Language School, Family Life, and Future Ministry

HBC Graduation 2025

"Oh, give thanks unto the Lord for He is good, for His mercy endureth forever" (Psalm 136:1).

Greetings, dear friends and supporters!

What an incredible season this has been! Since our last update, we've witnessed God's enduring mercies toward our family in fresh and meaningful ways that have left us amazed and grateful. We apologize for the delay in sharing these exciting developments with you; life has been incredibly busy as we've celebrated graduations, weddings, and new adventures. There's so much joy to share, so let's dive in!

Academic Achievements to Celebrate!

May 4 marked a milestone day for three of our children at Heritage Bible College! Dallas walked across the stage with his Bachelor's degree in Pastoral Ministry, Tanya proudly received her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, and Channing completed his Certificate in Christian Foundations. Watching them achieve these academic goals was absolutely thrilling because we know the Lord has incredible plans unfolding for each of their futures.

Just one week later, Jeff reached his own finish line. He completed the Intercultural Studies program at Rio Grande Bible Institute on May 13. As we packed our belongings and prepared to head home, we couldn't help but marvel at how faithfully God had carried us through our Spanish language journey. He blessed us with wonderful friends at RGBI who patiently helped us navigate new vocabulary, classmates who became cherished companions, and a church family at Champion Holiness Mission that provided a place to worship. While saying goodbye was bittersweet, we feel energized knowing God is preparing us for what's next!

Love Stories and New Beginnings

While we were busy learning Spanish, our two oldest children were busy with romance! After a year and a half of courtship, our oldest son Dallas surprised Jacklyn Soto with a Christmas Eve proposal on December 24! They graduated together from Heritage Bible College and exchanged vows on June 28th in a beautiful ceremony. They've since moved to Edinburg, TX, where they're diving into the same Intercultural Studies program Jeff completed at RGBI. Their ministry calling focuses on the United States, but they're passionate about learning Spanish to better support missionaries serving in Spanish-speaking countries. Their heart for ministry absolutely thrills us!

The love stories don't stop there! Our daughter Tanya joyfully said "yes" when her best friend, Montie Dayton, proposed on May 30th. Montie is a dedicated young man with a sincere desire to serve God. Despite a rainy September 4th wedding day, their special day was amazing. They've now settled in Joplin, MO, where we pray the Lord will richly bless their new journey together.

Family and Future Ministry

The rest of the crew is thriving too! Channing has returned to Heritage Bible College this year, now pursuing his own Bachelor's degree in Pastoral Ministry. McKenzie has stepped confidently into high school, and our youngest, Zachary, is conquering 4th grade with enthusiasm. We couldn't be more proud of each of our children and their commitment to following the Lord!

As we reflect on these wonderfully busy months since language school, we have zero regrets about prioritizing our family during this season. While God has a specific place prepared for us to serve in Latin America, we recognize that our primary ministry will always be our family—and what a ministry it's been!

Seeking God's Direction

Speaking of our future field of ministry, we know you're wondering where God is leading us. We’re still seeking His clear direction, but we’re trusting Him to guide us one faithful step at a time. Our next step is an exciting two-week mission trip to Honduras from late September into October! During this journey, we plan to reconnect with family, attend the Christ Cares Ministries Campmeeting, and explore various ministry opportunities in Honduras. We’re hopeful this trip will provide the clarity we’re seeking about where God wants us to serve long-term—please pray with us!

Heartfelt Gratitude

We cannot close without expressing our overwhelming gratitude to each of us who supported us throughout language school. Every phone call, encouraging text message, uplifting word, and generous love offering gave us strength to persevere and press forward. We ask you to continue praying that the Lord would bless our family and future ministry. Your continued support humbles us as we seek God's direction for their future. May the Lord richly bless each one of you as you've blessed us!

Serving Him together,

The Jeff Hertzler Family