Update: Week Two!

Hello everyone! This second week has been so good and I’ve enjoyed every moment! Pastor Carlos Brunk and his wife Denise returned to the country last Sunday and then the day after, Pastor John and his family got in from Curacao.

It has been great to get together with them and start doing ministry together. It has also been good that we were able to meet with Pastor Carlos and get an idea of what the church schedule is going to be like. Now that we have the church schedule, we are able to build around it with all the opportunities we have found and created with people in the community. God has been doing some awesome things this last week that is very hard to explain how He has been leading me into opportunities to meet people and build connections with them. I usually go out every day and talk to people as the opportunities come. I think in total, I’ve been able to meet around 50+ people in the last two weeks and have actually long and deep conversations with about 20-30 of them, including follow up hangouts. These opportunities have been nothing short of divine appointments in how God has led me to even meet these people, start a conversation with them, and then follow up. We’ve been able to have someone over for board games as well as meet with them in the city in various places. God is definitely orchestrating each of these encounters and it’s so awesome to see and be part.

I had this idea to just join a bunch of Facebook groups that have to do with the Island and activities taking place in order to find and create opportunities to meet more people and build relationships. I also decided to look through events near us to see opportunities. We’ve been able to add a bunch of local events in our calender to make connections. I found a group of people that play ultimate frisbee every Sunday and this last Sunday we were able to go, play, and meet about 13 people there! Through this, we were talking about board games and I had the idea of having consistent weekly board game nights, and making a Facebook group to let people know who we are and when we will be having board game nights to get people together to build connections with them for the Gospel. I made the Facebook group yesterday (Tuesday the 24th) that tells people what days and times we will open our home (John and Melinda’s apartment) for board games and connecting and then shared it on all of the “Bonaire 4 sale/Fun 2 do in Bonaire” sites. We already have over 55 people that have joined the group that are planning on being part of some of our weekly board game nights! Please pray for this because it is a big opportunity!! The plan is to build relationships with them and as the conversation allows, invite them to our weekly Bible studies/activities and church.

Me and the Lowder’s had our first church service here on 1/22

Along with preparing and planning our ministry ideas and opportunities as well as walking around town talking with and meeting people and trying to build connection, we’ve had some time to explore around, do some snorkeling, check out a couple restaurants, and spend time together, growing together as a family and a team. John has also been taking me and his son Jared through a refresher course on preaching as we will be having opportunities to preach while being here.

There’s nothing better than seeing God’s creation, being with people, investing in lives, learning, growing, following the Spirit’s leading, evangelizing, and being right where God has called me. I can’t express to you all enough how much I am in my element here. To be able to go out, walk up to anyone and start talking and having a long conversation and then being able to get their number to hangout so that I can invest in them for eternity. The ideas that have come into my head and the vision for ministry/evangelism have been awesome and I’m only two weeks in. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do with all these connections and opportunities! This would not have been possible without all of you that have or are supporting me financially, emotionally, prayerfully, and spiritually. I thank God for you all daily. Thank you.

Prayer Requests:

• Ultimate frisbee – We found a group that plays every Sunday and have met all the people there, this is a great opportunity
• Board Game Nights – Every Wednesday and the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month, open to everyone in the community
• The various people that I’ve met and have been hanging out with, that don’t really believe in God or don’t want anything to do with him. I’ve made many many connections and this seems to be the outlook that people have.
• Continued good health
• Opportunity to start a Bible study of my own
• My Spanish language learning
• Continued opportunities to make connections and opportunity to witness to all the friends that I’ve already made.

But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

Jeremiah 20:9