been sweet.
• We drove from Oxford to Oaxaca without any problems. Amazon made it fine, too!
• We have some great opportunities for partnership with local Baptist churches like never before!

Thank you for continuing to 'hold the rope' through prayer and your giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program.

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

22 June 2016 Update!

You might have heard about Oaxaca in the news over the past few days. Our first few days here have included some intense confrontations between the Teacher's Union and Federal Police. We are safe and have stayed away from any of the trouble but we do pray for all of those involved. This has been an ongoing clash for over ten years and there is not an easy answer. We are praying for meetings that are happening today. Here is more info: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/06/21/mexico-radical-teachers-to-hold-talks-after-deadly-clashes.html

While all of this is going on the Gospel moves forward in southern Mexico. Our team of Summer Students continue to work hard to share the stories of God's Word in some very creative ways. This week, a USA church continues their work among unreached people. Our IMB team continues to facilitate the Gospel going to unreached people and places of southern Mexico by training leaders and developing relationships with national partners. There is trouble all around but we are focused on the task to which we are called.

You can 'hold the rope' for us through prayer! Pray for the following:

• Pray for our Summer Student Team (Names begin with R, A, G, S, E, E, L, A) as they are working so hard and so well.
• Pray for our Endeavor team living in an unreached community. This is a group of high school girls and a leader who have given a month to serve in a very hard place. Pray for A, B, E, L, M,  M, and N.
• Numerous USA church teams are planning to come to Oaxaca in the next few weeks. As expected, some are having to 'count the cost' of coming to southern Mexico during this time of unrest. Pray for them to follow the leading of the Father regarding their plans.
• Lottie Moon's truck that I drive has been in the shop for TEN days waiting on parts from the USA. Pray that the road blocks would open and allow the parts to get to Oaxaca.

Some praises:

• We had some flood damage to our home in Oaxaca but all has been repaired better than before.
• Reunions with our IMB and Mexican family has been sweet.
• We drove from Oxford to Oaxaca without any problems. Amazon made it fine, too!
• We have some great opportunities for partnership with local Baptist churches like never before!

Thank you for continuing to 'hold the rope' through prayer and your giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program.

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

22 June 2016 Update!

You might have heard about Oaxaca in the news over the past few days. Our first few days here have included some intense confrontations between the Teacher's Union and Federal Police. We are safe and have stayed away from any of the trouble but we do pray for all of those involved. This has been an ongoing clash for over ten years and there is not an easy answer. We are praying for meetings that are happening today. Here is more info: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/06/21/mexico-radical-teachers-to-hold-talks-after-deadly-clashes.html

While all of this is going on the Gospel moves forward in southern Mexico. Our team of Summer Students continue to work hard to share the stories of God's Word in some very creative ways. This week, a USA church continues their work among unreached people. Our IMB team continues to facilitate the Gospel going to unreached people and places of southern Mexico by training leaders and developing relationships with national partners. There is trouble all around but we are focused on the task to which we are called.

You can 'hold the rope' for us through prayer! Pray for the following:

• Pray for our Summer Student Team (Names begin with R, A, G, S, E, E, L, A) as they are working so hard and so well.
• Pray for our Endeavor team living in an unreached community. This is a group of high school girls and a leader who have given a month to serve in a very hard place. Pray for A, B, E, L, M,  M, and N.
• Numerous USA church teams are planning to come to Oaxaca in the next few weeks. As expected, some are having to 'count the cost' of coming to southern Mexico during this time of unrest. Pray for them to follow the leading of the Father regarding their plans.
• Lottie Moon's truck that I drive has been in the shop for TEN days waiting on parts from the USA. Pray that the road blocks would open and allow the parts to get to Oaxaca.

Some praises:

• We had some flood damage to our home in Oaxaca but all has been repaired better than before.
• Reunions with our IMB and Mexican family has been sweet.
• We drove from Oxford to Oaxaca without any problems. Amazon made it fine, too!
• We have some great opportunities for partnership with local Baptist churches like never before!

Thank you for continuing to 'hold the rope' through prayer and your giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program.

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

22 June 2016 Update!

You might have heard about Oaxaca in the news over the past few days. Our first few days here have included some intense confrontations between the Teacher's Union and Federal Police. We are safe and have stayed away from any of the trouble but we do pray for all of those involved. This has been an ongoing clash for over ten years and there is not an easy answer. We are praying for meetings that are happening today. Here is more info: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/06/21/mexico-radical-teachers-to-hold-talks-after-deadly-clashes.html

While all of this is going on the Gospel moves forward in southern Mexico. Our team of Summer Students continue to work hard to share the stories of God's Word in some very creative ways. This week, a USA church continues their work among unreached people. Our IMB team continues to facilitate the Gospel going to unreached people and places of southern Mexico by training leaders and developing relationships with national partners. There is trouble all around but we are focused on the task to which we are called.

You can 'hold the rope' for us through prayer! Pray for the following:

• Pray for our Summer Student Team (Names begin with R, A, G, S, E, E, L, A) as they are working so hard and so well.
• Pray for our Endeavor team living in an unreached community. This is a group of high school girls and a leader who have given a month to serve in a very hard place. Pray for A, B, E, L, M,  M, and N.
• Numerous USA church teams are planning to come to Oaxaca in the next few weeks. As expected, some are having to 'count the cost' of coming to southern Mexico during this time of unrest. Pray for them to follow the leading of the Father regarding their plans.
• Lottie Moon's truck that I drive has been in the shop for TEN days waiting on parts from the USA. Pray that the road blocks would open and allow the parts to get to Oaxaca.

Some praises:

• We had some flood damage to our home in Oaxaca but all has been repaired better than before.
• Reunions with our IMB and Mexican family has been sweet.
• We drove from Oxford to Oaxaca without any problems. Amazon made it fine, too!
• We have some great opportunities for partnership with local Baptist churches like never before!

Thank you for continuing to 'hold the rope' through prayer and your giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program.

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

13 June 2016 Update!

Welcome to Oaxaca
Protect the Pedestrians

We're home in Oaxaca!

We've had a busy few weeks saying 'See You Later' to our families (the kinfolk and the FBC Oxford family) along with some IMB travel to Virginia and Peru. But, finally, we're settling in here in southern Mexico. It feels so good to be in our own bed after 10 months sleeping in other places. It's been good to see our team mates and to be back with our Oaxaca family. We are blessed to have so many friends in so many places.

Liesa, Jeff, and Jackson drove down from Mississippi on Sunday, June 5 and crossed the border at Laredo on Monday morning, June 6. It was uneventful as we crossed since Trump's Wall is not up yet. We drove another 12 hours to Mexico City and spent a few days there as Super Marlene (our IMB immigration attorney) helped us get the immigration process started. Then, on Friday, June 10 we were able to drive the 7 hours down to Oaxaca. We dropped our luggage and drove to our favorite taco stand and all was right with the world. Haylee arrived last week by air and will be with us until mid-August when she returns to Mississippi College for her sophomore year.

There is a busy summer planned here. We have our Mexican brothers and sisters and we have students and adults from Ole Miss, Mississippi College, McNeese State, Kosciusko High, North Carolina, Oxford High, Northeast Community College in Oaxaca for the next few weeks working to share God's Stories through teaching English and building relationships in villages. It is an amazing crew that the Lord has put together. We are always blessed to see the way the Lord sends more workers at just the right time. We'll be welcoming three more Journeymen and a new missionary family in just a few months.

In just two weeks we'll be gathering with High School Missionary Kids from all across the Americas for a retreat in Costa Rica. Southern Baptists are so supportive of our missionary kids and want to make sure they receive the BEST support in the world. This retreat will be the only annual get-together of our high school MK students this year. We're excited to have a team from Kosciusko, MS coming down to lead the bible studies and worship and we're excited to have students from Ole Miss, Miss. State, and a teacher from Lafayette High School (Oxford, MS) to lead the small groups. Pray for this group to have an amazing week of learning God's Word, worshipping Him, and having more fun than should be allowed by a group of folks. These MK's know how to make the most of every minute and it is an honor for Liesa and Jeff to lead this retreat again this year.

Thank you so much to all of you who are holding the rope for us! Your prayers are needed constantly. Please continue to pray for:

• Hundreds of small villages in southern Mexico who have no churches that teach God's Word and lead people to a personal relationship with Him. Pray that somehow, someway that our team and other missionaries will find a way to reach them. Pray for the Mexican church to rise up and take on their responsibility for their people.
• We're having two weeks of International World Changers Camps in July. Pray for all the pieces to fall into place as these opportunities are being finalized.
• Our USA partners continue to faithfully come to southern Mexico and work among unreached people and places. Some are having great success. Some are having difficult times. Pray for open hearts to the truth of the Gospel.
• There is always a need for more workers here. Pray for the Father to flood southern Mexico with His Followers who will live for Him. In a part of the world filled with religious people, the best way to share the Gospel is for Christians to live out their faith so that all can see.

You all are a blessing to us. Thank you for your partnership through prayer and your financial support through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

The long road through northern Mexico.

Jackson loves the variety of Mexican cereal.
This one is chocolate Frosted Flakes with marshmallows.
#LeaveYourDiabetesAtTheDoor

17 May 2016 Update!

Your prayer support is so important to our family. We are so grateful for so many who always remind us that they are praying for Mexico and for us. Thank You!

We will be crossing the border into Mexico on Monday morning, June 6. We are ready to get back to our 'home' in Oaxaca and dive back into the work to which we have been called. We begin another 'season' of service and we are looking forward to the challenges that await us. We don't enjoy leaving behind our friends and family but are grateful for the time we have had at 'home' in Oxford.

We have a busy few months coming up as we continue the work in southern Mexico but also take on new responsibilities. You can pray for these specific requests:

• Pray for the unreached people of southern Mexico. Here is a MAP with information about the unreached of Latin America. There are still 331 people groups (over 7 million people) in the Americas with very little access to the Gospel. Pray for more workers for the harvest.
• Pray for Jackson as he adjusts to life back in Mexico. He leaves behind great memories in Oxford to begin his Senior year at Oaxaca Christian School. Pray for him to have a smooth transition back to life in Oaxaca.
• Pray for Haylee as she continues to grow into an amazing young woman. She'll be with us in Oaxaca for the summer and then will return to Mississippi College this fall. 
• Pray for Liesa and Jeff as we put together our 'Connections Team' for the Americas. We are already blessed to have some veteran, visionary colleagues who have agreed to join us. Pray for us as we develop opportunities for limitless Gospel access.

Remember, we love to hear from you. Even though we're in Mexico you can still write us at wigtake@gmail.com and call us on our local Mississippi number at 601-914-6705.

Hope to see many of you before we head back down south.

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

4 April 2016 Update!

Click to enlarge and save.

Thank you for your prayer support over the past few days. We have had some great opportunities to spend time with some tremendous people. 

• We were able to have a video call with three future teammates who are coming to Oaxaca later this year! Pray for Dani Joy, Tory, and Philip as they are preparing for the big move to Mexico.
• Great video meetings this week with colleagues serving in some very important ways in the USA and around the world. God is doing great things all the time!
• A tremendous weekend with Mississippi Baptist BSU Students headed out to the nations. Liesa and I were so blessed to spend time with 140+ college students as they prepare for their assignments this summer.

We are on the 'home stretch' as we finish our time in the USA and prepare to return to Oaxaca. Please join us in praying for these important requests:

• Pray for Jackson as he finishes up the year at Oxford High School. He'll once again be transitioning from one culture to another and will face some challenging days.
• Pray for Haylee as she finished up the year at Mississippi College. She will be joining us in Oaxaca for the summer.
• Pray for an upcoming training event at Hillcrest Baptist Church, New Albany, MS on April 7.
• Pray for a meeting with a wonderful ministry partner (Reaching and Teaching) on April 12 in Louisville, KY.
• Pray for us as we begin to transition back to the mission field in Mexico. 

Thank you so much for your prayer support.

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

Click to enlarge and save.

31 MARCH 2016 UPDATE!

Dear Prayer Family,

'These are exciting days!' A dear friend of mine uses this phrase frequently as he faces the challenges of ministry. Back several years ago in my other life on the staff of First Baptist Church Oxford I could count on Robert Allen to use that phrase at some of the most stressful times and on some of the darkest days. It was certainly comic relief but also reminded me that God is in control. As Liesa and I have walked through the past few months with the IMB we have both used the 'these are exciting days' phrase.

I don't know of any other time in our lives when things in our work have been more stressful. We have watched as dear friends have left their missionary posts to return to the USA. We have wrestled with our own call trying to decide where the Father can most effectively use us. The Father has used His Word, His people, and His timing to confirm that, for now, serving with the IMB is where we can best be used by Him.

In just a few short weeks we will once again leave our home base in Oxford, MS and obey the leading of the Lord. The emphasis here is on 'obey' and not 'leave.' There are folks much more committed to obeying the Father than we are that we are leaving behind right here in Oxford. So, leaving is BIG but obedience is so much BIGGER. This is our third time to 'leave' for the mission field but this time is so different in several ways.

First, we return to the mission field knowing familiar faces will not be there. Second, we return to the mission field leaving Haylee behind in the USA in college. And, we return to the mission field knowing that our work will be different in the days ahead. These days of transition are common and we never get used to them.

This year my focus verse has been Proverbs 3:5-6 and the word I continue to turn to is the word 'Trust'. I must trust Him. Trusting the Lord always will mean an encounter with Him that will force me to lay down my agenda for His. I am trusting Him to lead. I'm trusting Him to use us. I'm trusting Him to answer the questions and fill in the blanks about the future.

We need your prayers. The task before us over the next few months is a huge one. We desperately need you to pray for us to have wisdom and discernment. We believe God is up to something BIG in our world and we want to be a part of that. We need the courage and willingness to adjust our lives to what God has planned. It will be painful but it will be so good. Will you pray for us? Most of all, will you pray that those in our world who do not know Him will hear and understand the Gospel?

Thank you for your prayer support. We need you now more than ever.

Trusting Him,

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

16 March 2016 Update!

Thank you so much for your prayer support!

19 February 2016 Update!

Please continue to pray for the people groups of southern Mexico.

Thank you to all who so faithfully pray for us and for the people of southern Mexico. We are very aware that we need each of you who pray. You are very important partners with us as we seek to make disciples and plant churches in southern Mexico. Thank you so much for your partnership!

We are entering the home stretch of our Stateside Assignment and we have had so many great times with our Sending Church, First Baptist Oxford, Mississippi and being close to our friends and family. Our lives are busy over the next few weeks and we'd love to have you join us in praying for several important things:

1. Pray for Jackson as he finishes up the school year at Oxford High School. He'll once again transition away from friends that he has grown close to as we move back to Oaxaca.
2. Pray for Haylee as she finishes up her semester at Mississippi College. She will be spending the summer in Oaxaca.
3. Pray for upcoming opportunities for us to plan, to mobilize churches, and to tell about the great things the Father is doing in southern Mexico:
• February 20 - Associational Girls Camp, Collaborative Missions Network
• February 24 - Mission Team Training, Hillcrest Baptist New Albany, MS
• February 28-March 4 - America's Leadership Team Meeting, Peru
• March 4-5 - MS Acteens Retreat, Camp Garawaya, MS
• March 9 - Grace Bible Church, Oxford, MS
• March 24 - Washington Baptist Church, Natchez, MS
• April 2-3 - MS Baptist Summer Missionary Training, Camp Garawaya, MS
• April 7 - Mission Team Training, Hillcrest Baptist Church, New Albany, MS
4. Continue to pray for the unreached peoples of Mexico. Pray for Mexican churches to be strengthened and for more leaders among our Mexican Baptist churches.

We are thankful for your prayers!

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson Holeman

17 January 2016 Update!

We are so thankful that you all pray for us. Your prayer support is a vital part of the work that we are called to. You are a very important part of our 'team' of supporters who are holding the rope.

We continue to live in Oxford, Mississippi during our Stateside Assignment. We have been blessed by our Sending Church Family at First Baptist Oxford. It has been a great experience to serve as Missionaries In Residence with FBC Oxford and to be a part of all the great things God is doing here. We talk often about our Sending Church and how special they are. 

We wanted to share with you some updated prayer requests:

1. Please pray for Phase Two of the International Mission Board Reset. Earlier this week we were asked by our leadership to pray and seek the Lord about our future. Are we the right people, in the right place, doing the right things? So we are praying through those things and seeking the Lord's leadership. Please join us in praying that the Father's plan would be very clear and that we would be obedient. For more info about the IMB's Reset please click HERE.
2. Would you pray that the Father would send more workers to southern Mexico?
• Adults for Long-Term and Mid-Term Positions! We have several positions on our team for adults (singles and/or families) to serve. If you are interested in those positions you can begin that process by clicking HERE.
• Journeyman Positions for young adults. You can begin that application process by clicking HERE.
• Young Adults for Mid-Term Positions! We have several positions on our team for young adults to join our team during the Fall of 2016. They include the following jobs (click on the position for more info):
• English Teachers
• Community Transformation Trainer-Medical
• Teacher for Missionary Kid School
• High School Students! We are recruiting high school students for a special team that will live in a mountain village for three weeks during the Summer of 2016. For info regarding this team please click HERE.
• High School Mission Camp! We have a great opportunity for youth groups to come to Oaxaca on July 17 to 24, 2016 to help local churches in Oaxaca. Click HERE for more info.
3. Please pray for the People Groups of southern Mexico to hear and understand and be able to respond to the Gospel. Please pray for these specific people groups (You can click on the name of each group for more information):
• Durango Nahuatl
• Western Coastal Nahuatl
• Temascaltepec Nahuatl
• Matlatzinca

Thank you so much for your prayer support!

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson Holeman

Haylee and Jackson at Ole Miss. December 2015

2016 Sugar Bowl. Rebels Win!