Philippians 3:13-14 says, "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
In the past several weeks, since our last newsletter, there have been many times that I have been tempted to look back and wonder if I was making the right decision to move my family to Guatemala to pursue God's calling in our lives. Three specific moments come to mind.
Earlier this month, Steph announced to her company that she would be leaving by the end of April. She has enjoyed her job immensely, so it came to a shock to her bosses and coworkers when she made the announcement. It also gave us a little shock of reality: no more income, no more comfortable lifestyle, and no more security. Soon after, our family went on one last vacation with both sets of parents and some family friends. During that trip, as I was enjoying being disconnected from the world, relaxing, and enjoying time with my family, it hit me that I will no longer have such freedom to go on random vacations here and there. Lastly, yesterday I finally purchased our one-way tickets to Guatemala. I've only purchased two one-way tickets in my life so far. One, when I left Bolivia at 18 to come to the USA to start a new life, and now this ticket to Guatemala, where I am taking my family to start a new life. This move is happening and we are leaving everything behind to follow God.
Through these three events, I have mourned the loss of all that we are leaving behind, but I have also found joy and hope in Christ and all that lies ahead. After Steph's announcement to her work, many of her coworkers were curious about her decision and have asked to meet with her to hear more about what she'll be doing which has been an opportunity for her to share her testimony. Spending time with my family reminded me that we are not alone in this journey. We both have sets of parents who are supportive of our obedience to God's calling and will commit to praying for us throughout this journey. Buying this one-way ticket reminded me of God's faithfulness in my life over these past 13 years in the USA. He gave me many great experiences, an amazing and loving wife, two perfect and wonderful kids, and extended family, so many friends, and a church that I can call home and family.
Now, as we "strain forward to what lies ahead" and "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus," we are reminded of God's faithfulness and love in our lives, and are excited to see what new adventures and lessons He has in store for us!
Updates:
Preparation Trip
April 28-May 3: Jon will be traveling to Guatemala on his own to get things ready for our family, such as taking our first batch of luggage, buying furniture, and setting our home.
Departure Date
We are set to depart on Wednesday, June 5th. June 4th will technically be our last day, since our flight leaves at 12am on June 5th. We would love to meet up with you before we leave to say our goodbyes!
Fundraising Progress
We have raised about 50% of our fundraising goal. If you would like to learn more about how to partner with us through financial support, please click below!