Always abounding in the work of the Lord…

HIGHLIGHTS

• Our passion is to train pastors.
• This year was difficult and tiring.
• Mat is going back to school in order to train pastors.
• We joined the organization Training Leaders International.

OUR PASSION IS TO TRAIN PASTORS

As my friend Samweli, pastor of the local Swahili church, sat on my vibrant village-made couch, Miranda and I asked him how we could best support his ministry. We were thinking books, bibles, money, medicine, maybe even chickens.

He beat around the bush in his African way and we could sense there was something he wasn’t saying. So, we asked what he would do if he could do anything in the world. Timidly he looked at his wife and their eyes lit up. The 30-year-old pastor said, “Nataka kwenda shule!” In other words, “I want to go to school!”

Miranda and I were both taken back. He continued to share about how he felt like a fraud and that he didn’t really know if the things he was preaching was true. It wasn’t just him. The pastor at the neighboring village caught wind of his request and repeatedly begged us to send him as well. After much prayer and consultation, we sent both families across Tanzania to an AICT Bible School. Four years later, we had the privilege of seeing both pastors graduate!

Teaching trips to the pastors and leaders in Sumve, along with other experiences like those, helped us realize our gifts, abilities, and passions would make the biggest impact for the Kingdom of God by teaching the teachers. (Side note: I also really want to smuggle Bibles into Somalia can anyone hook me up?) So, we returned to the frozen tundra in order to get more training to do more training.

YEAR-IN-A-SENTENCE

God strapped us into a roller coaster this year and pressed the GO button: my father and Miranda’s grammy saw Christ face-to-face, we sold our house, moved to Roseville, I changed jobs, started school full-time, Miranda began tutoring for C.C. and nannying two boys full-time while homeschooling, all the girls started gymnastics, and we closed out the year by joining TLI. Whew. I’m tired just writing all that.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Whew! My first semester as a freshman at Bethlehem College and Seminary is over. We had a nice little break, but the brain freeze is back! (currently reading Aristotle) It has been challenging to get my mind back into writing papers and reading textbooks, but also deeply rewarding to interact with so many gifted and godly people in such a Christ-saturated environment.

BACK TO MISSIONS WITH TLI

The dream was to join Training Leaders International after four years while I worked on a master’s degree, but God had a different plan. Recently, he opened up the door for me to work with TLI while I go to school. This means I’ll be working here in the Twin Cities with Christian leaders from other countries and cultures, traveling to churches, and taking about three trips per year overseas to teach pastors and leaders. I encourage you to check out TLI to learn more about what I’ll be doing.

I can’t express how excited I am for this opportunity and thank you all for your prayers and support through the years to get us to this point.

Watch this powerful video about TLI!

Happy New Year!

from   Mat, Miranda, Thailie, Nia, Everly, & Luella

Learn more about both of these ministries by visiting their websites.