NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

Well we finally made it Arizona!   Woo Hoo!  After 3 days of driving through 5 states we made it to our driveway in McNeal, where New Tribes Missions Aviation is Headquartered, and our first assignment as missionaries.  As we drove through the desert, we noticed how green everything was and wondered why.

Welcome to NTMA in McNeal, AZ

Apparently, it’s Monsoon season here from July to August — and rightfully so, because we’ve experienced some spectacular thunderstorms followed by magnificent sunsets!   We’ve settled quite well into our cozy single wide trailer here amongst the mesquite and cactus and are very comfortable in our new abode.  The trip was especially smooth because of the many extra hands that were available due to both of our parents, Ray and Eunice Owens and Jerry and Karen Simmons being along for the trek with us.  What a blessing!  They were especially helpful during the unpacking and moving in stage of the game, keeping our youngsters corralled and entertained– no small feat in itself.  We are starting to feel at home here in Arizona with the rattlesnakes, cactus and jack rabbits, but nothing makes us feel more welcome than the staff here who are quickly becoming family.  Oh, and did I mention the view we have out our trailer windows?  As I sit down with my coffee and Bible in the early morning hours, I’m greeted by the sun’s first rays peaking over the majestic Chiricahua Mountains of Southeast Arizona…Ahhhh what a view!  Please keep us in your prayers as we start Orientation early Monday morning, and shortly after, Flying….Yes the glorious sound of a whiling propeller and humming airplane engine.  Music to my ears.  My wings have been tucked in for long enough and are in need of a good long stretch.  I’ll be sure thinking of all of you who have helped Mel and I along the way getting us to this point.  Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers that have been sent to the Lord on our behalf.  But most of all I think I’m in awe of how the Lord has held us up through all the hurdles and snares in our path.  THANKS be to God!

Any animal you can feed an apple to and it makes bacon is AWESOME!

…FAST! Thanks SO MUCH to Jim & Martha Ritchie for hosting what was almost 200 people at our Pig Pickin’ this past Saturday!  SO MUCH FUN!  With an early start to the day, my hubby and Scott Dysart left around 5AM with the pig to begin the big roasting festivities.  Tom Rogers and others pitched in their help as the day went on.  Thunder showers and some crazy downpours were taking place everywhere in the area….EXCEPT at the Ritchie’s house!  PTL!  As people slowly started trickling in around 4:45pm, the tables started filling with amazing side dishes and desserts!  We all stuffed ourselves and talked for hours!  The kids had endless fun petting the horses, playing on the trampoline and in the treehouses / forts.  Some of the guys played Corn Hole for hours, and we smiled as we looked around at such a big group of encouraging brothers and sisters in Christ! We LOVE this new tradition of Pig Roasts, and hope to continue it on as we head out to Arizona. We’ll be enjoying our last week here in Norfolk, VA, and then we’ll take several days visiting friends along the way back to Missouri.  We officially “pack up the truck” and head out on August 2nd for Arizona, and will arrive at our first official “post” on August 4th.

Our quiet cove in the Ozarks!

Hey everyone,

We wanted to write and let you know that things are going well here in Roach, Missouri. We have adjusted well, and really love it here. We’ve made tons of friends already in the 3 short weeks we have been here and there’s only potential for more. Itʼs not that hard to make friends, I guess, when everyone around you has the same focus. Our instructors are fantastic. Mel and I are learning so much about what missions is all about and what itʼs going to take to succeed. Some of the courses we’ve taken are Biblical Hermeneutics, Worldviews, Stewardship, Foundational Bible Teaching, Communication Skills, Applied Ministry Skills, and Hold The Ropes (prayer emphasis), just to name a few. Weʼll be taking more as the semester progresses.   (more…)