Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Over five million current residents.
Two hundred and fifty thousand immigrants each year and counting from all over the world.
It is a city full of endless opportunity where many have come to start a new and better life. The job market is increasingly generous and plentiful, and the contrast of the endless ocean and towering mountains unmatched. Yet somehow, less than a third of these people live their lives from day to day with any knowledge or interest in God.
On November 15, 2022, after two full years of being denied access to return due to the countries strict adherence to covid laws, we boarded our first flight as a married couple to Sydney. Twenty-six hours, and 9,474 miles later, we arrived physically exhausted but mentally and emotionally renewed.
Over the course of two full weeks in the country, we were blessed to be able to partake in the ministries of four different churches, two on the northern central coast, one two hours south, and another just on the outskirts of Sydney. Every one of these churches stood in its own unique stage of development. Some were flourishing and multiplying, while others were struggling to take root. Each one we were able to be a part of in a different way, whether it be through leading music, participating in a bread and veggie run, or simply holding good conversations with those of the congregation.
  
We were also blessed with numerous opportunities to spend some quality time with four of our teammates already on the field, including our regional director and the couple who hosted Hanna during her internship in 2019. Together, we were able to not only talk about the ministry and the details of our future immigration, but also see much of Sydney and the surrounding residential areas where we will soon be living and working. Having just closed one chapter of our lives together, we felt in these moments, so much hope for the future. While there is much work to be done and less than enough people to fully do it, it does not seem overwhelming. In fact, our hearts long to do it. They long to be there in the thick of it, reaching the people whom our hearts are called to for the Gospel of Christ.
  
We returned home very early the first of December, after multiple delays in Los Angeles. We are still jetlagged, and have taken a few days to recover, but hope to hit the ground running on Monday with preparations for our new ministry presentation, prayer cards, and recap video. With the reality of the need for the Gospel in Australia ripe in our minds, we are more than ready to dive head-first into the second phase of our support raising. And we pray continuously that the Lord would continue to do His work in that country as He prepares us to carry it on in the near future.
It goes without saying that the hardest part of being a missionary is always having your heart in more than one place. While back here in Michigan, we are surrounded by family and friends, our hearts continuously hurt for a country on the other side of the world, as if we were somehow born to be there. And we pray, that as we go about sharing and conversing with people throughout the remainder of our ministry in America, that they would see the desperate need and that their hearts would be burdened just as much as ours.
Where else in the world can you reach so many people from so many countries that can’t be reached? China, Japan, Korea, the Middle East, Europe. The spectrum of ethnic groups is endless and the field is ready to harvest. It is said that Australia is where the mission field comes to you, and I believe that is true. To ignore it would be a sincere tragedy.
So please continue to pray for us as we prepare to serve the Lord through church planting, evangelism, discipleship, and community engagement. We have big shoes to fill, but we are ready to do everything we can in God’s will and power to fill them. |
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