Howdy folks (can you tell we have been back home in the south)! Happy New Year, and may 2019

bring joy, hope, love and peace, to you and your family.  

We are writing you from the East coast, where we are just about to wind up our little sabbatical. It’s been a wonderful time of unwinding, refreshing, and resetting.  To be honest, I didn’t even realize how badly we needed this break, and I have seen how much it has rejuvenated Wayne (especially the southern biscuits). It’s been so refreshing to spend more/quality time with the Lord, without the pressures of day to day ministry.  And spending real quality time with friends and f

amily has truly been a blessing. We have also done some much needed fundraising. Thank you for supporting us during this time!

2018 was a year filed with many highs and many lows. Among the many highlights, of course, were watching 2 young women who graduate from high school in Tijuana, and knowing that VOB will be helping them go to university, a life-changing situation for most Mexican nationals.  Other highlights, were the ministry trips we were able to take to several reservations around the country, partnering with First Nations people to see salvation and the presence of the Lord, come to their people.  Oroville, CA (Concow-Maidu nation), Auburn, WA (Muckleshoot nation), Banning, CA (Morongo nation),  Pine Ridge, SD (Lakota nation), are among the places we were honored to travel to, as well as Washington DC, for First Nations week/Alltribesdc National Day of Prayer. Continuing to collect and distribute tons of food to those in need in Mexico, and help support in so many other ways, as well as continuing to develop relationship with our parters in TJ, as always, continues to be a highlight.

Our biggest struggle earlier in the year, was a terrible truck accident that our beloved friend (whom we love like a son) and VOB intern, Gabriel, was involved in. This involved a great tragedy, and, as a result, Gabriel is unable to work with us at this time.  The details of the accident are complicated, but we ask for your prayers for sweet Gabriel, and for VOB, as we restructure what we are physically able to do in 2019. 

As we move forward into the New Year, we have already had invitations to be a part of several worship & intercession gatherings with First Nations, around the country.  We are super excited to see this area of Voice of the Bride evolve.  We are so passionate about Native America, and seeing the nations come to the Lord! We are ever thankful for this growing aspect of ministry.  

Lastly, even though we have been on the East Coast, we have been in continual communication with our partners in Mexico.  As the year turned, so did the Mexican customs administration at the border crossing.  This means we have to start all over with meeting with, and working out the process of crossing the border 2-3x per week. The new import fees have skyrocketed (5x more just this week), and the turnover of the head administrator, as well as the agents and officials, means things have gotten super complicated, once again.   This is not at all unfamiliar, but it IS very difficult.  When trying to take food to those in need, it is very difficult when so many obstacles arise.  Thanks for standing with us in prayer on this!!

If you have never thought about giving monthly, quarterly, or otherwise, we humbly ask that you would consider doing so this year, as we expand areas of ministry.  And we say a heartfelt thank you, to every single person, who has supported us, both financially, and prayerfully, in 2018.  “May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He make His face to shine up you, may He give you peace,” today and always. Love Wayne & Carol

p.s. Franki says don’t worry about any extra holiday weight or making a new years resolution, but maybe consider making a monthly pledge to help further the kingdom.