Serving since 2017, Leslie is the Director of Academics @ The Esther School (TES) in Chongwe, Zambia.  

Leslie'S november/december 2025 NEWSLETTER

Prayer Requests

• One of our staff members passed away. He had been struggling with an unknown sickness for a month or so and eventually he passed away. He was only 30. Health care here in Zambia is severely lacking, especially in the rural areas. No one quite knows what happened and we probably will never know. Prayers for his family as he had young children and a wife. 
  

• Graduation for our grade 12s is on November 28. We will have North Americans, student's families, past staff and more attending this event (including my mom!). 300 people will be coming out to celebrate this milestone. We are so excited to have them. But this is also a lot of work that I am responsible to plan and coordinate. I am feeling a little nervous of where I will be at mentally as at that point I will be weeks from leaving Zambia and I know I will be feeling all the feels. I am thankful my mom will be here to help ground me and be a support. I covet your prayers for me during that time. 
  

• Exam classes- Our grade 7, 9 and 12 students are heading into exams. This is always a big deal with lots of nerves. This is especially big for our grade 12 students as the results you get strongly depict what school you can get into post secondary. The stress and pressure is huge.Through out Zambia, suicide rates sky rocket due to the incredibly high pressure students are being put under. Pray for our students as they face these daunting tests. 
  

• I am also nearing the end of my time living in Zambia. I will be moving back to Canada in December of 2025. I will still be working for The Esther School, but it will be a more remote role. I have all sorts of feeling of leaving this place that I have called home for 8.5 years and the people that I have lived life alongside for most of my adult life. While it won't be goodbye, it will still be hard to transition. 

• Please pray over our community where our school is situated. It can appear as though kids come from safe, stable and happy homes but we know that outside of school there are so many different challenges and temptations. We strive to be hope in the darkness not only with education but with the gospel that is the true light for all. Pray for wisdom and discernment for us as we navigate how to support this community the best we can. 
  

Connect directly with Leslie: Leslie.a@estherschool.org

Her birthday: April 9

Watch Leslie share a little about her following the Lord's guidance to this mission field:

Leslie Arends' God Story

Serving since 2023, Lianne has been working with World Race is a program run through Adventures in Missions. She is in a leadership role, discipling and guiding a team as they grow to know the Lord. They travel to countries around the world, learning through their experiences.  

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for the people of Guatemala and a readiness in their hearts!

• There is a group of 40 young adults that will be coming and serving in Guatemala so prayers for their travels as they come as well as for a readiness of what the Lord has for each of them.

• The base in Guatemala will also be reviving a group of Guatemalans who will be training to be sent to the unreached in other nations.

• Prayers would be appreciated for my future as I begin to see what the Lord has in this next season and for a continual focus for the place where I am right now.

Connect directly with Lianne: lianne_grace@outlook.com

Her birthday: February 20

UPDATE december 2025

Watch Lianne share a little about her following the Lord's guidance to this mission field:

Lianne Tuin's God Story

Serving since 2019, Tyler has been working with Global Aid Network (GAIN) as Disaster Relief Preparedness Management with GAiN Canada. Tyler helps coordinate all of the disaster relief efforts between

at GAiN Canada, other GAiN offices and local partners.  Tyler’s home base is here in Abbotsford.  

letter April 2025

Prayer Requests:

.Pray for GAiN's ongoing project in Myrannmar.  Tyler is responsible for this project on behalf of GAiN.  

• Pray for safety in Myanmar, as there is an ongoing civil war. 
• We are currently doing biweekly food distributions, feeding approximately 1200 families per month. 
• Pray for the election in Myanmar happening at the end of December.  Pray for favor with the local governments and communities that we may continue to work there. 
• Thank God! 14 people have been baptized and many more are entering bible studies and learning about Jesus.  Pray that people may continue to meet Jesus through the help provided by the local church.
• Thank God for the opportunity we have to collaborate with the local church around the world
  
• Pray that God will protect us all from the spread of disease that arrives after large scale deaths.  Pray for those who have lost loved ones in this time.

Connect directly with Tyler: Tyler.couperus@globalaid.net

His birthday: June 4

Serving for over 40 years, Jack deKroon is working with Power to Change, formerly known as YWAM, in Haiti. He is involved in evangelism and church construction projects. 

Prayer requests:

• Pray for Haiti’s stability.  There is much unrest in the country. 

• Pray for Jack's trip back to Haiti and the project he will be working on in the savanne (swamp) region.  He will be working on putting in trusses and a roof of a church that was damaged during an earthquake many years ago. 

• Pray that enough money will be raised for the lumber building materials for this project. 

• Pray for safety for Jack's family and Jack.

Connect directly with Jack: jackdekroon@gmail.com

His birthday: July 13

Watch Jack share a little about following the Lord's guidance in his life:

Jack DeKroon's God Story

Serving with NAIM since 2001, the Johnson's have been working with the North American Indigenous Ministry (NAIM).  Doing evangelism and outreach to the Secwepemcw First Nations by discipleship Bible Studies, setting up canoe camps, sharing their unique skills to create connections with communities. They support elders and families through visits.  

jOHNSON'S february UPDATE 2026

Prayer Requests and Praises:

• Several women have been open to learn more about the Bible and who Creator God is. A young woman in her 20's has been coming to church and is learning to trust Jesus amid push back from her own family and community. 
• Tim and Charity, son and daughter-in-law who also work with NAIM, have many wonderful connections with the youth from the Adams Lake Indian Band.
• We continue to host Supper Clubs on the reserve every month.  Pray that it will continue to be a blessing to the community and provide a place to talk and check in with each other.
• Pray for the Johnsons as they minister with elders and those dealing with health issues.  
  
• Pray for Howard as he has been diagnosed with a rare blood cancer.  Pray for the treatment they have chosen, that it will be effective.  Thankful that Howard can receive the treatment in Salmon Arm.   
• Pray for Jannie as she has been diagnosed with endometrial cancer and is scheduled for surgery in Kelowna on January 15th.  After the surgery, they will have to make decisions on next steps.  
• Pray for the Johnsons and their family in The Netherlands. Recently they traveled to The Netherlands to say farewell to Jannie's eldest brother.  

Connect directly with Howard & Jannie:  johnson@naim.ca

Birthdays: Howard - July 25

                 Jannie - June 17

Serving since 2016, Monique has been working with Global Aid Network (GAIN) as a Project Leader for the Water for Life Initiative.  I am based out of Calgary, Alberta.  The projects I am working on are in Benin, Togo, and Tanzania. 

Prayer Requests

• Please continue to pray for the projects I am managing, both in Benin and Tanzania.  Pray that we would overcome obstacles and that the projects would be successful.   
• Please pray for the intern that I am onboarding, and for her overall experience as she works for GAiN. 
  
• There are many other countries where GAiN is working, where there is a lot going on.  Some examples are Syria, Myanmar, Ukraine, and more.  Please continue to pray for wisdom in our work, as well as for our local partners.  
• Please pray for Adam and I as we look forward to welcoming a baby, and as we continue to settle into married life.

Monique's august 2025 update letter

Connect directly with Monique: monique.mattatall@globalaid.net  

Her birthday: March 13