The Next Step: Our Vision Trip to Durban

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news: our Vision Trip tickets are reserved for February 2025! After months of preparation, prayer, and generous support from our ministry partners, we’re heading to Durban, South Africa for 18 days of culture, discernment, and discovery. This represents more than just a trip – it’s a crucial step in confirming God’s calling for our family’s future ministry.

Understanding the Vision Trip

What is a Vision Trip (or a Survey Trip) anyway? Well, you can think of it as a kind of “try before you buy” arrangement – except instead of testing a product, we’re testing our fit within God’s plan for Durban (and more importantly, they are testing us). While we feel certain of God’s call to South Africa, wisdom necessitates humility and confirmation. This trip isn’t just us confirming our calling; it’s about the existing ministry team in Durban having the opportunity to envision us as potential long-term partners in the Gospel.

You see, effective missions work isn’t just about having the right doctrine or the right organization (though those things are absolutely essential). It’s about building strong, collaborative teams that multiply the impact of the Gospel. During our Vision Trip, we’ll be meeting with ABWE team members, local pastors, and ministry leaders to explore how our family might best serve alongside them in spreading the truth of God’s Word.

The reality is, sometimes what seems like a perfect fit from thousands of miles away reveals itself to be something quite different on the ground. That’s why ABWE (wisely) implements this crucial step in the missionary journey. It’s an opportunity for both the potential missionaries and the existing team to prayerfully discern if this is truly God’s plan for everyone involved.

Preparing Our Hearts

Spending time in God’s Word, we’ve recently been deeply immersed in Paul’s letter to the Galatians during our preparation. Paul’s warning about “near Gospel” messages being taught in the region feels particularly relevant to our future ministry in Durban, where prosperity gospel teachings have gained a more-than-concerning influence. Our hearts break for those who are being led astray by these false teachings, and we’re eager to support Bible-based churches that proclaim the true Gospel of Christ.

As we prepare for our Doctrinal Interview, we’ve been reminded again and again of the incredible privilege we have in God’s revealed Word. It’s not just a collection of ancient writings – it’s a living testimony to God’s faithfulness throughout history, and it’s as relevant today as it was when it was first written. We’ve heard and known that “ All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work,” but we’re really seeing it come alive in new ways in teaching, in correcting, in training, and in equipping. (We haven’t hit rebuking yet, but… we’re sure it’s coming.)

God’s Confirmations: Both Profound and Playful

God’s confirmation of our path has come through both significant signs and playful winks. For instance, we discovered a beautiful connection with our future ministry partners in Durban – they began their missionary journey in Kenya, where Abbey spent her childhood. This shared understanding of African culture and ministry isn’t just coincidence; it’s one of many ways God has been weaving our stories together.

Then there are those divine ‘inside jokes’ that make you smile. I, Joe, have always been a fan of the classic sci-fi novel “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” and Douglas Adams’ incredible wit. I’ve made many jokes about the number 42 as “the answer to life, the universe, and everything” in recent years. While booking our travel tickets, I had a moment of… not panic, not anxiety, but not sheer exhileration, either. “Am I really doing this? Am I sitting in West Virginia, booking tickets through Istanbul? Is this really my life now?” Discovering that our flight from Istanbul to Durban is Turkish Airlines flight TK42 felt like a heavenly wink. Yes, that’s right – we’re taking flight number 42 to discover our answer to life, the universe, and everything. Our Heavenly Father clearly understands the value of making His children laugh even while guiding them through serious decisions. He’s a good God in a million ways.

Looking Ahead: Practical Steps and Prayer Needs

While we’ve raised most of the funds needed for this Vision Trip (praise God!), we’re still accepting support for any unexpected expenses. Any excess funds will roll into our long-term ministry account after our Orientation in March. If you’d like to partner with us financially, you can find more details on our Projects page.

Most importantly, we covet your prayers as we prepare for this crucial step. Please pray specifically for:

• Final travel preparations and documentation
• Meaningful connections with the ministry team
• Clear direction from the Lord for all involved
• Safety in travel and daily activities
• Clarity in the final trip budget
• Cultural sensitivity and understanding
• Open hearts and minds to God’s leading

We’re humbled and grateful for each person who has supported us through prayer and giving. Every step of this journey reminds us that we serve a faithful God who delights in revealing His plan to His children – sometimes through major confirmations, sometimes through shared histories, and sometimes through flight numbers that make us smile.

As we prepare for this next step, we’re reminded of Paul’s words to the Philippians: “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). We don’t know exactly what God has in store for us in Durban, but we know He’s already at work, preparing the way.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this adventure!