From Stuck to Sent: Our Journey Between Barcelona and Belfast
In May 2022, we posted a reflection called From Lament to Laughter, marking the end of our time in Barcelona. At the time, we were already in discernment around a new call to serve in Belfast — and we hoped that within a few months, we’d be settling into life and ministry in Northern Ireland.
But things didn’t go according to plan.
We’ve shared pieces of what’s happened since then — in newsletters, in conversations, and in our FAQ — but until now, we haven’t put that full story into one place. This post is an attempt to fill in the gap — to share what happened between Barcelona and Belfast, to reflect on what we’ve learned, and to invite you into what’s next.
The call was clear — but the path wasn’t
Our departure from Barcelona wasn’t what we expected. While we’re grateful for much of what we experienced there, the final season was marked by deep challenges — including dysfunction and interpersonal pain that made it clear we needed to step away. The decision to leave was not easy and was made after a season of sabbatical, healing, and discernment. However, we were leaving with a call, which emerged from a transformational visit to Belfast.
We arrived in Phoenix in summer 2022, expecting to be there just a few months while navigating Belfast-related visas and logistics. But what we thought would be a short transition turned into something longer. Unexpected doors closed, and we found ourselves in a prolonged season of uncertainty — a kind of spiritual and vocational limbo.
We were stuck.
What we learned in the desert
At first, Phoenix felt like a detour — a desert in more ways than one. But as time passed, we began to see this season not as wasted, but as deeply formative and surprisingly rich.
Josh developed a filmmaking course and taught in a juvenile detention setting, gaining experience in youth engagement, conflict contexts, and storytelling. He’s continued growing as a digital communicator through his work as Mennonite Central Committee’s website coordinator.
Alisha works the bilingual storytime/craft table at the Garfield neighborhood’s Really, Really Free Market.
Alisha deepened her work with local congregations and finished her seminary coursework. She now serves as Pastor of Rising Generations at Neighborhood Ministries, walking alongside children, teens, and young adults in Phoenix’s urban core.
Some of the most meaningful relationships of our lives have taken root here — with neighbors, mentors, young people, and a church community that received us generously and walked with us in return. If we had rushed past this season, we would have missed them.
Asher has taken to family “bike adventures” across downtown…when the weather permits.
Our son Asher has also grown immensely — emotionally, socially, and academically. We’ve learned how to better support him in English-speaking environments, and have a clearer sense of what he needs to thrive in Belfast.
What felt like a detour has shaped us in ways we couldn’t have planned.
What became clear over time
Over time, some clarity did emerge — clarity we couldn't have accessed from the start.
In the quiet and the waiting, we connected with Communitas International, a sending organization deeply aligned with our Anabaptist convictions. They’ve welcomed us with warmth and humility, and they offer the visa pathways and structure we need to move forward in Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, our network of ministry partners in Belfast has grown, and the community we’ve been in conversation with has continued to discern its own next steps — and the timing now feels far more mutual and sustainable than it would have back in 2022.
With Alisha’s support, Asher reads a prayer for the future of the church at Trinity Mennonite Church’s Anabaptism at 500 event on January 22, 2025.
We returned just as our sending church, Trinity Mennonite Church, was entering a time of change and transition and our presence, we believe, has been a mutual blessing. After a season in Barcelona where we felt pushed to the edges of the church community and like our gifts not being received, we’ve been able to serve in meaningful, encouraging ways, with Alisha leading the children’s ministry program and Josh joining the worship leader rotation. We even rekindled a Life Group that we helped plant in 2016 and, with close friends, have continued our passion of creating spaces for the church community to thrive.
We no longer feel like we’re pushing something forward on our own. We’re surrounded and supported — and that has made all the difference.
Asher rehearses with Josh during worship rehearsal.
Where we’re headed — and how you can walk with us
Today, we’re in active preparation mode: raising support, gathering documents, researching schools, and praying through housing and neighborhood options.
We don’t presume to know exactly what our work will look like once we arrive in Belfast, but we’re committed to showing up as learners, bridge-builders, and collaborators in a place that continues to stir our hearts.
If you’ve supported us in the past — or if this is your first time hearing our story — we invite you to join our Worthwhile Adventures as we embark on the next chapter.
How to join the journey:
Sign up for our newsletter — It’s the best way to stay updated and pray alongside us.
Become a monthly donor — Even small recurring gifts provide stability as we prepare to go.
Hold us in prayer — For the transitions ahead, the communities we’re joining, and the grace to keep walking in faith.
