DTS Graduation and Family Update! 👶🏻 : November - January 2026 Newsletter
- Erik Gonzalez
- 8 hours ago
- 5 min read
DTS Graduation
“But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to life even in the face of death.” -Revelation 12:11 NRSV
We wanted to take a moment to share a brief glimpse into what the Lord allowed us to be part of over the last two months. In short, it was jam-packed, stretching, and deeply encouraging—and we’re grateful to God that you stood by us in both prayer and financial support during this incredible time.
Over the course of outreach, our team, consisting of five people (including our sweet Hudson!), spent two months serving in two different locations, committing to an average of 45+ hours of ministry each week. We partnered with local believers and engaged in a lot of self-initiative ministry as well. Our days were full and varied—filled with Christmas events, prayer, teaching, CrossFit ministry, worship leading, intercession, service projects, and tons of evangelism!
More than what we did, we’re thankful for what God did. Many seeds were planted, believers were encouraged, the Gospel was bountifully shared, and long-term workers on the ground were strengthened. Both teams we partnered with expressed how thankful they were—not only for the help, but for the heart, humility, and unity our students carried. We were reminded again that faithfulness, obedience, and love often leave a lasting impact even when results aren’t immediately visible.
Below, we’ve included a short outreach video that gives a window into our time. It captures only a fraction of what God did, but we hope it helps you see how your prayers and partnership bore fruit. Please be aware that because the nation we went to is closed to the Gospel, we were asked by the ministry leaders with whom we partnered not to record almost any ministry events. Therefore, this video does not show much of the practical ministry we did, but rather glimpses into the locations and faces of people we met along the way.
Thank you again for standing with us in the ministry that the Lord has called us to. Because of your sacrifice, we get to fulfill our call: to bring about the obedience of faith among the unreached.
Blessings,
— The Gonzalez Family
Prayer Requests
🙏 Thank you for praying for us! <3
2027 YWAM Trang Trang DTS – Please begin praying for our next DTS: the right students, speakers, staff, and a God-led schedule.
2026 DTS Graduates – Pray for grace in their transition back home and perseverance regarding the long-term callings God has placed on their lives. Ask the Lord to guard them against apathy and complacency, and to guide conversations with family and church community.
Discipling Thai Relationships – Ask the Lord for wisdom, discernment, and patience as we invest more deeply in local friendships and discipleship relationships.
Family & Friends Back Home – Pray for encouragement, provision, and ongoing connection with those who support and love us. Ask that they would continue to grow in their love for God and missions.
Our Marriage – Pray that our relationship with one another, and with the Lord, would continue to deepen in intimacy, maturity, and joy.
Baby # 2 – Pray for a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby.
Personal Spiritual Growth – Pray for continued growth in humility, maturity, discipline, and Christlikeness.
Strength and Perseverance for Erik – Pray for endurance and grace as he walks through a unique season of stretching and growth.
Spiritual Awakening in Thailand – Pray that many would turn to Jesus. Specifically lift up the city of Trang for transformation and lasting fruit.
Hudson – Pray for grace, wisdom, and patience as we raise Hudson with this aim: to love and fear God and enjoy Him forever.
Missional Community & Local Favor – Pray for deeper relationships, open doors to share the Gospel, and favor within our neighborhood.
Team Unity – Ask God to strengthen our team in humility, love, and unity, and oneness of mind.
Spiritual Warfare – Pray against strongholds such as apathy, miscommunication, sexual sin, and loneliness in Thailand. Ask for protection and breakthrough.
OTM (Outreach Teams) – Pray that we would host teams well, and that their hearts would be awakened to God’s global purposes, leading to lifelong obedience and engagement in His mission.
Life/Ministry Updates
Baby #2 Update
We are so excited to announce that we are expecting baby #2! Currently, I am 20 weeks pregnant and will find out the gender in a few days. I praise God for his immense mercy during this pregnancy, as so far the symptoms have been nowhere near as severe as with Hudson. I truly believe God gave me a special grace during this DTS and outreach season.
With that said, we have made the decision to have this baby in the States for several reasons. One of which is that our hospital here in Trang won’t allow me to try for a natural birth, but instead makes me have a repeat C-section. We will be flying back sometime in April, and the baby is due at the end of June.
Makayla's Family Visits
We’re so happy to have my mom and sister visiting us during February! They made the long flight over and are now with us in Trang for the next three weeks. I’m so grateful for their sacrifice in coming as the flight is long and the heat is intense, haha. We can’t wait to make lots of memories together and rest after the long DTS season. It’s been a little over a year since we got to see them last.
Outreach Teams
Right now, our Outreach Teams Ministry is working overtime with hosting a YWAM team from Harpenden. The team has been working non-stop since we left for Nepal. They have been engaged in 45+ hours of ministry a week, ranging in various ministries.
Upcoming EFT Conference
Please join us in prayer for safe travel and finances as we attend our biannual EFT conference in Bangkok. This conference is full of logistical announcements and is very important for us as EFT Visa holders. The conference is for 3 days and is at the end of March.
Pickleball Tournament
Ethan Parks has been working hard to get a "Pickleball" ministry started. This year, we finished YWAM Trang's first-ever pickleball tournament. The event welcomed a lot of our staff, but also saw Thai Buddhists join as well. This is a great relational and natural way to create relationships and for opportunities to share the love of God tangibly.
Special Message for Our Friends and Family
We want to take a moment to say thank you. Your faithful prayer and financial support continue to be a real encouragement to us, and we are deeply grateful for the way you stand with us in our ministry.
Because of your partnership, we are able to serve on the field and take part in what God is doing among Thailand and other unreached nations. While we may be the ones sent out, you are the ones who hold the ropes—praying, giving, and faithfully supporting the work as we descend into the places God has called us to go. We could not do this without you.
Thank you for walking with us, believing in the mission, and investing in the work of the gospel. Your obedience and generosity matter so much, and the fruit of this ministry is something we share together.
Blessings,
The Gonzalez family
Email: erik@ywamtrang.org
WhatsApp: Erik +66 098 226 6648
WhatsApp: Makayla +66 092 251 8509
Financial Update (Monthly)
Recurring support: $2,029.00
Monthly costs: $2,300
Have any questions?
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