How it all began
Church.
A word, A place, or is it the people?
Both of us grew up attending church regularly. We were involved in Sunday school and Wednesday night activities and both saw the need for a Saviour at a young age, James in Kansas and Ely in Wisconsin.
Feeling the need for community and serving our fellow believers, we both went to Bible school to learn more about God and how we can be part of what He is doing in the world.
Mission Trips
We both went on mission trips: Ely went to Papua New Guinea and Mexico, and James went to Kenya and Brazil.
Some of the things we learned …..
God is faithful, He does miraculous works even today.
God directs, we have our plans but God knows the best things and timing.
Missionaries can have fun and be fun people, even though it is very hard work, it is worth it.
Missionaries need prayer for boldness, health, personal relationship with God; the people they work with need curiosity, and a listening ear.
More about each of us
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Ely (Elyce)
Growing up in a family that valued missions, I felt the challenge to go from a young age. I read everything I could get my hands on as far as missions is concerned, I felt a tug that I needed to go, but I felt so inadequate. However, God is faithful and He prepares us for what He calls us to do. From my first job working in hospital food service to driving school buses, God has used it all to prepare me for His service.
I am excited to use my training to reach people who have no access to the Bible and therefore to the Salvation and Hope that only Jesus brings.
Being at a school and taking excellent care of the students that I will be entrusted with allows their parents to be out in places that aren’t conducive to these young people’s spiritual walks with God, the students to have integration into their home cultures, and an excellent education.
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James
At Cornerstone Bible Institute, I was encouraged by several missionaries to see what God was doing in Brazil and consider being a part. After spending six months in northeastern Brazil, I wasn’t convinced that I was cut out to be a missionary, and put that adventure behind me. But in time, another missionary from Brazil invited me to commit to a one year term in a support role. The job description matched my interests well, and I wanted visit Brazil again.
Before long, I was back in Brazil working at PQQ as the substitute IT technician and filling in teaching roles as needed. It was a good fit, and the year was over before I knew it. I had to return to the US, but longed to return to Brazil as a career missionary.
After Ethnos360 training and getting married, I’m back in Brazil. Soon, the culture and language requirements will be met and we will be a part of the support team for missionaries in Brazil.
