Thank you so much for your prayers for my return trip. Praise the Lord, all went smoothly. All three suitcases were overweight, but they only charged extra for one, and they were delivered directly to London, ON, where I arrived bright and early on May 15th. Friends picked me up and brought me to my brother’s place, which is my base while I look for housing. I’m thankful to have been provided with a car to use for the rest of this year on my Retirement Home Assignment (RHA). I am grateful for each person involved in this process. Please pray that the Lord will lead me in His perfect timing to the right housing option for my retirement, and to the right church as well. Also, I found a new osteopath because my original one moved out of province. My neck, back, and hips feel so much better after the first treatment. I will continue to use my Mexico phone number, but to avoid long-distance charges for you, please note my Ontario number: (226) 887-2909.
The last weeks of April were busy as people picked up their “new” items. The last truckload of items left at the end of April. It was fun seeing “my” things in other homes while visiting in May. Thanks to those who prayed about the security deposits—they were returned in May just in time to close the bank account, allowing me to leave with no loose ends.
Emotionally, it was very difficult to leave the El Faro church and La Paz, Mexico. Willy gave me extra time to share at my farewell service, and I almost made it through without crying. I’ve never taken so many teary photos—it was bittersweet, but such a meaningful and unforgettable time. They also prepared a website for me with memories of the day and my ten years of ministry at El Faro. I enjoyed guiding my small group through my last week, and at our last meeting I was pleased to present the new guide. I’m thrilled to know that the group is going strong and that the other ministries all have good leadership as well. Please continue to pray for healthy growth in the El Faro church and for Willy and Isela in their areas of responsibility.
Willy and Isela took me to the airport in their new car (it used to be mine!) and have continued to be supportive of me through this transition. Please pray for them, as Willy will be going to a preaching conference this week in California with a group from the Mexicali church. Did I thank you for praying about his visa situation? It was granted!
After asking you to pray about the property situation for years, I hope this is the last time it will be a prayer request. We are possibly within days of the signing. Hopefully, the two couples will be signing this week (the difficult part), to be finalized when Willy returns to La Paz the following week. I had hoped this would be done before I left, but the important thing is that it gets finalized. Please keep praying that there will be no further complications so the signings can take place.
I said I’d mention finances in this report. Although I’ve been under-supported in recent years, the Lord has faithfully met every need. Several have asked about how they could help with support in retirement. TEAM does have a Retirement Supplement Fund that could provide a supplement in retirement if funds available. That fund would begin in January, 2026 after my retirement. TEAM will send a letter with an explanation near the end of the year. I am trusting the Lord to supply the lacking funds for the rest of this year so I can finish well.
The sermon my first Sunday back highlighted God’s provision in our faith journey. Tomorrow, I begin the first trip of my RHA. I look forward to sharing my gratitude for how the Lord has faithfully provided and guided throughout my life—and to hearing the stories of those I visit as well. Please pray for safety with all the travelling coast to coast and across the border, and for good visits. May the Lord be glorified and His Kingdom continue to increase.
Grateful for your ongoing support!
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Brenda
