Almost a year ago to the day, I typed the story you’re about to read. Before you jump in, I wanted to include a short preface:

As we prepare to depart for Taiwan in just a few short days, we are receiving lots of questions to the effect of, “How are you doing? How are you feeling? Are you excited…” the list goes on. These are totally normal and realistic wonderments as our family is on the cusp of a VERY big change. Honestly, our brief responses don’t typically encompass the myriad of feelings and thoughts that are swirling at any given moment. In the hope of honest transparency, Ryan suggested I share this blog post with you. Again, it’s about a year old, so I’ve made a couple edits to reflect the current timeline. But the thoughts and take-aways hold true. I hope this gives a bit more insight and brings some encouragement to your hearts. Thanks in advance for letting me be open and vulnerable with you. -Mandie

I can honestly say, without reserve, that I never thought I would have the life I’m living.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I have a very cool life. Weird. But cool.

Does that sound like I’m either trying to convince myself or that I’m bragging? It doesn’t matter. Hopefully it reads as sincere, as that is the way I intended it.

That said — I am grappling with something. Maybe more like… vacillating?

Yep. That’s it.

I’m vacillating between gratitude and grief.

How can I embrace my beautiful chaotic life with thankfulness and joy while remaining honest with my feelings and processing all we’ve experienced? It feels like a real dilemma.

I’m getting ahead of myself.

Let me share a bit about my life. Then, I think it will all make sense. Probably. Hopefully.

I live with my big, beautiful family. Husband — Ryan. Five kids. Small dog.

We are currently stateside but having been living abroad since 2018 — minus the lost year and half [thanks, Covid]— when we were back in the US.

We first learned a new language. The husband and I started a couple of businesses together. Homeschooled our kids. Quickly recruited a teacher to help us, ’cause homeschooling is really hard — thank you Emily.

Traveled often, visiting new countries roughly every three months. We tried a ton of new things and met even more incredible people.

In the past year, I took 6,500 photos — the camera role can prove it! I made the sweetest memories and said the hardest good-byes. I laughed. A lot. And I cried even more.

We moved back to the midwest in June 2024.

For now, we’re fairly settled into our suburban life. We work from home. Our kids go to school. I far too often enjoy Target pick-up and our favorite place to eat out is Costco.

But change is imminent.

That sounds intense. I mean, yes it is imminent in life — generally speaking. But in very real terms, many changes are coming quickly.

We have plans to move back overseas in 4 short days. This time to a new continent.

While I’m actually super pumped about this new adventure in a brandnew place, I find myself longing for a completely different life.

*cue instumental trending instagram audio*

Like many ladies my age, I’m picturing life knitting in an English, countryside cottage or making sour dough on a homestead in the middle of Montana.

I want the Slow Life.

The thing is… I don’t actually want that. And — let’s get real, Mandie — since when is “homesteading” slow or relaxing? Not to mention, I don’t know how to knit or bake sour dough bread.

Practically speaking… I really like being around people. I loved living in the city, just a short walk from everything I could need or want.

Back to my dilemma…

My family is living a beautiful story, unique and rewarding. I am truly so thankful to have it.

So why does my heart keep insisting I desire the complete opposite of what I have?

When I first asked myself this question, my mind jumped to “selfishness?” Or better yet, “ingratitude.”

But I don’t actually think that’s it.

I am deeply thankful for all the experiences we’ve had. It’s such an honor to have the opportunities we have been able to enjoy.

Yet…

My heart is longs for stability. Yearns for normal.

I want to see family regularly. I want to watch my cousin’s children grow up. I want my kids to have bountiful, joy filled memories with their cousins.

I want us all together.

In one place.

I don’t want to say good-bye again. My heart aches just thinking about it.

That doesn’t mean I’m not grateful. But I think it does clearly show that I am grieving.

I’m grieving the life I thought I would have.

Grieving all the people, places and things I’ve left with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat.

When I think of an idyllic life, I imagine a home full of those I love, both family and friends.

I think of Sundays with family after church — playing games and laughing for hours.

I think of slow Saturdays, holding lukewarm cups of coffee and chatting with friends while our kids make messes in every room of the house.

I think of walks through the local neighborhood, calling after kids that have gone too far ahead on their bikes.

I think of peace in my heart, my home & my family. I hope for endless days around those I love and enjoy.

Maybe all those things could happen in England or Montana. Actually, I’m sure that things like that happen all over the world. But neither the farm nor the cottage will fully give me what I desire.

This is where I ask you to bear with me while I get a little deep.

I think what I desire is a peace that surpasses my understanding. That truly feels peaceful, despite all the heartache this world throws at me.

I long for knowing that there is a strength big enough to hold me all together when I feel like I’m falling apart.

I want to know that I am safe, surrounded and guarded, even when I can’t see what’s coming around the corner. Even if I’m unprepared, it won’t be my undoing.

I hope for rest and comfort — a place to cry and release all that I’ve been carrying. Can I set aside my stress, anxiety and burdens and not need to pick them up again?

The truth is, I do have a place for all these things and more. In my weariness, it seemed easier to imagine all of *that* in a beautiful, secluded place.

In the still and quiet of my office, I’m filled with gratitude that I have access to all I desire and more in Jesus.

I don’t mean to sound trite or preachy or worse, insincere. It really is quite the opposite.

I have been craving and dreaming about “anywhere else” when what I’ve needed, is to retreat to my heavenly father. He offers it all.

He has been with me through thick and thin. Caught all my tears, answered every prayer, tempered my fears and given wisdom and clarity, always.

He has not magically taken away my difficult feelings. Yet, He has been faithful.

He can handle my rage — even when I swear. He’s forgiven my doubts and reminded me of Truth. He has seen every tear and because I know He suffered so much more than I, I know He really understands.

He understands all of it. I find great comfort in that.

I can live in gratitude, thanking God fully for everything I have; I can also weep at His feet at all I have lost.

I can leave my desires, hopes and dreams with Him — knowing He wants the best for me. His track record is proof.

There’s nothing wrong with a getaway — for now, though, I think what I need, is to return daily to the arms of the Father that can actually give what will heal me.

That’s a lot of clarity. And it only took me writing this blog post for total realization.

Updates to come, I’m sure.

What about you? How do you process? Where are you finding rest and recovery?

Thanks for taking time to read this.

A small, practical note — for those who’ve been asking how to help.

As we prepare to leave for Taiwan in just a few days, some of you have reached out asking how you can walk with us in this season — not just emotionally and spiritually, but practically too.

Right now we’re in the final stretch of our Hope Gives campaign. We’ve seen incredible generosity already, and as of today we’re at $3,100 of $4,050, with just $950 left to fully meet this goal.

If this story resonates with you — the tension, the calling, the longing for peace and faithfulness — and you’d like to be part of helping us take this next step, we would be deeply grateful.

Whether through prayer, sharing, or giving, thank you for standing with our family as we follow where God is leading.

Give Here

Until we see you in person [or as I like to say, in 3D again, we love you all and we will miss you.

The best is yet to come,

Mandie & Ryan

Quite a few folks reached out after our last update with the same question

(you can reread it here if helpful):

“So… are you still going now, or are you going in March? I’m confused!”

Totally fair question — and I’m glad people asked.

Here’s the simple answer:

Even though the renovation of our apartment in Taipei won’t be fully finished until mid-to-late March, we are still departing for Taiwan on January 29, 2026.

Our apartment is on two levels.

- The 10th floor has the three bedrooms and two bathrooms

- The 11th floor has the kitchen and living room

It’s the 11th floor that won’t be complete right away.

So for about a month and a half, we’ll be doing some of our cooking, eating, and gathering in other spaces nearby.

To be clear:

We will have full use of the 10th floor (bedrooms and bathrooms) from the day we arrive.

Not ideal.

Not a crisis.

Just one of those very normal, very “missions-life” kinds of adjustments.

And honestly, we’re completely at peace about it.

We’re still going.

Still on schedule.

Still deeply grateful for how God has provided every step of the way.

As we head into these final days before departure, we’re also wrapping up our initial cash needs for the move — short-term housing arrangements, setup costs, and all the early expenses that don’t really live in a monthly budget.

As of today, we’re at $1,600 of our $4,050 goal, with just a few days left.

The HopeGives campaign wraps up on January 28, the day before we fly out.

If you’ve been meaning to contribute and just hadn’t gotten around to it yet, this is a gentle reminder and an open door. No pressure at all — just an opportunity to help us step onto the ground in Taiwan well-positioned and focused on the work ahead.

You can give here if you’d like:

👉 Click here to visit the HopeGives link

Thank you — truly — for standing with us, praying for us, and walking this road with our family.

We’re excited.

We’re ready.

And we’re incredibly grateful for you.

With appreciation,

Ryan & Mandie

A funny thing happened after our last email.

A few days ago, we shared the praise report that we can officially buy our tickets to Taiwan.

That still feels surreal to say out loud.

And then yesterday…

We found out due to a delay in construction, our apartment won’t be ready until the end of March.

Same destination.

Same calling.

Different circumstances than we expected.

And it immediately reminded me of something a bit random…

Gumby…

Yeah, the little green clay guy from the old cartoons.

Gumby wasn’t strong.

He wasn’t fast.

He wasn’t even particularly clever.

But he had one superpower:

He could bend without breaking.

He could stretch.

Flatten.

Twist.

Re-form.

And somehow… that’s always how he solved the problem.

Not by overpowering it.

But by adapting to it.

And the older I get — especially as a missionary — the more I realize:

Flexibility is not a weakness.

It’s the skill that keeps you moving forward when the circumstances change.

Because in missions, you can:

✔️ Raise the support

✔️ Buy the tickets

✔️ Secure the visas

✔️ Plan the timeline

…and still have the details shift underneath you.

Truthfully, it happens more often than not. So we can either get frustrated and let it drag down our focus, energy and attitudes, or we can be like Gumby and adapt.

So yes — our apartment won’t be ready when we arrive.

We’re still going.

Because the calling isn’t tied to a lease agreement or ideal circumstances.

And obedience isn’t dependent on everything being neat and tidy.

Here’s the simple truth:

If you can’t bend, you’ll break.

But if you can adapt, you’ll advance.

And honestly, we’re grateful for the reminder because it keeps our grip loose and our hearts steady.

Now, as we move into these final logistics, we’re also working toward our remaining upfront cash needs for the move — flights, initial housing, setup costs, and all the things that don’t fit neatly into a monthly budget.

Of the $4050 needed, $300 has come in.

If you’ve been following along and would like to help us close that final gap, we’ve set up a simple HopeGives page here:

Click here for the HopeGives campaign

No pressure.

No hype.

Just a place for those who feel prompted to help us land strong and ready.

Thank you for bending with us.

For standing with us.

And for believing in what God is doing in Taiwan.

With gratitude,

Ryan & Mandie

We are eager to share a brief update on where things stand as we prepare for Taiwan.

The past couple months have been a flurry of activity and change for our family. Over the last few months, we’ve been meeting with several individuals, families, small groups and churches about prayer and financial partnership. Six days after celebrating Christmas, we moved out of the ministry house and in with Mandie’s folks. During the past two weeks, several new monthly partners have joined our team. Praise God!

Last week, we closed the gap! A wonderfully missional Christian businessman, stepped in to cover the last portion of our remaining monthly need. Because of this, we now have sufficient monthly support in place to confidently purchase plane tickets and move forward with our relocation.

We’re deeply grateful for God’s provision and for the obedience and generosity of His people.

We are very eager to land in Taiwan and begin our ministry! While we have the necessary budget to buy tickets and begin our work, we are still praying and believing for additional monthly support that would aid in covering future school costs for our kids. We are prayerfully seeking the Lord and asking him to provide an additional $2,000 per month. This monthly increase would enable us to either enroll the kids in school, recruit a teacher or employ a local to help us with schooling, rather than homeschooling ourselves. Employing a teacher or sending our kids to school full-time gives us the time freedom to invest full-time in the ministry and in the café platform in Taipei.

Currently, we are planning to share homeschooling responsibilities and adjust our ministry time accordingly. The work will still move forward in excellence — this simply affects the pace and capacity with which we can engage. We trust the Lord and His perfect timing, seeking His wisdom and provision. If you’d like to partner with us monthly to meet this need, we’d love to connect with you!

Additionally, we are very close to completing our upfront cash budget! We believe the Lord will provide this in the coming week. Our amazing church has generously come in with a matching gift — leaving only $4,050 to be raised to fully complete our upfront funding and allow us to depart.

To make this simple, we’ve created a HopeGives crowdfunding page to finish this final portion of our cash budget:

Click Here-HopeGives Campaign

Thank you for walking with us and partnering with us in this season! We continue to be humbled by the way God is providing through His people.

With gratitude,
Ryan & Mandie Buesgens

P.S. For our local Minnesota friends, family and partners - mark your calendar for our farewell get-together next Sunday, January 25th at River Valley Church - Shakopee Campus. We’d love to see you before we depart!

We’ve been thinking about that remarkable story in 2 Kings 4—the widow with nothing left but a single flask of oil.

She had a real financial need. A crisis she couldn’t solve alone.

And when the prophet asked her, “What do you have in your house?”
her answer must have felt almost embarrassing:

“I have nothing… except a small flask of oil.”

But God has a way of using whatever we have in our hands—even when it feels too small.

The widow obeyed the simple instruction she was given:
go to your friends, ask for empty jars, and start pouring.

And the miracle wasn’t in the oil.
The miracle was in the asking.

Every time a friend handed her a jar,
the oil flowed.
Another jar—more oil.
Another jar—still more.
Until the only thing that stopped the miracle…
was that there were no more jars to fill.

A subtle twist on Giving Tuesday

Today, people everywhere are giving financially. And we’re grateful—your partnership has literally carried our family and our ministry.

But instead of asking you to give today, we want to invite you into the same kind of faith-filled moment the widow had.

Not giving into jar… but offering a jar.

More on that in a moment…

Here’s what we have in our hands:

• Our story of what God has done through our years of missions work

• Our calling to Taipei, the most shrine-saturated city in the world

• A growing opportunity through business, discipleship, and the international church

• A strategic ministry model that lets us meet people where they already gather—coffee shops, coworking spaces, neighborhoods, and global workplaces

God is already moving in Taiwan. The hunger is real. The openness is surprising. The timing is right.

And just like the widow, the miracle grows as friends bring jars.

Your Giving-Tuesday invitation

We’re asking—very simply and very humbly—if you would be willing to refer a few friends to our story and our mission.

People who might have a heart for:

• discipleship

• marketplace ministry

• reaching the nations

• supporting missionaries

• gospel work in spiritually dark cities

When you click the button below, you’ll be able to send our story to a few friends who might want to follow along, pray, or even join our support team.

This Giving Tuesday, the “gift” is simply helping us gather jars.

Refer a friend

Every jar matters.
Every introduction matters.
And we believe the oil will keep flowing as long as jars keep coming.

Thank you for praying. Thank you for believing.
And thank you for walking with us into what God is doing in Taipei.

With gratitude,
Ryan, Mandie & the kids

P.S. Earn benefits. When more friends use your link to join our story, you’ll actually receive special things.

• When 3 people use your link, we’ll give you recognition in our next newsletter

• When 10 people use your link, we’ll send you access to a free audiobook - High Adventure In Tibet (Read by the author, produced by me, Ryan)

• When 25 people use your link, we’ll send you a bag of freshly roasted premium coffee - roasted by me, Ryan.

Visit the leaderboard

To learn more, check out Substack’s FAQ.

Thank you for helping get the word out about our ministry in Taiwan!

Book a Zoom Call

Start Giving Now

If you’d like a detailed breakdown of our budget, click here.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and we’ve been thinking back on the last year—how much has changed, how many moving pieces are finally coming together, and how many times we’ve felt carried by the people God has placed around us. That includes you.

Your prayers, your messages, your encouragement, and your financial partnership have made a real difference in the daily decisions we’re making as we prepare for Taipei. There have been moments this year when we’ve needed wisdom, clarity, or just a reminder that we’re not doing this alone—and then one of you reached out, we’d see your name on a prayer note or a monthly gift, and it has honestly helped us keep going.

For all the big and little things, we are so grateful.

As our family nears the next season of our ministry, we’re more aware than ever that missions is something God builds through community, working together just like a team. Every conversation we’ve had, every budget line we’ve wrestled through, every prayer over our kids and the café in Taipei—it’s all connected to a community of people who believe in the Great Commission enough to invest in it. Thank you for taking part in our incredible support team.

Wherever Thanksgiving finds you this year, we pray blessing over you and your family. May you feel the Lord’s nearness and His kindness.

From our family to yours: thank you. We don’t take you for granted.

Grateful for you,

Ryan, Mandie, and the kids

We’ll get to that in a few seconds.

First, we are so grateful for your prayers and support during this season of transition. We can’t thank you enough. During chaotic and stressful times, we will often feel a sudden sense of peace fall over us. In those moments, we sense the Lord near to us and believe that is your prayers for our family, being answered.

Thank you for being with us on this journey.

Recently, a few friends have asked us for a simple explanation of how the budget with our sending organization works. It can be confusing sometimes, even for us. So I (Ryan) created a video showing the different parts of our budget and how the money flows. You’ll find this video below.

Additionally, HopeGives is offering us a $1000 matching gift!

They have teamed up with AGWM to build a system similar to GoFundMe specifically for missionaries and other ministries. We’ve created a campaign to raise the rest of the money we need for plane tickets to Taiwan.

Will you help us get the word out by sharing with others via text, email & social media? And would you join us as a partner in this matching fund campaign?

Just 3 days left on the campaign…

Ready to join us as a partner in this matching fund campaign? Click the button below:

Sure! Take me to the campaign page.

Now, to the beautiful budget breakdown

(If the video is having trouble loading and you’re using an iPhone you may need to use a different browser or device.)

Please respond to this email if you have further questions about our budget, our work or how to partner with us financially.

Thank you, again, for your prayers and encouragement! We are so grateful for you.

In him,

Ryan & Mandie Buesgens

P.S. We were just able to celebrate my Granny’s 80th Birthday her in Minnesota, so I here’s what I gave her for the big day!

(the gift was an AI generated photo LOL)

What is the update for Dirk and Mandie’s health?

We’ll start with Mandie: We had very encouraging news after connecting with a new doctor.

Mandie’s medical records from her first procedure were translated to us by the Spanish doctor in Spring of 2024, indicating high risk and cancer. We now know that the translation was incomplete and somewhat inaccurate. After her recent procedure in June, we had a thorough follow up with a new doctor. We were surprised to find out, he grew up in Spain prior to coming to the U.S. and practicing medicine. As he reviewed Mandie’s medical notes from Spain - all in Spanish - we learned her Spanish doctor had incorrectly translated the results into English. While Mandie’s results were very concerning, they were actually much less worrisome than originally thought. Mandie had been told she would have to “go under” for procedures every 3-6 months, possibly for the rest of her life. After reviewing June’s results and reviewing the history from the previous two procedures, the new doctor shared that Mandie doesn’t need another checkup for a year! He also noted if next year’s results are similar to results in June, she will be able to wait another three years until the next appointment.

Praise the Lord! For the first time in a long time, we feel encouraged by the medical prognosis.

Update on Dirk: We’ve also been encouraged by new conversations with Dirk’s doctors.

After many tests and appointments - neurology, cardiology, etc. he was cleared of any major risk factors in regards to his migraines, past concussion and fear around fainting spells he had last winter. Praise God!

At the beginning of the summer, we received a diagnosis for challenges we noticed with processing and short term memory. Praise the Lord for clarity! There is support and coaching available to help him build strong habits and acquire new learning tools, additionally we also have supplements and medication to help. We are grateful we had time and resources available to us to support our son.

What have you been up to the last few months?

Late spring and early summer was packed with church visits, wrapping up school and packing. Both of us, Ryan and Mandie, kept very busy hosting a discipleship small group, speaking in churches, meeting with local Kingdom minded business men and women and more. Mandie was invited to preach for a women’s event at one of our partner churches in Wisconsin; what an honor to encourage and empower women to worship the Lord in obedience.

This summer has been full and encouraging.

We logged all the road trip miles while traveling to multiple states (Michigan, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Missouri) to meet with supporting churches and individuals. Bonus, we were able to spend cherished time with family who live out of state along the way. At the end of July we moved out of the house in Shakopee and hit the road for Florida!

We attended the AG General Council in Orlando, where Mandie and I both worked each day at the Asia Pacific booth for Assemblies of God World Missions. Following General Council, we were invited to a retreat provided by River Valley Church. They blessed us and our kids with incredible times of worship, prayer, relaxation and reinvigoration. A major highlight for our crew was our first trip to Disney’s Magic Kingdom, an incredible gift from our church. Their team was excellent in every way. Over 200 people who serve overseas were also blessed by the retreat.

On the way back we got to connect with David V. Plymire. He is now a 94 year old man, retired AGWM missionary that served in Taiwan and Hong Kong for many years. In 1959, David wrote a biography about his father, Victor Plymire, who was the first AG missionary to enter Tibet in the early 1900s. The book has now inspired tens of thousands toward obedience to the Lord, including our 10 year old son. Brock read “High Adventure” for a school project last year and it has had a tremendous and lasting impact on his life. Pray for him as the Lord is stirring his heart towards things of the Kingdom.

Thinking back to the book, it leads us into the next question…

What came of that audio project Ryan was working on last fall?

The project was the audio recording of the book, “High Adventure In Tibet” written and read by David V. Plymire. And we can’t wait to tell you all about it!

It started with an off hand comment in Springfield, MO in June, 2024.

We were at a work picnic and I, Ryan, found myself standing in a circle with five veteran missionaries who have served decades in Asia. One of them recommended I read the book, “High Adventure In Tibet.” He didn’t know that over the past week, three others missionaries had recommended the same book!

Earlier that week, I looked it up on Amazon there was only one copy available… for $78!

The book was out of print so very few copies are available. I was shocked! So many people had recommended it to us over the years and even more recently. Since it was out of print, we looked to Kindle or Audible, hopeful we could get our own copy there, but it was not on either platform. Mandie and I had been so disappointed. For years, Mandie and I have lamented the lack of electronic or audio books of missionary biographies. We’ve often said, if we had time, we should just record books in public domain so that the stories could be heard! But we had yet to make it happen.

When “High Adventure” came up again in the conversation at the picnic, I mentioned the lack of access to it. Others around the circle shared how they’d each given hundreds of copies away over the years, as recruiting tools for missions in Asia. What a shame it was no longer readily available.

Off handedly, I mentioned that I would be happy to offer my time make the Kindle and Audible versions possible since in my youth, I used to run recording studios and help people self publish books.

Then one of the veterans in the circle mentioned that he was going to visit David Plymire that very afternoon.

“Do you want me to pitch the audiobook idea to David?” he asked.

“That would be amazing! I’ll be happy to offer my time, no charge,” I said.

[Side note: Did you know that Mandie spent a summer teaching English in that part of the world in 2005? She was one of the very few selected from hundreds that applied. Her heart has ached for those peoples since. There is no way we could have passed up the opportunity to give voice to the spiritual need of these people…and even more exciting to encourage others to action with this story about the people Mandie so loves.]

Back to the story:

A month or so later, I received word that the project was a go! Our Asia Pacific Regional Director, Jeff Hartensveld approved the redesign, reprinting and recording of High Adventure in Tibet with a planned relaunch at General Council the following year! How incredible.

November 2024, I drove down to Missouri and spent a week with David at MERGE Studios in Springfield. I picked him up each morning in my little, black Toyota and drove him to the studio.

He wondered about the stairs.

Remember he’s in his mid 90s. The first morning I slowly waked each step with him. The second morning he said, “you go ahead and get set up, I’ll get up there before long.” His wife Pat called and he had it on speaker phone.

“Hey babe, I made it up all those stairs just fine.”

“Already? That was fast. Are they going to feed you lunch?”

“No, I told them I just wanted to go straight through. My voice won’t be as good if I eat.”

“Ok babe, I’ll have a sandwich ready for you when you get home.”

“Ok, love you babe, bye.”

Each day would be something like that.

It took 4 full days to record David reading the book. On the fifth day, we recorded an interview between David and I that we’ll share at a later time.

The time has come. *Drum Roll, please*

The book is ready and launched as planned at General Council last month. Many hours were spent by those at MERGE and myself to make this story available to this generation. May God use the story mightily to encourage others in obedience to the Lord!

Get your Kindle or Audible copy here: HighAdventureInTibet.com

Get the Book

You’re still in the States, when do you leave for Taiwan?

As you may remember, our hope was to be leaving in September. After conversation with our leadership during General Council in August, December is the new goal.

This delay is strategic, creating time for us to apply for business visas prior to our arrival in Taiwan. Landing in Taiwan without the long term visa is possible, but would have required visa trips every 3 months and a round trip back to the states for the whole family next summer for 1 -3 months. While we don’t love the delay, we are grateful to have an opportunity to start the visa process now, saving us time and money in the long run.

A great silver lining, we have more time to dial in supplements and medication for Dirk over the next few months. You can pray with us as we navigate this with Dirk.

The other big benefit is more time to raise the rest of our budget for our ministry in Taiwan.

What will your kids do for school?

All 5 kids are currently enrolled in public schools in Farmington, MN. This was made possible because River Valley Church has provided us global working housing in Farmington through the end of the year. For this we are so incredibly grateful.

• Blake had a dream of playing American Football and we were able to get him on a 7th grade tackle football team. His smile was a mile wide!

• Dirk lettered in Cross Country last year as an 8th grader. After a winter of lifting weights, he decided he would also like to try football this year. The Farmington 9th grade team graciously made a way for him to join the team.

• Brock has begun a cross country season for 4th - 6th graders. At his first meet he took 3rd and has his sights set on taking first in at least one of the 5 meets this year.

• Adeline and Beck are already making friends and having fun riding the bus to school for the first time.

Join us in praying for them this year as they enjoy a few more months in Minnesota with friends and family. Pray also for the upcoming transition and new schools in Taiwan.

Did you hear that China is planning to invade Taiwan?

Yes. We are very aware of all the news and possibility of China’s potential invasion/take-over.

Above all, God knows. He is leading us to take the message of the gospel to the largest, unreached Chinese speaking nation with religious freedom…for now. Right now, the door is open, but we don’t know for how long. We have had many discussions with our team, leadership, veteran missionaries in the area, military connections and others.

Our team has a plan for safety and security. So, we move ahead in obedience, trusting the Lord in all things.

How is it coming for raising your budget?

We have reduced our budget in some ways and have added an emergency fund line item to help in case of a quick exit from Taiwan. After those adjustments our overall monthly budget was reduced by $1000 and our cash budget was reduced by $3000.

77% of our monthly budget has been raised and 78% of cash budget has been raised. Praise the Lord!

We’ll soon be sharing a video explanation of the budget, so stay tuned!

…and HopeGives has offered us a matching gift for using their platform for a campaign.

See the Campaign

We are so grateful to know that as we begin our ministry in Taiwan, that you are here “holding the rope” for us. Your prayers are the spiritual currency that provide strength to our backs and success to attempts in sharing Jesus with the lost.

Our schedules have been full of meetings with dozens of you. We love to connect with you as you consider how the Lord is leading you to your next yes. If we haven’t chatted recently, please schedule a time to connect by clicking the “book a call” a little further down in this email.

Family updates

• We celebrated Dirk’s 15th Birthday with some fun activities. There were 17 kiddos in the house…overnight! Dirk had a stellar track and field season and is running dozens of miles a week to stay in shape for the summer runs with the cross country team.

• Blake has been throwing touchdowns and LOVING his flag football league. He finished 2nd in the 200m freestyle swim at the most recent meet.

• Brock was asked to lead prayer during the service at our home church. He is also on the swim team and also put up personal records at the last meet. His time in the 800m run was 3:53, which would have qualified him to run on the Shakopee High School team…(he’s only in 4th grade!).

• Addie had a blast with her buddies at the end-of-the-year field day. Though her brothers are finished with school, she still has four more days left. She loves with such a big heart and is soaking up the remaining hours with her friends at school.

• Beck was honored during his life celebration during one of the last days of school. He’s only four and it’s incredible to hear the way he forms sentences and is aware of everyone else’s needs. Truly a gem.

• We (Ryan & Mandie) had the honor to speak at quite a few churches this spring. We’re leading a weekly discipleship small group for River Valley (Mandie was honored to contribute to the writing of the curriculum). The group is called The Commission.

• Mandie just completed a semester as a leader at Sisterhood, a women’s ministry for River Valley Church. Mandie has also recently finished several more courses for her accreditation with Assemblies of God and is working to finish up this summer!

• Ryan just finished a very important and inspiring audiobook project for the Asia Pacific Region of AGWM(more on this VERY soon)…and 9 interviews have been recorded for the upcoming Next Yes Podcast series set to launch this summer.

Reflections

I was reading in Matthew 24 & 25 this morning.

A fresh reminder to be in constant connection with our savior, never knowing when he will return. It deeply stirs my heart for those that have still not yet heard. Those in Taiwan that visit shrines, pray to ancestors or simply trying to ignore that there is a God.

We long to be there to share hope.

We’ve been told that people are unable to feel two things at the same time.

It makes me wonder why, in the same minute, Mandie and I can both feel the pressure and uneasiness of all the change that is about to take place AND feel the great joy in being obedient to our Lord, saying our next yes to Jesus. It’s a consistent pulling and stretching we live in.

We will give you a smile when we greet you, but there’s a lot going on underneath.

Just so you know, we accept hugs. :)

Please join us in prayer

1. We hold onto faith in our powerful Lord for the divine healing of Mandie and Dirk. We are awaiting more tests results for both of them. Dirk, for understanding of his migraines, fainting spells and challenge in reading comprehension. Mandie, for internal healing where 2 polyps(1 was cancerous) were found in earlier last year during a procedure in Spain, 8 more (5 were pre-cancerous) in December and we pray that the procedure this week will find ZERO and a clean bill of health!

2. Please pray for the hearts of our kiddos during this transition. We move out of this house at the end of June and will be on the road all of July and into mid August. Saying goodbye to people and places is really hard. Some are still processing leaving Morocco. Three nights ago I held Addie as she deeply wept saying, “I wish we were just back in Morocco.”

3. Education of the kiddos is almost squared away. Blake, Brock, Adeline and Beck have spots held for them at Acton Academy in Taipei. We are awaiting additional test scores and final review from the competitive school, Morrison Academy - Taipei, for Dirk.

4. That we can land in Taipei in August. For the sake of kids schooling and many other reasons, this is crucial from what we understand.

Coming up

June - We will be meeting with people and packing all of June to prepare for our move from this home. You may see some Facebook Marketplace posts. :)

July - We will be visiting partners in Montana, Michigan, Missouri and Florida.

Financial needs

We are still in need for monthly supporters and gifts toward our launch budget.

Support the Buesgens

Book a call

Thank you

Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your support. Thank you for investing the time to read our June update.

We want to pray for you as well. Please reply to this email with the ways we can be praying for you this month.

So that all may hear,

Ryan & Mandie Buesgens

Career Global Workers to Taiwan - AGWM #296716

Ryan 763-346-6757 | Mandie 763-288-9399

P.S. We’d love your feedback…

During our first two terms as missionaries in the Arab World, we shared the gospel with Muslims through Marketplace Discipleship. Now we’re headed to Asia as Career Missionaries with Assemblies of God World Missions.

What have we done up till now?

Six years ago, I left my comfy six figure banking job.

In August 2018, Mandie and I landed in Morocco with 3 kiddos as new missionaries. We now have five: Dirk, Blake, Brock, Adeline & Beck. Ages 14 down to 4.

Our first term was in northern Morocco to learn language. In our second term, we were the Business Champions for a church planting team in the south.

Moroccans would ask, “Why are you here?”

If we answered, “to share the gospel of Jesus Christ”, authorities would invite us to leave the country. Worse, bad things could happen to our local friends.

We built real businesses so our team could have good and truthful answers for government officials and passersby. We made profits, paid taxes and hired locals (believers whenever possible).

But…

We didn’t want a business just to have good answers. We believe every business activity makes way for the gospel.

Building a real business is tiring. So, it’s possible to feel too tired for ministry.

We plant the church through business. The same efforts can accomplish ministry plans and business goals.

We call it Marketplace Discipleship.

We’ll save the specifics for another letter. Back to the story…

In Morocco, we built:

An export business

An Argan Oil beauty brand

An Airbnb property initiative

During our last 18 months, we systemized the Airbnb project, empowering other long-term missionaries and locals to manage the business.

The Airbnb operation is now a nationwide strategy, making way for dozens of new missionaries to get long-term visas for long-term ministry in Morocco.

After strategizing with leadership in January 2024, we made plans to return to Minnesota in June for a year of itineration. This time allows us to connect with family, supporters and to raise awareness about the spiritual need in Taiwan.

What’s next?

We sensed God leading us to a new mission field.

In the spring of 2024, we fasted and prayed with regional colleagues. We connected with missionaries around the world, asking for prayer and seeking God’s guidance.

Our friends, Bob & Kelly said, “We wouldn’t ask if you weren’t considering other places…but since you are…would you pray about working with us in Taiwan?”

We agreed to pray.

We sensed God’s peace in a move to Taiwan. With blessing and support from area and regional directors, we began making plans for the change.

We ministered with Bob & Kelly Bailey in northern Morocco during our first term. They’re now leading the international church in Taipei, Taiwan, called Agape International Chirstian Assembly (ICA). In addition to their pastoral role, the Bailey’s were asked to start The Cup Coffee House in Taipei.

It’s a beautiful café that will also serve as a vibrant community outreach center. God is guiding us to come alongside The Cup with our experience in Marketplace Discipleship.

Our visit to Taiwan in August 2024

The Lord made a way for a vision trip to help us understand the ministry.

Taiwan is a deeply lost place. Taipei city boasts more shrines per capita than any place in the world.

There is a place called Fulong on the northeast side of the island. We met with folks doing ministry among unreached peoples there. Summer camps, upcoming coffee ministry and one-to-one discipleship.

They’re doing important ministry. We’ll be working to support them.

We toured Morrison Academy (Dirk) and the Acton school (Blake, Brock, Adeline, Beck). Bob & Kelly led us to our future home to take pics for the kiddos. Our apartment will be on the top floor and The Cup Coffee House is on the bottom floor of the same building!

We toured the schools our kiddos will attend and took pictures of our future home. Our apartment is on the top floor and The Cup Coffee House is on the bottom floor in the same building!

We met Coco, the manager of The Cup. Bob & Kelly found Coco through her husband Daniel, who is widely known in the coffee scene in Taiwan. They’re dedicated to reaching their community for Christ through the café.

Our mission is twofold

Family & Community Outreach - We will naturally connect with families through the kids’ schools and everyday life, creating opportunities for discipleship. Mandie and I will plan, host and lead short-term mission trips for visiting church groups. These groups will join us in engaging our community and the unreached surrounding our city.

Marketplace Discipleship & Business Consulting - The cafe will be a vessel for gospel movement in Taiwan. We will cultivate Marketplace Discipleship through the business. The Cup is already operating well and we will support Coco’s leadership by refining operations, boosting marketing efforts and organizing community events.

Why us?

We’re passionate about reaching Taiwanese for Jesus.

Looking back, we see God has prepared us for this…different ministry roles, restaurant management, marketing, business banking, merchandising, design, coffee certifications, and using businesses in Morocco to reach the lost for Christ.

Please consider this…

Your role in Marketplace Discipleship in the “LOST” city of Taipei

We need your help.

Our term in Taiwan is 4 years…but could be a lifetime.

Our biggest need is long term financial partnership from you.

We ask you to invest in reaching Taiwan. If that’s NOT you. That’s OK. We understand.

Here’s our invitation to you

Would you partner with us financially to support our ministry in Taiwan?

Our vision is not a one-time event. God has prepared our marriage and family for long-term service.

Our financial needs are different from our time in Morocco. This new field will require a stronger budget due to increased cost of living. Our goal is to raise an additional $6,700 in monthly ongoing support by July 2025.

Below is the breakdown of what we need to reach our goal:

1 partner at $1000 per month

3 partners at $500 per month

8 partners at $250 per month

14 partners at $100 per month

16 partners at $50 per month

To give toward these needs, visit:

​http://NextYes.org/give

Your financial support will be managed with integrity through Assemblies of God World Missions, ensuring accountability at all levels. 1099’s will be issued from AGWM in January of the following year for potential tax deductions.

You are investing in lasting work.

Imagine a café bustling with life - a place where conversations lead to transformations, where the aroma of coffee is intertwined with the fragrance of Christ’s love, and where the marketplace becomes a mission field.

Join us on the journey. Help bring people of Taiwan…to Jesus.

With gratitude and anticipation,

The Buesgens Family

AGWM, Asia Pacific, Taiwan

Live Video Announcement

8:00pm CST Tonight

This has been a few months in the making.

Lots of changes coming…

We’re happy and excited for everything that we will share tonight.

If you’d rather read than watch, we’ll have a recap email that will go out later in the week.

If you are unable to be on the call, we’ll have a replay link available tomorrow for you to watch when you’re available.

Click here to join the call at 8:00pm CST

Looking forward to seeing you tonight,

Ryan & Mandie Buesgens

P.S. If you have last minute questions you’d like us to cover on the call and/or the recap email, please just reply to this email. :)

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Our Gideon Moment

Continued Learning on hearing God’s Voice

We confess, we used to view Gideon as a bit… dense.

In Judges 6-7 Gideon asked for a sign that the message was from the Lord. After that miracle, he asks for another one involving a fleece. He then digs in one more time and asks for the same miracle, but in reverse.

Seems like he could have just listed to God a little closer...at least that’s what we thought until this past spring.

We desperately wanted to hear from the Lord regarding our next term.

We sought confirmation, welcoming OPEN or CLOSED doors. The Lord gave gentle direction. However, the answers never seemed quite as dramatic as Gideon… Until the 4th answered prayer. 

It finally clicked. God patiently and gracefully lead us in this transition.

Now, we confidently know the Lord is leading, affirmed that we clearly hear His voice.

What steps did we take in our decision making?

As a region we collectively do a 40 day fast early in the year.

During these 40 days, we put our fleece before the Lord. We asked what He wanted us to do in this next term. Sometimes asking for signs. Sometimes asking for clear closed or open doors.

He answered with some clarity… mostly in the form of slowly closing doors. 

We sought insight from other leaders and friends around the world - think Proverbs 15:22.

In these conversations, we received love and support along with wisdom. Some offered insight from their own similar experiences. And several offered invitations to pray about joining teams or projects they were leading - needing helping hands and willing hearts. 

We weighed many elements and options:

• Team/leadership dynamics 

• Vision for the city/country/region

• Our love for the local people of each area

• Schooling options for kids

• Access to good medical care

• Language and cultural acquisition

• and many others…

It was a lot to process, but between these practical things, wisdom from counselors and gentle (patient) nudges from the Lord, we feel peace in our direction.

The kids in our favorite rug shop and artisanal partner in Marrakech.

We value the importance of Leaving Well with people…

Our team has gone through many changes this year.  

Important meetings with leadership at the LiveDead Winter conference, in January, put changes in motion. With direction from our Area Director, the trajectory of our team was set on a whole new course.

Our team leaders, the Ww’s, are transitioning to Germany, another couple, the M’s, are taking a role with Builders International based in Missouri, homeschool teachers - ours and the Ww’s - finished up their terms in April, our interns returned early to the states in late spring and we were asked to return Stateside for our home assignment this summer. 

That leaves the L’s to handle things on the ground until the new team leaders, the W’s, land in late summer or early fall.

We made it our priority to set the L’s up for success in the city with relationships and business systems (more on this in the next section).

Pic 1: Our family with our team leads, the Ww’s. We’ve worked alongside them in Morocco since 2018.

Pic 2: Most of our team this past year, L’s not pictured. Pic 3: AirBnb Crew send off - L’s and our local employee.

The community of workers in our city was life giving for us.

We have deep friendships with other families who have kids our age. We would gather on Saturdays around our large wood farm table to break bread and play games. These relationships helped us and the kids sustain life in our challenging context.

We took individual time with each of those families to say goodbye.

Each of those moments were full of hugs and tears - for both grownups and kids alike. We’re grateful it has allowed space for healthy closure.

YTH prayer and send off for Dirk & Blake

Ryan & Zack’s Goodbye “Meating” with the guys

Ladies Goodbye Gathering for Mandie

Goodbyes with close family friends.

Saying goodbye to our local friends and employees was a hard on a different level.

Hugs and tears all around - just like with our like-minded friends. However, there’s no plan or likelihood to see them again. We’ll try to keep connected on WhatsApp but in all honestly, it isn’t the same. It’s easier with our Believing friends - knowing they can lean on Jesus. But for those that aren’t, there’s a deeper heart ache.

Please pray and trust with us that they will keep connected with other workers we’ve introduced … and ultimately, that they will choose to follow Jesus.

A few of our close local friends and business partners. These were just a few of the “hard good-byes”.

Please hold these beautiful people in your prayers. They will forever be etched on our hearts.

…and Leaving Well with work.

Our leadership asked us to build something that had not been built before.

As you may remember, we were asked to build an Airbnb (short term rental) operation in Agadir, Morocco. We were asked for it to be profitable, systemized and duplicatable. We worked to achieve these three measures with excellence.

The foundation we’ve built will help dozens of workers obtain residency visas to stay long term for the bigger vision for the country of Morocco.

MENA Goods was a vision the Lord gave us to begin our work in Morocco.

The Airbnb project took precedence for the sake of the country vision. So, at the winter conference, our  leadership asked that it be tabled and shut down by this summer.  However, the original vision for using our business for the sake of the gospel lives on in our Marketplace Discipleship Frameworks. We created and lived that out through our work with MENA Goods. 

More on that in our video announcement call on July 9th. We are so eager to share with you.

We want you to be with us on the call, live.

Click here to sign up for the video call.

So that all may hear,

Ryan & Mandie Buesgens

P.S. Next week we will get into how we are feeling with the change and what we will be doing while in the states. But for the most in depth on all of this, make sure to join us for the call on July 9th.

P.S.S. Scroll to the bottom for pics of our kids and a few of their dear friends this past season.

Pray with us for:

• Transition:  Pray for our family as we balance between joy of being back with American family/friends and grieving the loss of our Morocco based family/friends. Pray Ryan and Mandie have wisdom to walk through this themselves and alongside the kids. Pray for family unity.

• Health: Jetlag no longer has us in a choke hold, but we’re definitely feeling it. Pray for our energy and our physical health.
   

• Safe Travels: The family will travel on Sunday to Springfield, MO for AGWM training & connection. We will have time to process our transition stateside as well as connect with new colleagues and leadership. Pray for road safety and our time there as a family. We return to MN on June 28th.

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Imagine your favorite book.

The Bible is a favorite. But for this, pick a different one.

Feel it in your hands.

Remember how it changed you…made you feel.

You finished reading. You closed the last page and paused for a moment. You weren’t sure if you will read it again or ever. But it left a mark on you.

Our time in Morocco was like that.

It was an amazing experience that God led us to and through. We have just closed the last page and we’re pausing for a moment. We don’t know if we will return to Morocco soon or ever.

It changed us.

We know God will change and develop us in our next location too.

Transition is hard though. It hurts. But it can make us better if we do it in a healthy way.

We all face change and transition:

• Job change

• Moving to a new location

• Ending a school year

• Starting a school year

• Relationship changes

All these have the potential to weigh on us.

We want to be healthy in all the ways. We want that for you too.

Below is one helpful framework for processing change and transition well. We think of it like building a RAFT.

Reconciliation: One of the big causes of bitterness is “unfinished business”. It’s so easy to step into a new phase of life without ever asking for forgiveness or giving forgiveness. We need to make sure that we’ve straightened out any broken relationships that may exist, before leaving. Is there any relationship in which you may need to ask for or extend forgiveness?

Affirmation: It’s so important to thank, encourage, affirm and commend those who have had a significant part of our lives. It not only is affirming to the one who receives the note or word of thanks, but it helps to cement some of the good memories that we experienced.

Farewells: As obvious as it may seem, we often neglect the importance and health of saying good-bye. We need to make sure that we say our proper good-byes, not just to people, but to places, pets and possessions.

Think Ahead: So often we go into new situations and never once stop to think through what we expect of life, future, friends, etc. What expectations do you have about an upcoming change? How will the next chapter be different?

These have been helpful in our transition from our home in Morocco back to Minnesota.

We’ve just landed with all of our family (including our dog Sota) and some of our luggage. There has been a lot of change…a lot of heartache…and a lot of blessings too.

In the coming weeks…

• We’ll share what we’ve learned about major transition

• How we care for children and family health in times of major change

• What we will do over the next year in the states

• Where we will begin to work in the Summer of 2025

• And how you can specifically make kingdom impact this year…

We are deeply thankful for you. Your prayers and support are tangibly felt and mean the world to us.

Announcement:

We are doing a LIVE video call on Tuesday, July 9th at 8:00pm CST.

We want you to be there with us! (We will record it too incase your power or internet goes out…wait, that doesn’t happen in America?)

Click here to sign up for the live video call.

So that all may hear,

Ryan & Mandie Buesgens

Copyright (C) 2024 Buesgens Journey. All rights reserved.


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Some of you said the video link didn’t arrive

We have identified the issue.

Here is the link to the virtual prayer walk video:

PrayerWalk.BuesgensJourney.com

Copyright (C) 2024 Buesgens Journey. All rights reserved.


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We noticed last night.

Ramadan was awakening and we didn’t need the calendar to know.

We just got back from the skate park with the kiddos. Dirk, Blake and Brock doing things on scooters and skates that I would have done as a kid, but now I watch, cringe and congratulate them. Beck and Addie were having a blast on their scooters…you should have seen their faces.

We stayed until the sun set and the air chilled.

Mandie was crafting taco soup at home. It was delicious, as always. Just ask our team how legendary Mandie is with flavors. Then she called me…

We needed another can of beans.

So I pulled into the gigantic parking lot at the grocery store. It was so full I circled around a few times and finally squeezed into a spot. I had to grab a can of black beans for the soup. After 6 years, they finally sell them in the store!

Typically, the grocery cart corrals at the front of the store are overflowing.

This time, all carts were gone and all four corals were empty.

I danced through the crowd at the entrance, pushing and yelling to get their electronic purchase receipts stamped at the door. Imagine Black Friday crowds but on their way OUT of the store.

As I made it through the crowd, it hit me.

I was overwhelmed by the spiritual need.

I’m a number nerd, so I’ll say it like this: It was the greatest lostness, per square foot, I had experienced in a long time. It still grieves my soul.

I paused for a moment to pray.

What they celebrate during Ramadan is rooted in lies. They fast everyday for thirty days. From the rising to the setting of the sun. They will not eat, drink water, smoke and the very pious won’t even swallow spit.

Good works get many more spiritual points during Ramadan.

The festivities begin at sundown when they break their fast. They will eat an odd -not even- number of dates to begin. (Doctors here say stomach aches come from eating an even number of dates.)

Then they celebrate together late into the night.

I found the black beans in a can.

I weaved my way to the checkout. All 21 lanes were full with long lines.

So I stood there holding my can of black beans, praying. I interceded for those in front of me, back of me, either side of me. I asked the Lord, “Please give them dreams and visions of you. Please show us who is open to your grace.

Now I ask you…

Will you join us in prayer over the next 30 days? Most people here are lost here, 99.6%. They need Jesus.

Your prayers make all difference.

Not just your prayers…but also the prayers of everyone you will tell about this need.

We’ve uploaded a beautiful prayer video.

It’s a prayer walk through a Moroccan city. Listen to the 12 prayers for lost people. The voice of the narrator is my wonderful wife, Mandie. 😍 I know you’re going to love it.

Here’s what to do next:

1) Please click the link below and enter your email to access the video.

2) Pray for Moroccans as you watch.

3) Please, please, please share the link below with friends that you know will pray.

(Not on social media, for our security. But emails, texts and DMs are great!)

RamadanPrayer.BuesgensJourney.com

We sold our stuff and flew across the ocean to be near the unreached. You have supported us with money, prayer and care. For this we are so deeply grateful. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. ❤️

We are so blessed by your love from afar…in so many ways,

- Ryan & Mandie

Copyright © 2024 Buesgens Journey, All rights reserved.


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Spring Update

A Very Comprehensive Review

We can’t believe its already March!  Due to travel, illness/recovery and unexpected changes, this update is coming to you a bit later than intended - THANK YOU for your patience! There’ so much we have to share with you. First, we’d like to share an update on fruit in the city over the past 12 months:

We’ve been able to consistently connect & share Truth, love & minister to many folks through the business and through our intentional living & sewing here. Will you rejoice with us in this small footprint of impact?

• Our business banker

• Two local car wash owners

• The night guardian by our house

• Two mom’s from Brock’s French school

• A young woman that manages a local restaurant 

• A local rug supplier of Amazigh heritage in Agadir

• Brass light fixture artisan in Marrakech

• Wicker supplier/artisan & his family on the outskirts of Marrakech

• Rug and pillow supplier & his family of Amazigh heritage in the Marrakech 

• Rug and pillow supplier of Arab heritage in Marrakech

• A Moroccan believer who makes meals for our family once a week

• The woman who cleans our home, the MENA office and the Airbnb

• The local believers who joined in the earthquake relief operation

• Our nanny & part-time Airbnb employee, who was baptized during this term by our team leader

• A local Moroccan gal who tutors our three oldest boys in French

• The family running the Argan Cooperative production location

• Owner of the business school just a block away from our business office

• The family who owns and runs the laundry operation we use for the Airbnb

• Business development representative in Agadir for the Argan Cooperative we work with

• Sooo many were supported in the 10 kilometer stretch of villages supported during the relief

• and countless others…

Major Update & Unexpected Changes

During our Winter conference in January, we met with our Area Director (AD) to understand the long-term vision for Morocco, discuss timing for the remainder of our term and future schooling needs for the kids. Here’s what came of that conversation:

Vision for the Future

Our AD shared the broad vision of placing Airbnbs in 15 different cities across the country in the next 3 years. Our team was one of the first Airbnbs to be up and running for this project.  As we’ve shared in the past, the purpose of the Airbnb strategy is to come alongside & support the local, underground “family” - providing potential meeting spaces as well as opportunities for small businesses.

As he shared desired the timeline and growing pressure for this goal, he asked us to consider leading and managing this project on the ground, working alongside country leadership. As you can imagine, this is quite the task and will take a magnificent amount of effort to see it come to fruition in the next couple years. As a result of this request, the leader of our organization has asked us to shut down MENA Goods Co. in order to manage the broader strategy for the country. 

So, we will be working to sell the current inventory in the states consisting of home decor and about 700 bottles of Argan Oil. 

In the meantime, the two of us (Mandie & Ryan) have put together four separate strategies to roll out the Airbnb concept throughout the country. They are being reviewed by leadership now. This included reviewing the kingdom impact from several perspectives.

We're fully committed to what we’ve been asked to fulfill until the end of our term. 

Remainder of our Term

Our team has accomplished so much and seen many changes over the last year, here are some high & low points:

March 2023

• Our property was ready and listed on Airbnb!

April 2023

• Hosted a short term team from River Valley Church

May 2023

• The W’s (young family) wrapped up their term and returned to itinerate and they hope to return this summer!

June 2023

• Team hosted 2 vision and prayer trips from the Tangier Launch Team

July 2023

• Two young ladies (sisters) concluded their terms and returned stateside

• Bed bug infestation & apartment renovations in intern housing

August 2023

• The M’s (couple) joined our team for a year after finishing their 2 years on launch team

September 2023

• G, a young teacher, arrived to do homeschool for our team leads

• ER visit with Brock, 3 rough stitches after taking a wooden swing to the back of the head [we felt the earthquake on our drive home, just two blocks from our house]

• Massive Earthquake (6.8 magnitude) just north east of our city, killing over 3,000 people

• Two new interns joined us from Bethany Global University for their global internship

• Weekly & monthly Earthquake relief efforts with locals and other like-minded workers (Sept - Dec)

• MENA Team managed relief/aid inventory hub for earthquake response (Sept - Nov)

• Goods shipment held and stuck in US customs… then miraculous release without any fees!

October 2023

• MENA Goods Co. featured at Sparkle Conference, the River Valley Church women’s conf.

• We said good-bye to our 1st two interns from BGU, returning to graduate

November 2023

• The L’s (young family) joined our team for their 2nd term

December 2023

• MENA Goods Co. Winter & Holiday pop-up in Woodbury, MN

• Earthquake Relief: 220 finished temporary winter shelters built in the mountain villages (Oct - Dec), 100 more to come this spring

January 2024

• Arab World Winter Conference

• Roll out of new strategy and internship focus for BGU interns (Jan - May)

• Mandie visit to Marrakech for medical eval.

February 2024

• Wind down of MENA Goods home decor and Argan oil initiatives

• Mandie traveled to Spain for medical procedures

• Contacted 17 teams for potential Airbnb partnership convos

• Annual maintenance & upgrades to Agadir Airbnb

March 2024

• Proposals and initial actions for country-wide Airbnb strategy

We’re exhausted just recounting all of it… As we looked to the future we did not want to leave our team in a bind. After the meeting with our AD, he agreed the best plan would be for us to return stateside this summer - citing team changes, future goals and our need to build further financial support. We plan to return to MN in June. This works out well as the W’s hope to return this summer and our team leads have accepted a new post beginning this fall; they will be relocating to a new country mid-summer.

Educational Needs for our Kids

As I mentioned before, we wanted clarity for the educational needs of our kids as they near high school and will require more consistent options. Our leaders agreed with this need and have given a clear solution that answers both the need to support our kids as well as our work/travel needs for the Airbnb assignment… leaving Agadir and relocating to a different city in Morocco. Tangier is the most likely option as it has strong schooling options for all our kids for now, with the strong possibility of boarding school for high school. There are great team options available to us there as well, so we are seeking the Lord about this change.

That said, with many forced changes and more to come in the future, we are praying about next steps. We are prayerfully considering our leader’s request for the Airbnb project: this would have us returning to Tangier after itineration.

We are also entertaining a new position that has been proposed to us from a different region. Still praying through the details of that, but we’re trusting the Lord for guidance and wisdom. Please join us in praying for clarity in this decision. We just want to live in obedience.

“How Are You?”

As a family we are doing ok. We had some concerns about pains in Mandie’s stomach for several months. After a procedure in Spain, 2 polyps were found. One was precancerous. The other highly cancerous. The doctors believe all has a been removed. A blood panel in 2 months and another procedure in 11 months will tell us more. 

After the procedure in Spain, she rode along with the two other worker ladies to another city in Spain. As they began walking, Mandie felt very dizzy and lost a fair amount of blood. They took her to the ER. She thought she was going to die along the way. The ER doc indicated that doc who performed the procedure should have required 10 strict days of rest afterward, but Mandie was never told this and it wasn’t shown in the documentation either. (Overseas medical, gotta love it)

Mandie is feeling better physically, but we will wait to see what the blood panel says in a couple months and another, more in depth, review would will show in a year. 

The kids are doing well and trying to double up their daily studies because their homeschool teacher, Emily, will need to return to the states earlier than planned to prepare for her next assignment. She has been such an amazing blessing to our children and to us. It is difficult to put into words…the way she has been a part our family and our team over the past year and some months.

Join us in Praise:

• Mandie’s health (clear answers & positive outlook)

• Airbnb periodically used for a local gathering of believing women

• Reliable Nanny (local believer) that administers pre-school work & cares for our littles

• Emily, our amazing homeschool teacher. She leaves us in April and hopes to return to attend the launch team by next Jan.

• Sharing and relationship building happening through a local conversation club

• Mobilizing local believers (young adults) to join in relief efforts & outreach in villages

• Continued amazing relationships & open doors with our artisan/makers

• Media ministry follow ups with local believers and seekers

• Interns & short term-ers sharing the Word and discipling seekers

Join us in Prayer for:

Other prayer requests are wisdom, stateside housing, vehicle and financial support.

Housing:

We have options for some of our time at a River Valley house. We also have an option of a place with reduced rent, but it is unfurnished, so we’ll need to handle planning and logistics for that.

Vehicle:

We are looking into options and have several requests out there. We have one great lead starting in Sept. but will need a vehicle over the summer. Praying for the Lord to provide a clear path this.

Financial support:

Several families have had financial changes and have some new organizational positions which have caused a reduction or a stop to their giving.  We love them all dearly and understand. We pray blessing and favor over their families.

That said, we will return to the states this summer to build further financial support and prepare the kids for a full year of school in one location. 

This has been quite a detailed overview. Thank you for making it this far and celebrating all that God is doing and will continue to do.

We are so grateful for your prayers, encouragement and on-going support.

We are praying for blessings and favor on you and your those you love, as YOU carve YOUR way forward. Looking forward to hearing about the details from your side.

Sending you our love and prayers from North Africa,

Ryan & Mandie & the Family

P.S. More of the unreached in Morocco need an opportunity to hear of Jesus’s saving grace for the first time. Please join us with monthly financial support for the sake of the kingdom give.buesgensjourney.com

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Copyright © 2024 Buesgens Journey, All rights reserved.


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The deadline is midnight central standard time.

Deadline for what?

Just one tiny thing before we get into that…

Have you ever had a year end face-plant?

It’s when you run hard till the end of the year in all parts of life.

You approach the finish line (which is also another starting line, LOL) and you run out of gas…you fall flat on your face literally or figuratively.

It sounds dramatic, but it feels real.

In 2023 we ran hard for…

• Our family

• The Kingdom

• Our team mates

• Local friendships

• Earthquake response

• Our business platform

…and we’re ready to do a face-plant. (We’re also encouraged)

We’ll share a 2023 recap in January. A digital photo album too. If you’ve been following along, you know it’s been a big year of challenges and blessings.

When you’re exhausted, how do you keep going?

I’ll tell you what we do…what we try to do…

First, we rely on Jesus (through extended closeness with him). And a time of refreshing with likeminded people.

For the new year, we’re gathering offsite with other workers to:

• Dream together

• Celebrate together

• Encourage each other

• Pray for the lost together

• Listen for God’s lead together

God is giving us clarity for 2024. He is trusting us with big and important things. We look forward to sharing details soon.

For now though…

We have a great need to enter this next year in strength and health.

That’s why I’m writing this email.

We need your folded hands, bent knees and willing wallets.

Before morning, you can still help for 2023 (and get potential deductions). The deadline is midnight tonight.

How?

We need three things right now:

• Pray for our ministry, earthquake relief and business platform(obviously there is no deadline for prayer).

• One time financial gifts

• An increase of monthly financial partners

Please consider supporting us in one of these three ways.

• If prayer, could you encourage us by replying to this email?

• If a one-time financial gift, please click: This can’t wait till morning

• If monthly financial support, please visit: http://s1.ag.org/buesgens

Thank you for seeking the Lord for how you will engage with us as we engage the lost.

So the unreached can be reached,

Ryan & Mandie

P.S. Thank you for your email responses. We are deeply encouraged as we read them over and over.

P.P.S If you don’t meet the deadline, we won’t turn away your help and investment in this work. It would just count for 2024 instead. We love you dearly!

Copyright © 2023 Buesgens Journey, All rights reserved.


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Have you ever helped someone move?… to another country?

We had a young family land at 8am this morning.

Super excited for their arrival.

Despite having a full workload/schedule, we always make time to welcome new or returning people to the field. It truly is one of our great joys.

Two teammates planned to pick them up at the airport - I had hoped to be there to greet them, too. But I just got over being terribly sick. (this is Ryan by the way)

When we went to bed last night, Mandie seemed to have some of the symptoms I started with.

So I officially called off my plan to meet them at the airport.

Instead I created a new group chat on a secure messaging app that combines our last names. (Just one of those things we do over here to keep all the chat messages straight.)

The chat group name is “Lōpsgens”.

But here are the things that go through our minds when someone new first lands in our crew:

• Do they have any allergies

• How long have they been awake

• When was the last real meal they had

• Who is taking them to get groceries and things

• Do they have little kids (diapers, car seats, places to nap)

• Who is hosting or taking them out for dinner their first few days

• How do we show love to them(and kids) in tangible ways immediately

• What could they possibly need in the way of transportation right away

• What are some creature comforts we can get for them and their kids ASAP

• What are they going to need in the next 48 hours that they don’t realize yet

• Did we have the cleaner visit their place (or do we need to find them a place)

• Are the utility bills up to date so they don’t walk into dark rooms without water

• How close is their home to a mosque and what time will the calls to prayer go off

• and the list goes on…

This family is new to our team; returning after a year in the states, following a two year stint in the north to learn language and culture.

Here’s what I love about them - and so many others like them…

They are so eager, easygoing and genuine people. She’s super nice. He’s super funny.

….aaaaand they love coffee, maybe even more than me.

We met them in person last year at a coffee event in Marrakech. There was a hunch they’d be coming down south to join our crew.

So, here’s what happened in the group chat…

He asked if the espresso machine at our office was still available. (we’ve been trying to sell it)

I told him I would bring it over this morning. While I was messaging about that, another group chat lit up, called “Bueskimmings” (another couple that work with us). They wanted to know where they could pick up the crib for the little one that just landed.

It was stored in our homeschool teacher’s apartment.

Mandie messaged our teacher about getting the keys.

My colleague and the new guy who just landed met at our house. We had keys, vehicles and a plan.

The crib, baby toys, changing table, espresso machine, a batch of specially roasted coffee and loads of other things are now in their new apartment.

Lights & water are on and the water heater is working…

…and we’re hosting them for dinner tomorrow night.

We were lovingly nudged in the “Bueskimmings” chat into making our famous orange chicken for the Lōpsgens. (Really had to twist my arm..wink wink)

Only thing that would make it better would be you around the table with us.

But seriously…

Two more people that are passionate about reaching those that have never heard is a HUGE thing. And they’re here to work hip to hip with us.

With all the work we have on our plate, why add to it? Why inconvenience ourselves? We push hard to help them feel welcome and settled. Arriving well can set the trajectory of their term and potentially affect their longevity.

Their health = greater effectiveness in our work here and our joy.

Please pray for them as they get rolling.

For that matter…

Health is something on my mind right now. Mental health, emotional health, spiritual health, physical health, financial health, relational health.

None of these are a given on the field. All take a lot of specific focus and energy to attain.

Your prayers make all the difference.

Your financial contributions also make a huge difference for our health in many of these categories.

Yes, today is giving Tuesday. 

So, if you’ve been with me so far, please consider helping us with:

• one more activity with the kids

• one more special meal at home

• one more coffee with a local brother or sister

• one more trip to help in the villages

• one more date night

• one more counseling session

• one more month of strong ministry on the ground

There are two choices after you click the link below…

(you’ll see “Advanced giving options” click on that)

1. You can leave the drop down selected as “00” (this will send your gift to our main account guided by our sending org)

2. You can change the drop down to “09” (this will allow us to use your gift with more flexibility)

We are so grateful for your gifts…whether “00” or “09”…whether one-time or monthly.

Click here to give

Click here not to give

So that all may hear,

Ryan & Mandie Buesgens

P.S. If you have any questions about how to give, please reply to this email and we’ll do all we can to help. But for now you can click here to begin.

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On the evening of September 9th, an earthquake ripped apart many villages just northeast of us in Morocco.

A day and a half later, I hiked up into these mountain villages alongside like-minded workers from our city.  We connected with a few locals and offered what aid and assistance we could. After accepting water and bread, they showed us what was left of their homes… piles of rubble that claimed and still hold the lives of their loved ones.

We asked questions. We listened. We embraced & wept with them.

Since that day, our team along with the greater worker community in our area have continued bringing food & water, first aid, blankets, temporary shelters and other help. We’ve restructured our workload to enable a few members of our team to take on key roles in the overall relief effort, utilizing their expertise and talent.

Our business office has been part of a relief supply chain of logistics set up by the team. Our interns created spreadsheets and organized supplies. We answered hundreds of texts daily. You understand. Our team is committed to doing all we can to help.

But people suffer still…

Yes, some suffer physically…all survivors are suffering emotionally - enduring unfathomable trauma. Yet, the biggest thing on our hearts is their spiritual suffering.

My friend said, “this is the biggest ministry opportunity in the history of Morocco.”

What he means is these remote areas are now open to outsiders. Where we never could have gone before, where we would not have been received, there are now Jesus-loving people who visit weekly. Care is being delivered… along with something much greater.

After the earthquake, we were reading through Matthew. After understanding first-hand the chaos and devastation earthquakes cause, it shed a whole new light on the scene in the end of chapter 27 and beginning of 28. *Go take a look for yourself.*

Before you read the parts where Jesus died and where he rose again…

Picture what we’ve seen here, among our people. Google some pictures or revisit the newsletter we sent in September.

Then read.

The pandemonium that must have surrounded everything happening on those days. The hurt and pain…not just of Jesus’s followers, but of everyone.

Then, he rose again.

And for that, we sit with those who have lost everything here… and offer someone they can’t lose. For such a time as this. Pray that they have ears to hear, eyes to see and are ready to believe.

Thank you for your continued prayers for the lost of southern Morocco.

We’re honored to be serving here,

Ryan & Mandie Buesgens

P.S. If you join us with your prayers and with your heart…and feel led to join us with your finances…click here.

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