Home Ministry Assignment

We are here in Eugene, Oregon and are in the U.S. until September 22.  Besides time in Oregon, we’ll be traveling to Washington (state) and Colorado. Jody’s also visiting southern California.

We are having two outdoor, drop-in get-togethers in Eugene (stay as short or as long as you wish); contact us to find out the location and to let us know you plan to come:

• Saturday, July 31, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Monday, September 6, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Labor Day)

We also have time and would enjoy meeting with you individually. Here’s our schedule:

• Eugene, OR – now until August 4 for both of us (outdoor meetings only)
• Eugene, OR – August 5-10 for Scott (outdoor meetings only)
• Thousand Oaks, CA – August 5-10 (Jody)
• Seattle, WA area – August 11-16
• Portland, OR area – August 17-22
• Colorado Springs, CO – August 23-September 5
• Eugene, OR – September 6-21

Contact us at:

• Jody: 458-205-4186, jodya@efn.org
• Scott: 541-606-7430

Voz y Manos

We are Reach Beyond missionaries but you probably didn’t know we are working directly with an Ecuadorian organization named Fundación Voz y Manos – Ecuador (“Voz y Manos”).  In the missionary world we say that we are “seconded” (pronounced “secúnded”) to Voz y Manos.  In non-missionary language you can think of it as being loaned to another organization.  “Secondment” is a formal agreement where the “seconding” organization (in this case Reach Beyond) receives donations designated for the missionary, provides support, and has all of the legal obligations that attach to an employer.  The receiving organization (in this case Voz y Manos) supervises and directs the missionary but has no financial obligations.

“Seconding” is common in the mission world (all of the Voz y Manos missionaries are “seconded in” from other organizations).  Missionaries can serve where their skills are needed even if their sending organization has no office there.  It promotes cooperation between organizations, saves administrative costs, and supports the work of foreign mission organizations.

Our Ecuadorian organization is called Voz y Manos (Voice and Hands) because it strives to be both the voice and hands of Jesus:  preaching the gospel and helping people with their physical needs.  It, and other “offspring” of Reach Beyond, continue a 90 year legacy in Ecuador of outreach through healthcare (a hospital and clinics), media (radio and Internet), training Latin American pastors, equipping Latin American missionaries to go to other parts of the world, community development (clean water and sanitation projects), and education.

So don’t be surprised when we talk about Voz y Manos, as that is the organization we now work most closely with.  But we are still Reach Beyond missionaries; Reach Beyond receives donations on our behalf and is “loaning us” to Voz y Manos because that is the best way for us to serve in Ecuador.

How to Pray

• Praise God for Ecuador’s presidential election in April and the peaceful change of government in May.
• Praise God for safe travel and getting our first COVID-19 vaccine (in the Miami airport).
• Pray for our time with family and friends, that we would be a blessing and encouragement.
• Pray that we would use this time in the U.S. wisely.