December:

Hey friends!
I know it's been a minute since my last update, but wow—December was a crazy time! So much has happened that I’m actually splitting this newsletter into two different parts: December and January. Buckle up!

I kicked off the month with a chili cookoff for the staff (because what’s a holiday season without chili duh). I was excited to host, and I’m glad to say it went very well. Everyone left super full, and the decision on who won was harder than everyone thought it would be. I got second place sadly but it was still so fun to compete. We laughed a lot and set a fun tone for the holidays, listening to Christmas music and stuffing our faces.

Next up: Operation Christmas Child! Our staff got to partner with Samaritan's Purse to fill shoe boxes full of toys for kids around the world who may not get a lot of Christmas cheer. We spent four solid hours packing, but the time flew by—and we thoroughly suggest that you or your church should look into it

And then… I decorated my house for Christmas! This was my first year decorating outside my childhood home. My roommates and I went all out—each of us had our own stocking (mine was a beautiful pink unicorn (of course), my roommate Jackson, had a mermaid stocking, my other roommate, Colton had his Dinosaur Stocking, and finally EJ had his simple green stocking. We also got a tree, garland, lights, as well as a lego nativity.

Before heading home for Christmas, my friend Jackson (yes, the same one with the mermaid stocking) got ENGAGED! I couldn’t be happier for him and his fiancée. I had to stay an extra day to celebrate with him.

After that, I flew home to Washington State on December 15th to spend time with my family. It was such a sweet reunion—especially since my girlfriend Lily now lives just 43 seconds away from my house. The first week of my time home was dedicated to working with my dad with his artificial turf company making some cash. Unfortunately, during the last part of that week, we found out my grandmother wasn’t doing well, so my dad left to be with her before she passed. Christmas was a bit different this year, but it brought us closer as a family.

After New Year’s, my mom, sister, and I flew to Boston for my grandmother’s funeral. It was a tough trip, and honestly, I was in a bit of a numb state until the funeral mass. That’s when the floodgates opened, and I felt like I could finally grieve. It was a tough season, especially watching my family go through their types of grief, but I’m grateful for the time we had together.

January:

Alright, on to January! If you thought December was packed, January took it up a notch. As soon as I returned from Boston, it was straight back to work. I dove right into a week-long intensive class called Perspectives. It’s all about reaching and sharing the Gospel with unreached people groups—particularly in the 10/40 window. It was three classes a day, and while I was one of the students myself, I also helped host it. Crazy? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. This class has completely reshaped my view on missions—it's not just about going overseas, it’s about bringing Christ wherever our feet touch.

But the fun didn’t stop there—right after Perspectives, we jumped straight into Training Camp. For those who don’t know, Training Camp is a crucial part of sending our teams overseas at Adventures In Missions. It’s fulfilling for sure, but also can be tiring BUT I pushed through because God is greater than tiredness. My main role this time around was to support the leadership teams and to help disciple the racers. I spent a lot of late nights in prayer, just sitting with people, and encouraging them in their relationship with the Lord. I love that part of the job, but it definitely means some long hours! But those long hours are so so, very worth it.

Two weeks later, we said our goodbyes to the racers, some of whom are going overseas to the 10/40 window on an alumni trip. It’s always bittersweet, but I’m excited to see how they impact the world and grow in intimacy with the lord.

Here are some other random fun things I did did:

I also need to confess and tell you all about my short-lived attempt at growing a mustache. Spoiler alert: I gave up. (I’ll stick to looking like a French model only in my dreams I guess.) It also snowed in Georgia for some random reason—yes, in the South of all places, like huh!? Our hilly neighborhood trapped us in our house that weekend, so we walked to a gas station for groceries and watched some movies that night.

I’ve also been hitting the gym with Jackson! I’ve realized how much muscle I lost on my trip last year, so I’m trying to get some of it back. Eating healthy and being consistent in the gym is so fulfilling once you get in the rhythm of it all. 

Prayer Requests and Support

As I look ahead, there are a few things I'd love your prayers for:

• Marriage: Lily and I are planning to get married in the next year, and I’m praying for continued growth towards Christ as we prepare for that.

• Future Steps: As marriage approaches, I'm starting to think about what comes next for us, including how I’ll provide for my family. Please be praying for wisdom and discernment on what God is asking us (me and Lily) to do next.

• Spiritual Growth: I’m also praying that I continue to grow closer to the Lord. There’s always more to learn, and I want to stay grounded in His love and purpose.

• Financial Support: As always, I’m fundraising my income to continue this mission. If you feel led to partner with me financially, it would be a huge blessing. If not, prayers are just as valuable.

Thank y'all so much for continuing to pour into me.I can’t tell you how much your support —whether through prayer or finances—means to me. I can tell I’m truly loved by you all and I thank God for everyone who is surrounding me in this season. I’m grateful for each and every one of you!

Stay Blessed,
Nick Furtado