This month, our Outreach spotlight is on our own Valerie Harder! You might recall that Valerie said goodbye to First Pres in July and began a new adventure, exploring a call to missions among least reached people. Val is attending Ethnos360’s Missionary Training Center in central Missouri, a full-time, two-year program preparing participants for global career missions.

Val reports that several months ago, through the Lord’s clear leading, she committed to join a short-term missions trip through Ethnos to Southeast Asia, and the trip is this month! This trip will allow Valerie to learn about and experience current field realities while working alongside long-term missionaries to unreached people groups.

The spring semester at ETC kicks off Monday, January 19, so pray for Val as the month of January is quite packed!

Here are some praises and prayer requests from Valerie:
Praises
– My final jail lesson in the fall went well. The ladies really connected with Jonah and saw God’s grace and love, even when Jonah was (literally) running from Him.
– My Encounter Southeast Asia Mainland trip expenses are totally covered!
– Spring semester tuition and living expenses are covered!
– Safe travel during the holidays

Prayer Requests
– Pray for wisdom and safety during the Southeast Asia Mainland missions trip this month. I am praying that the Lord would help me be an encouragement to my team and the people we meet on the field.
– Pray for energy and grace jumping back into classes right after.
– Pray that I would look to the Lord for wisdom in all my decisions.