Missions

Some of the generals things that I can say that God teach us, it was the “models”. We all have models, or styles that we learned, but when we arrived here, all these models, or styles were really different, to do Church here in Africa is way different than in America, even in South America where we are. And be humble and understand that “my model” or “my style” is not the correct or their model or style is not incorrect, is something that I learned. Sometimes the simplicity, and to see that with a few things people can praise the Lord and be thankful, joyful. We don’t need to many things for that, just a heart that is gratefully. A like Paul said “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.“ ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV

Nina and Amelie Abranovich:
We thank God because the girls behaved very well during our journey of more than 35 hours to Brazil. We pray that they can continue adapting to the routine. Please also continue praying for Amelie, who received her vaccines a few days ago—her fever has gone down, and she is feeling a bit better. Pray that they continue to behave well throughout all the travels we have ahead and during our visits with friends and loved ones here.

Prayer requests:

• Pray for wisdom in organizing their time and not get to overwhelmed with all they have and can do.

• Pray for Patty energy as she teaches both boys at homeschool.

• Pray for CBG, there are many new students, we have a great number of students and that causes a good number of challenges.

– We asked that God will bring up men and women in the Northeast Brazil field to lead the churches. We pray that in January we have a good group of students enrolled at our bible institute relaunch. We also pray that by the end of 2024 we have raised enough funds to buy a used ministry car to facilitate the transportation to the new church plants and Project ABBA ministries.
– We thank God for giving us the opportunity to reach the people of Brazil. We also thank the Lord for the partnership and support of believers in the US that have been praying and financially supporting us.

Please Pray:

• We’re looking to the Lord for wisdom regarding our son Mathias’ schooling. His studies are going well, but he has been expressing himself more about it lately, and we think it’s time to make some changes that will increase how much he benefits from his academic education.
• I also would like to pray for a new student who wants to be trained in the Word for ministry: Yuri. He is very intentional in his studies, but has filled his plate too much and is struggling to find time for our sessions in Scripture.
• For Mathias’s heart to always be willing to do God’s will as he grows.
• For Mariana’s ministry with the ladies all over Brazil, as they dig deeper in the Word together.
• For Mariana’s studies with BBI USA working towards a certificate.
• For our leadership training through BBI Brazil, for the new courses we’re preparing to offer.
• For our new Bible study with young people in the northern side of São Paulo, for growth in Christ.
• For our church meetings in our home to grow and bear fruit.

Please Pray:

• Grace Bible Institute: We’re praying for four partner sites to host week long Bible school sessions in key geographical locations yet to be identified.

• The renewal of our Residence Visas through Hope Africa University.

• A strong relationship with Hope Africa University and for our part-time teaching assignments. 

• Michelle will begin teaching at Great Lakes School of Theology and Hope Africa University. Pray that class size will be manageable.

• Pray that the street ministry grows and sees participants established in churches.

• One of our goals this term is to shift to a Bible teaching podcast. We need to add Kirundi as a language of outreach.

• Please pray for our health! We have been unwell so frequently this past year, it has been quite tiring and disappointing too, but the Lord heals and we get through it. We just want a clean bill of health for a longer period, and to get our energy back up!
• Praise for breakthrough in conversations with our Buddhist family members about the Lord and slowly sharing more Biblical History and facts proven through prophecy!
• I also praise God for my niece’s and nephews in the UK who are showing more sympathy and understanding towards God and the Christian life!

• One big project for this year is Chetra training up an eldership team with the support of our other team mate James. We have three Khmer men that are willing to take on this role and ultimately share the responsibility of leading the church in the future. Their names are Borey, Simon and Soy.
• Chetra and I are planning to set up a social work team in the community to bridge the gap between inside the church and outside… It’s a big task to initiate and will take planning and good preparation, but we are super excited to get this going and get people involved!

PRAYER

• That the family be under God’s protection.
• A new season in the ministry.
• Upcoming leadership meeting May 28th.
• Their first born daughter, Shalom. will be in the USA to attend GCU, MAY God lead during this time.
• Pray for their ministry transport, they don’t have enough money to buy a vehicle. They need a strong vehicle to drive the dirty and mountainous roads.

PRAISE

A church was planted through a sports outreach in the town of Big Bend.

Our main project we will be working on is leadership development through out Eswatini, getting strategic people for training, our target is to train 100 people who will be a key to train others .

I plan to build shops in the front of the school along the road. This will bring in some income for the school and the national work, lessening their dependence on outside help. With this new flexibility, they can plant more churches, train new pastors and missionaries, and partner with us in taking the Gospel to East Africa. Our idea is to use two old shipping containers and convert them into shops – maybe 6-8. We will hire a manager to oversee the shop management and ensure tenants pay their rent.

Maggie Lloyd:
Pray for Maggie as it has been hard on Maggie with so many people leaving. She was close with Nina Abranovich and their family left last week, and she has another long time friend leaving next week.

Caleb Lloyd:
Pray for Caleb and his attitude towards school.

• Elena is here, Mother and baby are doing good.
• For enough energy to be able to do well his work in the ministry.
• To do well as a husband and now as a father.
• They have enough resources to give their daughter everything she needs to be well.
• For their residences to be approved.

Prayer for
•those ministries
•wisdom and guidance from the Lord in all decisions for ministry
•for residency and ability to stay registered as a organization
•for our marriage, communication, health, and stress management.
•for parenting well in God’s eyes.

Praise God for
•encourage us every day through his Word, fellowship team and partners around, open doors.
•friendly neighbors and safety.
•for Emma and us adapting well in all.
•for ministry opportunities such a small groups, sunday school program for kids, discipliship.

• For the new people attending the church for their spiritual growth commitment.
• For more families, couples or individual missionaries or local leader to serve along side with us.
• The Barrantes Family are going to Costa Rica next Wednesday. Josue and I do not have American visa so we are going to make the request there.
• For Panama Church Rent assistance project; 50% has been raised but that amount has not increasing over the last couple of months.

For 2024 our main goal or project is to seek for a land where we can start building a place where we can meet on Sundays and where we can carry out the other ministries.

I will be working in preparing leaders; specially for Sunday School and Worship leaders.

God has been teaching me sooo much… He has taught me how much I need to learn, that I don’t know it all. I have been learning that God called me to 1st spend time with Him, everything else can wait and comes after. God has taught me that I wasn’t as an adjustable as I thought and that I need to be humble and ask for help, I can’t do it on my own, and I don’t have to know everything, as I suspected, someone who is vulnerable is more teachable than someone who is not. I don’t have to have everything figured it out, in the way God will continue showing me what to do and what to say.

Naomi Hodgson:
She is continuing to have various health issues. Her class load this semester is fairly difficult, so she is struggling to stay on top of all her assignments. Things are going well with her roommates and she is enjoying life in the townhomes at Grace.

Elijah Hodgson:
He seems to be enjoying school. He would like to have a bit more of a social life outside of school and church activities.

Timmy Hodgson:
He is having some struggles in school again. We never did get him tested, but I am quite sure he has some type of dyslexia. He also might be a little ADHD inclined. So, he has some difficulty processing information, writing is very time consuming and difficult for him. He is super sensitive to the emotions of those around him and the mood of his environment, as well as anxious about having the attention of others on him. At the same time, he wants to do everything on his own without any help.
Please pray for wisdom for us as we try to help him have a positive school experience.

• For Paraguay church plant – Iglesia Bíblica Bereana (Berean Bible church) in the city of Presidente Franco. The church is in the process of membership and organizing its ministries. We have good number of local people willing to serve.
• For more missionaries to come to Paraguay. Last year they had 4 Missionary families. Now they are down to 2 with one in the states.

• That we can buy land to put up our national headquarters. We want to build a multi-purpose facility for our conferences, camps, Bible school, and national offices. It will be our biggest project so far, but we believe it is time to step up in faith and see what GOD will do.
• For Grace Outreach Ministries South Africa (GOMSA) leadership.
• Their LOVE for the Lord, KNOWLEDGE of His Word, and PASSION for His Word will continue to grow more and more. South Africa and the Grace work need them.
• For our health. A lot of sicknesses are going around in South Africa. Covid and other virus infections are increasing again. Many of our people are sick and unable to come to church.
• For the economic situation in South Africa. The cost of living and gas and food prices are increasing. Many companies are closing due to long daily power outages.
• On August 8-22, we will be traveling to Kenya (Africa). We are scheduled to teach at Kenya Grace Bible School from the 10th-17th and speak at their national conference from the 17th (afternoon)-the 20th. Things to Come Mission will pay for my (Dean) airfare, but we have to raise funds for Sheba, Shedea, and Shedesh’s airfares. We must get visas for the four of us and get yellow fever vaccines, as well. We want to raise at least $2000 for the trip to cover everything. Please pray for our health (Kenya is in the Malaria zone), safety (it is supposed to be a 5-hour flight, but direct flights are expensive. So, we want to get a 1-stop or multiple stops flight), and that we will be mutually blessed as we fellowship in the Word and with the believers there. Your gift for this trip will surely lighten our financial burden and make this trip possible. Please know that we appreciate your prayers and financial support. If you are interested in helping us raise this amount, you can send your gift to: THINGS TO COME MISSION PO Box 127 Beech Grove, IN 46107 Just put-Dean and Sheba-Kenya trip

Our project has been the focus of our prayers and giving. It’s a $50,000 kickstart project to buy land and start the building. It’s the first time that we have had this massive project. It’s scary! Any amount going toward this project would lighten our burden and brighten the possibility of having our own ministry “home” soon.