What a year this has been with the Lord opening wide doors for blessing that we never even knew were possible! The global onset of COVID-19 in 2020 shook all our worlds, and we at Mission Encounters International, along with all of you, were called out of our comfort zones to adapt to a new normal. This led us to a profound dependence on the Lord, and He responded to that reliance on Him with one surprising new ministry opportunity after another. As time passed and we transitioned into 2021, expecting the unexpected became routine.

Now, as we look back over this last year, we can see His perfect plan carried out every step of the way.

Here are some of the ministry opportunities we experienced in 2021: 

• • With continued support from Dr. Todd Taylor and South Juniata Baptist Church, over $5,000 in medical supplies and equipment were provided to the medical clinic.
• • Not only did South Juniata Baptist Church (SJBC) participate in the medical work at the clinic, but during his visit to Helene, Pastor Caleb shared daily with our local pastors.  Pastor Caleb is a gifted teacher.  He has over the last several years helped us break the “fallow ground” and hardness of heart in Helene.
• • Troy, a Biblical teacher from SJBC, met with the ladies in the community for an afternoon of Biblical challenge and encouragement during her visit.
• We were able to help Pammie, a local young lady who has tirelessly volunteered for over eight years in the clinic.  We assisted her in acquiring materials to build a house.
• • One of the first short term teams to visit Helene since COVID was a first-time team from Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church led by Lauren McGee.  All teams visiting this year were required to be tested before their arrival and prior to their departure.
• • Resuming classes after no school in 2020 made for a challenging year for Helene Christian English School (HCES).  The teachers were not at their best compared to other years, and students were very distracted and inconsistent in their attention and performance.  We enrolled the highest number of students in the history of HCES.  The Methodist Church allowed us to convert their mission house next door into a new classroom to accommodate our largest class of nineteen children.  More students call for different structure.  The HCES school board has implemented new changes for 2022.  
• • Trash pickup and sanitation has been a challenge for years in Helene.  This year we received a generous and gracious grant from Smead Capital to purchase a Kubota tractor for island use.  So far, the tractor has been moving debris and collecting trash, clearing land, moving outboard motors & pulling boats out of the water.  The tractor has a front-end loader, road scraper, bush hog and forklift.  I am already wondering how I ever lived without a forklift in the past.
• • Over the past five years I have been looking for transferable, reproducible Gospel teaching methods that could be used in Helene.  Reed Dillahunty, James Langston and Caleb Martinez came to Helene for a 3-day training and taught fifteen men “The Heart of God”, “Three Circles”, “Four Fields”, and “Three Thirds”.  All simple, reproducible ways to teach and reach people for Jesus.
• • As I experienced this three-day training, I realized God was answering my five-year search and prayer.  In one afternoon of training, local men were sharing their faith from house to house.  In 45 minutes, we all returned to share our experience while we celebrated three people who had given their hearts to Jesus.
• • Our year ended in Helene on November 9^th.  I did not want to leave, but a great opportunity presented itself for a face-to-face MEI Annual Board meeting.  We met on the campus of NOBTS (New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary) and were hosted by the NAMB (North American Mission Board).  The Board was presented an overview of our Biblical strategies for 2022 and all enthusiastically approved.
• • At 67 and 68 years old, Sheila and I are still traveling, and we just received permanent residency in Honduras.  
• • We are starting off 2022 with an excellent January partnership opportunity with Wynne Baptist Church in Arkansas.  They will be hosting a three-day conference to continue building on the newly discovered transferable and reproducible sharing of Gospel truths, mentioned above.

So, let’s continue to:

Encounter God

Be Transformed by the grace of God, and 

Impact lives where we live!

Let’s do it together!  

In His service, 

Larry