Mckenzie on the Move!

THOUGHTS ON THE FIRST YEAR   It's hard to imagine that we completed our first year of training and have made the 2,000 mile trip back to Montana for the summer (which was uneventful except the pig manure water sprayed all over the suburban in Dalhart, Texas).  This first year of training has been so good.  As I reflect on the year, three areas keep coming to the forefront of my mind. Here are  a few quick thoughts.   This year I have been given a tremendous amount of theological tools for long term mission work. How to rightly divide the Word of God is critical.   I have been given the confidence to take any section of scripture and teach it.  I had the privilege to use this skill many times in Mexico and in various bible studies throughout the year.   To see that everything in the Old Testament was written to anticipate, prepare, and show in a shadow form Jesus Christ  has opened wide the Scriptures to me.  I shouldn't be surprised, Jesus said almost the same thing in Luke 24:44.   I have so much to learn, but I'm excited to continue teaching and training others what I have received!        One of the amazing aspects of this program is that we spent one week every month for a total of 9 weeks with the people of Village "M".  We were able to practically apply our classroom training and build real relationships with the village.  "R" and his family(pictured above) have experienced wonderful growth in Christ!  He and his family are hungry for more discipleship and looking to help share these truths with others in the village.   My heart is excited to build on this foundation for next year.    Finally, the way the Lord has worked in my heart this year.  It has been an up and down roller coaster to depend fully on Christ alone and seek my joy from Him through deadlines and disappointments.  Constant school work, learning at warp speed, going into Mexico and leaving Brita and the kids for a week every month, and  most notably with the disappointment of being diagnosed with diabetes and missing the Papua New Guinea trip last February.    I do know that through those experiences Jesus satisfies fully because He is all sufficient.  Those same disappointments and stresses have also been some of the greatest sources of joy this year.  As David Sitton, the president of To Every Tribe reminded us, the Christian life is a paradox of sorrow and rejoicing.  Not one and then the other, rather both at the same time.  We've tasted some of that this year and long for others to taste and see that the LORD is good!     SOUTH ASIA TRIP THIS JUNE Last update we told you about a strategic trip Brita and I have the opportunity to be a part of in June.  For the sake of wisdom, we will now be calling the country we are headed to "South Asia". This is a precautionary measure for the long term work through To Every Tribe. Instead of telling you about the area we are going, take a look for yourself at last year's trip!   The harvest is indeed plentiful but the workers are few.   Please pray for us as we prepare for this trip June 23rd-July 4th.  This trip includes discipleship training for the few believers as well as backpacking into some of those unreached villages in the video.  We are so thankful for your partnership- both spiritually and financially. If you would like to invest in this trip please click here. PRAYER REQUESTS We know that the single greatest work for the gospel is not with our strategic plans or great teaching ability, but with prayer.   Our greatest work is coming before the Lord of the harvest, who WILL accomplish His good pleasure.  He is our strength and hope, period.  So will you join with us in"casting our anxieties on Him, because He cares for you"? 1 Peter 5:7 Please pray that: We will be able to clearly share all that God has done over the last 9 months with friends, family and supporters and "that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine" Romans 1:12. We would be prepared spiritually and physically as Brita and I travel to South Asia at the end of June. The kids would thrive during this busy summer. We could connect with a few churches in the area who are interested in long term mission work.  CONTACT US! We are very excited to see friends and family over the summer.  Now that we are here, please contact us via facebook, email joshandbrita@gmail.com. Thankful for you,  Josh, Brita, Dan, Clara, Paul and Evelyn Mckenzie

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