July 3, 2023
Greetings! Our family
is doing well in Blue Springs, Missouri.
We thought it was time send an update on what we have been up to and
God’s plans for us.
Gracie and Ruthie love life and are enjoying swimming and
playing outside, along with reading and math tutoring this summer. They will be
ready to start third grade in the fall. Becky has kept busy taking care of us
as a family along with babysitting Annabelle. A young child always brings joy
and laughter to a household. I, John, have enjoyed the garden and walking in
the mornings with my mom. I finished teaching for Marian Hope Academy,
completing my 34th year in the classroom, and I continue to work as
the TCK Education Consultant for Africa Inland Mission.
This winter and spring has kept me busy consulting with
families. In the winter, I was able to organize homeschooling materials for an
African Missionary family. They are working to plant a church among an
unreached people group in West Africa. Finding acceptable homeschool materials
and organizing shipping involved many phone calls and texts and working with
multiple mission organizations. It was fun to watch God orchestrate everything so
that the children of this missionary couple could be educated, allowing them to
stay on the field, reaching out with the Gospel of Life to those who live
without hope. I remember cold calling a sister organization for help. I was
going to see if we could pay for an extra bag for them to take with educational
materials. The person I contacted on the phone was not only willing to help,
they knew the African missionary personally. They took a vested interest in
making sure the family received the education materials and did it all for
free. It was a reminder to me that God
will do more than we could ever ask or imagine.
In January, I was invited to be a part of a weeklong
mission’s conference at Calvary University, here in the Kansas City area. I was
able to talk to students about missions in general, and about AIM and
opportunities to serve in Africa. Although I did not end up with any students
as active prospects, I did learn a great deal about recruiting in the mission
world.
March and June had me travelling to Georgia for Engage, AIM’s
onboarding process for new missionaries. I was able to meet with multiple
families and help them begin the process of planning for their children’s
education while they serve in Africa. My family was able to join me on the
March trip, which was great fun for us all.
I also travelled to
Kenya in June to work at ESW (Educational Support Week) being held at Rift
Valley Academy. For ESW, families travel to RVA and spend a week having the
children evaluated, making connections with other mission families. In the
afternoons, children get to attend classes with similar aged peers while
parents have meetings about educational issues.
I had some encouraging discussions with hard working families living in pretty
difficult places. It was good to be able
to support the families and get eyes on the people I serve.
In the midst of travelling in March, I received an email
from the elementary principal at RVA, asking if I would consider coming to RVA
for Term I to fill in for the 3rd grade teacher who will be gone on
Home Assignment. After much prayer and consideration, and after talking with
AIM leadership, we decided we would pursue this opportunity. It took some time
for everything to come together, but as of June 1st, we have been
approved to go to RVA for Term I. We will leave the US on August 3rd
and return in early December. We are all looking forward to being in Africa
again, with different degrees of excitement. The girls are excited to travel,
but are concerned about what they will miss in the states. They are looking
forward to making new friends and living in a furnished house at RVA. I am a
little nervous about teaching 3rd grade, something I have not done
since the 1980s! I am excited to be back in the elementary classroom and to
have my twins in my class. Becky is anxious
about all of the packing and the long to do list that needs to be completed
over the next few weeks. She is looking
forward to seeing friends in Kenya and to help support students at the
elementary school. Even though we are
nervous, we are all also excited to be in Kenya again.
We cherish your prayers and support as we begin on this next
adventure. Many of you already pray for us and are financial supporters, and
for that we are grateful. If you would like to become a financial supporter,
you can give at the site listed below or you can call Africa Inland Mission at (800)
254-0010 and ask for giving. You can also send a check to: Africa Inland
Mission, Attn: Receipting, PO BOX 3611, Peachtree City, GA 30269-7611. Please
include a note stating our names, but do not include our names on the check
(IRS Rules!). We need about $3,500 more to be fully supported for this trip.
You can become a prayer supporter by simply adding us to your prayers on a
regular basis.
Prayer requests as we go:
1.
Pray
for our packing and planning as we uproot the family for four months (August
through November).
2.
Prayer for the girls to transition well to Kenya
and back, with new schools and new classes and new classmates. It is a lot of
change in a short period.
3.
Pray for Becky’s health. She has had some heart
issues which are being managed, but do cause stress and concern for her.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support! Please let us know how we can be praying for
you!
In the love of the Savior we serve,
John, Becky, Gracie, and Ruthie Myrick
Email: johnandbeckymyrick@gmail.com
Blogspot: https://myricksonmission.blogspot.com
Giving: https://usgiving.aimint.org/missionary/1044920
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