All In

Today is a milestone day for us.  After much prayer, planning, work and waiting, we have officially begun the process to return to Latin America.  Four years ago this month we landed in the States with more questions than answers as to God's direction for our family and how we could best serve Him.  It was a very bittersweet time when we returned from the mission field.  We were not sure when, or even if, we would return to overseas work.  Ken focused on completing his seminary degree with Liberty before returning to work, and I focused on the kids and work.  It was a time of waiting on God and soul searching. One thing seemed to remain, our hearts' desire to work among the Latinos and share God's love.

Ken is not really much for sharing his feelings with strangers, or even in a small group setting.  I, on the other hand, have a tendency to just "put it all out there" with the friends I am close to.  I did this last summer in a small group of ladies from the church that would meet for a Bible study on Sunday afternoons.  I distinctly remember getting teary eyed as I told the ladies that I couldn't bear the thought of never returning to serve the people for whom God had placed such a burden in my heart.  

Just a few short weeks after disclosing this to my friends, Ken told me that there would be some missionaries from Honduras visiting our church that our friends, Scott and Elaine, wanted us to meet. For me it was difficult to even think about.  I envisioned myself sobbing as I listened to the story of their work among Hispanics, wishing that I could stow away in their luggage, so I told Ken that I didn't feel up to meeting them. I suggested we miss the Sunday school hour (when they were supposed to speak) and only go to the service where chances were low we would even see them.  Of course God would have none of that!  As I tried to sneak out the back door our associate pastor, Chuck Locke, asked me if I had met Mike and Marty, the visiting missionaries from BMDMI as he ushered me over to meet them.  Instantly I felt that connection that I think a lot of missionaries have when they meet, kind of like meeting a member of your extended family. What really struck me as Marty shared her story about what God was doing through her at Nena's Place was how she was so passionate about the people that God had called her to serve.  I remembered that God had placed in me that same burning desire, especially during my time at La Casa de Restauración. But I knew this was a calling where Ken and I both had to be led by the Holy Spirit, not our emotions.  Little did I know that Ken too felt this same tug at his heart.

And so we prayed, and we waited.  We waited three months to really even talk to anyone about it, and then we planned a trip to Honduras to see the work there.  I told Ken that I would not do this unless the children too felt the calling.  I have heard too many sad stories of families torn apart because their children resent being moved overseas as they become young adults.  So again, I prayed that God would call each of us individually if that was indeed His will.  It is no small thing for God to call a teenager or even a very social preteen, but that is exactly what happened.  When we went to the Good Shepherd Children's Home just a few hours away from where we would live, it became apparent to me that God was calling our kids too.  It was wonderful to see how our children longed to minister to the children there, even seeing the needs and trying to figure out how we could be used by God to meet them.  God used that trip to confirm not only in Ken's and my heart, but also in our childrens' hearts the call to serve Him in Honduras.

We are super excited about what God is doing in preparation for us as we begin the journey to return to the mission field.  God has been in the details of this entire process.  Ken has always had a burden for discipleship and sound Biblical teaching. This is the very opportunity that Mike approached Ken with that Sunday evening, as pastoral support for the many Honduran pastors trained at the Thomas Herrington Bible Institute where Ken will also serve as BMDMI Missionary Director.  And not to be outdone,  we knew that God set the whole thing up when it just so happened that they needed an anesthesia provider to live at the hospital, so I will serve as the anesthetist in residence for the Hospital Bautista.

We covet everyone's prayers as we begin the process of seeking out ministry partners to come alongside us and support the ongoing work in Honduras.  We are reminded of what our Lord did in Luke 9:2 - "And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."  We know that many of you would like to be a part of the work God is calling us to do, and we would love to share more with you.  BMDMI is a faith-based missionary sending agency, which means that all missionaries serve through the ongoing financial support of ministry partners. We want to make sure that everyone we know has the opportunity to be a part of this ministry as we serve the people of Honduras.  Will you prayerfully consider partnering with us to reach the Honduran people for Christ?

We would love the opportunity to speak to your church, your small group, or with any individuals who would like to know more.   Please email us at kennethnelson@bmdmi.org or kirstennelson@bmdmi.org and/ or click on the link below to learn more and to become one of our ministry partners.  We thank you all for joining us on this amazing journey and can't wait to see what God will do!

Baptist Medical Dental and Mission International

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35