Friday, October 28, 2011

New Paths...on a Common Journey

Dear Family, Friends and Partners in Ministry,

            We hope and pray that this letter finds you doing well.  We continue to transition from Monterrey to the US/Mexican border region where we are now living and serving.  The children are settling into their schooling and  lives here.  Jeanne and I settle into our new lives here as well, finding places through which we can minister and serve God and others with our gifts and graces.  As the future unfolds before us, we walk forward with great joy, anticipation and thanksgiving.

            We are writing this letter to again affirm our deep thanksgiving for your faithfulness through the days, months and years past.  We know that without your prayers, your financial gifts and your partnership this ministry could not have happened.  Without you, the many, many lives, families and communities would not have been touched, would not have experienced the Good News of God in Venezuela and Mexico.  So, we thank you again and again for all you have done.

            We also write to let you know that at the end of this year we will transition from being full-time Cross-Cultural Workers (missionaries) to being Mission Affiliates.  This means two things specifically: 1) We will maintain our connection to The Mission Society and will continue living and ministering among Latin Americans—both here in the US and abroad; and 2) because of this new classification and God’s provision, we will no longer receive our salary and support through The Mission Society after December of this year.  We will maintain our account with The Mission Society where will be able to receive tax-deductable gifts should you wish to help with a particular project we tell you about or a short term mission trip (we have invitations for 2012 to Mexico, Venezuela and Honduras to teach and train church leaders!); however, we will no longer depend on the generous giving you have bestowed upon us to provide for our day-to-day living over the last seven years.

            Our “tent-maker” ministry will continue…even though we do not know exactly what shape it will all take.  While I teach at a local college on this side, we will continue to work with the schools in Monterrey—El Seminario Metodista Juan Wesley and El Instituto Laurens.  We are also connecting with people and groups here in the Rio Grande Valley…and look forward to developing points of ministry here.  And, as always, no matter what we do, no matter where we are, we strive—as you do—to simply live out the Good News of God through acts of love and mercy towards those around us.   As we go forward in this new phase of life and ministry, we hope you will continue to pray for us and know that we will remain in touch for the years to come.

            We cannot say enough how grateful we are for all you have done with us, for us and through us in the last seven years.  We cannot know how many lives have been forever changed because YOU were faithful in giving as God moved you to give.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  And, may the Lord bless you—as much and many times over—as you have blessed the lives of so many others.  

God is good…all the time!

Jon and Jeanne Herrin…Jesse, Andrew and Megan (the J.A.M.)

No comments: