A Season of Transition

Hello family and friends!

We pray you are well and enjoying this beautiful summer season. Our household has undergone many changes and transitions this summer, and we would love to catch you up on all the moving parts. Our move to Germany is on the horizon! Because many of you have generously and willingly joined our team, we are at 40% of our Monthly Support Requirement set by One Challenge. Thank you SO much! Building a team of partners is not always easy, but it is beautiful. God’s heart for the nations is alive and well in His people. We are humbled and grateful to witness such joyful giving! Because God is growing our team, we are making changes to move forward. First, we have moved from Loveland, CO. Zach has stepped away from his engineering job and we have moved from our apartment to intentionally focus our time and efforts towards the remainder of our support goal. We are now in temporary housing inSouth Denver. This living situation is graciously provided by family! Zach will work in a part time capacity.

This was a big decision and step of faith because we are leaving behind the stability of a full-time income. But we are watching God develop in us a reliance on Him we have never experienced! He is our provider and takes care of all our needs. With margin this fall to travel, connect with people, and share our hearts for Black Forest Academy, we prayerfully anticipate reaching 100% support so that we can move to Germany in early February 2026. Once we get there, a BFA staff family has asked us to sub-lease their apartment in Kandern for six-months! Meanwhile, we will also attend a month-long training this November called MTI in Colorado Springs and take a deep dive into missionary preparation. Wow, what an adventure! Will you pray for all the pieces of the puzzle to come together?

And if you feel the Lord tugging on your heart to join our team, we welcome your partnership! Please reach out so we can connect.

Adelaide’s Addition

Our sweet baby is growing up! Adelaide is now 6-months old and loving life. She is rolling, sitting up, and putting everything in her mouth. Her favorite thing to chew on is her toes. Addy is a loud baby, making her presence known with singing (screeching) most of the time. She is a social girl, smiles at everyone, and loves to snuggle. She is truly a bundle of joy!

Impact Story

In addition to our family updates, we want to share with you an inspiring story of a BFA family spreading the gospel in Africa. We have received permission from them and the school to share their story and photo. Their son is one of 270 students, representing that many households with that many stories! This is the reason we feel so moved and called to Black Forest Academy. BFA is aiding missionaries all over the world with their God-given calls. We hope you feel moved like we have by this family’s faithfulness.

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“Hello! We are the “N” family. Our son is currently completing his first year as a sophomore at BFA. We have been called by our church to work among the Fulani (Fulbe) in Chad Africa. They are an unreached Muslim people, who are by custom nomadic cattle herders, though some have settled in villages and farm. We live in such a village, consisting of about 1,000 people where we have been called to bring the Gospel to them and the surrounding area through word and deed by living among them and building relationships.

Living in the bush of Africa is a lot about surviving and living day to day with whatever comes through our gate. A lot of our time is spent homeschooling our kids, preparing and cooking food, and learning the language. One way that we build relationships has been through medical situations as I am a nurse. Many people come through our gate needing wound care, are sick, malnourished, and suffering. Because of my husband’s proficiency in the language, we work as a team as I need to know exactly what is going on and he needs me because I have medical knowledge. It is a beautiful picture of how God created marriage and our need for each other. I also help deliver babies in our village as well, which has been very stretching.

My husband spends much of his time with the men in the village, going out to the fields during rainy season, and drinking tea while having conversations. He also visits refugees in the nearby area, or villages where our mission has put in wells sharing the Gospel and stories from the Old Testament with them. Last year, after spending time reading and discussing scripture with two young men from our village, we were blessed to witness them come to faith in the Lord and be baptized, despite physical persecution from their families.

The people we live among do not have access to God’s word and his truth; most can’t read or write. God has put such a love for these people in our hearts, but it is hard work and is not easy by any means.

Black Forest Academy has hugely impacted our family. Because of the work they do, we literally are able to stay in Chad well. The way they serve, the way they give of themselves, the photos and livestreams and emails to keep us connected to our son has meant more than they could ever know. "Thank you" is all I have to give - and it is not enough. May you be blessed and renewed during the summer break. To God be the glory.”

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Isn’t that amazing! We are excited to bring you more stories of impact in the coming months.  Thank you, family and friends, for your investment in the kingdom of God. As always, we would love to connect with you one-on-one and hear what is going on in your life. Feel free to reach out anytime. And if you have a friend in your life who would be interested in the ministry of BFA, please connect us!

With much love and gratitude,

Zachary & Emma

If you would prayerfully consider joining us by supporting the mission please hit this link: www.OneChallenge.org/give and find us in the drop down menu: Sanford, Zach & Emma 110405.