Copy of August newsletter

 The following is a copy of the August newsletter that was mailed out to everyone on our mailing list. 

 It's posted here for those who didn't receive it.

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Bryan & Brenda Ottoson Aug. 20, 2021

Dear supporters,

We have an important announcement to make. After spending the past four years in ministry in Mexico, we felt that God was leading us to leave the mission field and return to the United States. Currently, we are in the process of resettling in the United States. We plan to live in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Alex, Brianna, and I (Bryan) are back in Lincoln, Nebraska. We used our car to make the 1,600-mile journey to the U.S. The 18-year-old with around 170,000 miles on it hung in there despite multiple ser-vice alerts. Generous individuals met all our needs we had along the way. We are temporarily staying at my parents’ house.

Brenda, Ariadne, and James are still in Mexico. Ariadne has a viola concert in Queretaro on Aug. 21. They will be coming back on Aug. 24. We welcome any financial assistance with the $755 flight. So far, we have received $300 to help us with this expense.

As of the end of August, we will be deactivated as active mem-bers of Commission To Every Nation (CTEN). However, CTEN will continue to collect donations for us until Nov. 30, 2021. Please consider supporting us until then. These funds will help with our resettling into the USA.

In a sense, we are starting over. We are readapting to life in the United States. Brianna doesn’t remember what life is like in the USA before leaving for Mexico when she was three years old. James, who was born in Mexico, has yet to experience American culture outside our home truly. I am looking for employment and permanent housing. We are also acquiring clothes and household items. If you want to help us during this transition, there are three ways to support us financially.

1.Financial support can still be sent to CTEN on our behalf untilthe end of November 2021. www.cten.org/bryanottoson

2.Financial gifts may be sent to my current address: 5700 AlexLane, Lincoln, NE 68516.

3.Money can be sent to or dropped off at our home church:Lincoln Christian Fellowship

c/o Bryan Ottoson Family

100 West Fletcher Ave #300

Lincoln, NE 68521.

Four years ago, we took a step of faith as a family to volunteer at the Pan de Vida orphanage in Mexico. We responded to the call on our lives to participate in a teaching ministry for children who are victims of abuse and neglect. We felt led to serve as role models of what godly fathers and mothers look like and to show and tell them about God’s love.

Recently, I was able to see a glimpse of the impact of our ministry. Many of them were sad to hear of our plans to return to the U.S. They didn’t want us to leave. My junior high students wished that I could stay on at the orphanage for another year.

Since the orphanage relies solely on donations, we had to obtain our own means of financial support. We are thankful for every-one who graciously gave to our ministry to help cover our living expenses.

Some supported our ministry on a regular basis. We were blessed to have that faithful giving even during the outbreak of Covid. It meant so much to be able to rely on faithful giving, month after month.

There were times we faced major expenses that exceeded our budget. Since we were underfunded, we had to present our ur-gent needs to you. Many of you stepped up in a big way. We will never forget the outpouring of funds to cover both the emergency operation to remove Alex’s burst appendix and for his recovery. Also, we are thankful for those who chipped in to help us with new tires for our car and to help offset some of the expenses involved with having to travel back to the United States.

We also are grateful to those who thought of us for providing us clothes for our kids, especially with the birth of James nearly two years ago. It meant so much to us receive words of encourage-ment while we were serving in ministry and to be welcomed into individual homes for dinner. And we appreciate everyone who prayed for us.

We are still in need of intercession. The following are our prayer requests:

a permanent place for us to either rent or buy

obtaining employment

full-time work for Bryan

part-time work for Brenda

Acquiring basic necessities

A car for driving to work

 

We are trusting in God that He will provide for us just like He has in the past.

Updates will be sent via email and will be posted at http://ottosonmexicomission.blogspot.com/ We would appreciate your prayers and support during this transition.

Sincerely,

The Ottosons

Bryan, Brenda, Ariadne (13 in Sept.), Alex 10, Brianna 7, and James (2 in Nov.)