Dear Friends, This year has gotten off to a start like no other! After hoping for months, at the last minute God worked out the details for us to take two trips, one in December and the other in February. We are so thankful we were able to travel to Kenya to spend the Christmas and New Year’s holidays with our daughter Melodie and her family. Because of our commitments on opposite sides of the continent, we rarely see Melodie, Kevin and our three precious grandchildren. 
We spent time in Nairobi first, and then took an eleven-hour drive to their home in Ngurunit, Northern Kenya. On the way we passed through breathtaking scenery and saw a variety of animals. 
It was exciting to experience their lives, if only for a few days. We helped with various projects, and I taught a brief seminar in the local church on Christian worldview. It was a perfect “working vacation.” 
A highlight was climbing nearby Leopard Mountain with Melodie’s family and a few of their Kenyan friends. It was the ultimate way to view the mountainous beauty of northern Kenya.
Our second trip was at the beginning of February. Nancy and I traveled to Málaga, Spain to join other Baptist Mid-Missions’ missionaries who serve in Europe or Africa at BMM's “Pause Conference." By God’s grace, a generous sponsor underwrote the accommodations, so we just had to pay for our own transportation. We praise God for this fabulous time of fellowship, encouragement, and rest. We dipped our hands and toes into the Mediterranean Sea, and walked the beautiful promenade in front of it. It felt truly magical, and Nancy wondered aloud if we were standing in the very spot the Apostle Paul stood on one of his missionary journeys.
A very special blessing was to spend time with relatives there: my second cousin Anna (Vallier) Tanis, her husband Luke and their two darling children. They are missionaries to the island of Malta
On the way back to Monrovia we we had a twelve-hour layover at the Casablanca airport, so we took a train into the city and spent some hours walking around to see the sights.
The day after our return, we began teaching classes at the Jake Memorial Baptist College: Nancy, Teaching Techniques and I, World History. Jake College’s new quarter is going well, and we praise God for several new students. On top of our regular hospitality opportunities, we have had three overnight visitors, two for about a week each and one for six weeks. Finally, we were happy to welcome our son John-Mark and his family back to Liberia after almost a year in the States. We were able to spend some quality time with them before they returned to Voinjama. Please pray for the following requests:
Revival for Liberia.
John-Mark and Sara as they get settled in Voinjama and resume the Bible translation project.
Jonah’s continued physical and spiritual growth
Opportunities to present the gospel
Wisdom as we choose which ministry opportunities to pursue.
May God bless you as you serve Him.
In His service,
Mark, Nancy and Jonah Sheppard
Mark, Nancy and Jonah Sheppard | 
