Spring greetings to each of you in the name of Christ! I have just recently returned from Trinidad and am excited to share with you about the trip. It was our first mission trip as a family.

The biggest challenge we faced was not the culture, or the food, or the fatigue. It was the fact that mine and Susannah’s suitcase never arrived. Normally, we NEVER travel without an extra set of clothes in a carry-on. For some reason, this time we didn’t. Wouldn’t you know it!

See if you can follow our bag’s path: At first we were told the bag was at JFK, then we were told it never left RDU, then it went to Rome, Italy but they couldn’t find it, then they did find it in Rome, then they were going to send it back to RDU via Atlanta and have it awaiting us upon
our return. As we checked for it at RDU, we were informed that it was sent to Port of Spain the day before we left – yet they didn’t deliver it!

So it was sent back to RDU and delivered to our home eight days after we left for the trip! The suitcase was much worse for the wear! I  borrowed most of the clothes I needed whereas Susannah had to borrow and buy. Delta is supposed to reimburse us (hold your breath!).

Americans need to get past the notion that unreached people are only poor. While that has been true of most of the countries NDI ministers in, we are increasingly adding partnerships in countries that are not necessarily classified as Third World. That is the case in Trinidad and in many Muslim countries. They are relatively advanced and enjoy modern conveniences. Yet they are still unreached. The Sarnami Hindi people group is considered least-reached and number 500,000 out of Trinidad’s 1.3 million people.

On this trip, our bedroom was air conditioned, we had access to internet and most American TV channels, and our partners there cooked mostly American food for us. We stayed in the home of Dr. Birbal “Rev” Boodram and his wife, Shano, and got to know them and members of their family. Rev is the head of Trinidad Bible Institute and Kelly Community Bible Church.

Since Rev had to go to Guyana to teach before we left, we also spent a lot of time with Rev’s right hand man, Sam and his wife, Savi. They are all wonderful and genuine people and we now consider them friends as well as ministry partners.

Our children, Nathan and Abigail, did just great. Although they returned home tired, they were well behaved (most of the time). They were able to play often with Rev and Shano’s grandchildren, Gabby and James. Gabby unashamedly shares the Gospel with her Hindu friends. I plan to share her story in the upcoming mission devotional book for children I have now started co-authoring with NDI’s Project Manager, Melinda Staples.

I brought the message on both Sunday morning and evening, and the children were able to take part in Children’s Church and the evening service. I spoke in the morning about the worldwide mission movement and discipleship, and then in the evening about three important moments in Peter’s life: his (1) Recruitment, (2) Reversal, and (3) Restoration.

About two-thirds through this evening service, several local youth walked in. Among them were a Hindu and another who was of the Baha’i faith. Please pray that the message of Christ began to pierce their hearts.

We did get to do some “touristy” things, including going to an overlook of Port-of-Spain at night. We spent a couple of hours at Maracas Beach and then had shark sandwiches. We visited the Hanuman Temple – a place that has a 85-foot statue of the Hindu monkey god. All things considered, it was a great first mission trip for our family.

We are confident there are many more to come as our children get older. Please pray for me as I lead NDI under the Lord’s direction, and my family as they support me when they can’t travel with me in ministry.

My next trip is to Hong Kong and Brunei on May 30th through June 9th for the first international Call2All Congress. NDI partners from four Asian countries will be joining me there along with fellow staff member, Matt Smith, and his wife, Tammy. Please pray for a safe and fruitful trip, and for Susannah and the kids while we are apart.

In His service,
Joseph