Urgent Fiji Update: Cyclone Winston – Current Devastation and Future Hope

Tens of thousands of Fijians are currently homeless as a result of the devastation of Category 5 Cyclone Winston and a series of powerful earthquakes.  Our Fijian brothers and sisters in Christ remain steadfast and confident in the faithfulness of God, but the urgency for help remains.  These friends relayed stories of families taking shelter under their beds becoming soaked from the flood waters in the middle of the night as fierce winds tore the metal roofs from their homes.  Several fervently prayed as their neighbors’ homes were collapsing.Koro Island

At least 6 families who attend the local Bible churches associated with our future ministry partners have lost their homes along with all their possessions.  We have heard reports that even these families are sharing what little relief they have received with others who are desperate and hurting.  The love of the Christ is on display and the grace of God is shining in these times of darkness.

Please continue to pray as our Fijian friends spend these next days and months rebuilding their lives.  They currently have many practical financial needs and will need to rebuild the homes that have been destroyed.  Jordan and I will serve alongside many members of our home church, Placerita Bible Church (Santa Clarita, California), this July during a Short-term Mission Trip to serve these Fijian churches and the College of Theology and Evangelism Fiji.  Please let us know if you would like to participate in any way!  

If you desire to contribute directly to these families in need, you may follow this link to donate and note “Fiji Relief Help” in the “Designated Ministry” box: https://afci.us/support-us/donations-page/

Fiji – Tropical Cyclone Update – Please Pray!

In the past 24 hours Fiji has endured the first Category 5 tropical cyclone in its history.  The Fijian Islands, the place we hope to soon call home, encountered the most severe tropical cyclone on record in the Southern Hemisphere with winds surpassing 2Fiji Cyclone00mph.

As the eye of this destructive storm passed, Fiji experienced three powerful earthquakes with one measuring at a 5.8.  Several media outlets have labeled these recent events a string of bad luck. Others have remarked that the Fijian people just can’t catch a break.

However, for those who have firmly placed their confidence in the sovereignty and goodness of God, there is a markedly different response.  We are reminded that God rules His creation with absolute control.

Psalm 46:1-3
“God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
Though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”

Our hope comes from the assurance that God is not only our protector in the midst of the storm, but He is the one who controls the earth and the sea.  Our God is not only powerful, but He is good and is currently working all things together for our good and His glory.

Please pray with me today that God will glorify Himself through these recent events.  Pray that those who are in Christ will maintain their confidence in the goodness of God as they hear of loved ones who are injured or deceased.  Make it your prayer that God will use these events to bring about the salvation of many!

It’s Official!

For those of you who have been following our journey to the mission field, you may have asked us “Who is your sending agency?”  Our desire has been to partner with Ambassadors for Christ International USA (AFCI) as they are already affiliated with the college Michael will be teaching at in Fiji.  This organization has also played an active role in supporting the men we will be working with at the college for over 40 years.

During the week of January 11-16, we had the opportunity to head to Dahlonega, Georgia to participate in our final step in becoming AFCI missionaries.  We were asked to join the Ambassadors for Christ team for their annual missionary conference so they could spend significant time with us as we prepared to join this organization.  This was our first interaction with the entire AFCI team and it was such an incredible blessing to be able to be part of it!

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Leaving Los Angeles just as the Sun Started to Rise

I (Jordan) was a little nervous about the trip as a whole going into it.  In addition to my initial thoughts of “What if they don’t like us?” there was the reality of traveling with a 7-month old baby.  We haven’t traveled much with Taj and the only flight that could get us to Atlanta in time required us to leave our apartment at 3:00 am!  That sure throws a wrench in a nap schedule!  The idea of balancing a cranky baby while attending the conference made me a bit nervous, but this was a great opportunity for me to put the entire trip, our son, sleep, our desires, and our future right back in our Savior’s hands.  God had so clearly put all these pieces together to get us to a point we never anticipated – there was and is no better place to find rest, than in His perfect plan.
Michael and I had already been encouraged by the friendship, servant-mindedness and Christ-like care AFCI had provided us, but to personally get to see each team member in action was a special blessing.  We were met at

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Michael with Wallace Francis and Torri

the airport by Wallace Francis, the Director of AFCI and Torri, a missionary in Bermuda.  They immediately jumped in and helped carry all our bags, loaded us into the car, and then treated us to every mom’s favorite place- Chick Fil-A!   Amazingly, Taj slept through the entire lunch and wasn’t nearly as cranky as I thought he would be!  Even during the first few minutes of conversation with these men, their love for the Lord and His work was evident.  We were able to hear a bit of Wallace Francis’ testimony of how the Lord saved him and his radical exit from professional football to serving the Lord full time.  If you have a moment, I would highly recommend you read a bit about him and his role in this amazing organization here.

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The Lodge

It was about a 1-2 hour car ride from the Atlanta airport to Dahlonega, which is located in the north Georgia mountains.  Upon our arrival, we met the other missionaries attending the conference and were again so encouraged by their instant care and love for our family! Several of them had worked with the Fiji team and were a great source of knowledge about Fijian life, the current ministry there, and the history of the Bible College!  One of the missionaries there was Cathy Kreis who has written a biography about Dr. Nair and documented some of the amazing stories of the Lord’s provision to the school over the years.  What a treat for us that we were able to meet her in person and hear more stories from her about the amazing ways the Lord has shown himself faithful!

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The Beautiful Grounds in Dahlonega, GA

The theme for the week was the Fear of the Lord and each day two missionaries taught on this theme.  It was a joy to hear godly men preach about our Savior and such a sweet time of refreshment!  In between these sessions, we also had a chance to hear ministry updates, enjoy times of corporate worship and prayer, and learned through training sessions lead by some of these seasoned missionaries.  The week we spent with everyone far exceeded anything I had hoped for.  Michael and I both experienced such sweet fellowship and encouragement from these new friends.  As a new mom, I couldn’t have asked for a more spiritually encouraging place to be for a week

Wallace asked us to share our testimony with the whole group.  Shortly afterwards, he had Michael interview with the leadership staff to provide an overview of his ministry vision and objectives.

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Taj was Excited to See His First Horse!

After their interview, I asked one of the men how everything went and I was encouraged as he said, “you guys are a perfect fit, cut from the same cloth!”  His words were such an incredible blessing to me and reassuring that the Lord was again proving himself faithful in leading us to an organization that would be a great fit for us!  After a meeting for Michael and I with Wallace Francis and the final board meeting, we were given the official green light.  The Seehusens are officially part of Ambassadors For Christ!  (*insert confetti and streamers here!*)  We are so thankful, blessed, and excited to be part of this godly team of missionaries and cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for us as we keep moving forward!

 

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The Ambassadors for Christ Missionaries and Staff