18 April 2012 Update!

Thank you to all who pray for us.  We are so grateful for your investment in what God is doing here in southern Mexico.  We've had some busy times here over the past few weeks!

GREAT NEWS!  YOU can receive some important training that will help you understand how to be a better short-term missionary on Tuesday Evenings in May.  There is no cost and all that you need is your computer.  For more info please CLICK HERE!

Arnold and Marie

Liesa's folks came down for a week-long visit and we had a fun time with them.  We were able to hit all of the local tourist sites and show them a little about what our work involves.  Of course, the real reason they came is to see Haylee and Jackson and they enjoyed having Nana and Papaw around.  We enjoyed nightly games of Farkle and trying to get them to eat grasshoppers.

Our furniture arrived from Peru on April 4!  We are really enjoying having our furniture.  Three months on the air mattress was quickly forgotten when we were able to sleep in our own beds.  Amazon, the amazing Peruvian Dog, has loved having her normal perch back on the back of the big red chair in the den.  We still have a few boxes left to unpack but we are all enjoying life a little more with our 'stuff' around us.

Easter Sunrise in southern Mexico.

We spent Easter morning with a large group of our missionary friends.  We had a sunrise service at Oaxaca Christian School (where the kids go to school) and it was a meaningful time for all of us.  We rarely get the opportunity to worship and be taught in English so that was wonderful.  During Easter weekend we invited two of our missionary friends who live and work in a village to come and spend the weekend with us.  They are Journeygirls serving for two years here.  It was great to have them with us.

A team of two men came down from the Agricultural Development Foundation to look around our area to determine possible agriculture and human needs projects that USA partners might could be involved in.  Jeff had a great time traveling the back roads around southern Mexico looking for ways to help the people.  The team was able to meet with a trout farmer and a local greenhouse owner while they were here.  To learn more about the Agricultural Development Foundation click here.

We also had a visit from a few folks from First Baptist Church, Clinton, MS and Menchville Baptist Church, Newport News, Virginia who came down to look around Oaxaca and explore possible future ministry projects.  We were able to speak at FBC Clinton last fall and their folks have been very interested in southern Mexico since then.  We are always excited when Mississippi folks come down for a visit.

We've also had a visit (along with the FBC Clinton crew) from the Dr. Ramiro Marrero family.  The Marrero's are a Mexican family who are doing great things in Atlacomulco, Mexico.  They came down to learn more about southern Mexico and discover ways they can get involved.  We look forward to some shared ministry projects in the future.  You can discover more about their ministry by clicking here.

Our city is in a huge valley surrounded by the Sierra Madre mountains.

Here are some prayer requests that you can help us with:

1. Please continue to pray for open doors among the indigenous communities here.  Pray specifically for a village that we'll call 'S.B.Y.'   We are planning to place a small group of summer missionaries there this summer to build relationships and get some regular Bible studies going.  This village of around 600 people only has 4 known Christians.  
2. Pray for more open doors in other communities.  Pray for God to lead us to the right places.
3. Please pray for Jeff as he travels to Virginia for training meetings.  Pray for productive meetings.
4. Jeff has some upcoming training meetings in Lima, Peru so we're taking Haylee and Jackson along with us.  They are excited about returning to Peru and seeing their friends.
5. Pray with us as more churches in the USA express interest in engaging an unreached people group here in southern Mexico.  Pray that God would lead the right people to us who are committed to doing the right things.  For more info about YOUR CHURCH engaging an unreached people group please CLICK HERE!

Thank you for the way you bless our family through your prayers and your giving to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Hasta luego!

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

31 March 2012 Update!

Liesa, Haylee, Jackson and Jeff.  Heirve el Agua, Oaxaca, Mexico

Hello to all out there!

Thank you so much to all who pray regularly for us and the ministry work here in southern Mexico.  We wish all of you could see the way your prayers are used here every day.  You are a blessing to so many.

We are doing well.  Liesa's parents are here for a few days and we're enjoying our time with them.  Haylee and Jackson will be out of school for Holy Week.  We have a busy April coming up so we're muy contento about the few days of break from school and normal routines.

After three months of no rain it appears the rainy season has begun in southern Mexico.  We're enjoying  afternoon thunderstorms and rain.  After living in Lima for several years, rain is such a big deal to us...the smell, the sound, and thunder!  And since it has been so dry here we are thankful for it!

We are thankful for your prayers.  Please join us in praying for these requests:

1. Pray for those that lead the work here in southern Mexico.  Decisions are made and are being made that will affect what we are doing here.
2. Pray for the unreached people groups here in southern Mexico.  Please go to this LINK, find southern Mexico, and pray for the people groups here.
3. Pray for us as we continue to seek the Father's plan for our family.  Pray that we will be courageous, faithful, and wise.
4. Pray that your church will give more support to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program.  If you don't know what your church gives, ask your pastor.  If you think your church should give more, do something about it.  If you don't know how Southern Baptists support missions then go to this LINK.

Thank you for your prayer support and your financial support through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.  All of you are always welcome here for a visit.  And, we love hearing from home folks.  Give us a call on our Mississippi number (601-914-6705) and let us hear from you.

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

Field Day 2012

21 March 2012 Update!

We're safe here but pray for those towns and villages close to the epicenter.

The first day of Spring roared into southern Mexico with a 7.something earthquake.  Liesa and I were at our dining room table (which continues to be our only piece of real furniture) around noon when the room started shaking.  And, no, it wasn't because of the burrito. Earthquakes are common here and we've felt them before but this one was different.  It started out as a rumble and kept going...getting stronger...and we realized we might be in a little danger.  So we stepped out onto our back patio and watched our house, the trees, powerlines, and the ground jump up and down.  This lasted about 60 seconds but it seemed forever.  We realized that everything seemed to be OK and there was no damage around us so we went back in the house and called the school to check on the kids.  Amazingly, all  was good and we did not lose power, internet, or anything.  Your prayers are always important and the Lord listens to you all.  We see the evidence of your prayers daily.

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makes me dwell in safety.  Psalm 4:8

We have had a busy couple of weeks. We had an incredible 10 days of ministry and fun with the students from Mississippi College. Ben Maddox and his crew from Mississippi College were such a great group to work with (as we have found with all Mississippi College students!). We were able to partner with a local children's home here that ministers to children/teenagers from the surrounding indigenous villages. Several of these kids have no parents but most are from families where they cannot be cared for. Several of the kids have disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, deafness, muteness and other health challenges. The team from Mississippi College invested their hearts into these kids through Bible stories, games, painting bathrooms, cleaning the kitchen, and whatever else needed to be done. We are thankful for the MC team!  And, we're thankful for national partner Felipe Ortega who worked with us all week.

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’  Acts 20:35

Haylee and Jackson continue to adjust well to their new home here in southern Mexico.  Oaxaca Christian School is a blessing and Haylee and Jackson are doing well in all of their classes (even their graduate level Old Testament class!).  We continue to pray for them as they develop meaningful friendships.

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.  Prov 13:20

We have some busy days coming up.  Please join us in praying for these opportunities:

• Liesa's parents are coming for visit March 28 to April 4.  It will be good to have them around to make fun of.
• In April we have a team from the Mississippi Baptist Convention Agricultural Missions Fellowship coming down to find out ways they can partner with communities in southern Mexico to provide agricultural training.  This could be a huge opportunity for ministry.
• In April, First Baptist Clinton, MS is sending down some folks to explore opportunities for partnership and ministry.  Pray for this church as they seek the Father's plan for mission involvement.
• In April, Jeff will be traveling to Virginia for a training meeting and will also be able to spend a few days in Mississippi.  
• In May, all of us will be traveling to Lima, Peru.  Jeff and Liesa have some training meetings to attend and Haylee and Jackson will be trying to see as many of their Peru friends as they can.  
• In May, we have Bethsaida Baptist Church from Mississippi coming down on a Vision Trip to look at some possible partnership and ministry opportunities.
• In the midst of all of this, we must continue to ride the roads and find the places that the Father wants us to work.  Our ministry assignment requires us to travel 3.5 to 4 hours away from Oaxaca city (and home.) to find communities in which to work.  So, travel safety on bumpy roads is always a prayer need.
• Finally, we sure would be happy if our furniture and household supplies from Peru would hurry up and get here!  :-)

Thank you so much for your support through prayer and your financial commitment to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Please let us hear from you at our email address:  wigtake@gmail.com.

14 March 2012 Update.

We're working with students from Mississippi College this week.  Liesa and Jeff served as Missionaries In Residence at M.C. during their stateside assignment last fall.  Here are some photos from today:

Mississippi College In Mexico

Take a look at some of today's events and pray for the kids in the photos.  We are having a blast working with some of the Father's most precious people here in southern Mexico.

Making Disciples...

Loving our neighbor...

Oaxaca at night.

One of our most favorite places in Oaxaca, Mexico.

3 March 2012 Update!

A great view of the city of Oaxaca, Mexico.  (copied)

Greetings from warm and sunny southern Mexico.

As a family, we are so grateful for your prayers on our behalf.

In our last update we asked you to pray for several things.  Here's an update!

• We asked you to pray for us as we build relationships with different ministries here.  Over the past couple of weeks we've made great progress in this area.  We found a Children's Home here that houses children from indigenous villages.  Many of the children come from villages as far away as 12 hours.  This could prove to be a powerful way to minister to some of the neediest villages in southern Mexico.  It is also a wonderful opportunity for ministry here in the city of Oaxaca.
• We asked you to pray as Jeff traveled to Missouri for a mission emphasis at Second Baptist Springfield. This was a wonderful trip for Jeff as he was able to help so many folks get a better idea of what it will take to minister in our culture here.  He was also able to meet with the missions team at First Baptist Branson MO who sense a strong call to equip Mexicans for ministry here.
• We asked you to pray for upcoming visits from teams from Mississippi and Virginia.  We are asking you continue to pray for these upcoming projects.  The team from Mississippi College arrives here on March  8.  Pray for a great week of ministry from these students.

The past couple of weeks have been busy.  Following a wonderful time with the folks from College Street Baptist Church (Walhalla, SC), we were able to spend a little time gathering research data about our part of the world.  Over the past few days we have learned more about the people of southern Mexico.  There is so much more to learn, however.  We were thankful for a long visit from Arnold Austin from our America's Research Team who helped us get some important data on the people groups of southern Mexico.

Haylee and Jackson are doing well.  Now that the BIG English Project is done, life seems to be more manageable for them on the homework front.  We're thankful for a break next week as Haylee and Jackson head to camp for a week with other missionary kids.  We've been on a pretty hectic schedule since we landed here in Oaxaca, so Haylee and Jackson deserve a break.

Jeff traveled to Springfield, MO for a missions conference at Second Baptist Church.  This was a wonderful  opportunity to share with many others about what God is doing here in southern Mexico.  Second Baptist is one of those churches that is a 'Mission-minded Church.'  They give of all of the resources God has given them...money, time, and people...to further the gospel to the ends of the earth.  What a blessing to be with them.

Thank you so much for your partnership with us here in southern Mexico.  Your prayers are the most important  part of the work here.  Please join us in praying for these specific things:

• Please pray for clarity as we seek to find the right places to minister here.
• Please pray for the Father to send us the right people who will work to bring the gospel to this dark place.
• Please pray that we will be led to do the right things to show the love of Jesus and to make disciples here in southern Mexico.

Blessings to you all!

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

Psalm 9:10

God's a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. 
   The moment you arrive, you relax; you're never sorry you knocked.

18 February 2012 Update!

Sorry for the delay in getting an update to you all. We are thankful for your prayers over the past couple of weeks.

We've been B-U-S-Y!

A Vision Team from Second Baptist Church, Springfield, Missouri and First Baptist Branson, Missouri was here for several days and the Father surprised us with some great opportunities for the future.  These churches are committed to ministering to an unreached people group here in southern Mexico.  We encountered many open doors for ministry in the coming  months and years.

Another team from College Street Baptist, Walhalla, SC was here for a week also.  This team of mission leaders were here to learn about Oaxaca and pray about their involvement in southern Mexico in the future.  This church worked with us in Peru so it was so good to see familiar faces here.  We wanted to let them experience several different aspects of southern Mexico culture along with meeting their Southern Baptist missionaries who are working here.  We had a wonderful time with them and were so sad to say good-bye.

This area of southern Mexico is a wide open mission field but we are also finding that there are so many here who are working to spread the Message of Hope.  God is bringing a small army to this dark part of the world to reach these folks.  Not only Southern Baptist missionaries, but missionaries from all parts of the USA and other countries as well.  We are thankful to be working with so many great people.

But, not only missionaries from other countries are here.  The Mexican churches are making an impact here as well.  There are many examples of national churches reaching out to the indigenous peoples.  This is so important because if southern Mexico is to be reached, the people of Mexico will be the most effective disciple-makers.

Haylee and Jackson are doing well.  School is definitely a challenge.  The homework load is a bit much (in Jeff's opinion) but we are working through it.  Jackson and Haylee are making friends and continue to adjust well to the culture.  They are incredible kids.  Your prayers for them are definitely making a difference.

You can join us in praying for these specific requests:

• Pray for us as we continue to build relationships with different ministries here in the city of Oaxaca.  We are limited in being able to work with communities near the city of Oaxaca so we are looking for other ministry opportunities.
• Pray for Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson as Jeff travels to Missouri next week for meetings and a mission conference at Second Baptist Church Springfield, Missouri.  They'll be holding down the fort here in southern Mexico.
• Pray for upcoming visits from teams from Mississippi and Virginia.  Pray specifically for a team of students coming from Mississippi College during Spring Break.

Many thanks for your support through prayer and your giving to the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

And, to explain the photo at the top of the page:  The movie "Nacho Libre" was filmed here in Oaxaca.  If you want to have an amazing two hours then watch the movie.

4 February 2012 Update.

Hi folks!

Just a quick update.  We're doing well as we adjust to our new home.  I (Jeff) am in a coffee shop here in Oaxaca using some internet.  We're still waiting for the cable company to come and install ours. (Sigh.  But at least we'll have internet.)

Just a few quick prayer requests:

1. Please pray for upcoming research trips out to the indigenous communities.  Pray for open doors for ministry.
2. Our vehicle is having some problems and we put it in the shop today.  Please pray for a quick fix.
3. Pray for internet to come quickly to the house so we can get re-connected with family.
4. Pray for a student team coming in March from Mississippi College.  Pray for us as we plan the work this team will be doing.  

Thank you all for your prayers.  We'll have a much longer update soon.

But, just want to share that a Vision Team from Second Baptist Springfield, Missouri was here this week to plan their work among an unreached people group.  The way that the Father opened doors for ministry was incredible.  Thank you for praying.  We'll post details soon.

Love you all,
Jeff, Liesa, Haylee and Jackson.  (And Amazon, the amazing Peruvian dog.)

God Moments.

There are so many great things about being a cross-cultural missionary.  The most meaningful to me are those "God Moments" when the Father simply opens a door for ministry right before my eyes.  A few days ago, a friend from the USA and I went to visit a village among an unreached people group here in southern Mexico.  We experienced some incredible "God Moments."

The most meaningful was an encounter we had as we were walking to our vehicle to head back home.  As we were walking a man asked us to come and speak with him.  Just so you know, a part of our work in this village was to allow the people to send a video greeting to members of this community in the USA.  My friend from the USA is a staff member of a church in a city where hundreds of people from this village are living.  It is incredible to think that members of indigenous, unreached people groups are living right under our noses in the USA.

This man asked us to video him but as we began talking with him he began to cry.  A few months ago his father had died and now he feels like his life is falling apart.  This man's family was once close but now they are becoming distant because their father was the one who held the family together.  This man wept bitterly about how his family in the USA was not able to come back to Mexico for the funeral.

But God placed words of truth in the mouth of my pastor friend from the USA.  He spoke wonderful words of biblical truth to the man and we prayed over him, his wife, and his son.  This grieving man heard about a Father of comfort, a way to have eternal hope, and was assured that the God of heaven indeed heard his cries of grief.
My pastor friend in the USA will be able to deliver a special video message to the family of this man.  Will you pray for this Mexican man and his family?

Deuteronomy 10:18-20 (ESV)

18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. 

19 Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 

20 You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear.

This is supposedly a people 'closed' to the Gospel but I can assure you that the Father has opened the doors wide because of this church's response to the 'sojourners' living in their community.  Does God have a "God Moment" waiting for your church?  Look around your town or city.  The Father is bringing the nations within reach of many of our Southern Baptist churches.  What will happen if we miss the opportunity?

19 January 2012 Update!

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.   Colossians 2:6-7

We are so grateful for so many of you who are 'partners' in the work here in southern Mexico.  Your prayer support is of utmost importance and your giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and through the Cooperative Program is a huge blessing.  Thank You!

We just wanted to give a quick update to our prayer requests from last week.

• That the people of southern Mexico will have the opportunity to hear about Jesus in a way that they can fully understand the Gospel.
• Your prayers are helping us see the 'hidden things' that we must understand in order to communicate the Gospel.
• Please continue to pray that we will learn the culture here so that we can communicate effectively the message of hope.

• Pray that we will be faithful to the vision God has given us for ministry: A multitude of disciples among all peoples of southern Mexico equipped to fulfill the Great Commission to the ends of the earth.
• Your prayers are strengthening our determination and deepening our desire to work hard among the people of southern Mexico.
• Please continue to pray for this important need.  We must stay focused on our task.  It is so easy to be distracted from our main task by really good things.  One reason southern Mexico is still in need of the gospel is because good things are being done instead of the BEST things.  

• Open doors for ministry here in this very spiritually dark place.
• Your prayers are creating 'divine appointments' where we are able to meet folks that God wants us to connect with.  An example is last week we were looking for good hotels for volunteer teams to use.  God led us to a great place with a very friendly manager and staff.
• We must build relationships.  Pray for this to happen.

• Our families in the USA who must adjust to life with us here in Mexico.
• Our families in Mississippi are our biggest cheerleaders.  Your prayers give them a sense of call to this task, too.
• Please continue to pray for our families in Mississippi.

• Partners from the USA who are committed to doing missions in a responsible way.
• Your prayers are being used by God to send us USA partners who want to make an eternal impact beyond the traditional methods of building a building or sending cash.
• Please pray for God to call out Southern Baptist churches who have a desire to reach southern Mexico with the message of hope.

• Haylee and Jackson adjusting to a new life, new school, new friends.
• Haylee and Jackson are making good friends.  Your prayers have led them to a Wednesday night Bible Study for teenagers.  And, there's frozen pizza here!!!  :-)  Small to you...BIG to us!
• Please continue to pray.

• Finding the house that God has for us.
• Your prayers are helping us to find the best house for our family.  We have negotiated a contract and are waiting for approval from our attorney.  Doing all of this in Spanish is a challenge!  :-)  And, we are blessed to have our dear friends who are keeping Amazon (our dog) for us while we house hunt.
• Please continue to pray for this house-hunting process.

• Favor with immigration officials so we can receive our long-term visa.
• Your prayers have allowed us to find favor with immigration officials who are very helpful.  We should find out more info on Friday.
• Please continue to pray for the long-term visa process.  We cannot get our furniture from Peru until we have our long-term visa.

Thank you so much for your help through prayer!

Please also pray for Jeff as he travels to an unreached people group over the next few days with a friend from California.  Pray that we'll get good research done and that a 'Person of Peace' will be located so that the message of hope can reach these people.

You are a blessing!

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson.

Letting Go.

10 January 2012 Update!

The city of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Thank you to all of you who so faithfully pray for our family.  You are such a blessing.  We wish you could all see the impact that your prayers have on every part of our lives as missionaries.  Amazing.

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.  Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.  Philippians 1:3-5

We are here in southern Mexico in the city of Oaxaca.  We are learning our way around and we are really enjoying getting to know the people and places of our new city.  We certainly miss many people in Peru but Oaxaca is a special, special place.  We cannot wait for all of you to come and visit us here.

Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a friend's counsel that comes from the heart. Proverbs 17:9

We are in a temporary apartment while we search for the house that God has for us here.  Haylee and Jackson have begun classes at their new school, Oaxaca Christian School.  Amazon (the amazing Peruvian dog) is alive and well here in southern Mexico.  She's staying with some of our dear friends until we can find a pet friendly casa.  Liesa and Jeff are busy getting our new lives going.  We hope to have some type of 'normal life' one day soon.

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

We do miss our family and friends in Mississippi and Peru and around the world so much.  But we are at peace knowing that the Father has us here for a reason.  We will search for where He is working here and join Him in His work.  We did not arrive here with some grand plan but we are simply trusting Him to guide our steps to the right people and the right places.

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

Please join us in praying for these requests:

• That the people of southern Mexico will have the opportunity to hear about Jesus in a way that they can fully understand the Gospel.
• Pray that we will be faithful to the vision God has given us for ministry: A multitude of disciples among all peoples of southern Mexico equipped to fulfill the Great Commission to the ends of the earth.
• Open doors for ministry here in this very spiritually dark place.
• Our families in the USA who must adjust to life with us here in Mexico.
• Partners from the USA who are committed to doing missions in a responsible way.
• Haylee and Jackson adjusting to a new life, new school, new friends.
• Finding the house that God has for us.
• Favor with immigration officials so we can receive our long-term visa.

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. I John 5:14

Please allow us the honor of praying for you.  Send us your requests at wigtake@gmail.com.

Our USA phone number is unchanged.  601-914-6705.  That's a Mississippi number.  Call us.

Get SKYPE on your computer so we can talk face to face.

Go ahead and plan your trip down to Mexico to see us.  We want you to come and you will certainly be able to pray better if you see the precious people that we would like to have join us around God's throne.

Love you all,

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson.

Catholic building on the plaza in Oaxaca.

Jackson's School Project.

christmas video a video by Jeff_Holeman on Flickr.

Jackson made a video for his Computer Technology class. He wanted to share it with you. Photos are from a photography field trip to take photos of Brandon Christmas decorations.

Countdown to Oaxaca, Mexico.

We will be leaving the USA on January 5 headed to southern Mexico to the city of Oaxaca.  We are ready to see what the Father has in store through this new ministry assignment.  We'll be moving in a temporary apartment until we can find a house and get our crate full of 'stuff' shipped from Peru.  Haylee and Jackson will begin classes at their new school on January 9th.  And, we already have two ministry trips scheduled for late January with churches from the USA.  So, there will be busy days ahead.  Thank you for your prayer support!

Merry Christmas!

South Half Champs 2011

South Half Champs 2011, a photo by Jeff_Holeman on Flickr.

Did I mention that my brother's Petal Panters won the South State championship this year? They finished 2011 ranked #4 in the state of Mississippi.

15 December 2011 Update!

Just a quick update on what is going on with us.

We are taking advantage of last days in the USA by spending time with family and friends, speaking to a lot of church and mission groups, and trying to have as much fun as possible.  We will be finishing up our responsibilities as Missionaries in Residence at Mississippi College this week and the kids will be taking semester exams.  We are so grateful for the many of you who pray for us regularly.  Here are some specific requests that we would love your help with at this time:

1. The indigenous people groups of southern Mexico are in need of churches to be planted among them.  Pray that the Father would make it possible for new churches to be established among these people groups.  Here is a map for you to pray for groups by name. Click on it to make it larger. -;
2. Pray for Haylee and Jackson as they say their 'See You Laters' to their new friends here in Mississippi and as they prepare for a new place, new culture, and new friends.
3. Pray for all the final pieces of our departure to fall into place so that we can get to work in southern Mexico.
4. Praise God with us for the opportunity to be involved in His work in Mexico.

Blessings to all of you!  Thank you for praying.

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson

Don't just give to missions. SEND Missionaries.

You'll hear much over the next few weeks in Southern Baptist churches about giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.  You should give!  A lot!  But, don't just settle for giving to missions when you can be a SENDER of missionaries.

Why be a sender?

1. Sending is something God does. Our heavenly Father is a sender.  He was motivated by love to send His Son so that we could be rescued by a message of hope.  Be a part of sending missionaries who are motivated by love to proclaim a message of hope.  When you SEND missionaries you are following the example of your heavenly Father.
2. Sending is the responsibility of the church.  The hope of Galatians 3:14 is that 'hope would  come to the Gentiles.'  Jesus clearly communicated with his early followers that His Church would be His Workers.  As a part of the church you fulfill Christ's command when you SEND missionaries.
3. Sending missionaries is about more than money.  
• We have to provide spiritual support because of the spiritual battles (Eph 6:12).  
• We have to provide emotional support because of the challenges that cross-cultural workers face.  Emotional support can be provided by phone calls, emails, visits to the field, and other expressions of kindness and love.
• We have to provide accountability because iron sharpens iron (Prov 27:17).  Mature, constructive accountability of those you support is a part of your role as a Sender.  Ask questions.  Challenge those you Send to grow spiritually and avoid sin.  Many missionaries are in lonely, isolated places.  Your accountability role can play an important part in their lives.
• We must provide financial support.  It all belongs to God so make sure you're a good steward.
4. Sending brings blessings to the Sender.  You can enjoy the fulfillment of knowing that those who send missionaries share in the great work that is happening around the world.  And, those who send are a part of making disciples and those who make disciples have the promised presence of Jesus.

As you generously give to missions this Christmas, why not make a commitment to be the best Sender of missionaries that you can be?