Praise:

1. For our children, who continue to do great in school and are learning a lot.
2. For the opportunity to build new relationships with people during the Youth Missions Camp in July.
3. For the time of fellowship with a Brazilian/Paraguayan missionary couple and also a Paraguayan missionary couple this past weekend during our time in Caaguazu.
4. For the plans that are coming together for the mobilization conference mid-next year in Brazil.

Prayer Requests:

1. Wisdom and guidance from the Lord as they raise their children and train them to walk in truth.
2. For Michael, Lea, and Kaleb, as they continue studying at the Paraguayan Christian school and that they will be godly examples to their classmates. Their school year ends in November.
3. For good health.
4. For their lives to reflect Christ and that all they do will honor and glorify Him.
5. For the ACERCATE mission-focused meeting overseen by Mike on August 2.
6. For Mike as he teaches in 3 different churches the 12 hour module course on Evangelism and Discipleship on Aug 5-7 (traveling 5 hours out of town), Aug. 12-14, & Aug. 19-21.
7. For Mike’s cousin, Wayne, who will be teaching Mike’s Chronological Bible classes the end of this month so that Mike can be a part of our 1^st Missions Conference at our church.
8. For Mike & Trisha as they works alongside the other missionary couples from their Paraguayan church to organize and prepare for their first Missions Conference from Aug. 26-28.
9. For Mike as he plans a trip to the training center in Bolivia sometime in September or October.
10. For Mike as he begins the preparations and scheduling for a Latin Mobilization conference in Brazil mid next year.
11. For the ministry of assisting other NTM mobilization ministries in Latin America.
12. For full time coworkers to help Mike and Trisha.

In this month’s Goddard Grapevine newsletter, you can read about:

- Our Ministry

- Our Children

- Our Missionary Team continues to Grow

- Tribal Update: Ache, Angaite, and Sanapana

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>> Our Ministry

This year Mike continues to develop in greater detail a mobilization strategy designed specifically for the Paraguayan local church’s needs. The basic concept: disciple and train church-appointed Missions Promoters that can carry out an effective cross-cultural missions program in their fellowship. Another commitment this year is to teach and train church leaders to use Firm Foundations materials in Guarani.

Trisha continues to oversee the publicity and resource department – two crucial areas where additional energy is needed. Trisha also is a full-time wife and mother of three energetic children. Each night before tucking the children into bed, she will read a Bible story and brings practical application to their lives.

>> Our Children

Michael, Lea, and Kaleb are enjoying going to a Spanish-speaking Christian school. They are making lots of friends and continue to gain fluency in Spanish as well as a basic understanding of Guarani (national language of Paraguay) and Portuguese. Also, once a week, their children enjoy interacting with other MKs in a 2-hour-long Spanish program.

>> Our Missionary Team continues to Grow

Currently there are 5 couples and 4 singles studying Spanish and Paraguayan culture in our Equipping program. 3  additional couples and 1 single are also enroute for the purpose of meeting identified needs among the 17 tribal groups of Paraguay.

>>  Tribal Update

- ACHE: This month, Mike attended an Ache church building dedication ceremony in the village he grew up in. It was a great time of rejoicing with them, but also a heaviness as the local church is in the midst of a doctrinal struggle with the Pentecostal movement. After the ceremony, the church members called for a meeting with the visiting missionaries to make right any wrongs that may have happened in the past.  Please pray for the Ache church during these days.

- ANGAITE: This month, there was a spiritual revival in the Angaite church after having fasted and prayed for one week over 4 young people who were reportedly demon-possessed. Pray for the church during these challenging times.

– SANAPANA: This month, the Sanapana church received printed copies of the translated Bible portions available in their heart language. During the ceremony, the Sanapana were encouraged by the truth that God intensely desires to communicate with people and that He communicates through His Word and that His words are being made understandable to them. Continue to pray for the team working among the Sanapana as they translate God’s Word.

>> THANK YOU!

Thank you for your partnership in ministry. Each month we send out a brief summary of what we see God doing in and through our family. This would not be possible if it were not for people like you and your church standing behind us; providing a strong support network. God’s Word says that treasures are being stored up in Heaven for you and for us as we work together to build God’s Church among the nations.

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your Team; and representing Christ in Paraguay.

In Christ’s Love,

Mike & Trisha Goddard

In this monthly “Goddard Grapevine”:

1. Missions Conferences and Fall Festivals

2. Our Kids’ Schooling

3. Thankful for our support team

4. Home Assignment in USA coming to an end

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Missions Conferences and Fall Festivals

October is the month of Missions Conferences and Fall Festivals for churches in the Huntington, WV area. In 5 weeks we counted 38 different times where we were able to share about Paraguay and our ministry there. We have 3 more scheduled times, and we will be finished for Home Assignment 2010!

During a Missions Conference in Pt. Pleasant, WV, our children had an opportunity to visit a very nice ranch and take horse rides. It was great to get to meet and get to know a group of people that want to grow in their faith and serve the Lord.

Our Kids’ Schooling

Trisha has continued to diligently teach the children throughout our Home Assignment. They lack 6 more days to finish this school semester. We are trusting God to give us wisdom how best to educate our children in 2011, whether to homeschool them or send all 3 to the Paraguayan Christian school where Michael and Lea attended in 2008 and 2009. We had the opportunity this month to visit the Creation Museum. We all really enjoyed it.

Thankful for our Support Team

We are very grateful to the members of our sending church and for all the other churches that have sacrificially given and prayed for us; enabling us to serve in Paraguay. Thank you!

Home Assignment in USA coming to an end

In only 4 1/2 weeks, we fly back to Paraguay, but before we go, we have still 2 more weeks in West Virginia, 1 1/2 weeks in Missouri and a few days in Florida. Please pray for safety during our travels.

Read below to find out how you can pray for the Goddard family!

Praise:

1. For a good time with family in Florida and Missouri.

2. For a safe trip from Missouri to West Virginia.

3. For the home that Grace Gospel Church has provided us with here in Huntington for the next 2 months.

4. That we were able to put together a ministry video to show while here in the USA.

Family Prayer Requests:

1. For Mike and Trisha – continued wisdom and guidance from the Lord as we parent our children and guide them in the truth.

2. That Kaleb will clearly understand the Gospel and his responsibility.

3. For Trisha, as she homeschools Michael and Lea.

4. For good health.

5. For our lives to reflect Christ and that all we do will honor and glorify Him.

Ministry Prayer Requests:

1. For the Goddards as they travel to PA, MI, and WI for 2 weeks in September.

2. For Mike & Trisha as they share on Sept. 8 at Fairplay Gospel Fellowship in PA.

3. For Mike, who will be speaking 3x on a Sunday morning at our church in WI.

4. For Mike, who will be sharing in chapel at the New Tribes Bible Institute in WI.

5. For the Goddards as they attend and participate in Grace Gospel Church’s Missions Conference the end of this month.

6. For the ministry of mobilizing Latin and Tribal Churches to continue expanding the reach of the Gospel.

7. For full time coworkers to help Mike and Trisha in Mobilization.

In this Goddard Grapevine, you will read about:

- Culture Shock

- A Week in Florida

- 3 Weeks in Missouri

- Making a Home in West Virginia for 2 1/2 months

- Thank You

Goddards in Culture Shock

>> CULTURE SHOCK

We have experienced Culture Shock after 2 ½ years away from the USA.

Michael: “Everyone speaks English!”

Lea: “Everything is so clean!”

Kaleb: “Mommy, where is home?”

Trisha: “Cooking is so easy and simple!”

Mike: “The traffic is so organized!”

By Mike:

“It has been difficult for me to leave Paraguay for these 4 months of Home Assignment. This is a crucial time for both the Paraguayan churches and NTM as the partnership grows and develops into a more Biblical approach to cross-cultural church planting in Paraguay. It’s exciting to be a part of Church history!”

By Trisha:

“Returning to the USA this time has been a ‘wakeup call’ to the dangerous moral decline in our society. There’s a strong ‘I don’t care anymore’ attitude. Mike and I care, and we are teaching our children to care about what God thinks. We talk with our children about the dangers of child abuse, cheating, money, and materialism.”

Michael with Map

Michael enjoys consulting maps while traveling with us. Likewise, children need to see parents that “stay on course” with God’s Word.

>> A WEEK IN FLORIDA

A week in Florida included: time with relatives, visits with ministry partners, touching base with individuals at the NTM home base, and a couple of trips to the Ocean!   Mike’s parents took time out of their schedule to help us with some reentry issues: transportation and just a listening ear.

Kids with their grandma

>> 3 WEEKS IN MISSOURI

While in MO, we stayed in the beautiful home built by Trisha’s Dad, Dan Jennett. During our three weeks in Missouri, both Mike and Trisha participated in a one week workshop called “Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills”.  Everything in the course continually pointed back to a single theme: Walking in fellowship with Jesus Christ and becoming like Him in every area of our life and relationships.

Trisha’s mom and sister took care of the children while Mike and Trisha were in classes. Lea’s favorite was to help her Nana run the cash register in the gift shop where she works.  The children are learning the difference between Paraguayan Guaranies and the American Dollar currencies and what they can buy.

Trisha’s family spoiled us with trips to the lake, the pool, rides on the quad and even a boat; shopping; wii games; and so much more! The last weekend there, all of Trisha’s family (except one sister-in-law) met up in St. Louis, MO to visit museums, go to the zoo, and Chuck e Cheese!

The Welcome Home party

>> MAKING A HOME IN WEST VIRGINIA FOR 2 1/2 MONTHS

Now the Goddards are in Huntington, WV in a wonderful home provided by Grace Gospel Church. Parents of some of the GGC children held a Welcome Home party for Michael, Lea, and Kaleb. They played games, opened gifts, and ate pizza. It was a very special time for our children.

>> THANK YOU

We want to thank each one of you from the depth of our hearts, whom have in some way or another contributed to God’s ministry in and through our lives, either by discipleship, prayer, giving, encouragement, or moral support.  God bless you for your faithfulness!

“…and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”  Matt. 6:18b

Serving together,

Mike & Trisha Goddard

Michael, Lea, and Kaleb

Please pray:

1. As we wrap up our ministry (meetings, visiting friends, etc.).
2. For good health.
3. For us as we prepare our house for another missionary couple to live in.
4. For all the misc. things that need done this week (packing, paperwork, etc).
5. For safety as we travel this Saturday by airplane to Miami and by rental vehicle to Sanford.
6. For a good week with Mike’s parents in FL.

Praise the Lord for:

1. What God is doing here in Paraguay through our ministry.
2. A mini-van to use while on home assignment.
3. Places to stay: Guest rooms, family to stay with during our times in MO and WI, and a home of our own while we are in West Virginia.

Here is our July 2010 Praise & Prayer Requests. Thanks so much for bringing us before the throne.

Praise:

1. For the 6 years of ministry that we have had here in Paraguay.
2. For our Paraguayan church.
3. For the opportunities that we have had to fellowship and visit this past month with the 3 Paraguayans in training, Pastors, Paraguayan friends, and coworkers.
4. That we are able to go on Home Assignment this month and spend time with family, friends, and our supporting churches.

Family Prayer Requests:

1. For Mike and Trisha – continued wisdom and guidance from the Lord for parenting our children and guiding them in the truth.
2. That Kaleb will understand the Gospel.
3. For Trisha, as she homeschools Michael and Lea.
4. For good health.

Ministry Prayer Requests:

1. For safety as the Goddards travel to the USA for their home assignment on end of July. They will start off by spending a week in Florida with Mike’s parents and then, they will head on to Missouri to be with Trisha’s family.
2. For the ministry of mobilizing Latin and Tribal Churches to continue expanding the reach of the Gospel.
3. For full time coworkers to help Mike and Trisha in Mobilization.

The Task you have commissioned us to do is overwhelming, but God has clearly designed the Church by His intelligence and has given us everything we need for both life and godliness. Thank you for standing faithfully with us in support so as to carry out Christ’s purposes in the Southern Cone.

2004

We arrived in Paraguay in June with 2 small children under the age of 2 and 7 duffle bags ready to begin our ministry in Paraguay. We had the opportunity to visit Mike’s family and then, we began studying Spanish and the Paraguayan culture. 

2005

Mike completed his Spanish studies and began helping NTM by translating some materials from English to Spanish and also began investigating Mobilization. Trisha continued her Spanish studies.

2006

We were given oversight of the Mobilization Department of New Tribes Mission in Paraguay. The Mobilization Dept. serves the local church in Paraguay through teaching, providing consultant help, short term missions trips, and  providing effective tools for training in the local church.

2007

Lots of time was spent making contacts and building relationships with Christian leaders and Pastors. We also took our first short term team to a Pai village with 14 youth. During this year, we took our 1st Home Assignment to the USA for 7 months.

2008

Dean and Nellie Goddard, Mike’s parents, joined us in Mobilization. Together we visited and taught the Chronological Bible Teaching in country churches. We hosted two Pastors Forums during this year.

2009

We had different speaking engagements in churches, training modules, 7 trips to the different tribal locations, and more interaction with 2 Paraguayans in missionary training. We also had to say “goodbye” to Mike’s parents, who have lived and served in Paraguay for 43 years.

2010

Right at the beginning of the year, we traveled to Argentina for a 5 days missions event and from there, we went to the tribe with 8 youth. Since then, there has been speaking engagements, a visit to our New Tribes Bible School in Brazil, different missions conferences, trips to the tribe, meetings with Pastors, and lots of people in our home for meals.

Michael, Lea, and Kaleb are excited not only about watching Paraguay play soccer in the World Cup but also about what will be happening in less than one month – going to the USA to see their grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins; doing fun things like swimming at the beach, going to the zoo where there are penguins; and look forward to attending church, where everything will be in English!

CELEBRATING 6 YEARS IN PARAGUAY!

This month we are celebrating 6 years of God’s faithfulness in our lives and ministry in Paraguay. Sent out by local churches in the USA with the vision to see that all people groups might have an opportunity to know Christ and have fellowship with Him, we found in Paraguay that the most efficient way to accomplish this was through the existing Paraguayan church.  Hence these past 6 years have been invested in bridging a very extensive gap that exists between local churches and unreached people groups.

The gap that serves as a barrier for the local church to plant churches consists of many things such as: language, culture, illiteracy, no Bible translation, remote locations, distrust – to name a few. For the local church to send a church planter, they must have a solid biblical foundation to plant their feet firmly upon when faced with challenges such as: financial support, prayer support, moral support, missionary training and much more.

The Task you have commissioned us to do is overwhelming, but God has clearly designed the Church by His intelligence and has given us everything we need for both life and godliness. Thank you for standing faithfully with us in support so as to carry out Christ’s purposes in the Southern Cone.

Serving in Paraguay,

Mike & Trisha Goddard

Find us on facebook!

Mike: http://www.facebook.com/mikegoddard

Trisha: http://www.facebook.com/trishagoddard