A Year in Pictures

In January 2016, we began our journey as pre-field missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship. We didn't know where in the world we were headed; we were tasked with raising monthly support as well as a considerable outgoing fund; and we didn't relish the idea of speaking in front of large groups.  A year later, we are preparing for a move to Papua New Guinea with our out-going fund complete and our monthly support at 95% (and counting!).  Although we'd still rather meet with a small group or over a meal, we have shared in front of 16 churches this year - trembling a little less each time.  The new year is a great time to reflect on God's guidance and provision throughout the journey.  Here is a look back at a few highlights along the road....

In January, we began our ministry partnership journey by speaking to our home church in Peace River.  We are blessed to be a part of such a supportive church family.

Hannah was thrilled about our upgrade to a van (complete with entertainment!)  This vehicle has been such a blessing during our long road trips this year.

In February, we joined the MAF team at Missionsfest Edmonton.  The trip south included meetings and events in Central Alberta. 

In March, we shared at Lacombe E-Free Church where Tim's family had been commissioned as missionaries in 1989.

One of the joys of our travel has been time with family members whom we do not always get to see.  Grandpa Neufeld was a great host in Lacombe.  In November, he went to be with Jesus and we're so grateful for the times we had together this year.

In April, we found out that our assignment with MAF would be in Papua New Guinea.  Time to start researching!

Our little princess turned three.

We had the privilege of sharing with the youth group (March) and AWANA club (April) at our home church.  It is important to us that all ages know the missionaries supported by their church.

In May, we listed our house for sale.  Despite the economic downturn, we hoped we'd be able to sell during the summer.

To our astonishment, our home sold in five weeks.  A true answer to prayer.  Now we had to figure out where to live for the remainder of the year... This opened up the opportunity to move ourselves to Red Deer in order to better connect with churches and contacts in Central Alberta.

In June we hosted a dessert night to thank members of our home church for their support and to provide more information about MAF's work in Papua New Guinea.  We were so blessed by the response.

Taking the ferry across the Peace River during a road trip to La Crete and High Level in June. We were in front of churches three out of the four Sundays in June.

The Peace Regional Air Show in July was a unique opportunity to interact with people in a different environment than usual. One of the pilots even gave MAF a shout out from the cockpit over the PA system during his routine.

July was a month of moving sales, cleaning, and packing along with our final church visits in Northern Alberta.  We pared our belongings down to the contents of an 8x10 trailer and set off for Red Deer to spend the fall in Central Alberta.
Generous donations meant that our one-time outgoing fund reached 100% this month.

In August we spent three weeks on the road through Southern Alberta and B.C.  Here are Tim and Hannah in front of the Enchant E-Free Church where Tim's Grandpa Burrell pastored in the 1970s.

Part of our August road trip included vacation and family time.  On a visit to the Vancouver Aquarium, we got a taste of what we might see in Papua New Guinea.

In September we settled in to Red Deer.  One of the things we have enjoyed most about being in Red Deer is being so close to our family.  It is so great to spend time with them before we head off.  Hannah is enjoying having two sets of grandparents nearby, not to mention cousins!

October took us back up to the Peace Country for a missions conference at Peace River Bible Institute and a church visit in McLennan.  Hannah is such a great ambassador for us when we visit churches.  She will often hand out prayer cards and magnets to anybody in the area.

We enjoyed a tremendous fall season of visiting many churches throughout Central Alberta, such as this Sunday at Clive Baptist Church in November.

November brought a large project: preparing documents for applying for our PNG work permit and entry visas.  Medical, Xrays, Police Checks, forms, certified copies - it all totalled over 80 pages!

Hannah is full of Christmas spirit which necessitated finding a Christmas tree (maybe we shouldn't have sold quite so many belongings at our moving sale in July!).  We've enjoyed a Christmas season full of family time and are looking ahead to what promises to be a crazy 2017.

Happy New Year to all of our friends and family.  We hope to spend time with many of you before we leave in February.  Please be in touch if you haven't heard from us recently.

If you would like to donate to MAF or join our monthly support team, you can do so here.
Donations for the 2016 tax year can be made up until midnight on the 31st.