Field Fair 2009

On Thursday and Friday, twelve NTM workers appeared at MTC from far corners of the earth. Their purpose was to share with us the vision of their respective fields and the types of jobs they need people to fill. This exciting event, known as "Field Fair", is held once every semester to inform students and help students decide what field to serve on.

We enjoyed listening to and interacting with representatives from each field. Jevon had several opportunities to speak with the representatives from Brazil. Because Brazil is such a large country (the size of the continental United States plus Texas two more times), NTM considers it two fields: east and west. (Jevon grew up in the west, in the Amazon region.) We were sobered to hear that if 30 "units" (husband/wife teams or teams of 2 singles) went immediately to the field of West Brazil, that would only fill the needs of existing NTM works in order to finish the job well. Many more are needed to reach the 90 indigenous people groups in Brazil that have yet to hear God's Message in their own language.

As we consider these statistics, we are all the more determined to stay on course toward Brazil, unless God redirects us. While many students here hope to pioneer new works, it seems right to Jevon and I to make ourselves available to join an existing work in order to see that the that indigenous churches are brought to maturity. Our vision is to see these mature, indigenous churches teaching and leading their own people, as well as reaching out to neighboring, unreached people groups. We still would like to join Jevon's parents in West Brazil, but are totally open if NTM leadership feels it would be more strategic to place us elsewhere.

We are glad that you have sent us here to be trained, and we look forward to partnering together with you to reach the corners of the earth.

Love,

Jevon and Danica

Happy Birthday Uncle Amos

in honor of your birthday, Amos, here's a few pictures of your adoring Truffles and Karina. Since I couldn't bring them over to be with you on your birthday. At least you can see them...

here's Cali; beautiful as ever. posing by the creek here on campus.

"cold cold water"

hey, hey, look who's walkin'.

she is so pleased with her new balancing skills.

Happy Birthday from us. We love you.

a weekly "tidbit" from our life

Hello. We just wanted to touch base with you and let you know that we are thinking of you. Classes are good, and we are all well. God is teaching us so much about working together as a couple, and its great.

We spent this Saturday doing homework, running to town for groceries, and getting some stuff done around the house. In the evening we walked across the "road" (gravel) to have a barbecue with Neil and Tone Hess in their backyard. They are our staff advisers. After dark, Neil hung a bedsheet on the side of their house and projected a PowerPoint presentation up there for three of us students couples. He and Tone (pronounced "Tona") showed us pictures and talked about the work they did in Greenland before they came here to help train us. What a blessing we have, to learn from their experience and godly wisdom!

We hope you've enjoyed hearing this weekly tidbit; we've enjoyed hearing tidbits of your life too.
Thank you for your prayers and e-mails.

Love,
Jevon and Danica (and the little girls)

Dear friend,

HI!  We have had a crazy week; we're starting to figure out how to balance classes and family life but its still a challenge.  I say we are starting to figure it out - ha!  It may take the rest of the semester to get it down pat.  :)

Classes are good - instructive and practical stuff that is intended to change us.  A teacher gave us some wise words: "you take the person that you are now with you to the field".  That's why we are expected to put our training into practice in our lives NOW - whether it be a new way of thinking that challenges our worldview, practical tools for time management, ability to work in a team, or skills for effective teaching.  We start putting it to good use now so that it becomes part of who we are.

That's the school news.  The family news is that Karina took her first two unassisted steps today (Saturday).  YAY!  There's no turning back now; she's going to be off and running asap.  We have Monday off for Labor Day - which also happens to be a Brazilian holiday called Sete de Setembro.  So we are going to drive two hours to Branson, MO and spend Sunday and Monday reuniting with alot of Jevon's high school friends - all MK's from Brazil.  That should be fun.

We hope you have a refreshing weekend, also.  Thank you for the part you have in putting us here through this training.  We are happy to be here and want to learn all we can.  Pray that we will have teachable hearts at all times.
Love from the Rich family,
Jevon, Danica, Cali, and Karina