Our Story

Among those beautiful places and faces our lives were intertwined with moments of loss, sickness, loneliness, robberies, and continual goodbyes.

Our first debriefing took place after 20 years overseas. It was only then that we realized how we, and our sons perhaps, were still carrying some wounds that needed healing. Honestly, we just didn’t know to seek help and/or how readily it was available.

Since that week of debriefing God has taken us down a road of personal soul care - creating healthy rhythms of rest and work. What we have learned along the way, He graciously has used to encourage, refill, and restore leaders in Nicaragua, Cuba and now in our own backyard.

We continue on this unpredictable adventure of walking with Jesus. Beginning of the Rest lies ahead, and we can’t wait for the chance to meet you there. The trail at times feels so very long, and windy, so come, stop in for a while. We are trusting God will give you rest for your soul, for the rest of your journey.

This is a story of following God along a windy trail. We share it with you to help you understand that we are just like you in so many ways. I (Carl) was born and raised in New Zealand where I met my lovely wife Kathy (a TCK) in our teenage years. Our experience and passion was in youth ministry, with plans for a long, sweet life in New Zealand but as God does, He began to open our hearts to cross-cultural missions

After leaving New Zealand, a door opened for ministry in Cuba. Well, that was until our mission agency told us we couldn’t yet be assigned to this country. The next thing we knew we were in Nicaragua, preparing, serving, and waiting for how God would bring Cuba back into our lives.

One year turned into another, one ministry led into another, and it wasn’t until 16 years later that God brought to us an invitation to return to Cuba.

Those ‘in between years’ were some of the hardest and yet some of the best years of our lives - discipling orphan children, young pregnant teens, and seeing the “good news” transform street gangs. What beauty to be included as God’s scandalous grace flowed, and the gospel ignited locally.