Manila Trip Update

First, we would like to apologize to everyone. A few weeks ago, we realized that many of you were not getting our update emails since switching over to our website. Alex T. who set up our website found that there was an issue with the email server being used. Our email updates were being labeled as “highly Suspicious” and ending up in most peoples spam folders. He was able to quickly track down and fix the issue so they should be coming through loud and clear. Feel free to let us know that you are receiving them with a comment or word of encouragement if you feel so led. If you did miss some of the updates, don’t worry, they are all on our website, https://buchanansinthewild.com , feel free to check them out at your leisure.

As for the Manila trip, we sent out an update on August 29th announcing that it had been finalized and that I would be leading a team of 5-6 people. A few days later, September 3rd, I had an emotional meltdown and pulled us off the team. Melissa and I had both been struggling with a fair amount of depression for several months due to attacks from the world, the flesh and the enemy. It was taking it’s toll on our marriage. I had also been struggling with hearing God and distinguishing between His voice and the voices of world, flesh, enemy.

Over the last month, God has been doing a great work in our marriage and individual lives. While there is still a lot of room for us to grow individually and together, we are “confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” Philippians 1:6 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.

For me personally, God revealed layers of pride that I didn’t even know existed and reminded me of a few that I hadn’t quite set aside yet. (thank you to our son Alex for lending me a book called “i, the root of sin exposed” by Steve Gallagher.) He also used this as a kind of “reset”, getting me back on a path he started me on a year ago (more on that in later posts).

Prayers on these issues are needed and appreciated.

Now for the exciting news…….

As of yesterday, 10/4/24, we are back on the team going to Manila. I was waiting for clear conformation from God that we were supposed to go and He gave it. He gave it by reminding me of when Melissa and I signed up for a trip to go Honduras in summer 2018. Our first overseas mission trip and it was scheduled for January of 2019. We signed up having absolutely no idea how we were going to pay for it and who would cover our cleaning business while we were gone. Then we got a new cleaning account, a fairly big one. We had to hire an employee to help with it. Then in November of 2018 they gave us a 30 day notice with no reason of canceling our services. We panicked over the loss of income. Then God told me to “do the math”, I remember hearing that over and over in my head until I did it. So, I did the math. Absolutely none of the money that one account provided went into our normal budget. I was able to track every dollar of it. It was used to pay the cost of the trip, to pay the employee, Jennifer C., including her covering all our cleaning jobs while we were on the trip and it was used to pay the taxes incurred from the income of that account. God provided everything we needed to go on that trip and he used that trip to ignite our heart for missions and ministry.

Alex T. will now be team lead, I am fully confidant in his ability to lead by following Christ. The team is scheduled to leave 11/30/24 and return 12/15/24.

Melissa and I still need about $2600 each ($5200 total) to go on this trip. As always, we are asking for your prayers in this endeavor. If you feel led to help financially, we now have ways of donating on our website. Go to https://buchanansinthewild.com/give/

Also, we are in the process of setting up a nonprofit for our ministry but truly have no idea of what we are doing. If anyone can help or knows someone who can help us do this at little to no cost, we would greatly appreciate it.

And we are praying about a potential trip to Tbilisi Georgia (the country not the state) right after the Manila trip so please join us in prayer for that as well.

Much Love and may God bless you.

Derek and Melissa

Buchanans In The Wild