STARTING THIS SATURDAY – 1 week missions trip from May 26-June 2!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

(1) ACERCATE short term missions trip to the Pai tribe
(2) The preparations for the trip
(3) For Mike and Samuel, who will be teaching Ephesians in the Pai church during that week.
(4) For the 5 students from Rio Grande Bible Institute in Texas, who are on the ACERCATE trip
(5) For the leaders: Mike and Trisha Goddard and Samuel Recalde
(6) Good health
(7) Good weather

In this monthly update:
Missions Conference in Cordoba, Argentina
Video Project
Short-term Missions Trip in May

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Missions Conference in Cordoba, Argentina

During Easter break, Mike was extended an invitation to represent the work of NTM in a missions conference in Cordoba, Argentina.  Discussion took place over the organization of a large youth missions rally for 2014.

It was a tremendous encouragement to see God raising up a multitude of Latin young people from countries such as Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and many other nationalities that were present.

Video Project

2 weeks of the month of April were dedicated to filming and photographing the ongoing ministries through NTM Paraguay. A partner organization in Paraguay generously donated the time of a professional videographer to work with Mike.

The multimedia team covered 2,600 kilometers (1,615 miles) of Paraguay, visited 4 tribes, and documented the multifaceted, cross-cultural ministry of tribal church planting in Paraguay.  Mike was pleased to donate his photography skills as well.

Trisha and the children stayed for a week with the church planting team among the Pai, where Mike’s brother, sister, and cousin work. She helped “hold down the fort” while the Team was busy teaching a week-long Bible study on the book of Romans.

Short-term Missions trip in May

Mike and his coworker Samuel will be leading a team of 5 for a short-term mission’s trip among the Pai Tavytera tribal people. The goal of the trip is to provide a cross-cultural experience for the 5 team members, and they will be doing a work project for the Pai church. Mike and Samuel also plan to teach a Bible course in the Pai church. Trisha and the children will be going along, and they will be staying at the guest house to serve the team by preparing meals and will continue to do their normal homeschooling materials. This trip will be a week-long at the end of May. Please be praying for the team, the leaders, and the Pai church.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.   Romans 15:13

Thank you for praying and supporting the Goddard family as they minister in Paraguay!

Mike & Trisha Goddard

In this Goddard Grapevine: (1) Ministry happening in March (2) Traveling to Argentina and (3) Children’s Corner

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Ministry happenings in March

In March, Mike and his coworker Samuel went to visit a Pai village to encourage the believers as well as to investigate the possibilities of taking a short term missions team there in May. It has been confirmed that the mobilization team will be leading an ACERCATE trip of 5 people from a Bible Institute in Texas.

The Goddards had the opportunity to speak in Damian and Claudio’s church. These 2 young men were on the ACERCATE trip in January. It was a wonderful time of sharing about missions with the church. We also had the opportunity to speak in Iglesia Bautista Sin Fronteras during their missions’ emphasis month.

Mike has the privilege to teach once again this year in CEMP’s Bible training for Pastors. He is very excited to be co-teaching the book of Ephesians in Guarani with, Samuel and Pastor Ramon. The leaders that they are teaching are hearing in their heart language truths regarding their position in Christ.

The Goddards had the privilege to be a part of Marcos and Blanca’s wedding the end of March. Marcos and his parents, Ramon and Marciana, are their adopted Paraguayan family. It was a joy for Mike to serve them by photographing the wedding along with an assistant photographer in training.

Traveling to Argentina

Please pray for safety as Mike travels to Argentina during Easter week for a youth conference. There will be approximately 200 missions leaders and youth volunteers attending, and they will spend 3 ½ days of fellowship and planning for a missions rally in 2014.

Children’s Corner

Michael, motivated by Lea finishing her 1st grade books, completed his 2nd grade books (10 days ahead of schedule), and he has now started 3rd grade. He loves math! Something new in 3rd grade are the “Speed Drills”, which he absolutely loves! He likes making his own video clips and editting them on the computer.

Lea is excited that she is now in 2nd grade. She loves music and has lessons in guitar with her. She enjoys coloring and baking cookies all by herself.

Kaleb’s Kindergarten consists of learning to read, writing neatly, math, and basic English grammar. He also joins Michael and Lea in their studies on health, science, and history. He loves to draw pictures of the family, play with his monkey “Bungle”, and help mom in the kitchen.

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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.   1 Peter 1:3-5

May each of you have a wonderful Easter celebrating our Savior!

Mike & Trisha Goddard

I’m homeschooling our 3 children this year: Michael – 3rd grade // Lea – 2nd grade // Kaleb – Kindergarten

Our school year is from February – November 2012, which follows the Paraguayan school year.

Right now, Michael and Lea are finishing up their English books from the previous grade due to going to a Spanish Christian school last year.

Check below to learn about the curriculum and websites that I use as tools to teach our children.

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Guide for Lessons and Subjects:Scope and Sequence by A Beka Book www.abeka.com

Curriculum that I plan to use while homeschooling:

 A Beka Book materials – www.abeka.com

Avon Cursive Writing

The Picture Bible for daily Bible study

Libros Aguila grammar books in Spanish

Computer programs and websites for good homeschool info, curriculum, and resources:

Google Earth

www.answersvbs.com   – ideas for incorporating Bible, Health, Science, and History

 www.torchlighters.org  – Torchlighters Heroes of Faith DVDs

www.starfall.com –  Learn to Read with Phonics: “Where children have fun learning to read”

www.whitsend.org/CD-DVD-More.aspx?itemID={7C6D712E-5A14-417E-86D6-D6068AE11919}&ul=m2   –  The Truth Chronicles (Adventures in Odyssey) – Bible

www.whitsend.org/CD-DVD-More.aspx?itemID={F00EC1CB-4D60-47E8-A3EE-8EF96F3A828D}&ul=m6 – Adventures in Odyssey Life Lessons 1-12 – Bible

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/ – National Geographic Kids

www.wordlywise3000.com/games/ – Wordly Wise

https://apologia.securesites.net/ and http://blog.apologia.com/ – Apologia

http://youngedition.pixelofink.com – Pixel of Ink Young Edition

http://kidshealth.org/kid/ – Kids Health

http://www.ixl.com/ – IXL Learning >> Math

https://www.facebook.com/TheHomeschoolLounge – Facebook: The Homeschool Lounge

www.facebook.com/busyhomeschoolmom – Facebook: The Busy Homeschool Mom

:: Short term missions trip >> ACERCATE 2012 ::
This year we had the tremendous blessing of leading an Acercate short-term missions team to visit the Pai Tavytera and build a church with them!

The Pai church, Iglesia Nueva Cristiana, has been praying for a brick meeting place for several years and by faith began setting money aside from their weekly offerings. By the time Mike heard about their need, they had collected nearly $15 USD!  After discussing the need with a Paraguayan Christian businessman, Mike launched out by faith with the project: Construccion y Capacitacion (Construction and Training) through the NTM Paraguay Acercate program. The Lord supplied $5,065 USD toward the building materials and 16 volunteers to get the majority of the project finished in a 3 week period.

The Pai church members expressed gratitude through their testimonies, comments, and hours of volunteer work.  The Acercate team left after two weeks of work and the Pai believers stepped into void they left through carrying water for cement, mixing concrete, construction, and several ladies prepared food.

You can view an online photo album on facebook or click here >>

:: New Coworkers ::

We have been praying for full-time coworkers for several years and those prayers have been answered through the Recalde family!  We want to welcome Samuel and Tracy Recalde to the Departamento Enlace of NTM Paraguay and look forward to working with them throughout this year.

:: Mike’s Parents came to visit ::

A visit from Mike’s parents, Dean and Nellie Goddard, was a blessing! Together we visited Paraguayans whose lives they had touched.

:: Family ::

Before all the conferences and traveling in January and February, we were able to enjoy some time as a family at home and going to the creek about a 2-hour drive from our house in the capital. The children will be home schooled this year and we will be looking for creative ways to help our children maintain their Spanish and friendships.

:: Youth Camp ::

Each year we pack our bags and represent the least reached people groups around the world at a youth event called CIMA.

We have the opportunity to meet many young people, and this year, 6 of them went on our ACERCATE trip to the Pai Tavytera tribe. Mike taught several classes on Missions during CIMA, and Trisha oversaw the display table with information and Spanish resources.

:: Eternal Impact in Lives ::

Thank you for supporting us through your prayers and financial gifts. Together we were able to have both an eternal impact in the lives of the Acercate volunteers as well as a Pai Tavytera church!

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Read an article done by NTM: Pai Prayers Answered

Read in this monthly Goddard Grapevine:

(1) 9 months of Bible teaching in Caaguazu

(2) Testimonies of Rural Church Leaders

(3) Intercultural Missions Conference

(4) Children Update

(5) Prayer Requests

9 Months of Bible Teaching

November concluded 9 months of Bible teaching to rural church leaders. One man gave testimony saying, “I’ve been saved for 20 years, but finally I feel like I’m getting to know God! Mike has helped us establish a firm foundation in our lives; that foundation is Christ!”

The church leaders expressed their gratitude to each of the Bible teachers by giving a printed certificate.

Trisha’s service in the kitchen alongside the other cooks, was also recognized through a certificate. Her experiences will be very helpful as she cooks for the 2 work teams in January and February 2012.

Testimonies of rural church leaders from the 9 month Bible teaching:

“The stories of Adam and Eve and about the Church had become common to me until this year. I’m understanding things I had never known.”  – Alcides

“I have always been extremely timid and backward, but God’s Word has given me tremendous confidence!” – Manuel

“Mike wrote on the white board about who we were before salvation and who we are now in Christ. All we have to do is use the tools God has given us to live in holiness!” – Saul

Intercultural Missions Conference

A Paraguayan organization called LETRA Paraguay and NTM put together an intercultural missions conference where tribal church leaders, national missionaries and expatriate missionaries were able to fellowship together and learn from one another’s experiences and ministries. There were 11 different ministries present, numerous churches, and 4 tribal groups from both Paraguay and Argentina.

Mike oversaw the organization and logistics of the conference while Trisha handled the welcome table and NTM’s display table. It was encouraging to see so many people working together toward a common objective: to see that the Gospel is preached and lived out among the least-reached people groups of Paraguay.

Children Update

Michael, Lea, and Kaleb have finished their school year in a Paraguayan Christian School and are now homeschooling.

This next year, we will be homeschooling. The kids are very excited to have mom as a teacher again and enjoy having their own assignment books to “check” of the assignments that they have accomplisted during the day.

Michael is finishing his 2nd grade English Abeka books and will begin 3rd grade soon.  Lea is finishing her 1st grade English Abeka books and will begin 2nd grade soon. Kaleb is continuing his Kindergarten English Abeka books.

Their Spanish has greatly improved over the year and often speak it in the home. We praise the Lord for our children, who have learned Spanish as well as tidbits of Guarani and Portuguese. In fact, this next  2 1/2 weeks, we will be having a Brazilian friend stay with us.

Prayer Requests

(1) to provide our children a balanced life-style in both education and ministry.

(2) wisdom as we raise our children to walk in righteousness in their faith in Jesus Christ.

(3) wisdom as we lead two Latin missions teams to build a church building with the Pai Tavytera

(4) wisdom as we live out Christ in so many contexts and cultures on a daily basis. May His Church be built up and engage efficiently in worldwide missions!

Download a printable version here: Goddard Grapevine – November 2011

Check out our new family photos here >> Goddard family 2011

Mike & Trisha Goddard
Michael, Lea, and Kaleb

Missionaries in Paraguay since 2004

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36 HOURS = 65 STUDENTS

Mike had the privilege of teaching through once again an Evangelism and Discipleship course he and another coworker had prepared in 2009. He taught the course three times in August, starting in a city on the Brazilian border.

In the photo, Mike is with a Pastor and Director of the Bible Institute.

Mike used sunglasses to illustrate the importance of teaching and training at a worldview level to avoid syncretism. 65 students, 36 hours of teaching in three churches gave Mike a prime opportunity to build relationships and to share about the global needs of cross-cultural ministry. The seeds planted in the hearts of these dear followers of Christ will have a lasting impact on their community and among unreached people groups.

RENUEVO’s 8th ANNIVERSARY and 1st MISSIONS CONFERENCE

This August was a very special month for us as we assisted our local church on their 8th anniversary to organize their very first World Missions Conference! We ordered 20 flags from the USA and for a very affordable price was able to give an international flavor to the church decorations.

Mike was given an evening to share on the local church’s reaction before the Great Commission by faith-giving and praying.

During the Missions Conference, Trisha and some of the women put together a “Cantina Misionera” to raise funds for a nice offering for a Paraguayan missionary family from our church. Trisha sold brownies, coffee cake, empanadas, soda, and coffee. On the last day, we were able to hand $150 to our missionaries!

KIDS’ KORNER

The children also heard stories by missionaries during the Conference. They enjoyed videos on the lives of famous missionaries like Amy Carmichael. Lord willing, these children will grow up with a heartbeat for Missions!

For Kid’s Day in Paraguay, we went to a bike store to purchase Lea’s first bicycle. A young man from a church we’ve spoken in gave us a tremendous discount enabling us to buy a bike for Kaleb too! Now all three enjoy riding their bikes at any opportunity they get, even in the house on rainy days.

Kaleb and his buddy Jeremias dressed up as colonial Paraguayans for a school play!

SU REFUGIO // HIS REFUGE

Yesterday, we enjoyed visiting Su Refugio (His Refuge) >> A place where children in troubled living conditions can find a safe and loving environment. It is a place where His glory is manifested, where His love is shared, His light is revealed and His Word is taught to the people of Paraguay.

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. Psalms 18:30

You can see some pictures of our day trip to Su Refugio on Facebook.

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