NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

After the 1707 mile trip I had to bounce right back and hit the road running. There were many more friends to spend time with, Churches to share with, home meetings, an all nighter, and a dr. appointment in preparation for Mexico. The last couple weeks of my time in Oregon were packed, and are now wonderful memories that I can cherish through the years. As a quick recap: In the three months I was there: We shared at 12 churches, 11 other groups (Bible Study etc), 3 youth all nighters, and 2 camps, as well as meeting with over 45 people (specifically to share with them). This was a wonderful, busy time.

On June 8th I flew back to Florida. I was there an entire day and a half before heading out again. After seeing family on the 9th, and an appointment on the 10th, my family and I began the journey to Missouri for the New Tribes Enrichment Conference. This is a week long conference for missionaries that are on home assignment or state side, to encourage and refresh them. I was able to share at a church the Sunday before the conference. Then the crazy week began. It was a week of meeting new friends, and catching up with “old” friends. I had the awesome privilege to help out with the high school and college group. Imagine listening as the approximately 90 voices praise our God, watching them play crazy games like flour wars, learning with them about practical ways to love others, deal with depression, and live for the Lord. There was lots of free time to encourage, hang out, have fun, and sing with them.

On our way to the conference we stopped at a friends house in St. Louis and found out their neighbors had a really nice minivan for sale. Mom and Dad prayed about it during the week and then decided to buy it. After the conference we went and helped a friend from FL do some work on a house in Kansas so that he can rent it out or sell it, and then we came back to St. Louis to get the van. The next morning dad went to get our van checked, and it wouldn’t start. Come to find out the fuel pump is bad, so they found one at a junk yard. That was replaced and the next morning we headed to Michigan with both vans.

This trip has been great preparation for Mexico and life. We have had to be flexible, and really enjoyed it even in dealing with “big” problems, because we’ve been able to rest in God and trust His provision. Now we are visiting friends in Michigan and preparing for the family reunion/memorial (for my Grandma). Thanks for all your prayers for safe travel. I’d really appreciate prayer that I can set up meetings in Michigan and see the people I need to during that time!

Crystal and I just returned from a 7 day road trip. Here are some statistics.

7 Day Road Trip

1707 Miles of driving

Interesting things we saw along the way:

140 Prius’

2 snakes (on the road)

8 deer

13 log trucks

1 mystery machine van

It helps to count something to stay entertained.

We had the awesome opportunity to represent the 36 people groups in Mexico who have NO any access to the Gospel, (as well as the 10 people groups who already have missionaries but are just hearing the Gospel for the first time) by visiting and sharing with:

2 Family members (my cousin, Crystal’s Grandma)

26 friends in 13 Cities

1 Bible Study

1 Sunday School Class and

1 Church service

We had a wonderful time connecting with friends and meeting new people. Also, it was so exciting to be able to share our heart for the people in Mexico. We even through in a little sight seeing by visiting the Space Needle and Crater Lake.

Thanks for all your prayers, we had a safe trip with just one little car repair (changing out some fuses (funny story, email me if you’d like to hear it)). We got along well, and I think we even learned more about how to communicate with each other. Check out my website to see more pictures of this trip, and thanks again for all your prayers, support, and encouragement.

Thank you so much to all of you who prayed for Crystal and I as we shared at Awana Camp. We really appreciate and needed those prayers. It was an awesome weekend. We were able to share the Gospel with around 75 kids, as well as teach them how to share it with their family and friends! What an awesome privilege. Also, seizing the opportunity to open their eyes to the thousands of people around the world and in Mexico, who don’t have a chance to hear the Gospel unless we go tell them. Please continue to pray that they will use what they learned to reach out to those around them.

A church of dear people in a small mountain town, here in Oregon, welcomed us last Sunday, allowing us to share with them. They were so kind and excited about reaching people in Mexico. They also shared pictures and stories of a recent trip that some of their members had recently made to Mexico.

Recently the leadership in Mexico told us about some changes they are making to the “Spanish language program.” They really want the focus of our time studying Spanish to be “Going to do cross cultural ministry in Mexico (Chihuahua) while learning Spanish.” They are setting it up so that we will have a Mexican host family from a local church down there, who will help us get settled and functioning. We will rely on that family the first month, and then start to meet the missionaries. This will give us a kick start in language and culture learning as well as help us depend on the Mexicans instead of the missionaries. We are very excited about this change, however, as change often does, it brings lots of unknowns, and other changes. Your prayers will make a huge difference, by encouraging and helping us as we make some big decisions, continue raising support, and prepare in many ways for our time there.

A verse that God has brought to my attention, as an encouragement and challenge is James 1:5-8. Once again thanks so much for your prayers that you pray believing that God, who is faithful, will answer! By doing this you are making a difference in more lives then you know!!

PS Check out the picture section of my website to see more camp pictures

Crystal and I had two great trips to different parts of Idaho. In the two weeks we shared at four churches and visited lots of wonderful people. We were able to meet new people and catch up with friends. Thanks so much for all your prayers as we had safety on some snowy roads.

Since then we were able to celebrate Easter at our home churches! It was so nice to have a Sunday off (our first since I got here) and to be able to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus!! I hope you had a wonderful Easter!

We have also been preparing for sharing with Awana kids at camp this weekend. We get to share the Gospel with them as well as teach them how to share the Gospel with their friends. Also, we will be sharing about missions and Mexico. We really appreciate your prayers, that what we share would be clear, and helpful for the kids, so they can share the Gospel with their friends and maybe in the future, around the world. Also, pray that their hearts will be challenged and that they will understand what we say. Thanks again for your part in reaching those here and in Mexico.

Following a flurry of sorting and packing for Mexico and traveling for four months, I was ready to head to Wisconsin to visit my sister. I spent an awesome week there adjusting to frigid temperatures, studying awesome Biblical truths in classes, and spending some amazing times with “old” friends and new friends, encouraging them and being greatly encouraged by them.

After a week that flew by to quickly I said goodbyes and was off to Oregon. Although I arrived at the airport at 11:30 pm, I had no clue what time it was supposed to be. After all I had been in WI one week and there was the time change, so I may have been experiencing some jet lag. Thankfully, Crystal picked my up and brought me home.

Since then I have been able to visit with lots of friends, and churches as well as get the tiniest taste of reverse culture shock. When you have adjusted to Florida culture, the friendly laid back culture of Eastern Oregon, brings a transition. For instance, If you walk in a store and someone you have never seen in your life smiles and talks to you, someone you saw at church, yesterday gives you a hug and talks to you for 15 minutes in the grocery store, most people you drive by wave at you, you might pass 5 cars on the way to the next town, and you drink in the beauty of majestic mountains on a daily basis. These all though nice, can still be a little shocking at first. When I just felt like staying inside I realized that I was dealing with culture shock, and was able to deal with it, and get out and visit friends.

So, that’s a little of what the past few weeks have held for me. I’m so excited to be back “home,” and would love to see you if you’re anywhere in the OR, WA, ID area. How are you doing? I’d love to hear from you, and pray for you if you have any prayer requests for me. Thanks for all your prayers as Crystal and I travel around sharing at lots of of churches. Have a wonderful day!!

Proverbs 16:9 says: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (NKJV). As I look at the 6 short months I have before heading to Mexico, I know that I will have to rely on God to make it. I’m excited to see how God will work in these next 6 months. Right now here are the plans.

February: I’ll be sharing at 2 or 3 Churches here in Florida. I’ll also be packing, and sorting what to take to Mexico; what to get rid of, and what to store for a while. You can help in this by praying for wisdom, as this is a huge process. Pray that I will be remembering that this world is not our home, and so I don’t need all this stuff . Along with this, Lord willing, I will continue to work on my video project. Please pray for this as I’ve been hitting some walls.

March through May or June: I’ll be making a trip to Wisconsin to visit my sister and some friends, as well as work on the video project some more. Then I fly out to Oregon where I will be spending time with my home church, and sharing at several other churches with my coworker, Crystal PIerce. We are excited to have this opportunity to represent the unreached people of Mexico, as well as meet and encourage brothers and sisters in Christ. Please pray for safe travel, that Crystal and I would continue to get along well, and for wisdom in scheduling.

June through the beginning of Aug: There are a lot of unknowns for this period of time, but it looks like I may travel to Colorado, Missouri, and Michigan, before heading back to Florida to finish packing up. Then I’ll head to Mexico (and maybe make some stops to share at some churches in Texas).

One thing that I’m excited to see God do throughout these next six months is raise my support. In order for me to be able to go to Mexico I have to have at least 60% of my reccommended support. I’m trusting God for the full 100% so that I can minister more freely. I’ve been averaging around 25%, so there is a long way to go. However, I know God is faithful, and I look foward to seeing Him provide. This is all going to be a big transition and I appreciate all your continued prayers and encouragement. Thanks for praying!!

How are you doing? I would love to hear from you, and know what I can be praying for you. This is an area that God has been teaching me about, and I would love to be able to pray more specifically for you.

Thanks, Amy

As I lay on the couch thinking of all I needed to get done, I couldn’t gather up the energy to get up from the place I had been laying the past couple of days.  I had been sick for a few days, and it was to the point where I needed to go to the Doctor.  He said I had an ear infection and sinus infection, and put me on a strong antibiotic.  Thankfully the antibiotic went to work and even though I was very tired, I was able to participate in the youth group visit to the Free Disney walk through of hotels.  This was a fun time hanging out with the kids.

I was so glad that God allowed me to be healthy on Christmas!  My sister’s family: Brett, Debby, and Chloe, were able to come up, and with Beka home from Bible School our entire family was home for a fun, though long Christmas.  We also had a friend, Andrew, visiting from England.  What are your Christmas traditions?  We start out by reading the Christmas story after breakfast, and then we open presents, by passing out one to each person and then watching each individual pass them out.  It’s fun, but it takes a long time .

As we continued on through the "holidays" we were able to go to the beach, and then to visit my grandparents for New Years.  There was lots of fun spending time together and playing with baby Chloe.  Also we took a quick trip to the everglades where we saw a gator swimming in the water.  We also saw another gator which is an example of Florida decorations for Christmas.  SInce there is no snow they compensate in other ways .

Sadly, my cold/infections decided to come back again, and so once again I find myself on antibiotics, but thankfully I’m not totally out of it, so I can get some work done.  I hope you are all healthy, and enjoying this New Year and all it’s opportunities, that God has provided for you. 

Thanks for all your prayers!  I’d love to hear how your Christmas and New Years went. 

The story of how God has worked in my life starts out with how He worked in my parents lives. I was born to Christian parents who had a heart to reach others. My parents joined New Tribes Mission when I was about 2 years old. After going through the training, they taught at the Missions Institute in Baker City, Oregon for about 16 years. Then they moved down to Florida to work at the NTM Headquarters (Home Office). They were faithful to teach me the truth of God’s Word from the time I was very young. As a result, I came to understand my need for a Savior, and was saved at a young age.

Growing up at a Missionary training center taught me a lot about the need for missionaries. Because of this influence, I wanted to be a missionary ever since I was a child. I understood later on that this is something God has commanded all of His children to do. I was very involved in Church, helping out in many different ways. While I was in Jr. High and High School, I had the opportunity to go on three missions trips to Mexico, and in 2001, I went on a short term missions trip to Bolivia.

After I graduated from High School I went to New Tribes Bible Institute in Waukesha, WI. Though I had been taught the Word while growing up, at Bible School, I learned a lot about who I am in Christ, and many other important things about walking with the Lord. When I finished there, I had the opportunity to go to Mexico on another short missions trip. Then, I went to the New Tribes Missions Institute in Baker City. By this time my parents had moved to Florida, but it was very good to have that year to spend with my home church, and be trained both there and at the Missions Institute. While at the Missions Institute I learned skills and techniques that can be used to help plant a New Testament indigenous church in another country. After Missions Institute, I went on to New Tribes Language School, and I took training there including a semester focused on linguistics. I learned many skills for learning an unwritten language, as well as other training. I graduated from the New Tribes training in December 2006.

Soon after I finished the training I decided to head to Mozambique, Africa. However, God eventually used unrest, the provisiion of a coworker, and other things not only to redirect me to Mexico, but also to draw me closer to Him. For more about this transition check out my news article on my website called "On an adventure with God." So, Lord willing Crystal and I will be heading to Mexico in July this year.

Some Likes:

-Horses

-Playing in the Snow

-Blue and Teal -Coffee

-Mountains and Beaches

-Rodeos/Bull Riding (watching)

-Eric and Leslie Ludy Books

-Acapella Music

-Fall Leaves

-Denver Broncos

-Crafts

-Pizza and Mex food

and Dislikes:

-Spiders and Roaches

-Humidity

-Eating Fish

-OJ with lots of pulp

-olives

You’ve heard a bit about a coworker that God provided for me, and about things we’ve done together, but who is this Crystal Pierce?

Crystal Pierce was raised in Baker City, Oregon. She became a Christian at a very young age. Crystal and I met when we were in the Awana program as Sparkys. When Crystal was in the fifth or sixth grade some missionaries that were working among a remote people group in Indonesia came to her church. The missionaries had taught chronologically through the Bible, presented the gospel, and believers were born. These believers wanted to be baptized. That was the first time that Crystal remembers hearing about people outside of her hometown becoming Christians.

Following high school, she attended New Tribes Bible Institute in Wisconsin and was grounded in the Word of God. After which,,she spent two years at home in Oregon, working, spending time with her church, and praying for
laborers to go to the missions fields. Then within a period of two weeks she became one of “The laborers” sent to the Missionary Training Center in Missouri with a desire to see remote people groups hear the Gospel.

So to help you get to know Crystal a little more, here are some like and dislikes that she has.

Likes:
yellow labs
fishing
jeans
Ravi Zacharias speeches
Beth Moore books
Pink
Lighthouses
sewing
swimming
Mexican food!!! chai tea
the mountains & the ocean
coffee

Dislikes:
snakes (strong hatred & fear)
flannel sheets
skirts
eating fish
humidity
jalapeños
OJ with no pulp 

We are excited to see how God will use us in Mexico as part of a team, working to reach those who have never heard the Gospel. 

My coworker Crystal Pierce had never really desired to come to Florida, after hearing the horror stories of alligators, snakes and bugs. However, with the invitation to share at a missions conference and come visit me, she came for a three week visit.

After flying all day from Oregon to Florida my coworker, Crystal Pierce, had a day off before we were headed to Northern Florida to share at a Missions Conference.  It was so sweet for me to renew acquaintances from last year, and to share with them all the awesome ways God has been directing, as well as introduce Crystal to them.  We got to share with Awana kids about how we first met when we were in Awanas.  There was some high school groups, and a college group, that we shared about our time in Bible School, the New Tribes training, and how God had been faithful to lead us through life changing decisions.   We visited with families in their homes, groups of kids, and a Sunday School class, and to them all we had the opportunity to share the vast need in Mexico!  Also, we were able to tell them how God is working in Mexico, in our lives, and how they could be involved.  It was so sweet to have this opportunity.  It was also a great time for Crystal and I to have good discussions about the future, and how we can work better together.  After the five day conference we headed home (to Deltona), arriving a little after midnight. 

We spent the next week resting (the first day), visiting with people, showing Crystal around the NTM Headquarters, and then we were off for another busy weekend. 

My sister Beka was able to fly down for the weekend from the New Tribes Bible Institute in Wisconsin.  Along with her, my sister Debby and her husband Brett, and their daughter Chloe, all came down with the rest of the family, and Crystal, to my Grandparents’ house.  My Grandparents, Uncle, Aunt and cousins had never met Chloe, so that was exciting for them.  It was a wonderful weekend for all of us. 

Since part of Florida’s draw is the tourist attractions, we wanted Crystal to enjoy some of this, on her first trip to Florida.  So, we went to Downtown Disney, the Holyland Experience, the Wycliffe discovery center, and of course the beach (brrr).

Then on Friday for youth group we had a Mexican Fiesta complete with lots of food (anyone want any leftovers ), Mexican games, Spanish songs, and Crystal and I sharing once again about the need in Mexico, and how we hoped to be used by God to be a part in reaching people there with His truth!

Though the three weeks flew by, it was a great time, and Crystal realized there are other sides to Florida.  We were able to accomplish all the to do’s on her list, except for seeing an alligator (in the wild).  So, with a changed view of Florida, she flew away with the idea that she just might come back for another visit.