I can’t believe it is already September! This year seems to have gone by so quickly. As we send this letter out, I am in Honduras visiting our missionaries – the Woodworth family. This is my first time to Honduras. This makes my 80^th country to visit in my lifetime.

A joy I would like to share with you is that our daughter and her husband, Elliot, have surrendered to go to South Africa through the WIN program and work with our missionaries in Cape Town. We are very proud of them as they answer the call of God upon their lives.

After a long time of prayer and discussions along with a survey of the missionaries concerning the annual Mission Family Reunion, it has been decided to discontinue the annual Reunion/Retreat as we have known it. In its place we will do the following:

1. Have one or two Regional Retreats per year in various locations of the world. We will start out with one and, if possible, have two in some years. Locations and dates will be forthcoming. Although they will be regional, a missionary from one region may attend one in another region.
2. Have an annual MK retreat in the US. This will mainly be for those who are stateside whose family is on deputation or furlough. More information will be coming about this.
3. On occasion – every four or five years, have a retreat in the US also.

The new building project is moving forward. The slabs for the missionary retirement housing have been completed. By the end of August the framing of walls will start on the first one. The new Mission Office building is proceeding, and they are predicted to have it completed in January 2024. So much has been done below and above ground.

In my reading the other day, I came across some thoughts about the idea of Assurance – the Assurance we have in Jesus. I hope these few statements will encourage you.

• Assurance of salvation lets us enjoy earthly blessings.
• Assurance makes you praise God.
• Assurance adds joy to your earthly ministries and trials.
• Assurance makes you passionate in obedience and service.
• Assurance gives you victory in temptation.
• Assurance gives contentment in this life.
• Assurance removes the fear of death.

I pray that God would give you the opportunity to share the blessings of ASSURANCE with someone else. Let’s face this last stretch of 2023 with boldness, passion, and assurance – for the sake of Christ!

Your friend,

Jon