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We have just wrapped up our final missions services for 2008 and are somewhere around 75% of our needed monthly support. We are now pausing as we await Judith’s final month of pregnancy and allow her time to recuperate after the birth before we begin itineration in 2009.

We plan to be itinerating in part of February through mid-May 2009. At that time we’ll see where we are at with regards to our budget. We’re excited about getting things started in Perú as quickly as possible.

Thanks for all your prayers and support.

Dear Friends, yesterday was a big day for us as we travelled up to Kansas City for Judith’s naturalization tests. It’s amazing to see God move down to the finite details. Beginning in May, the Lord spoke to us to submit the application. Just two days later the funds were given to do it. This was our first answer to prayer.

We prayed, “Lord, you know that we’re itinerating right now all over the country. Please let all of the appointments be scheduled on days when we will be back at our home base in Missouri.” Wonderfully, the Lord answered this request!

We also prayed, “Lord, you know that the government said it could take up to about one and a half years. Lord, please speed that process up for us so as to not interrupt our departure for the field.” Incredibly, just four months have passed. What a wonderful God we serve!

Finally, knowing that Judith’s interview was coming up, we prayed, “Lord, please give Judith a nice, friendly interviewer that will make her feel at ease.” And yesterday, the Lord answered this request as well!

She was in and out in about 30 minutes, and recounted to us how everything went. She said the interviewer proclaimed, “Congratulations! You’ve passed all tests.”

We now await a letter informing us of when her naturalization ceremony will be. This is a huge blessing to us which aids us in applying for resident visas in Perú. Thank you to all who prayed, and continue to pray for us as we make strides in God’s timing toward our field of calling.

On the uneventful drive back down to Neosho, MO (3 hours by highway) we praised the Lord. When we awoke this morning, our front right tire was totally flat. We know that God prevented an accident, and took care of us, even when we didn’t know or sense the danger!

The Lord has continued to speak to saints across this country regarding supporting our ministry on a monthly basis. We have now surpassed the 70% mark, meaning we have received pledges that slightly exceed 70% of our needed monthly support budget to begin resident missionary ministry in Perú.

Thank you everyone for your prayers and support. We have not pinpointed a definite departure date for Perú yet. We are focused on raising our budget.

I do have one prayer request: please pray that the Lord will direct us to suitable property in Madre de Dios, the state of Perú we plan to move to. The property we looked at in January seems ideal. It is now the decision of the owner on what she would like to do. We would really rather purchase than rent if that is the Lord’s will. Thanks for your prayers. God bless you all!

Hello to all our friends. We have begun to get the word out that we are heading for Perú. Our newsletters will be mailed out on this coming Monday giving a lot more information. Thanks to all who have prayed for us as we have sought the Lord. Now that we know the direction in which the Lord is leading us, we are tackling the mountain of things to complete and preparing for the move.

Presently we are itinerating. We have a good ways to go on raising our monthly support.
We will work on keeping you updated as things develop.

Dear friends, I write to you today with great joy. A few days ago during our evening devotions at home, Caleb, our four year old, nestled up to me while we were praying and said in my ear, “Daddy, will you pray for me to be saved. I want to be saved.” I asked Caleb to explain to me how a person is saved. After explaining to me the plan of salvation, we prayed together that God would forgive him of his sins and come into his heart. After we prayed together, Caleb spent a great deal of time praying on his own. I could hear his soft voice praying for others as our prayer meeting continued. As I carried him to bed that night, he looked up to me and said, “Daddy, I believe Jesus saved me tonight.”

Since Tuesday, we have noticed a positive change in him. He at times would complain about having devotions “again”. He went through a time of not wanting to participate. We thank the Lord that Jesus reached down into the heart of this little fellow and brought him into the fold. Caleb summed it up last night by saying, “Daddy, Jesus is helping me.” I guess that about says it all!

On February 11, 2008 we kicked off a new ministry in the form of an e-letter free to friends and supporters of Vision Ministries. The Missionary Minute(tm) is an e-letter designed to explore principles of missionary practice along with unique perspectives, which I think you will find enjoyable. Click here to subscribe to this free e-letter. Once you’ve clicked on the link, enter your email, click Register, and check “The Missionary Minute” box to subscribe.
The e-letter is planned to be sent out about twice a month. Some of the goals of the e-letter are to help missionaries further understand their calling, help those who feel called to foreign missions to explore that calling, and to help friends and supporters of missionaries to understand some of the unique challenges that foreign missionaries face.

As published through our e-newsletter in January, I (Joe) had hoped to make a trip with Bro. Akers to Venezuela during the latter part of February to visit the work he founded, and which we assisted him prior to our departure from that country. Now it is evident that I will need to delay that trip. I’m uncertain when and if I’ll be able to go. Your prayers for us are appreciated.

Dear Friends,
Just a quick note to let everyone know that we lost our baby. Judith had problems with the pregnancy early on, and was on bedrest for quite some time. We worked hard and prayed for God to spare our unborn child, but it was His will to take it. Judith is doing well.
On a positive note, this coming Sunday, February 17th marks Judith’s and my 10 year anniversary! God has been gracious to allow 10 wonderful years together. We thank the Lord for His goodness. God bless you all.

Today marks the first day of the Barraclough Homeschool. Normally we start the second week of January and run through September or October, depdending on our travel schedule. (This year we are starting late due to arriving back from Peru last week.) For all you homeschoolers out there, I thought I’d share what our curriculum is like by child.

Jennifer, Age 5 and 1/2
Jennifer is the newest edition to our homeschooling scene. For the next six months she will be studying phonics, with all the fun letter sounds. We use the ACE phonics program, and while it is deficient of a few vowel sounds, I’ve found that it has not hindered the children down the road. Her second half of first grade will consist of English, Science, Social Studies and Math. This little bundle of energy is ready for the challenge–at least that what she says!

Isaac, Age 6 (almost 7)
Isaac is our second child to hit second grade. By second grade, this is what our core academic curriculum looks like: Math, Science, Social Studies, English, Etymology (Word Building/Spelling), and Literature and Creative Writing. Then we throw in Bible Reading of the Book of John, and Old Testament History starting with Ancient Egypt and the Pharoahs. We also give each child a choice of three books to read during the year at the second grade level.

Nadia, Age 8
Leading the pack is Nadia. Third grade curriculum is a little more challenging as she is finding out. Core adademic curriculum is the same as above: Math, Science, Social Studies, English, Etymology, and Literature and Creative Writing. Nadia also has Bible Study of the New Testament, Bible Copying of the Book of Matthew (copying the Bible as a Scribe), and Old Testament History.

In addition to the above, we also have family Bible Reading (to read the Bible through in one year), Devotion and Scripture Memory. And finally, once a week, which is new to us this year, we will have Art class. This year’s curriculum focuses on Visual Shapes. The glory of it all, is that we are blessed to school our own children in our home, and this home school is mobile, meaning it continues whether we’re in or out of the country, whether at home or on the road preaching and raising support for the missionary ministry. What a blessing it is to be involved in their lives in this way.

God bless you all. Pray for our children that they will not only learn, but develop a love for learning, especially of the Bible.
Thank you all for your prayers and support of our ministry.