Update: This isn't how we planned it...

Hey friends,

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