April has been such a special month—full of meaningful moments, deep conversations, and lots of joy.
We kicked things off with the launch of the third youth Alpha group at the university. The Easter Week Youth Camp was another highlight—challenging, fun, and spiritually uplifting. It’s exciting to see how God is working among the youth!
Another joyful moment was a pre-birthday gathering with a wonderful group of El Faro friends. It was a sweet time of fellowship, laughter, and celebration – and delicious food.
Of course, Easter always stands out as the highlight of spring—and this year was no different! We had a special Easter Sunday service, and it was such a joy to welcome many invited friends. Everyone heard the Gospel message, so please pray that the seeds planted in their hearts will produce lasting fruit.
After the service, we celebrated seven baptisms—each one a testimony to the life-changing power of Jesus. Most of those baptized were from the 
youth group. Josué, our youth leader, joined Willy to help with the baptisms. Some were nervous, but each one boldly shared how Christ has transformed their lives. Please pray for each of these believers—that they would grow strong in their faith and continue 
to walk closely with the Lord. They have all participated actively in El Faro and plan to continue. Pray also for their family and friends who came and heard about the true meaning of Easter and witnessed their loved one publicly declaring their faith in God.
This year, my birthday actually fell on Easter Sunday—which always makes it even more special. After the service, I enjoyed lunch with friends, and then our small group went to see The Chosen. The celebrations continued into Monday with a post-birthday celebration. Thank you to everyone who wrote, called, or sent birthday blessings. I’m so grateful for the Lord’s faithfulness through the decades and trust Him fully for what’s ahead in this new year of life.
Amidst all the activity, I’ve been preparing to return the apartment as I also prepare to transition into my Retirement Home Assignment (RHA). I’d say the apartment is about half empty now—hoping the rest will be done by Sunday evening. Friends from El Faro are providing housing from Saturday to my departure. Please pray for a smooth process as I begin closing utility accounts on Monday. The goal is to obtain the necessary paperwork so the final apartment inspection can take place that afternoon. Please pray that the deposits are returned before my departure, in time to close out my bank account here before I leave. Monday is also Canada’s federal election—so please keep that in prayer as well.
The first weeks of May I hope to focus on my goodbyes and closure. Please pray for meaningful visits that will encourage these dear friends to continue growing in their walk with the Lord. The last weeks will begin the reunions with family and friends.
Lord-willing, I’ll begin my journey back to Canada on the morning of May 14. It’ll be a long travel day—about 25 hours from start to finish—so please pray especially for my back and the logistics of handling all the luggage, especially making the connection in Calgary. Despite aiming for two checked bags, I’ll be traveling with three, plus carry-ons, and one checked piece is already overweight!
Please pray for strength, peace, and health as I navigate all the emotions. It’s always hard to leave, but I’m also filled with anticipation for what’s ahead. This time, the transition feels especially poignant—saying goodbye after more than 40 years of ministry in tropical Latin America followed by more goodbyes as I visit supporters during the trips of my RHA. At the end of the year, I’ll be stepping into a new season back in Canada, starting all over again. But I’m trusting the Lord every step of the way.
I’m extremely grateful that God has already provided housing and transportation for my RHA. I’ll have lots to do in the last two weeks of May before my first ministry trip on June 1. Travel plans have shifted quite a bit—six out of seven flights have had changes—so please pray for everything to fall into place—for fruitful time in Ontario, and for good visits across Canada and in Oregon.
Some of you have asked about retirement plans. I’ll still be an active TEAM missionary until December 31, 2025. January 1, 2026, I’ll wake up as a retiree. Please pray that the Lord will guide me clearly as I look for a retirement home—I’ve seen a few places, and hope to make some decisions before the end of the year.
One big change is that my home church has closed, so I’ll also be looking for a new church family once I know where I’ll be settling. I’ve had a church home my whole life—since I was born on a Wednesday and in church by Sunday! It’ll feel strange not having that right away, but I’m trusting God to lead me to the right church and area of service.
Thanks so much for your prayers, friendship, and ongoing support. Your encouragement means more than I can say. I’ll try to answer some questions about finances in the next update—this one’s already long enough!
With love and gratitude,
Brenda
