Copy of What’s Your Five Year Plan?

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil,

to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

**This is a duplicate post because for some reason the first one was not sent out via post notifications, I apologize if you happen to get this twice**

I (Alex) do not remember the exact circumstances of the conversation, but if memory serves me correctly, one of our supporting church pastors asked me this question sometime during our last year or two in Asia. I have thought about that conversation numerous times over the last five years. I don’t remember how I answered his question at the time, but I am quite certain things didn’t go according to plan!

I am a couple weeks behind on writing this reflection, but it’s been simmering since January 8, the five-year anniversary of when our family piled into a Didi (their Uber) and waved goodbye to our fourth floor apartment in East Asia with the now infamous promise (at least for us), “see you in a month”. That was the plan at least, but God had other plans for us. What about you? Are you where you thought you would be five years ago.

Conspiracy theories aside, I don’t think any of us were planning on a pandemic. We were not planning on being displaced from the place that had become home for us. We were not planning on a change of field. We were not planning on being on a survey trip to South Africa when Bethany’s dad passed into eternity, which in God’s providence happened on the two year anniversary of when we arrived back in the US.

Following a second trip to South Africa and several months of fund-raising and visa applications in 2022, we were planning to send a container with our possessions to South Africa and were planning on getting here by my birthday that year; however, we were not planning on Joshua’s health journey. We were not planning on spending the next six months in and out of the hospital.

By God’s grace and mercy, Joshua prevailed in his battle with cancer. We planned and took one last trip to George in December 2023 to investigate the healthcare options here. Upon returning and with his doctor’s blessing, we made and executed plans to ship our belongings to South Africa and then followed them a couple months later. Of course, we were not planning on changing missions agencies, even less doing so from the field, but God graciously provided “a parallel path” (thanks Brian…this nugget stuck with me!!!) (GoSendMe Global Link)

So, here we are. On January 8 (Plus a few days), 2025 and we find ourselves settling into life in George, South Africa. To be honest, I think my five year plan all those years ago would have seen us continuing to minister in East Asia or we would be back in the States because of family needs. Then again, as I look back over the last twenty years, I don’t think I could have dreamed up the scenarios that brought us to the present. I was planning on ministry of some kind twenty years ago, but four years in Pennsylvania, eight years in East Asia, two children (one by adoption and one by birth, but both made in China), four years of displacement, and finally our first family home on a completely different continent…that wasn’t part of my plan, but that is how God’s plans work.

Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (SIDE NOTE: Jeremiah is writing to a group of people who are in and are going to remain in exile for quite a while. The point of this verse is that we can and should continue trusting in the LORD our God, even when things are not going according to our plans, because His plans for His people are welfare, future, and hope).

So, I don’t know about a five-year plan, but here are some of my plans and hopes for 2025:

1. To grow in my love and devotion to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, making more time for His Word and prayer.

2. To die more and more to self and to live more and more for Christ.

3. To love and serve Bethany in ways that will enable her to love God and others more effectively.

4. To become a better boy dad, learning to love and serve our boys in ways that will minister to them and point them to our Heavenly Father (I am sure this will involve a lot of Lego).

5. To love and serve our church family here in South Africa in ways that equip them to equip others…to equip others.

6. To be a good and better steward of the time and resources that God has entrusted to us.

7. To finally celebrate my birthday in South Africa (the theologian in me couldn’t stop at six and this came to mind, so I figured I would include it for something lighter).

   
   

How about you? I don’t imagine the last five years have gone according to anyone’s plans, but I hope this reflection helps you remember God’s faithfulness. As I find myself praying a lot these days, He is working ALL THINGS together for His glory and our good. 

What’s Your Five Year Plan?

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil,

to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

I (Alex) do not remember the exact circumstances of the conversation, but if memory serves me correctly, one of our supporting church pastors asked me this question sometime during our last year or two in Asia. I have thought about that conversation numerous times over the last five years. I don’t remember how I answered his question at the time, but I am quite certain things didn’t go according to plan!

I am a couple weeks behind on writing this reflection, but it’s been simmering since January 8, the five-year anniversary of when our family piled into a Didi (their Uber) and waved goodbye to our fourth floor apartment in East Asia with the now infamous promise (at least for us), “see you in a month”. That was the plan at least, but God had other plans for us. What about you? Are you where you thought you would be five years ago.

Conspiracy theories aside, I don’t think any of us were planning on a pandemic. We were not planning on being displaced from the place that had become home for us. We were not planning on a change of field. We were not planning on being on a survey trip to South Africa when Bethany’s dad passed into eternity, which in God’s providence happened on the two year anniversary of when we arrived back in the US.

Following a second trip to South Africa and several months of fund-raising and visa applications in 2022, we were planning to send a container with our possessions to South Africa and were planning on getting here by my birthday that year; however, we were not planning on Joshua’s health journey. We were not planning on spending the next six months in and out of the hospital.

By God’s grace and mercy, Joshua prevailed in his battle with cancer. We planned and took one last trip to George in December 2023 to investigate the healthcare options here. Upon returning and with his doctor’s blessing, we made and executed plans to ship our belongings to South Africa and then followed them a couple months later. Of course, we were not planning on changing missions agencies, even less doing so from the field, but God graciously provided “a parallel path” (thanks Brian…this nugget stuck with me!!!) (GoSendMe Global Link)

So, here we are. On January 8 (Plus a few days), 2025 and we find ourselves settling into life in George, South Africa. To be honest, I think my five year plan all those years ago would have seen us continuing to minister in East Asia or we would be back in the States because of family needs. Then again, as I look back over the last twenty years, I don’t think I could have dreamed up the scenarios that brought us to the present. I was planning on ministry of some kind twenty years ago, but four years in Pennsylvania, eight years in East Asia, two children (one by adoption and one by birth, but both made in China), four years of displacement, and finally our first family home on a completely different continent…that wasn’t part of my plan, but that is how God’s plans work.

Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (SIDE NOTE: Jeremiah is writing to a group of people who are in and are going to remain in exile for quite a while. The point of this verse is that we can and should continue trusting in the LORD our God, even when things are not going according to our plans, because His plans for His people are welfare, future, and hope).

So, I don’t know about a five-year plan, but here are some of my plans and hopes for 2025:

1. To grow in my love and devotion to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, making more time for His Word and prayer.

2. To die more and more to self and to live more and more for Christ.

3. To love and serve Bethany in ways that will enable her to love God and others more effectively.

4. To become a better boy dad, learning to love and serve our boys in ways that will minister to them and point them to our Heavenly Father (I am sure this will involve a lot of Lego).

5. To love and serve our church family here in South Africa in ways that equip them to equip others…to equip others.

6. To be a good and better steward of the time and resources that God has entrusted to us.

7. To finally celebrate my birthday in South Africa (the theologian in me couldn’t stop at six and this came to mind, so I figured I would include it for something lighter).

   
   

How about you? I don’t imagine the last five years have gone according to anyone’s plans, but I hope this reflection helps you remember God’s faithfulness. As I find myself praying a lot these days, He is working ALL THINGS together for His glory and our good. 

Merry Christmas from South Africa

Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

2 John 12

I (Bethany) read the above verse earlier in the week and it really resonated with me. However, I would change the end to say, "Instead I hope you come to see us so we can talk face to face...." I'd leave the rest just as it is. He actually says something similar at the end of 3 John. I think he really means it...so do I!

As we approach Christmas week, we'd like to join with many others who are saying Merry Christmas. 

If I started back at January and worked my way through the year, we'd be here all day. We have so much to be thankful for, first and foremost, we are thankful for God's work of saving grace in our lives. We are thankful for almost 20 years of marriage, almost 10 years of living abroad serving our Savior. We are thankful for two sons who are such special gifts from God to us. We are so thankful for good health, certainly not something to take for granted.

As we reflect on this year, we are so thankful to be settled in South Africa after so many years of uncertainty and unsettledness. We are thankful for the folks here who continue to graciously guide and teach us the ways of life here. We are thankful for friendships in the Gospel and those being forged for the sake of the Gospel. We are thankful for this sweet town where we see people regularly out and about and in the shops and can take moments to extend grace to them and get to know them and their stories. 

We are thankful for the ministry God has placed us in here and we are thankful for those of you who pray for us and support us in it. 

Recently we had a Christmas Party for our Young Adults Bible Study group. One of the girls put together a video from it, if you'd like to see it let me know and I'll send it to you. They love life so much and it was so sweet to hear them have so much fun, they even played hide and seek in the dark yard after it was all done, loving life like a 20 year old.

As we wind down 2024 and head into 2025 we are thankful for the known and unknown opportunities ahead. We know that God knows what the year will look like and we are confident in His plan!

Some things we know are:

• We are working with a few groups of people planning trips here for various reasons. Please pray for wisdom in those plans.

• We are planning for the Foundations program to begin in February, however we don't know how God is going to work out all the details for that. Pray for approvals from the local authorities about some renovations that need to be completed.

• We know we need to make a trip back to the US at some point before our visa's need to be renewed here at the beginning of 2026, but we don't know the details about that. Pray for the timing of that.

• We need to make decisions about if we will continue with homeschooling or integrate the boys into schooling here in SA. We need much wisdom in this decision process. 

• We need to raise some additional support now that we are here and settling and have a better sense of ministry and personal expenses. Please pray God will be working all of that out in his way. For updated giving details click here, it is not updated with our additional support needs as of yet. You can also contact Alex (aTandon @ gosendme.us) for more information. 

After the first of the year I'll start sending these updates via my GoSendMe email address, but I will continue to be able to use this address as well. 

Below are some pictures from life lately, enjoy!

Top row: Stocking stuffers for friends, an amazing image, Colin did a great job on the yard!

Middle row: Ants attacking a lost fry, the boys helping with laundry, king of the mountain

Bottom row: Christmas party crew, silly Caleb, Christmas party game