In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
Proverbs 16:9 NIV
If there is one verse that captures the Samuel family journey, it is this one.
On March 1st, we celebrated four years of serving in the Bible translation movement with Wycliffe Bible Translators, and we are still in awe.
Four years of growth, stretching, and deepening trust in a God who always knows exactly where He is taking us. Four years of watching Him move in ways we never could have orchestrated on our own.
And He is not done yet.
We are so grateful for every step He has ordered, every door He has opened, and every one of you who has been walking this journey alongside us. Your partnership and prayers mean more than words can hold.
We have a BIG update to share since our last newsletter! Make sure you check out our Missionary Updates section because you are not going to want to miss this one!👀
Chicago, IL❄️
After a relaxing month at home with family in January, Brandon hit the road again, to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL, his first stop in an incredible two months of travel and ministry. Alongside his colleague, he had the privilege of sharing with students about the importance of Bible translation and helping them discern their own call into missions. The engagement was rich, and the conversations were life-giving. One student has even begun the process of joining Wycliffe as a missionary!
It was also a bittersweet trip though. As we lean further into our transition to Africa, this may have been the last visit to Moody in this role, but we trust that God is ordering every step, and we are excited about what He has ahead. More on that below!
Orlando, FL☀️
From Chicago, the whole family packed up and headed to Orlando, FL for the Wycliffe Staff Summit. It was a powerful and meaningful gathering as staff from all around the world came together to celebrate the close of Vision 2025 and the incredible Kingdom work we’ve seen accomplished through it, and to pray, discuss, and discern what the next chapter of Wycliffe looks like on a global scale. Being in that room, surrounded by people who have given their lives to this work, was deeply humbling and energizing all at once.
And yes, we may have snuck in a little fun while we were in Orlando. Check out our Family Update section for those highlights!
Charlotte, NC👑
If February was busy, March was a whole other level!
Our first stop was Charlotte, NC, where we got to visit a church that had a heart to partner with a language community in Malawi through an Adopt-A-Verse event. The goal? Raise enough funds so that this community could receive the book of Mark in their own language for the very first time.
And God showed OUT. Not only did this incredible church fully fund the book of Mark, they raised enough to cover 1 & 2 Timothy too! That is the goodness of God on full display, and we are here for it!
BONUS: Before we hit the road, we got a sweet surprise — time with some missionary friends serving in Ethiopia! We fellowshipped, prayed together, and just rejoiced over everything God is doing around the world. If you want to follow along with their journey, check out their ministry here: Springs of Living Water
Dallas, TX🤠
From there Brandon traveled to Dallas Theological Seminary, where he connected with students on a mobilization trip and poured into his colleagues by training them to carry that same role forward.
St. Louis, MO🌆
From there, Brandon headed to St. Louis for a Bishop’s conference, where he had the joy of hosting an Adopt-A-Verse event raising funds for a language community in Nigeria that is still waiting on God’s Word. Last year at that same conference, an Adopt-A-Verse initiative completed the book of Mark for a Kenyan language community. Because of that initial push, the Kenyan language group has now moved on to not just complete the book of Mark, but the whole New Testament! This is a glorious testimony of how God can multiply our “two fish.”
Rick Hill, SC⛪️
Brandon barely had time to unpack his bags from St. Louis before we were back on the road!
This time we headed to South Carolina to spend time with one of our beloved partner churches, sharing the exciting news of our role transition and our upcoming move to Africa. 🌍 And the trip kept getting better! We had lunch with some other partners and got to sit at the feet of a mentor who has been faithfully serving in the mission world for decades. That kind of wisdom is pure gold, and we soaked up every word!
Video shot by Ellis!
Santa Monica, Santa Clarita, LA, Muscle Beach, Venice Beach, CA 🌊
After that great trip, we packed up the whole family and headed to California, where we served students at a Career Fair at The Master’s Seminary and visited churches in the LA area who have been faithfully championing Bible translation for years. Those visits were such an encouragement to our hearts.
Fayetteville, NC🏡
And then, the very day after returning home from California, we both had the incredible privilege of closing out a sermon series at our home church with a message on building a healthy, God-filled blended family. It was a Sunday we will not forget! The Holy Spirit showed up in a powerful way, setting people free from the bondage of unforgiveness. We are truly thanking God for working in and through us to minister to His people. 🙌
🇳🇬 to 🇰🇪
If you have been with us for the last few newsletters, you know that Nigeria has been a consistent and central part of our story. You have prayed with us, believed with us, and followed along as we discerned every door God was opening in that direction. We are so grateful for that faithfulness, which is why we want you to be the first to know that God has done something we did not see coming, but should have. It is the very verse He gave us when we first started our mission journey four years ago. Proverbs 16:9.
It appears that God has redirected our steps.
Much like the Apostle Paul, who set his heart on Spain but spent many seasons elsewhere as he chose to follow God over his own desires, we are experiencing the same thing. Through divine appointments and circumstances, the confirmed hand of God has shifted both our location and our role. So in the next chapter of our mission journey, instead of Nigeria, we have been called to live in Nairobi, Kenya, while serving multiple African nations.
In Nairobi, Brandon will be serving in Church Partnerships, a role that will take him across multiple countries throughout Africa, building and sustaining relationships across denominations as they work together in the Bible translation movement, sending their own missionaries and raising their own funds for translation projects. It is a scope of ministry that is bigger than anything we had originally imagined.
Nigeria is still on our hearts. But God has chosen to increase our territory, and like Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:10), we receive that with open hands and deep humility. We do not take this call lightly for even a moment.
As everything is being confirmed and finalized, just know that we are still very much in active transition toward Africa, with a move date some time in the Fall of 2026. In short, we need you now more than ever!
If you are not yet a financial partner, we would love to humbly invite you to prayerfully consider joining us.
If you are already giving, please consider whether God might be leading you to increase your support as we step into this new and expanded role. Your prayers and your financial partnership are not just appreciated, they are what make this possible. We could not do this without you. 🥹🙏🏾
If you want to hear more about how we are seeing God literally guide our steps down this path, connect with us directly. We’d love to chat!
Okay, we know we just gave you A LOT to take in on the ministry front, but you know we do not know how to be serious for too long!
Press play and enjoy our Samuel Family Update!
God’s Word is foundational for churches. Without it, evangelism, discipleship, church planting and more are hindered, as the community is left with an incomplete view of who God is and how He wants them to live in relationship with Him.
That’s why Bible translation is a mission of the Church.
Your church can link arms with other churches around the world to see the living and active Word of God go out into every community. All it takes is one step, one yes, one opportunity at a time. Let’s be people committed to obeying Jesus’ final command to make disciples of all nations!
Check out this Wycliffe blog post and video that shows pastors from US Churches partnering with Ugandan churches to get the Bible into their language.
Each newsletter, we highlight a Bible translation project from around the world.
Join us in praying for our brothers and sisters who are still waiting to receive God’s Word in their language.
March 18, 2026
The ’Are’are translation team is working to complete and carefully review most of their New Testament so it can be ready for publication.
Led by the local church, this effort is about more than translation. It’s about placing Scripture at the heart of worship, fostering reconciliation and equipping a new generation of trained translators to ensure lasting impact and spiritual growth for their community.
John, a translation member, is experiencing good health and renewed strength.
The team is experiencing great unity through individual meetings and shared time together.
Clear answers from medical checks and restored health for a team member’s wife.
Healing and sustained strength for Luke, a translator, as he completes the draft of Revelation.
God’s protection over the translation team in mind, body and spirit as they work diligently together, and as the adviser and consultant team return to the village.
Preparation of the Gospel of Luke reaching readiness for consultant checking — the critical step in which a highly trained translation consultant will review the translated Scripture for accuracy and clarity before publication.
Peace and stability in the Wairokai community (where the translation team is based), who face land disputes, logging pressures and alcohol abuse among younger men.
Healing, reconciliation and restored hope in the community as the gospel transforms hearts and lives through Jesus.
…Your Provision
…clarity as we navigate the personal financial and logistical decisions that come with moving to Kenya, including arrangements for our home, car, and more.
…our upcoming partnership development travels and the conversations we will be having with potential individual and church partners.
…the blood and sacrifice of Jesus that cleanses us and His Resurrection power that allows us to walk in new life!
…a clear direction for the new role and location in Africa.
…partners, family, and friends that continue to surround and support us in all our transitions!
Contact us by responding to this email! We’d love to pray with you!
If you are not partnering with us monthly but would like to, hit that button below. 😎You know you want to!😎
Wycliffe Bible Translators
P.O. Box 628200
Orlando, FL 32862
1-800-WYCLIFFE
To give by check, please include a separate note in the envelope stating: “Preference for the Wycliffe ministry of Brandon and Cat Samuel”
🎉🎉🎉🎉CONGRATULATIONS! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Did you vote for your favorite shirt in our last newsletter?! 🎉 If so, NOW is the time to reach out! Send us an email and tell us which one you picked! If your vote matched the overall winning shirt (Honor-system people!), you have a FREE shirt headed your way! 👕✨
And for everyone else, good news! All three designs will be available soon in our upcoming modMission store for purchase (hopefully by next newsletter), so nobody misses out!
And be sure to like and share this newsletter with a friend…
…or Charlotte will never stop spinning! 🥴😵💫🌀
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