Will & Delaynie Shirey Newsletter (Winter 2025)

Hello Everyone and Happy New Year!

As we bid farewell to 2024, we can’t help but feel a bit nostalgic. It was a year full of incredible adventures, new experiences, and countless blessings. But, with hearts full of excitement, we’re eagerly looking ahead to what the Lord has in store for us in 2025!

Will and I are now four months into marriage, and it’s been an amazing season of new beginnings, adventures, and adjustments. We’ve been so blessed with opportunities to serve the Lord and our community here in Florida.

After our wedding, we were thrilled to spend our honeymoon in Mykonos, Greece! It was truly a dream come true. We spent ten days exploring the island on the back of an ATV, discovering everything from charming shops to stunning beaches and incredible restaurants. Mykonos is a popular tourist destination, and we had the chance to meet new people and immerse ourselves in the vibrant Greek culture. The island’s beauty is unmatched, and I’ve never seen water so clear and blue in my life!

October brought us back to Florida for the next big chapter—Will’s move! Unfortunately, this coincided with the arrival of Hurricane Milton, which was our first experience with a hurricane while living in Florida. To say we were unprepared would be an understatement. While we were unpacking boxes, our families back in Virginia were urging us to evacuate, but we decided to stay. Thankfully, Hurricane Milton caused only minor damage to Merritt Island, and we spent the two days unpacking, organizing, and indulging in a Lord of the Rings movie marathon.

While we were fortunate, many communities across Florida experienced severe weather and flooding. One of the most humbling experiences of our year was volunteering at a retirement community in Lakeland that had been devastated by the hurricane. It was eye-opening to see the aftermath—homes and cabins destroyed, with water lines as high as four feet in some places. We spent a day helping clean up and dispose of mold-infested furniture and belongings. It was heartbreaking to see so much loss, but it was also a blessing to serve those in need during such a difficult time.

At the end of October, we traveled to Iowa for my grandfather’s funeral. Though it was a sad occasion, the trip turned into one of my favorite memories of the year. All of my siblings, their spouses, and kids gathered in a large Airbnb, and it felt like old times, living together under one roof. We spent the week cleaning up my grandma’s house and simply enjoying each other’s company. It was such a special time to reconnect as a family.

In early December, the Lord opened an incredible door for us to serve at the Teen Missions Boot Camp in Queensland, Australia! Even though we did not openly support raise, He provided the majority of the funding we needed to make the trip happen. On December 10th, we boarded a 16-hour flight to Brisbane, and arrived on December 12th, jet-lagged but filled with excitement to serve! We spent several weeks working in various roles, from welcoming new team members at the airport to assisting in the kitchen and working with the children of staff and leaders. Will also took on a variety of tasks around the property, including teaching concrete classes and installing doors.

One of the highlights of our trip was our day off in Noosa, a charming town near the base. Will bravely drove on the left side of the road (with the steering wheel on the right!)—and did an amazing job! We walked along the river, had lunch, did laundry at a local laundromat, and explored a few thrift stores before heading back to the base to pack up for our return journey home.

We arrived at Dulles Airport on December 23rd, incredibly jet-lagged but overjoyed to be home for Christmas. After a two-hour drive to my parents’ house, we enjoyed a subpar, jet-lag-induced night of sleep before heading into Christmas festivities. Despite the exhaustion, it was the perfect reset, spending time with our families and celebrating the birth of our Savior. We were so blessed to catch up with so many of you during this season!

As we move into the new year, we’re preparing for another transition: a move to a new apartment with more space—and most importantly, a washer and dryer! The process has been a bit more challenging than we anticipated, but we trust it’s all in God’s hands.

We want to take a moment to thank all of you—our incredible financial and prayer partners. Your support means the world to us, and we are constantly in awe of how God has brought together such a faithful group of people to partner with us in serving His kingdom. Your encouragement and prayers give us the confidence to continue in this calling, knowing we’re exactly where God wants us to be!

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for our upcoming move, that we will have the resources we need, and that the Lord will guide the people we’re working with during this process.

Pray for our preparations for the summer mission trip to Colombia—that the Lord will prepare our hearts and bring together a team of teens who are eager to serve Him.

Pray for wisdom and discernment as we enter the busy season of the Teen Missions calendar, and that we can stay focused on His work.

Please continue to pray for our financial support, that it will remain steady, and that we will continue to trust in God’s provision for all our needs.

We are so grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you for being a part of our journey and for the incredible role you play in our lives.

Blessings,

Will and Delaynie <3