Dear Friends,
What a year 2023 has been, as our daughter Melanie stated. It’s been both the best and worst year ever. Regardless of how we perceive the year to have gone, one thing is certain. Nothing that has happened this year was a surprise to our Heavenly Father. With that in mind we can look forward to the future knowing that if we keep our eyes fixed on Him and follow His leading we cannot fail. One of our favorite verses is Deuteronomy 31:8 where God promises us that “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

We began 2023 with a renewed commitment to serving the people of Nicaragua, especially on the Caribbean coast. We spent many hours working with various government agencies and yet despite our best efforts no permission was granted. At the same time we planned and organized, with the help of the local church, a dental mission trip together with an evangelistic series in the remote village of La Barra. We supplied everything from transportation, food, generator, medicines, dental equipment and supplies, but God blessed more than we could have hoped and 11 baptisms took place. As a result of that trip we learned of a piece of land available in an adjoining village that would make an excellent location for a church and we were able to secure that property. The local leaders are excited to have this land where a Seventh-Day Adventist church will soon be built.

As we realized that aviation would not be permitted in Nicaragua we began asking God what His plans were for us. Unbelievably, we were invited to come to Fiji in the South Pacific to see what the possibilities were for mission aviation. We learned that no one was providing this service to the mission due to the many challenges of operating aircraft in a tropical island environment. Director of AngelOne, Jud Wickwire and his wife Karen, joined us on a site visit to assess the needs in Fiji. After much prayer we felt called to begin an aviation ministry in Fiji and so that is where we have come. Before doing so we returned to Nicaragua to sell our personal belongings and mission truck. During the summer Nancy's mother became very sick and we made two trips to visit her in Panama. Sadly, she passed away in September.

We never know how our efforts will be blessed. We have been so encouraged to hear that the little church in the coastal area of Nicaragua continues to grow. Our job is to plant seeds and water them… it is God who makes them germinate and grow. We have committed to continuing to support a Bible worker in this area.

We have only been here in Fiji for several weeks as the end of 2023 is upon us. We have been encouraged by many people and invited to stay at the Tiliva Mission on the Fijian Island of Kadavu as we continue to seek for a permanent base and better understand how we can be a blessing here in the islands. We are praying earnestly as we begin the new year that God will open and close doors as He sees fit. We have dedicated ourselves to Him and know that He will lead us if we trust Him.

Finally, we want to thank each one of you who have followed this journey with us. Our first trip to Nicaragua took place 9 years ago this month. Since that time we have faced more challenges than could have ever imagined and our children have all grown, yet we are still seeking to serve God to the best of our abilities. He has never forsaken us and our needs have always been met. Your encouragement, prayers and financial support continues to sustain us. We wish you God's richest blessings in 2024 as we commit to serving Him wherever we are. 

May God bless each of you as you seek His will in your lives.