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