Ross and Taya Black

714 Cedar Drive

Lynden, WA 98264
rtblack@juno.com

January 4, 2006

Thank you for your prayers while we attended Campus Crusade for Christ’s New Staff
Training. We definitely felt them. God was so gracious to us throughout each training session
and outreach opportunity. We praise God that Isaiah handled the whole trip like a world-class
traveler. As the plane landed in Orlando and the passengers were piling out, we had several
people say to us “that’s the best baby I’ve ever seen on an airplane. I didn’t even realize there
was a baby on the flight until just now.” So, Isaiah’s first missions experience was a true
success. There were no problems with the time change, the different bed, or the different
climate (it was in the 80’s and 90’s the whole time), and he was truly a joy to have along.
We learned so much in each session as well
as in our time discussing missionary life as a
couple and reading God’s word. On most days
our sessions began at 8:30 am and went late into
the evening. As soon as we got done with our
group sessions, Taya and I often had other
projects to do in the evenings…so it was
exhausting and exhilarating at the same time.
During our time of outreach we had several
opportunities to share the gospel. Some of the
highlights were sharing with a Muslim taxi driver
from Morocco and an atheist businessman from Here we are with some of our friends and staff members after the
Germany. We were struck by the fact that these commissioning ceremony on the final evening—tired but still smiling!
two men from two different continents who sit at
completely opposite ends of the economic scale, both have the same need that only Jesus Christ
can meet—and we get to be a part of sharing the truth about Jesus to these people!
God confirmed to us over and over again that this is exactly what He wants us to do. We
are confident that God has already raised up a team of people to financially partner with us and
we are committed to being diligent to identify them. We know that it is not about us, it’s about
God working in people’s hearts—and it has been exciting to see Him at work already. As soon
as we reach 100% of our support goal we will be able to report to our assignment in Little Rock.
Please continue to pray that; we would be diligent in meeting with other potential ministry
partners; that we would make the most of each opportunity we have to share the gospel with
others; and that we would be an encouragement to those we meet with.
On His Path,

Effectively developing Godly Families who Change the World, One Home at a Time.