Connected Newsletter

Dear Ricardo and Beth,

The pastor's hands reaching out to pray over and support someone joining their ranks was, for me, a beautiful picture of what it means to be part of the family of God. We are connected! We care for one another. We pray for one another. We encourage one another. We love one another. This picture was taken at the Pacific Northwest Conference of the Free Methodist Church (pictured at the top)...but it is a scene repeated all over the world during ordination ceremonies and I suspect it is seen in many different denominations. A great reminder that we are many parts but one body!

We have really felt embraced by that family all summer - both those related by blood and related by faith. In fact, we started by celebrating father's day with some of Ricardo's family (Mama & Papa pictured above). I am so thankful for the example of strong Christian men and women in my life. Papa's testimony continually encourages me.

Evidence of a great visit to the PNWC! Can't wait to get back in October!

Then, so many wonderful people opened their homes and their lives to us during our whirlwind tour in Washington State. Some of them we have known for a long time and some we just met. All are a precious part of our extended family!

For example, we had lunch with a dear group of friends who welcomed Ricardo into their church and lives when he moved to the USA in 1999. Despite now belonging to different churches, they have been doing Bible Study together for 30 years!!!! At the lunch, the Voth's invited us to stay at their house...so we took them up on the offer and spent another great evening and morning with friends. (Top picture with the Voths and Walkers originally for Hillcrest Christian Fellowship).

We also received a very warm welcome at Cooks Hill Community Church where we spoke one week and attended the annual meeting the next. Pastora Emily arranged for us to stay with Cynthia & Steve Waddell. We were unknown "family members" then...now we are forever friends. (2nd picture.)

That welcome was repeated at the Warm Beach FM Church. That church is in the midst of many changes, but they still graciously took the time to welcome us in!

We also got to celebrate our long-time friend and colleague, Dr. Paul Olver, as he prepares for retirement. They honored him during the Conference. (3rd picture.) What a blessing he has been to our lives...and we enjoyed getting to share two meals with him and Delia during our time in Washington. The second was at the home of Beverly Carter with a bunch of Impact Latin America board members and colleagues.

In fact, we were so warmly welcomed in the PNW that Jonathan was up on the stage 3 times the opening night of the conference. He was a little afraid that he might have to preach after that. :-) (4th picture - he and other boys are praying with an older man as part of Bishop Kenny's sermon illustration.)

Thanks to everyone who welcomed us!

Even though Ricardo was ordained in the PNW and his membership remains there, we hadn't been to the annual meeting for quite sometime. We learned that we may be gone, but are not forgotten. We asked Pastor Mike and Bethany McCune for a photo op. Theirs has been a supporting church for many years but they are also good friends, as Mike came and spent some of his sabbatical with us in Medellín. We were delightfully photo bombed by Pastor Matthew Winter (on the right). He said, "I have to meet you because my daughter insists that we pray for you every night." The daily prayers of little Abigail, and other like her, are what humble and sustain us! Thank you!

And then we had the privilege returning the gift of hospitality when we got back to Kentucky.

First we spent 3 lovely days with Pastors John Jairo Leal and Susana Castro and their daughters. Although they are fellow colleagues in Latin America, they are on sabbatical now. It was great to just spend time together, showing them around our old Kentucky home!

Then Beth's family converged upon Kentucky and we enjoyed a lovely 1.5 day family reunion! In fact, we spent our 23rd wedding anniversary making hot dogs and hamburgers for them. It was a great ending to what seemed like a month of family reunions!

We deeply appreciate your partnership and your prayers....particularly now as Ricardo is spending the weekend in Venezuela to oversee their annual meeting. Despite numerous flight cancellations and other obstacles he arrived safely and is looking forward to a weekend spent with this constantly expanding conference...and integral part of our family!

What's next...Jonathan flies to Japan tomorrow for a fun summer trip spent with friends. Juliana is working two jobs and volunteering every extra minute at the church. Upon his return, Ricardo and I will be working from our base in Kentucky until time for the Colombian Annual Meeting in August...which will be the beginning of a very busy travel season.

Like that old Gather hymn from the 1970s, I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God!

We're glad you are too! Thank you for your partnership and your prayers! And if you are in Kentucky during this next month and would like to get together, please let us know.

Blessings,

Beth

Visit our Webpage