December Update - Permits & Relationships

“Taotletud elamisloakaardi väljastab alates 24.11.2015.” These were the words that I received in an email one day letting me know that our residence permits were ready to be issued! We are now officially residents in Estonia for a period of two years! We can reapply in two years for an additional two and so on until we can apply for a five year permit at the five-year mark. We are so grateful to God for providing once again and further solidifying His call for us to be here ministering in Estonia.

Every year in Estonia they have the Global Leadership Summit put on by Willow Creek. The people in the foreground are some of the ones we are working with here in Estonia.

The Old Town part of Tallinn has a Christmas market every year with handcrafts, food, and drink. We visited one day and this is the view of the Town Hall Square.

In November, we were able to continue building former relationships that we had when we were here before. We had dinner with two couples this month: one an American missionary family with whom we shared Thanksgiving, and one an Estonian couple with whom I studied with before. The dinner with the Estonian couple was especially pleasant. I knew the young man before when he was single, but had yet to get to know his wife and child. We had a great time of fellowship and getting to know each other better.

We had our first snow on Thanksgiving Day. This is a view from our backyard. The snow melted as quickly as it came and hasn’t snowed yet again. 

The kids received some letters from other kids in our home church in Forney, TX. They were happy reading them all. It provided a nice reminder that people are thinking of them and praying for them. 

Language school continues to press forward. Some days I can understand and respond effortlessly, but then on others, it is as if all language learning has left the building. Needless to say, but Estonian is not the easiest language to learn! But, with God’s grace, we are inching ever forward to being able to converse in Estonian without having to rely so much on English. Please continue to be in prayer for our language studies and for continued relationship building with our Estonian friends.

Please pray for the following:

• Praise God for granting our residence permits!
• Praise God for our developing ministry partnerships.
• Pray for the Estonian people that God would open their hearts to the gospel and for relationships to begin.
• Pray that God would help us to grasp the Estonian language and to use it more and more fluently.

If you or someone you know would like to support the mission and vision that God has given us for Estonia, then send your checks payable to BMAA Missions with “Mission:Estonia Work” in the memo line.  Mail them to the BMAA Missions Office at:

BMAA Missions

P.O. Box 878

Conway, AR 72033

You can also donate online. Click the red “Donate Now” button on the right to donate now!

Your support goes toward helping Estonians find their way to Jesus. Join us!

If you are not currently subscribed to our newsletter and would like to be, then please email me with your email address and I'll be sure and add you.

November Update - Partnerships & Language

In October, we were able to accomplish quite a lot here in Estonia. I was able to meet with a few of our contacts here to begin partnership talks. The church we have been attending is called Kalju Baptistikogudus (Kalju Baptist Church) in Tallinn and the pastor and second pastor have invited us to work with them and to be based out of their church to explore church planting possibilities. I was able to take part in an interview time during one of the Sunday services with the second pastor in which I was able to share the vision God has given us and to encourage the people in the church to be about the business of making disciples and sharing Jesus with those around them. We are excited to be working with this church and to see how God can use this partnership to further His Kingdom.

This is the church we have been attending with the pastor preaching.

I was allowed one Sunday to have an interview with the second pastor and share the vision God has given us for Estonia and to share why we have come to Estonia.

We began language school on October 16 at a language school in Tallinn. Our teacher began the first day speaking in nothing but Estonian and just a few English explanations. Needless to say, it was not very easy. I can still understand and speak pretty well, but even still, it is not easy to be thrust back into speaking and hearing a language that you haven’t used in four years. She is a very good teacher and we are very optimistic about learning the language better in order to better minister here.

This was taken on our way back to the car after church one Sunday. As you can see, it is already pretty cold here!

This is a view of our street in our neighborhood. It is very beautiful here in the fall. I have met our neighbor across the street and hope to continue to develop that relationship.

Our container arrived on October 24 that had our things from the States. We didn’t ship any furniture, but it is nice now to have our kitchen things and other household decorations. Things are beginning to look and feel like home. Thank you all for your support and prayers. They are working!

Please pray for the following:

• Praise God our container arrived and passed customs free of charge!
• Praise God for our developing ministry partnerships.
• Pray for the Estonian people that God would open their hearts to the gospel and for relationships to begin.
• Pray that God would help us to grasp the Estonian language and to use it more and more fluently.

If you or someone you know would like to support the mission and vision that God has given us for Estonia, then send your checks payable to BMAA Missions with “Mission:Estonia Work” in the memo line.  Mail them to the BMAA Missions Office at:

BMAA Missions

P.O. Box 878

Conway, AR 72033

You can also donate online. Click the red “Donate Now” button on the right to donate now!

Your support goes toward helping Estonians find their way to Jesus. Join us!

If you are not currently subscribed to our newsletter and would like to be, then please email me with your email address and I'll be sure and add you.

October Update

We arrived in Estonia on September 21st and have been very busy since that time. We have successfully rented a permanent place to live and have purchased a car. We have successfully been to the grocery store a few times and are beginning to use the language more and more. Saying goodbye to friends and family in the States was difficult, but we are excited for the ministry that God has called us to in Estonia.

One of the most important things that we need to get accomplished is to get our residence permits. Fortunately, this process should not be very difficult. The permits would be for two years and then renewable. Once we get to the five year mark, then we can apply for a five-year permit and have to take a language test. So, language school will still be a necessity so that we can gain as much fluency as possible.

The kids are adjusting well and will be ready to start school a little late this year once our container from the States arrives in mid to late October. All in all, it has been a wild September and we are looking forward to what God has in store for us in the months to come. Thanks for all your prayers and support. We couldn’t do it without you!

Please pray for the following:

• Praise God we arrived safely with all of our luggage!
• Pray for our continued transition to life in Estonia.
• Pray for the Estonian people that God would open their hearts to the gospel and for relationships to begin.
• Pray that God would work everything out with residence permits and language school selection.

If you or someone you know would like to support the mission and vision that God has given us for Estonia, then send your checks payable to BMAA Missions with “Mission:Estonia Work” in the memo line.  Mail them to the BMAA Missions Office at:

BMAA Missions
P.O. Box 878
Conway, AR 72033

You can also donate online. Click the red “Donate Now” button on my blog at missionestonia.blogspot.com to donate now!

Your support goes toward helping Estonians find their way to Jesus. Join us!

If you are not currently subscribed to our newsletter and would like to be, then please email me with your email address and I'll be sure and add you.

Arrival in Estonia!

We arrived in Estonia on Monday September 21 and have been adjusting well to the time difference and life again here. Our first order of business is to find a place to live. After looking at 3 different places, today we found the perfect place for our family and for our ministry. We go on Tuesday to sign the papers. We are so thankful to God for providing this place and for His provision throughout this transition.

Our next order of business will be to find and buy a car. It is difficult to get around in Estonia with 4 kids without a car. Fortunately there are plenty options within our price range that will be both big enough for our family and useful for ministry. God has been so good through this process and we are excited to be a part of it and to see what the future has in store!

September Update

We are so excited to now be fully funded! We thank each and every one of you who have joined us in this ministry to help Estonians find their way to Jesus. We could not do any of this without you! This month we would especially like to thank the following churches and individuals for joining us and having us at their churches:

Union Hill Baptist Church – Brownsboro, TX
New Harmony Baptist Church – Tyler, TX
Mt. Union Baptist Church – El Dorado, AR
Sand Springs Baptist Church – Mineola, TX
Antioch Baptist Church – McGehee, AR
First Baptist Church – Magnolia, AR
New Beginnings Community Fellowship – Cedar Hill, TX
Nick and Erika Bumgardner
Bonnie Cade

Thank you all for your support and for your hospitality during our visit!

We leave for Estonia on September 20th and have a big adventure ahead of us. The first week that we arrive we will be looking for a place to live, a car to purchase, and adjusting to life back in Estonia. Please remember us in your prayers during this transition and that God would provide all of our needs.

Please pray for the following:

• Praise God we are fully funded!
• Pray for our transition to Estonia. We leave September 20!
• Pray for the Estonian people that God would open their hearts to the gospel.
• Pray that God would work out all of the logistical details with residence permits and our shipping container.

If you or someone you know would like to support the mission and vision that God has given us for Estonia, then send your checks payable to BMAA Missions with “Mission:Estonia Work” in the memo line.  Mail them to the BMAA Missions Office at:

BMAA Missions
P.O. Box 878
Conway, AR 72033

You can also donate online. Click the red “Donate Now” button on my blog at missionestonia.blogspot.com to donate now!

Your support goes toward helping Estonians find their way to Jesus. Join us!

I look forward to updating this blog more regularly as we transition to the field in Estonia and begin our ministry. If you are not currently subscribed to our newsletter and would like to be, then please email me with your email address and I'll be sure and add you.

August Update

During the month of July, we continued to gain new supporters and are very close to being fully funded. We also were able to purchase our plane tickets for the field! We leave for Estonia on September 20! We are very excited about the upcoming move and thank each and every one of you for helping make this happen. Special thanks go to the following churches and individuals for their support:

Lake Highlands – Sulphur Springs, TX
Beacon Hill – Waco, TX
Jan and Joe Kelly

We appreciate your prayer and financial support as we continue to strive toward the goal of bringing the gospel to the people of Estonia.

Currently, we are still right around $350/month short of being fully funded. We need your help! If there are any individuals in your churches or churches in your local associations that would be willing to join us in helping Estonians find their way to Jesus then please pass this newsletter on to them or have them contact us for information on how to go about doing so. God is faithful and I am confident that He will fund this ministry so that the lost of Estonia can hear the good news of Jesus Christ and know Him as Savior!

We will be visiting the following churches and have the one event in August:

August
Union Hill Baptist Church – Brownsboro, TX
PFPO Training – Conway, AR
Sand Springs Baptist Church – Mineola, TX
Mt. Union Baptist Church – El Dorado, AR
Antioch Baptist Church – McGehee, AR
First Baptist Church – Magnolia, AR
New Beginnings Community Fellowship – Cedar Hill, TX

September
Leave for Estonia on September 20!

If you or someone you know would like to support the mission and vision that God has given us for Estonia, then please fill out the support form on the "Join Our Support Team" tab above so that I can get you on my partner list. You can send your checks payable to BMAA Missions with “Mission:Estonia Work” in the memo line.  Mail them to the BMAA Missions Office at:

BMAA Missions
P.O. Box 878
Conway, AR 72033

You can also donate online. By clicking the red "Donate Now" button to the right you will be taken directly to the BMA Missions secure donation page. There you can set up a monthly donation or give a one-time gift if you so desire. Your support goes toward helping Estonians find their way to Jesus. Join us!

Thank you all for your support and may God receive the glory through your giving and support of the mission and vision for Estonia.

July Update

The month of June saw us get closer to our goal of being fully funded and getting closer to planning when we will leave for the field. We are hoping that all of our necessary funding will come in by the end of August so that we can leave for the field in September. Special thanks go to the following churches and individuals for their support:

Old Bethel - Canton, TX
Central - Prescott, AR
Northside - Garland, TX
New Beginnings Community Fellowship - Cedar Hill, TX
Adam & Kristi Key

We appreciate your prayer and financial support as we continue to strive toward the goal of bringing the gospel to the people of Estonia.

Currently, we are still $650/month short of being fully funded. We need your help! If there are any individuals in your churches or churches in your local associations that would be willing to join us in helping Estonians find their way to Jesus then please pass this newsletter on to them or have them contact us for information on how to go about doing so. God is faithful and He will fund this ministry so that the lost of Estonia can hear the good news of Jesus Christ and know Him as Savior!

We will be visiting the following churches in July and August:

July
Lake Highlands Baptist  – Sulphur Springs, TX
New Harmony Baptist Church – Tyler, TX
Beacon Hill Baptist Church – Waco, TX

August
Union Hill Baptist Church – Brownsboro, TX
Sand Springs Baptist Church – Mineola, TX
Mt. Union Baptist Church – El Dorado, AR
Antioch Baptist Church – McGehee, AR
First Baptist Church – Magnolia, AR
New Beginnings Community Fellowship – Cedar Hill, TX

September
Leave for Estonia!

If you or someone you know would like to support the mission and vision that God has given us for Estonia, then please fill out the support form on the "Join Our Support Team" tab above so that I can get you on my partner list. You can send your checks payable to BMAA Missions with “Mission:Estonia Work” in the memo line.  Mail them to the BMAA Missions Office at:

BMAA Missions
P.O. Box 878
Conway, AR 72033

You can also donate online. By clicking the red "Donate Now" button to the right you will be taken directly to the BMA Missions secure donation page. There you can set up a monthly donation or give a one-time gift if you so desire.

Thank you all for your support and may God receive the glory through your giving and support of the mission and vision for Estonia.

Information on How to Setup Monthly Donation

For those of you who would like to join us in monthly financial support for our mission work in Estonia here is step-by-step on how you do it.

First, click on the tab at the top of the page that says "Join Our Support Team." There is a form there that I need you to fill out and submit that lets me know your name, email address, and how much you will be donating. This is an important step because I need this information to set you up to receive my newsletter as well as to let me know the amount for my funding report.

Then, on the right side of the page there is a red "Donate Now" button. Click that button and it will link you to the BMAA Missions secure giving page were you can create an account and set up a monthly donation. I believe that you can set it up for a year or more if you so desire. The donation will go straight to our ministry fund every month. If any of you have any problems, let me know and I'll help you out.

Thanks for all for your support and for joining us in helping Estonians find their way to Jesus!

June Update

May has been a very busy month for us. We are excited to have several new partners join us now and a few who will be able to begin in September. We are gaining traction on the fundraising front! Special thanks go out to the following churches and individuals for their contributions:

Myrtle Springs – Quitman, TX
Garrett Memorial – Hope, AR
Little Flock – Jewett, TX
Genesis Metro – Frisco, TX

We appreciate your prayer and financial support of the mission and vision God has given us for Estonia.

Currently, we are right at 77% of our raised support. We still need your help. If there are any individuals in your churches or that you know of that would be willing to join us in helping Estonians find their way to Jesus then please pass this newsletter on to them or get them in touch with us for more information. Together we can get this ministry funded and begin to see lives changed in a country that is in great need of the gospel!

We will be visiting the following churches in in June, July, and August:

June
Old Bethel Baptist Church – Canton, TX
Northside Baptist Church – Garland, TX

July
New Harmony Baptist Church – Tyler, TX

August
Mt. Union Baptist Church – El Dorado, AR
Union Hill Baptist Church – Brownsboro, TX
Antioch Baptist Church – McGehee, AR

If you would like to support the mission and vision that God has given us for Estonia, then please fill out the support form on the "Join Our Support Team" tab above so that I can get you on my partner list. You can send your checks payable to BMA Missions with "Mission Estonia Work" in the memo line. Mail them to the BMA Missions Office at:

BMA Missions
P.O. Box 878
Conway, AR 72033

You can also donate online. By clicking the red "Donate Now" button to the right you will be taken directly to the BMA Missions secure donation page. There you can set up a monthly donation or give a one-time gift if you so desire.

Thank you all for your support and may God receive the glory through your giving and support of the mission and vision for Estonia.

May Update

We were officially elected as BMAA missionaries to Estonia in April at the national meeting! We are very excited to see what God is going to do in Estonia through this ministry. Currently, we have 15 monthly support partners who have pledged to join us in helping Estonians find their way to Jesus and several others who have made one-time donations! Special thanks go out to the following churches and individuals for their contributions:

Lawrence Springs – Grand Saline, TX
First – Glenn Heights, TX
First – Itasca, TX
South Park – Ft. Worth, TX
Brant and Janice Godbold
Bruce and Robbie Owens
Jim and Joyce Owens

We appreciate your prayer and financial support of the mission and vision God has given us for Estonia.

We are currently at 66% of our raised support. We still need your help. If there are any individuals in your churches or that you know of that would be willing to join us in helping Estonians find their way to Jesus then please pass this newsletter on to them or get them in touch with us for more information. Together we can get this ministry funded and begin to see lives changed in a country that is in great need of the gospel.

If you would like to support the mission and vision that God has given us for Estonia, then please fill out the support form on the "Join Our Support Team" tab above so that I can get you on my partner list. You can send your checks payable to BMA Missions with "Mission Estonia Work" in the memo line. Mail them to the BMA Missions Office at:

BMA Missions
P.O. Box 878
Conway, AR 72033

You can also donate online. By clicking the red "Donate Now" button to the right you will be taken directly to the BMA Missions secure donation page. There you can set up a monthly donation or give a one-time gift if you so desire.

Thank you all for your support and may God receive the glory through your giving and support of the mission and vision for Estonia.

Fundraising Update

So far God has blessed us with nine monthly partners who have pledged to join us in helping Estonians find their way to Jesus and several others who have made one-time donations! Special thanks go out to the following churches and individuals for their contributions:

Jackson Baptist Church – Joaquin, TX
New Harmony Baptist Church – Tyler, TX
Walston Springs Baptist Church – Palestine, TX
New Beginnings Baptist Church – Mansfield, TX
Farley St. Baptist Church – Waxahachie, TX
Enterprise Baptist Church – Jacksonville, TX
Spring Lake Baptist Church – Texarkana, TX
First Baptist Church – Carthage, TX
Eighth St. Baptist Church – Grand Prairie, TX
Friendship Baptist Church – Mesquite, TX
Kyle & Heather Brothers
Ricky & Julie Davis
Ponder Family

We appreciate your support of the mission and vision God has given us for Estonia and for your continued prayer support.

Please continue to pray for the Estonian people. Pray that God would soften their hearts to the gospel and to be receptive. Pray for God to continue to open doors for us to share the vision for Estonia and for His continued providence in our fundraising efforts.

If you would like to support the mission and vision that God has given us for Estonia, then please fill out the support form on the "Join Our Support Team" tab above so that I can get you on my partner list. You can send your checks payable to BMA Missions with "Mission Estonia Work" in the memo line. Mail them to the BMA Missions Office at:

BMA Missions
P.O. Box 878
Conway, AR 72033

You can also donate online. By clicking the red "Donate Now" button to the right you will be taken directly to the BMA Missions secure donation page. There you can set up a monthly donation or give a one-time gift if you so desire.

Thank you all for your support and may God receive the glory through your giving and support of the mission and vision for Estonia.