We have returned to sunny/smoggy SoCal from MTI and I am writing from my own room where I slept in my own bed last night…mmmm.  Katie and I had a great two weeks of training in the Program in Language Acquisition Techniques.  (Read relatedposts here and here)  Having taken the course, I feel much better equipped to tackle language learning as a missionary when we go.  The course puts many diverse tools in the hands of the student and empowers them to take charge of learning their new language.

It was amazing to see so many missionaries going to so many places.  My prayer is that they can learn their new languages and cultures well and the Lord would us them effectively as His servants to those people.  I wish all of you could see the number and character of people headed to the mission field and also hear their stories of how the Lord had brought them to where they are at, it is so encourageing and you can’t help but praise the Lord for what He is doing in peoples’ lives and around the world.  We are blessed to be able to be a part of that!

So now we are back in California.  Lots to do and much busyness getting ready for the wedding as well as preparing to begin our preparations to go to the mission field together (and working, church, etc!).  We are in discussions with SIM USA folks now about placements for us and I would ask you to be in prayer for Katie and I and for SIM as we pray about and look together at the amazing and exciting possibilities that are open to us.

We are hoping and praying about going to Niger, West Africa.  Niger is the poorest, least developed country on earth.  Over 90% of the population is unreached by the Gospel and there are many spiritual and physical needs and few workers.  Katie and I looked at many different countries and prayed about where the Lord could use us best and talked about our shared ministry goals and desires and felt the Lord putting Niger on our hearts as the place where the Lord would like us to be.  So thats where we will head for now unless He tells us otherwise!

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement!  These are exciting times in so many ways for Katie and I and we are excited and blessed to have you all be a part of it!