Missionary partners

Happy Easter from Montana! We woke up Sunday to inches of snow- a reminder of the contrast between the two sides of the world that we love so much. April in Burkina is so very hot- the heat makes it hard to sleep at night. We send warm greetings, full of gratitude to you all.

As individual members of the body of Christ, we have opportunity to serve the Lord each day, wherever He has us. We have each received different giftings and our own sphere of influence in which we can have an impact in the name of Jesus. What a cool thing to work in unity, celebrating and building up one another's strengths for the glory of God and His purposes.

We are so thankful for your ongoing partnership that allows us to walk forward together in the name of Jesus, seeking to reach the lost in Burkina Faso. Your giving sustains the ministries of village churches, Pastors and Christians in rural parts where we cannot go- and an orphan care center, housing 17 sweet babies- all precious in His sight.

Quick Updates

• The preschool program is going strong, and the Orphan Care center continues to develop into a thriving ministry outpost. A small home was just completed to lodge the families of babies when they travel to bring a child in need to the center.
• There is a sweet boy who is the youngest in the Center- his mother didn't survive childbirth, pray with us for his family as they experience this deep loss.
• We celebrate with Felix and Priscilla as he participated in the graduation ceremony from his continued education, acquiring his license in theology.
• A recent young adults conference was a well-attended encouragement to the pastors and church leaders. With teaching, prayer, and worship through song and dance, they had a great time investing in the next generation.

Prayer Requests

• Please pray for the continued needs among displaced families as they seek shelter, work and community. Our village pastors are serving many in these times of difficulty.
• Regional instability is an ongoing danger as churches put on open-air evangelizations- Pray for protection and fruitful ministries.
• Praise God for His continued protection and provision- even as difficulties move into the immediate vicinity.
• We are thankful for the Lord's faithfulness and His word which draws each of us closer to His Truth and His ways to strengthen each of us in adversity and challenge.

**Please do not share on social media**

Quick Updates

• Two little girls have returned to their fathers' courtyards with their birth families, after receiving nourishment, medical treatment and loving care at the Orphan Care Center.
• The Administration building is nearly complete, allowing Social Workers to conduct interviews and meetings. It's a huge achievement in the eyes of the government, to provide a place for them to work and receive visitors to the Center.
• 23 remote village pastors received rice and a small cash gift to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with their congregations.
• A remote church has been constructed by members, and we will help with a roof and doors soon to complete the project.

Over the past year, the local security situation has continued to deteriorate. Many Christians have been given the choice to convert or be driven out. These faithful brothers and sisters in Christ have fled their homes and fields, but are being received by other churches in new villages. We have been able to support their needs with food and resources to begin again in a new place. Please continue to pray for the many displaced families and for the safety of Christians throughout the country.

We are overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord for what He has done in Burkina, as well as in our family! We were blessed to welcome two sons this year, when both Jana and Megan were married! As we gathered to celebrate and consider the incredible people and relationships that span the globe because of a shared heart for the lost and a passion to proclaim the gospel, we were just so immensely grateful! Planting churches in Africa has been a privilege, and being a part of Orphan Care is something we never anticipated! Your ongoing generosity is feeding the hungry, providing hope and equipping pastors to fulfill the calling on their lives. Please know that you are prayed for and vitally important in this ongoing work- on behalf of our family as well as our brothers and sisters in Burkina Faso, Thank You... xoxo

Prayer Requests

• Please pray for the displaced families as they seek shelter, work and community. One village church received a family of 11 adults, 11 school aged children and 11 babies just last week. We are helping financially with rice and benevolence funds through village pastors.
• We appreciate your prayers for the marriages and family dynamics among the pastors in the region.
• Praise God for His continued protection and provision- even as difficulties move into the immediate vicinity.
• We are thankful for ongoing faithful service in the Compassion site next to the Orphan Care Center- Pastor Felix wears many hats, and overseeing this ministry is one of them!

We are so thankful for your ongoing partnership with the work in Burkina! The needs are many, but your faithful prayer and generosity continues to build churches, train pastors and care for babies! It is an honor to be the 'middle man' for such amazing work!

• Praise God that the foundations are being laid for a new church building, and the Orphan Care Center will have electricity in the near future!
• Please pray for the Pastors who serve tirelessly to care for their church, plant new churches as well as leading their own families.
• Praise God for His continued protection and provision
• Thankful that the Compassion site next to the Orphan Care center is going well and Pastor Felix is thankful for the integrity and heart of service in the new leadership.
• Please pray for the national pastors who are still in training to go out as Pastors and Church Planters- The newest church building is going up and will need a faithful man of God to shepherd over them!

The Wheatons had to return to the U.S. a couple years ago because of the increased threat of violence in Burkina Faso. However, they are still heavily involved in supporting national pastor Felix Kambou, his wife Priscilla, and other churches there.

The orphan care facility is currently taking care of 13 babies, some of which have been abandoned by their families. Muslim families in the area have been blown away by the love shown to the babies, and it has been a powerful witness to the love of Christ.

There is also a mentorship program that teaches different trades to marginalized young women coming from nearby villages. The program is led by local women and is connected to the church there.

Prayer Requests:

• That God would guide and provide for the children in the orphan care program and the young women learning new trades
• That Felix and Priscilla would be strengthened as they serve in so many different ways, and that the Lord would keep them in good health
• Pray that God would give wisdom and provide for a missionary and evangelism training school, so that more pastors can be brought up to continue aggressively planting churches in villages

Easter: Well, the weather has changed and it is scorching hot out. April is a killer as the breezes die down and it summer heat moves in. However, our week of celebration for "Semana Santa" was really cool this year! In Colombia Easter is less about the actual day of Easter celebration and more about the entire Holy Week (Semana Santa). Our church put on 4 days of celebration services culminating in Jesus' resurrection on Sunday. This year every group took a day to organize and execute the service. The youth/young adults took on Thursday and Kat was able to lead worship with Jean Paul and a team. It was fun for them to be the leaders of the service for once and get to put their own personal touch on the service! The men had the Good Friday service. Joel was asked to be a guest preacher! It was the 1st time he has preached in Spanish living in Colombia, which was a great experience. He preached on John 19:30 and the significance that little verse has in our faith and our history. The cool byproduct of the time is that Joel was invited to be part of the preaching team and that was so special.

Anniversaries: We are celebrating our 4th anniversary in Colombia! And as luck would have it, Kat actually celebrated her 1st year anniversary of being in Barranquilla a few weeks ago (before our anniversary date). Our family looks back and takes the time to thank God for all He has done for us and through us in our time here in South America. It is so rich to feel His guiding hand on our lives and ministry.

Prayer Requests

Wisdom: As we continue to minister and live here, the needs of those around us are more and more evident. Many times we lend a listening ear, and sit with those that are going through difficulties . We need continued wisdom with those we are with. They need Jesus' touch, and we pray that they would seek Him and find Him in the midst of their struggles.

End of the Year for the Foundation: There isn't much time left in the conservatory before summer break. It has been a really cool 1st semester for the school. Pray for the children and teens of limited resources and that the foundation can stay connected to them. Pray for more students so we can reach more at-risk kids with scholarships. And also just as important lift up the 4 leaders and us as we plan and strategize for next semester.

Travel: Our family is travelling a great deal over the next few months going in all sorts of directions. Please be praying for travel mercies as well as peace as we are away from each other. Ministry & life are hard when the family is separated and it adds to stress for those still doing life at home in Barranquilla.

Carnaval: Carnaval in Barranquilla for most Colombians is one of the most anticipated celebrations of the year. It is a 4 day celebration before lent where the city swells with tourism to celebrate the 2nd largest Carnaval in South America (1st being in Rio de Janiero, Brazil). There are parties in the streets, costumed parades, costumed dances, and a variety of other events… Including lots and lots of partying. This year for the 1st time our family was able to go and experience a tamed version of Carnaval at the theater festival for kids which took place in a cool theatre in a park. It is a really cool cultural experience as Carnaval has its history date all the way back to the 1900s, but at the same time it has been a focal point of contention for the Christian and secular communities due to the party nature and underlying tones of why it is celebrated. Imagine the same tension Halloween produces in North America.

Leadership Summit: Angel & Joel were invited as part of SAM's leadership contingent to take part in a Leadership Conference/Summit in Medellin, Colombia. There were leaders from multiple denominations and organizations. The group represented the countries of Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, and Bolivia. The goal was to think & act cohesively to see how as a group they could live out the Gospel from a missional perspective in Latin America. It was 4 days of great conversations, accountability, and strategizing for our countries of work. The best part was seeing local leadership at the conference from Colombia, Guatemala, and Brazil. It was excited to sit side by side and strategize while calling each other to excellence.

Orlando Volleyball Tournament: Taylor & Reagan have been invited to Orlando, FL in June to participate in the world's largest international volleyball tournament. Their Colombian team won the right to participate and this year they are fundraising to make that happen! Check out this video and how you can support the girls in their journey.

Prayer Requests

Women's Gathering: Lift up the next steps for the women in ministry gathering that has been gaining traction over the last several months. There is a group of Christian women on the coast that would like to start meeting regularly in prayer, accountability, and a time of fellowship. Pray that these women will grow from their time together and that God will work out all the logistical headaches!

PRAISE: Joel found out last week that the first angel investor has decided to come on as an foundational investor for Co.Labor! Huge praises to God as this particular investor is very excited about the business plan and how ministry can impact not only the community around Co.Labor but also how church planting can reach the cities of South America!

Hurting people: When you have a moment pray for the people that we come in contact with that are struggling and/or hurting. It seems like everywhere we turn there is heartache and pain. We found out a stat recently from a friend that runs UNICEF here on the coast of Colombia that 74% of people living in Barranquilla don't have the finances to eat 3 meals a day. As we have begun to unpack that with relationships, contacts, and friends it is evident that a lot of those close with our family are a part of that 74%. As a family it is so easy to be overwhelmed with how to share God amongst the hurting so we press into him and could use your prayers of wisdom in that.

Co-working: Co.Labor is starting to see some traction with new potential investors! Joel has met with 3 different groups that represent Business As Mission (BAM) investors in the last month, what a praise! Each group has 5 to 15 individual people that would invest as "angel investors." The coolest part is several of these groups have experts in the BAM world and would add a lot of expertise and value being a part of the coworking project. There've been multiple conversations with the groups of investors and they've shown excitement about what is going on. Joel was also able to secure a commitment from church leadership in the Caribbean coast to filter potential pastors through the church planters incubator that is such a big part of the ministry of what he will be doing!

Discipleship: February was a special month as we were blessed with several opportunities to pour into the lives of some individuals and couples that needed it in different ways. We always leave those sweet times feeling tired but so accomplished as God was able to use us in very specific ways to draw individuals closer to Him. Our family has realized something very clearly that being part of God's work/Church is messy. However, it is in the messiness of people hurting, struggles with relationships, and even estrangement from parents that God shows up in the biggest ways. Philippians 1:27 says, "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that-whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent-I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel."

Prayer Requests

Our Ministry: Please lift us up in prayer when we come to mind. Our opportunities to serve and love on the lost have continued to increase and we are excited about that but we don't want to spread ourselves to thin, which has happened before. We need God's wisdom and discernment to decide on opportunities. Also lift up praises for so many opportunities!

McKinley: Our youngest daughter McKinley has been in a series of accidents of late (including a trip to the ER) and it has taken its toll on our nerves. Pray for healing for her and peace for her Mom & Dad!

Leadership Summit In Medellin: We were invited as a couple to go to Medellin in mid-March to take part in a leadership summit with leaders from across South America. These leaders come from all sorts of ministries and denominations, which is cool. Pray for us to be good listeners and safety as we travel. Pray that we can take away new relationships to help Colombia however God sees fit.

Increase In Church Planting: City to City is ramping up their launch of church planting incubator. As well, their 2022 strategic goals have already been set out and they are moving in a great direction. Joel has been having a blast seeing how so many pastors (& their families) have answered the call to start Gospel first, community based churches throughout the entire country of Colombia. They have several meetings already in the pipeline and we are loving the chance to pour into the lives of disciple makers and their wives through the first quarter of this year.

Fundacion Rubato: Well, if you follow us on any social media, you know we have been hard at work for the last 4 months interacting a lot with classical music… Weird, I know. However, it is a really cool story of four 20-somethings we have been mentoring and their desire to create a non-profit that helps launch classical music in the city no matter ones economic or social status. There has been so much success that in the last few weeks they have started a music academy in which every paid student pays for a scholarship for a child from a disadvantaged neighborhood!

Fundraising: The year end giving to our ministry was awesome! God did a tremendous work through people like you to get us through December. We raised over $7,000 to help in 2022. However, our monthly giving has dropped off in the last quarter of 2021, which has put us in a place to begin the process of looking for folks that want to partner on a month to month basis.

Vacation with Family: We were able to travel and celebrate Joel's Dads retirement as well as a late Christmas, which was so sweet for the entire family. Taylor got Covid but we still enjoyed the time to relax and decompress from a busy end of the year from a work perspective. We so easily forget just how much we need that time to see family and recharge!

PRAISE: More than 6 months ago you saw in our prayer requests a request for Milagro, a sweet 12 year old girl that was physically in bad shape. Well, the doctors were able to diagnose her with Lupus after several longer stays in the hospital. Those long stays accumulated into 6 months of time trying to figure this all out. Not only that but a long process of working her regime of medicines out… She has gained strength and is back to almost pre-sickness weight! We celebrate with her parents and sibling as she works her way back to her normal day to day.

Pastor & Family: Please be praying for Jose Escobar & his family. Jose and his family are good friends living in Cartagena. Jose is the leader of City to City in Colombia. They have been in really poor health of late and on top of that just got Covid. They are down emotionally and could use the prayer support.

Project Targeting Low-Income: Lift up the work we are doing with vulnerable populations and low-income families. The project will be new to our team so it is a lot to manage as something starting from scratch. As well, its a lot of work to identify where and who we can support without being in the way of local non-profits and support.

Clear Vision: Lift us up to ensure we continue to follow what God has called us here to do. There are so many ministry opportunities and only so much of us! As you pray please lift up our abilities to be sure in what we should do as we conquer the doubt of momentary failures as well as God helping us see the marathon not just the sprint of day to day.

Let us tell you a little story of just how God is working in and through us... As Joel set foot through the cathedral-sized doors of our church in the center of downtown it seemed like an all-to-normal service on Sunday. However, God had other plans. As we spent time mulling around hugging friends, shaking hands, and catching up with folks Joel was stopped by our pastors' wife. A man, whom no one had ever seen was sitting in one of the old-fashioned wooden pews, alone.

Joel would later find out that this man had found his way into our church very broken and on the edge of what in his mind was a ruin. He just picked the 1st church he saw! WOW. As several went over to greet him, he asked to speak with a pastor and have someone to talk to in his struggle (not a common occurence amongst men in this culture). Well, God put Joel in his path at that specific moment. Through time spent in the quiet of a corner of the church, Joel had the opportunity to lead this man to the Lord and provide him with some resources to help his family get through the tough times they were facing! The man left so excited and with new energy and cadence to his step.

Without you and your prayer/financial support, that would have never happened! YOU help us ignite gospel-centered movements that transform lives for eternity. Thank you! And may God's kindness and redemptive power be abundant in your life this Giving Season.

Joel & Angel Ballew

New Church Planters: Please be praying for the latest men who are joining the City to City church planters incubator that began in July. The incubator is a 16 module program lasting 2 years to develop church planters in Latin America. Signups have been amazing and a lot of interest has been generated. Pray for the City to City leadership and how we continue to come alongside these pastors in support.

Praise: The Visa process is officially done! It was a long winding/stressful one but with a lot of help and prayer from so many people we have obtained our Religious Worker Visas for another 3 years. It is a huge sigh of relief for our family and we would love for you to join us in prayers of thanksgiving!

Steffin and Alfredo: This young couple has been a part of the English classes and music lessons since the beginning. As a couple they are blast to be around. They don't know Jesus or His infinite love at this point and we want to see them come to know Him. Join us in praying for openness and opportunities. We love mentoring them and having them around.

Barranquilla: Lift up our dear city. Crime and violence has risen over the last 2 to 3 months to a point where the mayor has brought in the army to help support the local police. It is not unprecedented and we know that it is a needed step as the citizens are frustrated. The folks we work with and love are taking it in stride however, we love their resilience. We don't feel worried or concerned but the stress of the military & police adds a certain element to daily life. Prayers for calm heads and the diminishing of the crime would be much appreciated.

Family Update: People are outside, traffic has started again, and most importantly church members are coming back! Barranquilla has just about finished 1 of her 2 seasons (rainy season!) and everyone seems to be ready to get out. Despite the sweltering heat, the vibe of the city feels like it is going back to a pre-pandemic feeling. No, it hasn't gone back all the way but the neighborhood is full with pedestrians and hanging out in the streets.

Our ministries have done something similar as well, taken off! Personal discipleship opportunities have really picked up as our relationships from before are starting to feel comfortable going out once more. Our house is becoming a meeting place again. Our week is almost always full of meetings, meals, and random folks stopping by. That life is what we thrive on!

Thank you for checking in on us and reading our newsletter. Just the simple act of you reading this little update helps us know you care! That support means more than you can imagine as we are on our own here on the coast of Colombia. Without you we can't do what we do and for that we are very grateful! God bless you!

New Church Planters: Please be praying for the latest batch of men who are joining the City to City church planters incubator that begins in July. The incubator is a 16 module program lasting 2 years to develop church planters in Latin America. Signups have started and a lot of interest has been generated. Pray for the leadership and how we can come alongside these pastors in support.

Praise: Joel just returned home from a trip to the USA which included setting up key infrastructure to the co-working space along with meetings with a variety of people that could help make the project come to fruition. The meetings were successful and new partnerships were formed that will be a big impact for the churches and the space!

Visa Situation: We are sure you are tired of reading this but it is so high on our list of things to be praying over. We still have NO news from the Colombian government and have inadvertently defaulted. Prayers that we can get the fine reduced as well as that the Colombian Ministry of Interior will get all the paperwork done soon!

Milagro:She is a 12 year old girl from a low-income village that has just been diagnosed with lupus in January. She has lost a significant amount of weight, muscles, and is really struggling. We have been supporting them as she has been hospitalized in the last few weeks/days. Her name means "miracle" and we are certainly praying for a miracle for her body to heal. Her mother is Luz, and she is very discouraged and heart-broken to see her daughter decline in health so quickly.

New Opportunity: In a weird set of events, Angel has been given a neat opportunity to do a language exchange with a group of 4 of the girls teachers. She will teach English and they will teach our girls music, for free! Pray for Angel as she teaches them from a Christian curriculum and shares the hope of Jesus Christ. All of the teachers are under 30.

Religious Worker Visas: This is probably the biggest thing you can be lifting up in prayer right now. We have 31 days to get our visas completed/filed or we will probably have to leave Colombia for a period of time. Due to a slip up administratively our mission's entity in Colombia fell out of compliance with the Colombian government. Unfortunately, being able to renew our visa hangs in the balance of that entity getting back up and running. Please lift this up in prayer!

Partnerships: We have seen a really cool partnership emerge with City to City Redeemer that has been hugely beneficial for both Barranquilla and the whole of Colombia. City to City is doing amazing things for church planting in Latin America and we are excited about developing the relationship as we continue working with pastors, their wives and families.

Colombian Unrest: Keep the entire country in your prayers as the country continues to struggle through unrest, violence, and protests. Couple all of that with a third wave of Covid-19 and the stress levels are higher than any time we have been living here. Our teammates are seeing major persecution of the indigenous people groups including murders and destruction of their homes. We are seeing weekly protests due to governmental regulation and frustration with several issues nation-wide. We love these people and want the best for them and their country. Pray God's will be done and safety for people protesting.

Potential Investors: The co-working space is official! A big praise, as the work to get there was challenging but rewarding. Now we are moving on to seeking out potential investors in the project which is something that will take patience and a lot of energy. Pray that God will put the right people in front of Joel and that he have the right words to say at the right time. Check out below to see more!

Our family was invited to take part in a cool ministry with a couple friend of ours. We were able to go into a neighborhood called Pinar del Rio to give kids new shoes, socks, and notebooks that they needed. Pinar del Rio has financial hardships and is on the fringe of Barranquilla. We were also able to wash their feet and pray over them. It was the first time our girls got to go into an impoverished area and serve in that capacity. We shared a message of the hope of Jesus Christ along with how they can be praying for their families to know Jesus. Each child (over 60 kids showed up!) had their feet washed and were then fitted/given new socks and shoes!

Click here to see a quick video of what it was like!

Coworking: Please be praying for the right investors to become a part of what we are doing. That is quick but we are well underway with a new law firm, accountant, marketing firm, and other providers here in Barranquilla. Joel has been told by several consultants that there will be interest on the parts of angel investors and we are hopeful the Lord will provide those specific relationships.

Colombian Visas: It is time for our family to renew our visas as the date is around the corner (late April). It is a daunting task of paperwork, office visits, and processes. To add to the challenge, many governmental facilities (including Immigration) are still closed to face to face meetings due to the pandemic and you have an even more stressful situation. Please pray that we get through it efficiently and that everything is accepted.

Praise: Joel had a really cool opportunity to take part in a business leaders summit within coastal CEO's and HR professionals on Zoom. The Summit was teaching over 30 executives in different industries how to be "trustworthy" leaders. It was a fantastic opportunity and was great as he was able to share how the Gospel created a guideline for his life and how trustworthiness was a biproduct of that life change!

Friends: Please be praying for our new relationship with Christian and his new wife Eugenia. Christian is the pastor of our church that we have begun attending. They just got married a few weeks ago and are beginning a life together. Pray for them as a couple and that God will protect their ministry together as they are young in their marriage. Pray we can continue to come alongside them and support them well.

We'll be taking a trip to Bogotá soon to spend time with other SAM (South America Mission) missionaries who are working all over Colombia with indigenous populations.

We can't have any more than 10 people in our house at one time because of the pandemic, but we'll have a small group of friends over for a Christmas celebration where we'll share a meal and have a time of playing music together. Some of them believe in Jesus and some don't, so it's a cool opportunity for us to get to hang out with them.

With a lot of needs around Christmas time, we want to be able to help people and love them well. At the same time, being able to enjoy Christmas time without just working all the time has been difficult for us.

This title reflects how crucial a time in our campus calendar we are in right now. For the first since 2019, the University of Johannesburg has been able to host a Cross Cultural Project (CCP) from the U.S. The team landed on May 17 and are with us through July 2!

It has been such a blessing to have these American staff and students laboring with us, to connect more students to the ministry and share the Gospel with them alongside our local staff. They have been used to make a big impact on our staff and students already.

The CCP team has been going with us to campus every day, meeting students through sports and spending time in the residence halls. They've been coming with us to Bible studies and helping host socials - including the last 2 Friday evenings, when around 60 students have come around for dinner, games and spiritual dialogue!

Please pray for the next month that they are here. As exciting of a time as this is, students also begin 3 weeks of semester exams this week, which makes availability more limited. Please pray for...

1. Students we are evangelizing to come to faith in Christ - specifically Onke, Themba, Chris, Lwando, Chiza, Cring Cring, Azile and Alex.
   
2. Bible studies beginning in Maqhawe and Cornerstone residence halls, as well as currently running ones in Impumelelo and Moshate Heights.
   
3. Our staff families and the CCP team to be strengthened excessively by God's grace for this very intense season of ministry.

GOD'S FAITHFULNESS TO OUR FAMILY

As I write this I'm reminded that this time last year I was just getting home from Washington D.C. after our visa appointment. What a wonderful memory of God's gracious provision to get us where we are. Praise him, from whom all blessings flow!

We miss you dearly.

We miss Florence, Birmingham, Atlanta and all our other homes away from home.

But we feel you with us through your prayers, encouraging words and giving.

Thank you for being with us and being part of raising up the next generation of South African disciple makers.

For Christ and his kingdom,

Michael, Maegan, Noah, Aldyn and Callan

Click here to watch a video update from Michael.

Over the past month, the Lord has graciously increased our ministry's capacity, and we would like to share how the Lord has answered many of your prayers for this!

Johannesburg is an expensive city to live in, particularly close to the university. Many of our indigenous South African staff simply cannot afford living in optimal areas for ministry close to the campus...which proves very difficult when the core strategy of Campus Outreach is "life-on-life" evangelism and discipleship.

Siyanda and Anele Yaka, with their 2 boys, moved from Pretoria to Johannesburg last year to join our team, but until recently they were living 30+ minutes away from campus because of these challenges. Siyanda, being an incredibly gifted evangelist and people gatherer, really struggled being so hamstrung in ministry.

Enter Kennedy Froebe, a recent grad from the University of Kansas who committed to joining the international staff of Campus Outreach back in 2020. Her original destination remained closed due to Covid into this year, so Kennedy began prayerfully considering if the Lord was leading her elsewhere. He indeed was, and she landed in the O.R. Tambo Airport in Johannesburg just last week!

Kennedy came to faith and was discipled through university ministry at Kansas, and she is bringing and cheerful and outgoing presence to UJ. We can't wait to have her join Mpho and Pride in reaching girls with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Kennedy and our other new staff girl Chandler (who is slated to arrive in June) will be living with the Yakas in their new house ABOUT 5 MINUTES FROM CAMPUS! The Lord has given a cost-sharing provision to get more of our staff right next to campus...so more LIFE ON LIFE ministry can now happen!

Thank you for your prayers, Team!

Ministry to the residence halls has started to take off. We've met lots of students, hosted socials (like the game night above) and begun the first of several evangelistic Bible studies. Siyanda has even started coaching the res' rugby and soccer teams as a way of forming relationships with guys!

Most of these students are far from God. What an amazing opportunity he's given us to show them the love of Christ by sharing a lot of life with them and proclaming his glorious gospel that they may find life!

One student I ask specific prayer for is Onke. He is a first year student from Cornerstone Hall, who I've been privileged to befriend. Onke is a leader of men who often brings others around when we are hanging out. Please pray for Onke that he comes to faith in Jesus by the end of the year and the Lord builds him into a kingdom laborer during his years at UJ!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

To God Alone Be The Glory.

Click here to watch a video update from Michael.

• Clarity on what to say "yes" and "no" to, as far as commitments
• Friendships to continue to deepen with other couples and their kids
• Wisdom in discipling our kids

• Resources for our South African staff to be in sustainable and healthy spots
• That we would get recognized as an official student "society," so we will always have access to campus without any hassle from security guards
• That many students would commit to the evangelistic Bible studies we will be initiating in April, and ultimately come to faith

Many of our responsibilities are at the University of Johannesburg, shepherding staff and evangelizing/discipling students. But we have also had the privilege of having 2 single staff girls from Wits University live with our family, Kgaugelo and Maddie. Our kids adore them, and every week many girls from Wits are in our house hearing the Gospel.

The house God has provided through generous ministry partners like you has become somewhat of a "ministry hub," as we live close to both campuses and no students have cars of their own, so we have to provide consistent transport.

Multiple times per week, students from UJ and Wits are over for fellowship, Bible studies, discipleship groups, leadership training and socials. If they could, so many South African staff and students would personally say, "Thank you!"

The Lord continues to answer your prayers, specifically the prayers for the country to open up! South Africa has been one of the world's hotbeds for Covid, and since we arrived there have been intense gathering restrictions. But just last week, as a result of declining virus cases, restrictions have been loosened and we can now hold in-door gatherings for up to 250 people and outdoor for up to 500!

We had been planning a weekend conference for our 3 campuses to come together, knowing that if restrictions were not lifted the plans would have to change. But the Lord answered so many prayers that were going up for this, and by his grace we were able to host the conference this past Saturday. You'll read more on that in a second. Thank you for crying out to the Lord for us!

Friday Night Events

Our staff at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the University of the Witswatersrand (Wits) hosted a joint Friday night "Braii." Over 80 people came to fellowship and hear one of our alumni share the Gospel!

Friday nights are key ministry times here, and our campuses host ministry gatherings almost every week. We have been averaging 20-40 people coming every week, and normally the events include a Gospel presentation and discussion to follow. We have seen the Lord use these to move students toward embracing Christ as Savior, as well as a catalyst for student leaders to engage their peers with the Gospel!

City Conference

City Conference this past Saturday was a huge success! Students from all our campuses spent the day exploring different parts of the city together. Then we gathered in the afternoon for worship, a Gospel message and group discussion. Students were challenged to consider misconceptions they have about Jesus and what is keeping them from trusting him as Savior and Lord.

The highlight was when our students from UJ gathered at the end of the day to share highlights. We were floored listening to students share honestly and publicly about barriers in their lives to following Christ...

"I don't know if I am ready to give up the ancestral worship of my family..."

"I think becoming a Christian will mean my life gets too hard..."

"What about all the other religions..."

"I have so many doubts..."

Please pray for our staff as they engage these students, whom it really seems the Lord is pursuing. Pray that his sovereign grace transforms their hearts as they count the costs of embracing Jesus!

Family Update

Our family is slowly but surely figuring out our new "norm." We've started to meet more people at church. Our shipped items from the US arrived last week. We got a family dog. We've begun daily walks to the park in our neighborhood, and Noah and Aldyn are about to begin sports and dance!

We would ask for your prayers specifically that deep friendships would be formed. We know this comes with time, but it's definitely the piece of our life in the States we are missing the most right now.

We hope you can rejoice in seeing the Lord use your prayer and giving to make disciples on the other side of the world! Please know we feel so loved and supported by people like you who are "holding the rope" for us. We love you and thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

We've already seen evidence of God moving here. Last Thursday we were privileged to host a leadership training with students who have come to know Jesus. What a joy to hear how God has brought them and our staff to Christ! We also got to host an evangelistic event for new students on Friday, where the Gospel was clearly presented.

Our family landed in South Africa in the middle of an intense Covid lockdown, where social gatherings were not allowed and school not in session. By God's grace, the numbers have been dropping and things are opening up a bit.

This has been incredibly difficult for our campuses. Access for our staff has been very limited, many students remain at home taking class online and many others have lost their financial aid and been unable to return at all. We need incredible wisdom from God to make the most of this season and be faithful to the call to build Christ-like laborers on the campus for the lost world.

But God is still working, and I want to show you a little picture of that. HERE is a short update from our staff at the University of the Witswatersrand. Back in June they received a team of students from the U.S. to labor alongside them for several weeks, and 3 students professed faith in Christ!

Answered Prayers

We wish we could share all the different prayers that have been answered over the past month, but we want you to hear a few as a way of saying thank you for interceding on our behalf...

• God has provided us a great house very close to both of our campuses in Johannesburg, that is ideal for hosting. He also has given us a great family car, that was both affordable and in nearly perfect condition!
• The kids have done extraordinarily well. We can see God's providential hand in allowing us leave Florence back in April and move 2 times before we even got to South Africa. It was definitely used to prepare them for the "unsettled-ness" we are currently walking in!
• We've been able to begin building solid relationships with our staff here, already having deep shepherding conversations with those we've been entrusted to lead, including Meli and Abby Manana who are about to have their first baby girl in September!

On July 7 we arrived at the Atlanta airport 4 hours early, were mysteriously unable to check in for the next 3+, and were rushed through security to our gate with only minutes to spare before takeoff. A smooth flight to Newark ended with sitting on the runway for over an hour, a 7-hour layover, and then sitting on the next plane for almost 2 hours before the flight across the Atlantic began. Fifteen hours later we landed in Johannesburg, made it through customs with our luggage and arrived at our residence with only minutes to spare before the COVID-related 9pm curfew began!

It was a long day indeed, where our trust in the Lord was tested on several fronts. But he graciously got us here, allowing our kids to do extraordinarily well in the airplanes and airports, and now we begin the process of settling in to the new home and field he has called us to. Thank you for your prayers, friends!

• Please pray for the stability of the nation
• Please pray for all those suffering loss of loved ones and employment
• Please pray for the church's response, that it would be used to draw many to the only One who brings peace
• Please pray that our 3 schools would be open soon
• Please pray that the staff would have wisdom about the best ways to engage students with the Gospel right now
• Please pray that our family will get as familiar and comfortable with the area as possible in the coming days

Wow. It's here. After a long process full of delays, the Lord answered this prayer unbelievably quickly. Less than 3 weeks after the visa appointment in DC, the Cody family has officially been approved to move to South Africa. Barring any setbacks, the 5 of us will be on a plane Wednesday, July 7. Praise the Lord!

We left Florence on April 19, spent 6 weeks with Michael's family in Birmingham and then moved to Atlanta with Maegan's on June 2. This "extended good bye" has given us the blessing of enjoying great time with family and friends, creating memorable experiences for us.

The timing is so sweet because we will land a couple weeks before the new school term starts, so we will have some time to settle in and begin getting acclimated to life in our new home.

We're so ready for this adventure, as Jesus has given us the privilege of laboring with our South African brothers and sisters to build laborers on the campus for the lost world!

• Please continue to pray for our family, that the Lord would be very near us and we would love one another well through this transition.
• Please pray for safety and the ability to learn quickly how to maneuver life in Johannesburg.
• Please pray that the Lord would move mightily through Campus Outreach South Africa to build laborers for his glory to send all over Africa.

In last month's update, we asked for prayer that all our forms would arrive so we could schedule this interview. The Lord answered your prayers in pretty extraordinary ways just this past week.

Maegan had to resubmit fingerprints to the FBI for a background clearance, which was incredibly disheartening, as it took over a month to hear back the first time. But within a week we received her clearance back in the mail. The only explanation we see is the sheer grace of God!

NOW we would beg for your prayers again, as we come to one of the most significant pieces of the journey thus far:

• Please pray our visa application and interview is met with favor from the South African officials.
• Please pray for an expedient turnaround. We have heard that occasionally approval can take up to 2 months - obviously we would desire differently, but trust the Lord that his will is perfect.

CHAOS has begun...

...our garage is full of items we are selling

...the house will be on the market next week

...I will head to D.C. in 2 weeks to apply for our visa

...and Lord-willing, we'll be on a plane to Johannesburg in mid-May!

As we begin the difficult process of saying goodbyes and parting with possessions, we have been reminded of God's faithfulness to us over the years and how he has always proven that he is with us always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

Thank YOU for being with us through this process by your prayers, giving and encouragement. PLEASE PRAY specifically that our house would sell quickly and the Lord would guide the officials to grant us our visa promptly, so we may set an actual departure date and buy those plane tickets!