Over time in our journey with Christ, we have seen God clarify and confirm his call in our lives. Throughout our 17 years in Mexico of making disciples, we were so privileged to have partnered with our fellow missionaries and the national brethren.

When God led us to leave Mexico to transition our kids through high school and into college, our goal was to return to Mexico.

But in 2011, God used a series of conversations, prayers and circumstances that led us to think about God’s possible call to a least-reached Spanish-speaking country. The global outreach pastor at the church where we served in Austin, Texas asked if I would ever consider ministering in a least-reached country. I told him that I would pray about it.

Within weeks of this conversation, the Lord brought Jim Eberline into our life again. He had previously been our Field Director in Mexico, but now serves in Montevideo, Uruguay. He and his wife, Cheryl, told us about Uruguay and the need for experienced missionaries. Before long, we had tickets in-hand and we were on our way to visit Montevideo. 

After many interviews with pastors, missionaries, psychologists, and interactions with non-Christians on the streets, I came to the conclusion that God could want to use our gifting and ministry experience in this needy, atheistic country.

Denise sensed it on the Eberline’s balcony, praying.

After a final stroll along the river walk, we both told the Lord, “Yes, we are willing to come — even though it will be far from our children, we will miss our Mexican brothers and sisters, and the rise in the cost of living will mean that You will need to bring more ministry partners into our lives.”

That was over a year ago.

We praise God for giving peace to our children while they stay in U.S. colleges. And God is bringing new churches and individual ministry partners into our lives, even though we had been living outside the U.S. for 17 years. 

Denise and I know God has called us to be intimate worshippers of Jesus and to do this in the context of cross-cultural missions. We praise God for His call to be and to go — dependent on Him.

Has there been a time in your life where God’s plan has altered your plans?

Today, how will you yield your plans for his?

To find out more about Craig and Denise, visit their missionary bio page.