A New Apprentice Couple and Visits from MMS Grads

New Apprentice Couple
Last week I oversaw the week-long candidate evaluation/orientation of a young couple from California, Jake & Cayton. The evaluation was the culmination of about six months of communication and paperwork between us.

Once in Coshocton, Jake spent Monday-Wednesday serving in the hangar while Cayton interacted with the MMS ladies in various social settings. Thursday morning they successfully wrapped-up the process with an interview with the Candidate Selection Committee and were accepted for apprenticeship.

Karen and I then moved right into the orientation phase of Jake & Cayton's candidacy. We spent all day Thursday and Friday introducing them to MMS as an organization and specifically focused on how they will go about raising the finanical and prayer support needed to start service with us.

Karen and I (R) in the MMS conference room orienting Jake & Cayton (L).

With the orientation completed, Jake & Cayton have flown home to California to start their homework and make preparations for support development. We look forward to their return to Coshocton in the Lord's time.

Visits From MMS Grads
It was a real treat to have Ryan & Rachel return for a visit while on furlough from ministry in Brazil. Ryan and Rachel graduated MMS and have served in Brazil for nearly nine years. We enjoyed having them over for dinner, getting caught up on all the news from Brazil, and talking about various aspects of mission service. Ryan & Rachel were one of the first couples I worked with when I arrived at MMS twelve years ago.

Ryan, Rachel, Seth, Nathan, Hanna.

Herb and Rose also dropped in after two terms of service in Canada. We hadn't seen them in nearly four years and enjoyed having them over and spending a day with them. Somehow they were here and gone before we realized we didn't take any pictures...but we'll take some the next time we see them whether in Bird-In-Hand, PA (where they've resettled) or back here the next time they head west.

Herb and Rose have a special place in our hearts, not only as MMS grads, but because they were part the personal connection that led to Karen and I getting to know each other.