Not just one summer, but their whole lives.

Introduction

Summer is the universal busy season. You’ve likely experienced it yourself: leaving home to travel the world on a cultural sprint before jumping back into normal life in the States.

For James + Karla Allard, summer didn’t mean traveling for a few weeks of vacation. It meant traveling to a new home altogether—because that’s what it takes to bring the gospel to the unreached!

The Allards packed their bags for East Asia and hit the ground running this summer! As we close out ours, we’re taking a moment to catch up on theirs.

Here’s what it looks like to live a summer in East Asia!

Not just one summer, but their whole lives.

The first few months living in East Asia were busier than James or Karla expected.

It made sense—arriving in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language was bound to bring challenges. But that’s the past. Summer was here, bringing with it a break from language school and time to rest. 

That was the idea, at least.

The Allards’ Summer agenda was only growing longer. They still needed to find a place to live, travel for a friend’s wedding, and book a driver’s test—all while language learning!

There was nothing left to do but start.

First up: find a more permanent place to live. James and Karla had been looking for months, trying to find anything that fit their needs. Nothing. Then, just in time for summer, a perfect apartment became available! They packed their things and moved in all before the summer heat set in! 

Second on the list: travel to a neighboring city for a wedding. They’d been invited by two national believers who presently live in Arizona, but chose to get married in their home country. Neither James nor Karla knew what to expect, but believed their attendance would be worth it—and it absolutely was! The Allards got to witness a traditional wedding in their new culture, all while meeting other local believers and making new friends in the area!

Lastly, it was time to book a driving test. In East Asia, getting a driver’s license is uniquely challenging—paperwork, unique rules, and practice leading up to the test are big barriers. But just before summer wrapped up, the Allards received notice that they had an official testing date! One step closer to being settled in their new home. 

And with that, summer had ended.

In only three months, James and Karla finished off a to-do list you’d expect once a decade. Moving to a foreign nation is never easy, but it is necessary to advance the gospel in East Asia. The Allards counted the cost and deemed it worthy of not just one summer, but their whole lives. 

%firstName%, thank you for supporting James and Karla. Your faithful prayer and giving are making a difference in the lives of unreached people across the world! We’re looking forward to seeing how God will use the next season to make His name known among them.

Advance the Gospel through your legacy!

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21

Jesus gave these words in his Sermon on the Mount. Even today, He points us toward purposeful generosity that lays up treasure in His Kingdom. 

This August is Make-A-Will month, the perfect time to dive into legacy giving and steps you can take today that make an impact for years to come! Giving in this way is a strategic opportunity to ensure your legacy leaves its mark on eternity. 

If you’re interested in learning more, our FREE Purposeful Generosity Workshop is available to you anytime! Hosted by AIRO Board Member and Financial Advisor, David Krake, this workshop is your guide through the legacy giving process. Discover the many advantages of legacy giving and make decisions today with confidence!

Got questions about legacy giving with AIRO? We would love to get in touch with you! Email mnolen@airomissions.com or visit our Legacy Giving page!

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We send with great joy.

It’s our greatest privilege to help send missionary partners like James + Karla to the field and to keep them there long-term! We don’t want you to miss out on it.

Want to get in on the action? Make a gift today and advance the gospel to the unreached!