Hello Friends and Family!
I hope you’re all doing well! Thank you for taking the time to read this update; I can’t tell you how much it blesses missionaries when you read our updates and take interest in the things God is doing in our lives. Things are continuing to go well with the ministry here. If you’re not familiar with my specific role in missions, the short of it is that I am on staff with Saving Grace World Missions as Director of Communications. I’m part of a staff that makes sure our missionaries are cared for spiritually and practically. My main role, on top of assisting with financial management for our missionaries, is to get the word out about what SGWM is and what we and our missionaries are doing. Please be in prayer as I lead up the promotion of our upcoming banquet May 5th, which is a great opportunity to garner support for the organization to help us send and support missionaries in an even greater capacity! Most people don’t realize the need to support not just missionaries on the field, but the organizations that send them and support them. The work of a missionary is not nearly as effective without a great sending organization!
I am hoping to finally get to go out on the field this year! My goal is to go to Africa in May or June with SGWM’s director, Pastor Mike Thiemann, to do some teaching and simply spend some time with our missionaries on the field there. Below are some pics of some of the missionaries we hope to visit there, and here is an article Pastor Mike wrote about why going out to see them is such an important aspect of our ministry. (On a side note, another cool aspect of my job is that I get to edit these great articles Pastor Mike writes for his missions training website).
This is Brian Kanyike. Pastor Brian is a dear friend who pastors Arise Christian Fellowship in Uganda
In the middle is Matt Harris, who I had the privilege of meeting last month. He hopes to head back out to Uganda soon with his wife, Noelle, and their two kids (and one on the way!) soon
Pastor Mike and I are also planning a trip in July to take our church’s high schoolers and young adults (ministries that Pastor Mike and I lead, respectively) to a special needs orphanage in Mexico that one of our missionary families runs.
It was such a privilege for me to take a trip out to this special needs orphanage with our youth group a couple of summers ago. I can’t wait to go again in July!
Finally, we are heavily praying about an opportunity to go to Cuba to do some missions training. We’ve had a couple of meetings so far, and as this would be a new area and work for SGWM, we are moving forward prayerfully. But, I’m excited about the work and my hope is that we can head out to scope the landscape and do some missions training with a passionate church body in Cuba!
Pastor Fernando came out to tell us about the ministry in Cuba and their need for missions training. We are praying about our involvement, and I’m praying about the prospect of being a part of this exciting venture!
I ask that you would keep all of these trips in prayer. I do need to raise additional funds for these trips, and I am continuing to work on raising monthly support to continue to fill my role with SGWM long-term and have the flexibility to go on more trips like the ones I hope to head out on this year. If you would like to make a one-time donation online or become a monthly supporter, please click the button below:
Or, you can send a check directly to made out to Saving Grace World Missions, 17451 Bastanchury Rd., Suite 203, Yorba Linda, CA 92886 with “Garcia Family” in the memo line.
Our kids on a recent venture out into the Southern California “cold.” Aren’t they adorable!?
And finally, if you’re not signed up already, feel free to sign up for our monthly newsletter here! Love you all and thank you so much for your continued prayers and support!
Love,
Joel, Amy, Maggie, Harrison, and Jude