Yoder Newsletter (Fall 2025)

 Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings to you from Merritt Island. We hope and trust the God of heaven and earth is keeping you all safe, and we continue to give him thanks and praise for you all. We are doing well, as we continue to serve Him.

 It has been some months since our last newsletter, but we are glad to start this one from May. May 3rd was one of TMI's big days when we hosted the Mud Run and it was amazing. We had about 600 runners, consisting of men, women and children.The Mud Run is one of the events Teen Mission hosts once a year before Boot Camp. It is a fun event and this year we had different responsibilities as a family—I was a judge at the sand bags making sure runners are lifting them correctly. Dorah was a judge at the high and low rope making sure runners cross the river either on the rope or the logs. Esther, Ethan and Elisha were on different water stations making sure all runners were hydrated. We really enjoyed watching and cheering them as they raced.

At the end of May, we wrapped up home school. June we started Boot Camp and it was our first time to be in an American Lord’s Boot Camp from the beginning till the end of Debrief. When we served in Africa we helped the teams as acting assistant leaders. This year was a time of learning, but God was in it. We were a team of 23, including 15 girls, one boy, three lady leaders including my wife and two male leaders which were me and my assistant, then our two boys Ethan and  Elisha. Our boys bonded so well with the team—every morning in Boot Camp they ran the Obstacle Course with the team. Despite having 15 girls on the team, everyone worked so hard as unto the Lord. We learned to become a team (family) in Christ. 

On the 28th of June we had Packout Day and Commissioning. In the morning we took down our tents and packed our bags. By mid morning we were weighing our bags and packing our food in our duffels. By 3 pm we were done and it was time to clean up and get ready for Commissioning. The Commissioning service was a special time where we lit candles and committed ourselves to serve the Lord. After the service our team got on a bus and we drove to the airport where we slept that night. The next morning we checked our bags to Tanzania and started our trip. We made it safely to Tanzania on the 30th of June. We spent two nights at the main base in Moshi then we went to a place called Jipe. It is about four hours from the main base. We met the staff serving there and we started putting up tents and setting up camp. On July 2nd we started our project. 

When we got to Tanzania our project changed a little bit, we were told we can't be a medical team unless there is a qualified doctor on our team. So we encouraged the team and prayed about it. We just did eyeglasses, cleared the road that will run around the property, made concrete poles to be used to fence the property and we did Sunday schools and presentations in the villages. We thank God for the opportunity to evangelize and give out reading glasses. The area we were in is 95% Muslim. We pray for the seeds that were planted. 

At the end of our project we went on a safari to Ngorongoro. This is a crater that we drove into. We were able to view animals in the bottom of the crater and had a picnic by a lake that was in the crater. We also had a day of shopping when we got back to the base. 

Esther had the opportunity to go to Thailand this summer where the team did soccer EV and children's programs. Her team also had a work project of painting walls, pipes, walkways, and a volleyball court. They also helped build a security fence. She also helped to do children's programs and projects in three orphanages. For her sightseeing she was able to ride on an elephant and did a lot of shopping. 

After Boot Camp and Debrief were over, we had the opportunity to be with family as we went to our family reunion that was held in the Smoky Mountains. It was a good time of rest and fun times such as tubing and swimming. After we got back, the children started their school work. This year we have Esther in grade 10, Ethan is in grade 8 and Elisha is in grade 4. The boys are playing soccer here in the county league.

 After our time in the Smoky Mountains, my wife and I have continued  serving the Lord at Teen Missions. We would like to thank you for praying for us and for making it possible for our family to go on mission trips, also for the financial support that so many of you help us with as we continue to serve the Lord here at Teen Missions. We pray that God will bless you more and supply your needs.

Prayer Requests:

1. Health and Strength

2. The new school year that the children would enjoy school

3. Wisdom as we raise our children

4. Pray for protection

Philippians 4:6-7

In His Hands

Robert, Dorah, Esther, Ethan and Elisha Yoder