When we started 2020, we had no idea how the year would unfold and forever change us; as a nation, as a Christian as an individual.

Change is not always bad; as individuals we choose if the change to us is for the better or for the worse.

Our nation will be forever changed; we have experienced a difficult and divisive election. Covid-19 has changed us. We have close to 400,000 people who have died and hundreds of thousands who have been affected by these deaths. We have experienced fear and anxiety and painful distancing from our loved ones.

We have had our eyes and hearts opened to our prejudices and to injustice. We have seen how minorities are mistreated and how they often live in fear and anger at the injustices they encounter in their daily lives. No one can deny it or ignore it any longer.

There are so many difficult changes that we have faced as a nation and as individuals. I am only responsible for my own response in all of this change.

Some of the changes that I have committed to and hope to make in my own life:

1. Fear can cripple, I must choose to trust God in all situations.
2. I am guilty of some prejudices in my own heart; I will work on seeing all people as God sees them. They are lost or they are found; this alone should be the way I view people. I must be an agent committed to bringing justice and equality for all people.
3. People are hurting; they need to hear me speak of the peace, healing and hope found only in Jesus.
4. God has not called me to argue, debate, condemn or contribute to the negative and explosive environment. My purpose is to love people and help them find their way to God.
5. I am not immune to all the pain, fear, death and violence around me. I can and have been touched by it all. I submit to God’s will for my life. The bad does not overcome me, but it does affect me.
6. Life is uncertain; God is unchanging and faithful.

I hope i am learning to be more patient, more full of faith, more compassionate, less negative and more positive. Mostly, I hope I am becoming more like Christ.

We have a lot of these lizard like reptiles in Africa. They are best known for their ability to change color to adapt to their environment.

Missioaries also have to have this same ability in order to be successful.

During this pandemic, we have had to adjust and change a great deal to continue to reach the lost of Africa. We continue to find new ways of accomplishing our goals.

Although the times have made it difficut to keep moving forward, God has opened new doors and helped us be creative.

Thank you for your prayers and fairhful partnership.

The goal for Africa, simply put, is to see a vibrant church planted within walking distance of every African.  Of course the way we accomplish this is neither simple or easy and it involves a lot of missionaries doing a wide variety of tasks if we are to see our goal reached.

One of the ministries that Joyce is responsible for involves training newly appointed Missionary Associates (MA) (1-2 year assignments) in the area of financial and partnership development.  As the AGWM Africa MA coach, Joyce walks the MA’s through a 4- week online training course.   They learn the Biblical basis for why we do itineration the way we do, understanding the components of partnership with potential donors and the nuts and bolts of a successful itineration journey.  She helps them prepare to find the financial partners they will need to raise their budgets and arrive on the African continent to help in the process of reaching our goal,

In the past four years since she has been doing this job, she has trained about 70 MA units.  It is one of the highlights of her current ministry.  The MAs are excited, committed and eager to fulfill the call of God on their lives. Joyce loves having the opportunity to interact with these awesome missionaries.

Thanks to all of you for partnering with us to reach our goal of seeing a vibrant church planted within walking distance of every African.