Serve the Lord with Gladness | March-April 2025

“Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing.” ~ Psalm 100:2 ~

Last month we concluded our official furlough meetings, and we’re thankful for a strong and positive end to a very full season. The Lord has given us a profitable and fruitful time in the USA. However, as our time of Stateside ministry comes to a close, we feel the toll of our nomadic lifestyle. Our family has been memorizing Psalm 100, but verse two has served as a necessary reminder: serve the Lord with gladness. That comes easier when we’re serving according to our gifts and preferences, but we must be faithful to serve with delight during challenging and even uncomfortable circumstances. As we transition into our second term, we’re eager to serve in Ecuador once again. Ministry often requires us to serve in ways that may not be our favorite, or even in ways that we’re not necessarily gifted. As we begin our second term, may the Lord enable us to serve Him with gladness and for His glory.

We just returned from some time away as a couple; it was a profitable time to rest, refresh, and refocus together. We appreciate Lisa’s parents who cared for our boys. We are now in full swing preparing for our departure. Tomorrow, Jeff will be driving to South Carolina to sell our vehicle back to the original owner, then flying back to PA that night. God’s provision of our car was a miracle and a tremendous blessing to us. We are in awe of His care for us through the duration of our Stateside ministry.

We fly from Baltimore to Quito on Sunday, May 11th. Lord-willing, we will arrive at our home in Riobamba on Monday the 12th. While our natural tendency is to jump in and get to work, we need to be willing to sit back and observe how we fit into the current stage of ministry. It is different going back this time. We know where we are going, where we will be living, and we have a better understanding of the context we’re reentering. While things move slowly in Ecuador, we have been away for 10 months, so we will need to take time to readjust to Ecuadorian living.

A former missionary friend said, “Although some are saying, often with tears, ‘There they go,’ those on the other side are saying, ‘Here they come!’ While there is the joy of going, it is always accompanied by the sorrow of leaving. This next week also entails final farewells to friends and family members. As we anticipate many upcoming changes, these words fortify our hearts: “In every change, He faithful will remain.” Thank you for your faithful prayers that have buoyed us along, and we continually covet them. Thank you for being invested in the ministry in Ecuador!

In His service and yours,

The Mayfield Family

Jeff, Lisa & The Double Scoop

The Double Scoop:

Simon has officially finished 1st grade, and we are so thankful for God’s help as we have done school literally on the road. He has kept up with some of his Spanish, but it will be a dramatic change for him to live in the language again. Titus has become rather chatty in English, so we’ll see how he does once he is in both languages again. Please pray that we will parent through this transition with God’s wisdom, patience, and grace.