Who We Are

I (Jayden) am from Van Buren, Arkansas. My parents are Jason and Kristie Mendez. I grew up in an amazing home with wonderful parents. I gave my life to Christ at a young age. I grew up in Butterfield Assembly of God in Van Buren. I met my beautiful bride my senior year of high school at Van Buren. After attending Van Buren High School, I went to Arkansas Tech to play football. This is where Ashley and I both got involved with Chi Alpha. This changed our lives as we both grew in our relationship with Jesus. This is where we discovered what it truly means to both be a disciple and make disciples of Christ. My freshman year I felt God call me to Tanzania and told Ashley to pray about a country. The Lord told her Tanzania as well without me telling her! We both knew we had a call to Africa. We got married on May 13, 2021 and found ourselves falling more and more in love with each other and Jesus. We made the decision to do full time ministry last year, and are so excited to go to Mozambique for the next two years.

Hi! Ashley here! I was born a Missionary Kid in Thailand and grew up with the most loving parents! When I was 13, I felt a call on my life to overseas missions and could have never imagined where that would have lead me to. Through my walk with the Lord he has constantly reminded me of how deeply he cares for me and that his plan is ALWAYS better! I have been taught this over and over again through moving around as an MK, which has prepared me for this next chapter of moving to Mozambique. Jesus has proven to me over and over again that he is provider in my life, and that as Jayden and I step into this next part of our lives, God is making a way for us and our future family.

Jayden and I have been married for two years now and it has been the most exciting adventure. On our wedding day we sang a worship song called “Move Your Heart” by Maverick City. There is a line in the song that says,

“All my ambitions
My hopes, my dreams
And here's my life, Lord
A sacrifice
Oh, just to bless You

… No matter how much the cost

I freely give it all to you”.

I didn’t even know the vows I was making to my husband and to the Lord on that day when we sang this song, but it has never rang more true as we start to transition and leave everything we have ever known. I will still declare this song forever!