Voices from the Field

This season has brought us to Alberta to spend time with our families. We have been on the move between our children’s homes – our daughter in Edmonton and our son near Medicine Hat.

The year 2020 has been difficult! Mine probably hasn’t been any harder that some of yours, and it is still far from finished, but it HAS been tough.

So, what do we do with our time? We have been stuck at home in Phoenix now almost five months because of this pandemic. Much of that time we have been on home lockdown due to the spikes of COVID-19.

Greetings! The rainy season has ended, bringing summer into full swing with its heat and humidity, as well as the endless drone of cicadas. God’s creation is full of variety!

We are still here at Mbingo.  With the lockdown from the COVID-19 virus, we canceled the visits to many of our supporting churches and the conferences that we were scheduled to attend this summer.  We are mostly isolating ourselves in the house.  I no longer go to the wards but attend a few meetings at the hospital.

WHEN ARE YOU GOING BACK TO JAPAN?? ANY IDEA? This has been the number one question that I’ve been asked over and over again by many people. I wish I could give you all a definite answer, but unfortunately I do not have the answer at this time.

The other very exciting thing we have been doing is visit many of our supporting churches, mission committees, and individuals to talk about the ministry we are all engaged in. This process of reporting on the work that God and his people have been doing has been a source of great joy and inspiration for us.

August is a month of celebration for the Jones family. On August 6, we celebrate Brandon’s birthday, followed by Brazilian Father’s Day on the 9th. On the next day, the 10th, Monica turns 13, and then the Jones family will have a second teenager in the house. On August 18, Brandon and Marci celebrate 17 years of marriage.

Summer joy! That’s what we have experienced in these past few months. Covid brought a lot of restrictions, but with it were many blessings. Although Yuri couldn’t return to Japan, we had the privilege of having her come visit us with Carol Potratz. What an encouragement they were.

We are all called to be faithful, and the Lord’s work continues for all of us, yet it is different. There are bumps in the road, the journey is a slower pace than before, but we carry on!