PPM Spring Conference & Upcoming Travel

Ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Praying Pelican Missions, networking with local churches around the world, and connecting mission teams to life-changing ministry opportunities.

PPM Spring Conference

This past week Nate and Laura were able to gather with our full-time and seasonal staff to prepare for the full summer of ministry ahead on the mission field.

Nate was asked to be one of the emcees for the weekend conference. He also co-led a special time for about 20 of our host pastors, both domestically and internationally. He and his co-host, Anna, were assisted by a PPM Board member who took the time to encourage the pastors in these uncertain days we are living in.

The team was also able to share about PPM365, our new initiative to minister to our international partners 365 days a year, beyond the mission trip. We have now started the pilot program of PPM365 in Kenya, Nicaragua, and Haiti. We are currently caring for 52 churches and pastors throughout these three locations! Nathan has been working on launching PPM365 for the past 6 months and is so excited that it is now coming to fruition!

Nate was also able to share about the international expansion that has taken place over the past year and where we are heading over the next year. We truly believe that God is up to something new!

The last thing on Nate's plate was to commission the PPM staff to go and serve. He passionately shared the Gospel, why we go, and how we all desperately need to be filled daily with the Holy Spirit.

Since last fall, Laura has been assisting to help secure seasonal staff for PPM, so seeing a large group of them face-to-face and committed to going on mission was a great blessing. Laura was also serving all week during the conference behind the scenes. She helped keep each moment moving forward, making sure everyone had what they needed to make the weekend a success!

Kenya Travel Alert!

May 11th -18th, Nate will be leading two of our PPM365 staff from Nicaragua and Haiti to Kenya to join with our other PPM365 staff member. While in Kenya, the team will be leading a pastor's gathering and a youth gathering to empower and encourage everyone to step out in faith on mission. They will hold a dinner for the local pastors that are in the PPM365 church sponsorship program and preach at a local church. Nate will also be using this time to train the three PPM365 staff members on how to care effectively for the churches and pastors in the church sponsorship program.

Please lift up all of the travel involved for the team, for safety, and for anointing! Pray also for the three families that will be home while the husbands travel, including Laura and the kids.

April Family Update

Reagan turned 17 on April 9th, it is so crazy to us that she (we!!!) is this old! How did that happen?! She continues to make us so proud. She attended her Junior prom while we were in Colorado for the PPM conference. We were so sad to miss being with her as she got ready, but are thankful for Grandma, Grandpa, and our friend, Lindsey, who were there with her!

One of the highlights of the conference for Laura was seeing Erin. Erin was one of the girls in the life group that Laura led when living in Florida, and is now going to be an Assistant Trip Leader for Praying Pelican Missions this summer!

We invited several friends and neighbors over after church on Easter and had a great time playing volleyball, dying eggs, and just being together, celebrating all that Jesus has done for us. It is always such a blessing to us when we can open up our lives and home to others.

Reagan and Abbi finished up their soccer season and attended the Sports Award Banquet at their high school...Reagan received her first varsity letter, and Abbi received the Coaches' Choice Award!! We are so proud of both of them.

Darrell is happy to be done with Basic Training and is doing well in this next chapter of his life. We wish he was closer, but are grateful for technology so we can keep in touch easily.

Laura was able to sneak away for a weekend with some of her friends from the neighborhood. She had a great time, getting some much-needed r&r!

The boys continue to do well playing soccer and love going to practices and games. Their season will be wrapping up soon, and I know they will miss it! They spend most of their day with friends in the neighborhood, we are so blessed to be surrounded by so many children for them to play with!

Nate has been leading a men's small group through our church on Wednesday mornings and has enjoyed connecting with other men in this way. He spent much of April preparing for all of the responsibilities he had for the PPM Spring Conference and is now preparing for his trip to Kenya.

Thank you for your prayers, love, encouragement, and support! We continue to take life day by day, asking God for grace and wisdom as we parent the children He has entrusted to us. We covet your prayers for this specifically as we continue to face some big challenges in this area.