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

Praise:

1. For the opportunity that Mike and Samuel had to go visit two Pai villages this past weekend.
2. For  3 weeks of a lighter schedule (after being gone for a month) and the opportunity to catch up on ministry responsibilities, time with friends and coworkers, house projects, and time as a family.
3. For a great family celebration for Trisha’s birthday (Feb. 26).
4. For skype-to-skype free calls with family in the USA.

Prayer Requests:

1. Wisdom and guidance from the Lord as Mike & Trisha raise their children and train them to walk in truth.
2. For their lives to reflect Christ and that all they do will honor and glorify Him.
3. For Trisha, who is homeschooling Michael, Lea, and Kaleb and as she finds creative ways for them to learn more Spanish and interact with different children.
4. For the Mobilization team as we prepare for the monthly missions emphasis meeting.
5. For Mike, who has speaking engagements on March 8, March 17, and March 18.
6. For safety in the Goddards’ travels.
7.  For the Goddards as they serve in Mobilization and oversee the different ministry projects that have been laid out for this year.
8. For the Goddards to stay healthy as there is a lot of dengue fever cases again.

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

Praise:

1. For the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with Mike’s siblings and their families.
2. For Mike’s parents, who came to visit their children and grandchildren in Paraguay for 3 weeks.

Prayer Requests:

1. Wisdom and guidance from the Lord as Mike & Trisha raise their children and train them to walk in truth.
2. For their lives to reflect Christ and that all they do will honor and glorify Him.
3. For wisdom for Mike and Trisha as they serve in the different responsibilities that they are responsible for.
4. For Trisha, who is homeschooling Michael, Lea, and Kaleb.
5. For Mike & Trisha as they lead the Latin short term mission trip called ACERCATE. to the Pai and oversee the building of the Pai church.
6. For good health.
7. For safety in travels to the Chaco and the East side of Paraguay

Read about our Christmas with Mike’s family and Pai believers,

our church’s youth camp, field conference with other missionaries,

photography opportunities, and a brief update about our children

Christmas with Mike’s Family and Pai believers

Each year we look forward to spending Christmas with family. Mike’s brother and sister and their families live only a 5-hour drive away, making it easy to drop in for a couple of days. This year included a Christmas service with the Pai Tavytera church on the 25th. The meeting lasted over 3 hours as one by one people would go up front and share a testimony of God’s grace in their lives.

In 3 weeks, we will be returning to assist the Pai Tavytera build a larger church building for their weekly gatherings for worship and teaching. Pray with us and the Pai Tavytera church, as we continue to raise funds for this building project and for volunteer workers.

If you would like to have a part in Acércate 2012, you can visit our website. Be sure to indicate that this is a one-time designated gift toward the building project.

December: Youth camp, Field Conference, and Photography

Mike was given several opportunities to share on missions during our church camp. After talking passionately about the  Ayore people in the Paraguayan Chaco, he asked, “and who will go!?” to which one girl replied, “you will Mike!”

From church camp we went directly to NTM’s conference where we were refreshed by teaching in both Spanish and English.

Mike was able to serve two young couples in December by photographing their wedding. One couple started training in Brazil and will continue missionary training  in Bolivia in 2012. They desire to be tribal church planters.

Children Update

Michael graduated this year from 2nd grade in the Paraguayan Christian school this year. In 2012, he will be homeschooled by his mother.

Lea had a great time playing with her cousin Briana during Christmas Break.

Kaleb is started out the year very shy in pre-school, but he emerged very fluent in Spanish and outgoing.

>> Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. Psalms 145:2-4

Thank you for your prayers and support which make it possible for us to serve on a full-time basis here in Paraguay.

Because of Christ,

Mike & Trisha Goddard

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

I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD , the Maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  The LORD watches over you- the LORD is your shade at your right hand;  the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.  The LORD will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life;  the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalms 121

Praise:

1. For the opportunity to serve the Paraguayan Christian community.
2. For the ACERCATE 2012 project that is now in full swing >> building a church for the Pai believers in a tribal location.
3. For Michael, Lea, and Kaleb, who are finishing up their school year at the Spanish Christian school mid- Nov and looking forward to being homeschooled with mom.

Prayer Requests:

1. Wisdom and guidance from the Lord as Mike & Trisha raise their children and train them to walk in truth.
2. For their lives to reflect Christ and that all they do will honor and glorify Him.
3. For wisdom for Mike and Trisha as they serve in the different responsibilities that they are responsible for.
4. For Trisha, who will be homeschooling their 3 children. Lord-willing, she is hoping to get 3-4 weeks of school in before the 2^nd week of December and start again end of February.
5. For Mike & Trisha as they lead 2 short term mission trips (ACERCATE) for 2 weeks each with approx. 12 Latin youth (end of January and beginning of February). These 2 teams will have a part in building a church for the Pai tribal people and see cross-cultural missions first-hand.
6. For good health.
7. For safety in travels.

Praise:

1. For God’s continued provision for their needs.
2. That their children have a week vacation from school in October.

Prayer Requests:

1. Wisdom and guidance from the Lord as Mike & Trisha raise their children and train them to walk in truth.
2. For their lives to reflect Christ and that all they do will honor and glorify Him.
3. For Mike as he prepares for different meetings with pastors and missions organizations.
4. For safety as the Goddards travel to 4 different cities this month (Encarnacion, General Aquino, Neuland, and Caaguazu).
5. For the different meetings throughout this month with Pastors and other Mission Organizations.
6. For the different ACERCATE short term mission trips that are being organized for 2012.
7. For the Latin Mobilization conference that will be held in Brazil in April 2012.
8. For the Ache tribal church and the Bible translation being done by LETRA Paraguay.
9. For students in Bible Institute or Missions Institute: Ronald & Melissa (training in Bolivia); Leonie  (training in Bolivia).

MINISTRY // CHILDREN // YOU CAN BE INVOLVED

MINISTRY NEWS

A tremendous blessing from the first Missions Conference in our church here in Asuncion was that it brought the missionaries closer together in unity. Recently after church, the six missionary families had dinner together and discussed ways that we can continue to encourage our church in missions throughout this year and the next.

Each month we invite the Christian community to NTM Paraguay’s Acercate meeting. This has been a tremendous opportunity to build relationships and share about tribal missions around the world!

Mike continues to meet with the members of a Paraguayan Mission Board called FEMIPA. Currently, they are working their way together through the Mobilization Manual that Mike put together for such an occasion. The objective is to assist FEMIPA to equip their church association to handle both local and cross-cultural ministries.

The Pai Tavytera church where Mike’s brother and sister are working, have been praying about a new church building. FEMIPA has adopted the church project, and therefore, several short-term missions trips are being planned for early 2012, to build a church building and to see young people challenged into cross-cultural ministries!

Mike has 2 more teaching sessions (last weekend of October and last weekend of November) to teach the church leaders of an association called CEMP. Out of 68 Bible lessons, he has taught through 12! When offered the option of moving rapidly toward the end, they said “No! We want to savor all the truths we are learning from the book of Genesis!”

Trisha recently had brightly colored t-shirts made; each designed with a missions challenge designed to show the need for more missionaries among tribal people.

MICHAEL, LEA, AND KALEB

Michael continues to plug away at learning different languages and doing really well. He is happy that they recently started their Soccer tournament at school. He, Lea, and Kaleb are on the “Blue Shark” team! When his team didn’t win, he said, “That’s alright, we did our best and had lots of fun.”

Right now in school, Lea is learning cursive writing and has been practicing a lot. She is praying that mommy will be her teacher next year, because she says “Mom is the best teacher and doing school with her is easy!”

Kaleb loves using the different languages that he knows and especially mixing them together to make new words. He has definitely outgrown his shyness. He now enjoys talking away, being his teachers’ helper, and motivating other classmates in their schoolwork.

YOU CAN GET INVOLVED!!

Would you like to sponsor a Paraguayan youth to be a part of building the Pai Tavytera church? The estimated cost per person for one week is $100. This includes transportation from Asuncion and food. Any remaining funds will be given as an offering toward the building project.

Thank you for your prayers and support which make it possible for us to serve on a full-time basis here in Paraguay.