Dear Church Family,

Over the last couple of years, we have been preparing ourselves for a move to Malawi. Everything seemed to be lining up with our plans. Our things were loaded in a container ready to be shipped and a house was already arranged for us to rent.

The only things left were acquiring visas and getting plane tickets. Right when we thought our plans were moving smoothly, ready to head to our destination, God intervened with another plan. It was an unexpected plan, but it was God's prevailing plan.

At the end of last year, our sending church and missions agency encouraged us to move to South Africa instead of Malawi for about three years. Polokwane is a city located in the northern tip of South Africa, and The Masters Academy International (TMAI) has a pastoral training center, Christ Seminary, located there.

This institution has been training pastors for over two decades. The elders from our sending church thought it would provide a great opportunity to sit under the leadership of the ministry in Polokwane and gain some experience.

We will be working with Dave and Carol Beakley. They have lived in Polokwane for over 15 years and have been involved with Christ Seminary and the local church connected with it the entire time. Dave has recently been appointed as the director of TMAI and shepherd of Grace Ministries International (GMI) missionaries in Africa.

Among other responsibilities, I will be assisting him exploring potential training centers across Africa. This will provide opportunity to work with local church leaders who aspire to conduct biblical-grounded ministry.

As our plans have changed from Malawi to South Africa, the reality that God’s sovereign plan triumphs over man’s plan has effectively impacted our lives. Proverbs 19:21 sums up the lessons we keep learning as we wait for his timing, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

We are very thankful for your faithful prayers. Please continue to pray for our visa process. We are waiting for one more document from South Africa before submitting our application to the South African embassy. The process of acquiring this document there seems to be delaying any progress from this side.

Pray also for Amanda’s health. We are encouraged to hear that South Africa has good medical care. Her doctor wants to put her on medication that he believes would put her in remission. This medication is considered high risk, and we need your prayers for wisdom. We are always encouraged by your care and love for us.