Big news!

We have some big news to share! We want to share what God has been doing in our lives and our hearts this year.  Over the course of this time, we've been talking through prayer and ideas about what to do with the next season.  We have felt that God has been speaking to us and calling us to step out of ministry for now, but we haven't fully understood the whys, hows, or whats of it.  Ultimately, we came to the conclusion that He wants to move us on to another form of ministry that we are unclear about yet.  We are going to take the next two years to seek him and look into opportunities that come up, with the potential of entering back into full-time ministry, as that is where our heart lies.  I think at the same time, we are going to be open to anything he speaks.  During our time here at YWAM Lakeside, we've built community with our local church and gotten to know quite a few people that we feel deeply connected with, so we will be staying in Montana for now. We trust and love these people and we're not ready to pack up and move away from everything at once (YWAM and our church community).   We hope this will make our transition smoother, and we look forward to having some time freed up to be more involved with our church.  I have a job for now with a local restaurant that I have built relationship with over the years and I think it's going to be a good fit.  Erika is going to teach voice lessons and she will be looking for a part time job.  Honestly, with the changes we're about to make, we need your prayer and love in our lives as it will be difficult to step out of full-time ministry for now.  Even as I write this I am tearful thinking about all that Jesus has accomplished in my life and the life of my family during our time here.  My life will never be the same because of his work and the people he has placed me around for these 7 years.  On a last note, YWAM will continue to process donations for us for 3 months after we leave, so if you feel led and would like to be a part of helping make our transition a little smoother, you have the option to continue to give through the end of 2015.  If not, we understand. We THANK YOU for all your prayer, financial sacrifice and love in our lives.  You have been God's hand of provision and physical backing of what he has wanted to do in and through us during this time.  We love you, and if you have any questions, feel free to call us or email us and we would be happy to talk with you more. 

Blessings, 

Jason, Erika and Beckett Goodfellow

A Mexico Trip to Remember

  When you go on a trip to another country, it is always exciting.  Erika and I love getting out to meet new people, and seeing God open up opportunities to speak into people's lives and to mentor others on how to be a vessel for the love of Jesus.  We definitely saw that happen, and we felt very encouraged by what the YWAMers were doing in Ensenada, Mexico.  I was specifically leading a sports team, but we were joined with a dance and music team, which was great.  We saw limbs and backs healed, people who were touched and moved by the Holy Spirit, and lives impacted by the gospel.  What's not to love about that! It was a short and eventful trip. 

    One quick story: 

   We were able to partner with a church in Ensenada and a woman named Mireya (what a joyful lady!).  She wanted us to host a camp and teach soccer, dance and music in their little village in the hills outside Ensenada.  But what was really cool was an idea that Jesus gave me to give back to them.  I got this idea to rent out a soccer field for them and invite the whole town out to hang out, play soccer, eat some good food and enjoy our time together.  So, after much planning and work, we made it happen.  Man, you should have seen the looks on their faces when we were playing on this beautiful turf field (they normally play on this awesome dirt field that is going uphill..now that was challenging to play on!).   After we had a few games with kids, adults, girls, guys, I gathered them together and shared my testimony with them and shared about the love of God.  The pastor quickly took the opportunity to thank our team for putting on this event for them and she said that no team had ever taken them on a "field trip" before and what a huge blessing and testament of God's care, love and provision for them.  She was very encouraged and was personally blessed that we cared enough to do that for her church and community. Huge God moment on outreach that I know he will use in the future for his glory. 

Anyways.. without further ado.. some pictures to give you a taste of our time in Mexico! 

                                        The dancers performing at a drug rehab center

                                                The Beach across from the ministry

                                               

                                           YWAM Ensenada that is about to get a HUGE makeover
                                           

                                            Our musicians playing at a local restaurant

                                                         Getting crushed at soccer! :) 

    Sharing my testimony with some boys that a ministry in Tijuana reaches out to.   

                                               Turf field at the Tijuana YWAM ministry.

                                    

Graduation!

Summer is here!

Yet again, we are a bit remiss in updating. But, we have an exciting summer ahead of us! We are staffing the Summer of Service here at YWAM Lakeside as a family (Beckett too! :). Our students arrive in about 3 weeks, and take part in learning and growing here in Montana, and then sharing with others. It is really similar to the Discipleship Training School that we've been leading before, just shorter, and also open to high school students. We will be part of a 3 week outreach to Mexico! I (Erika) am particularly excited about this, as it has been over 2 years since I went on outreach because of sweet Mr. B joining our lives. We welcome your prayers as we try this out as a family for the first time!

Our spring has flown by: Jason coaching soccer for a 16 and under boys team, as well as leading sports activities here on campus as part of the Sports Ministry.  He has traveled quite a bit for that, but has really enjoyed the relationships built with the boys and their families.  I have been working in our Registrar's Office for 3 mornings a week this Spring Quarter. I really liked the change of pace and a new way to help and encourage.

Beckett always keeps us on our toes! He is an energetic, happy little guy who still is working on the whole sleeping thing. We've dealt with some difficult health issues with him during this first year, but are thankful that they have really seemed to improve in the last couple months. We celebrated Beckett's 1st birthday in May, and also enjoyed a wonderful vacation with my whole family in Colorado.

We are grateful for the ways that you all care for us and remember us. The cards, letters, emails, prayers, and gifts mean the world to us.  Thank you all for being such a great support system, even from far away!

Phitsanulok, another great adventure.

Phitsanulok, Thailand

Visiting this place and spending time with a small and significant group of people was undoubtedly one of the best experiences I have had.  They said how much we(my friend Chris McCalmon and I) blessed them, but I felt far more blessed being there. I don't think I understood what my father usually meant when he would describe speaking in a DTS until now. He would say," son, that week, The Lord ministered to them, but he also ministered deeply to me."  It's encouraging to step out and try something you've never tried before and do something you've never done..ie..traveling far and long to speak to people you've never met to a culture not your own(well I have just not in this way). You just don't know how it's all going to turn out, but Jesus did what he does best and ministered as we spent 5 days with a group of 4 students and 5 staff.  We prayed for revelation for them, taught 3 hours daily, one of the students legs' was instantly healed (it was shorter than the other) and I saw God give them new truth about him and themselves. 

Of course the food was amazing 

Chicken fried rice with an egg and spice on top. 

Some Korean missionaries cooked up plenty of meat for us to eat one night just for fun.  

Anyways, we had a great time! We met tons of people on the way there and back and shared his love. One girl was caught off guard as we described how God has literally changed us inside and out forever.  She decided she needed something more in her life and right then and there put her hope in Jesus.  He's always good.  I will never forget this trip and the people I met along the way and spent time with.  Thanks for your support and prayers.  

Jason