PLACENCIO’S PATHWAY

December, 2025 | Lansing, Michigan

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Christmas Reflections: A Year of Faithful Grace!
On this Christmas Eve, as we celebrate the coming of our Savior, the Light who shone in the darkness, we are filled with deep gratitude and wonder. Looking back on 2025, we can say with all our hearts: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22–23).

This has been a year of transition, growth, and fresh beginnings for our family. After arriving in Lansing in mid 2024, we’ve now completed our first full year planted here, and we’re seeing the fruit of God’s guidance in ways both big and small.

Our three daughters: Genesis (11), Eden (9), and Adeline (7), have flourished in a new semester at Eastside Reformed Cottage School this fall. We also began a new outdoor learning adventure through Nature School, which has enriched their curiosity and deepened their love for God’s creation.

In June, I began serving as a Pastoral Resident at University Reformed Church, with a focus on missions and music ministry. It has been an immense privilege to learn under faithful shepherds, to serve alongside a Gospel-loving congregation, and to be entrusted with responsibilities that are shaping me more deeply into the kind of pastor God is calling me to become.

Then, in August, by God’s gracious provision and many answered prayers, I began my first semester of Master of Divinity studies at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (PRTS). Balancing studies, residency, and family life has not been easy—but the Lord has sustained me week by week, providing strength, joy, and a deeper hunger for His Word.

Together as a family, we’ve also had the joy of being involved in multiple areas of ministry this year:

• Serving in the Spanish Fellowship at URC, where I’ve been teaching through Galatians, and Lidia and I lead worship together in Spanish.

• Leading our Growth Group and witnessing sweet Christian fellowship taking root in our host’s living room.

• Singing together in URC’s Music Ministry and choir as a family, especially during Advent, and regularly participating in the music ministry on Sundays have been great blessings.

Through all of this, God has been our Shepherd. His grace has carried us. His people have encouraged us. And His Gospel continues to be our anchor and our joy.

In this edition:

1. On the Homeschool Front

2. Seminary Studies

3. Family Adventures

4. Ministry in the Local Church and Beyond

5. Prayer Requests

1. On the Homeschool Front:

This fall brought a fresh start for our daughters: Genesis (11), Eden (9), and Adeline (7), as they entered a new semester at Eastside Reformed Cottage School (ERC). The curriculum continues to strengthen their biblical worldview while helping them grow academically in a community of like-minded families from our church.

In addition to ERC, one of the most joyful new rhythms this year has been our participation in Red Cedar Nature School. Once a week, the girls take part in guided hikes through the Michigan woods, exploring the changing seasons, learning about the beauty and order of God’s creation, and developing a hands-on love for nature that complements our science curriculum. It has not only enriched their learning but has also led to sweet friendships and lasting memories. They continue to notice, to wonder, and to worship God as Creator in the everyday.

Lidia continues to play a central role in our homeschool rhythm, volunteering at ERC, managing the home, and modeling joyful faith in the daily routines of life. Her creativity, patience, and musical gifts have deeply shaped the girls’ growth this year and continue to be a vital part of our family’s spiritual formation.

2. Seminary Studies

In August, I officially began my Master of Divinity studies at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (PRTS) in Grand Rapids.

I entered this semester with both excitement and some healthy fear. Balancing seminary, ministry, and family life felt daunting, but the Lord has met me, again and again, with daily grace and strength.

This fall, I took Hebrew I, Christology, Eschatology, Biblical Theology, a one-week Research & Methodology intensive, and English Grammar & Syntax. From learning the beauty and complexity of the Hebrew text, to tracing the promises of God through redemptive history, to beholding the glory of Christ in His person and work, it has been soul-stretching and faith-building. These aren’t just academic subjects. They are deep wells of truth that are shaping my heart, mind, and future ministry.

There have been early mornings with flashcards, many late nights writing papers, and many quiet prayers whispered over my books. But there have also been moments of worship while studying, moments when the truths I’m learning brought me to tears or gave me fresh joy in Christ.

One thing I love about the seminary is that it doesn’t just care about training scholars, but it’s deeply committed to forming pastors. And even in this first semester, I’ve sensed that formation, not only in the classroom but also through the encouragement of godly professors, the fellowship of other students, and the ongoing application of what I’m learning in our local church.

3. Family Adventures

One of the sweetest blessings of this year has been the opportunity to enjoy simple, joyful moments as a family, both in our new home and around the beautiful state of Michigan.

After many years living far from extended family, it’s been a gift to be geographically closer to relatives now, allowing for more frequent and meaningful time together. This summer and fall, we were able to celebrate several family birthdays, including Lidia’s, Adeline’s, and Samuel’s, surrounded by laughter and the love of grandparents. We also hosted Thanksgiving at our home; it was a special time of food, prayer, and gratitude with family gathered around the table.

Little by little, we’re getting settled into the rental home the Lord provided for us. It’s been a process of creating rhythms, unpacking memories, and making the space feel more like our own. From music in the living room to bookshelves filled with our favorites, to coloring pages taped lovingly to the fridge, our house is starting to feel like home.

As a family, we’ve also taken time to explore God’s creation together, enjoying short day trips to parks, lakes, trails, and small towns across mid-Michigan. We love getting outside, breathing the fresh air, learning local history, and reminding ourselves (and our girls) of the beauty and goodness of God in His world. We love the fall colors here in Michigan; they are a visible display of the Lord’s artistry.

Life is full and at times exhausting, but these adventures, both big and small, have brought joy, rest, and reminders of God's faithfulness in the everyday moments.

4. Ministry in the Local Church and Beyond

This fall has been a season of joyful labor in ministry. One of the greatest blessings of my Pastoral Residency at University Reformed Church (URC) is that it allows me to serve in diverse and meaningful ways, both within our church body and in the broader Reformed community.
In June, I was also invited to serve as the MC and a teacher at a Spanish regional conference in Amarillo, Texas. This gathering brought together Hispanic pastors, leaders, and believers from across Texas and beyond. It was such a sweet experience to see the hunger for sound doctrine, the joy of fellowship among believers, and the deep encouragement that comes when Christ is lifted high.

At URC, I’ve had the joy of teaching in several settings this semester. I was invited to teach a session on Worship for the New Members Class. It was a rich opportunity to reflect on the biblical beauty of Christ-centered worship and our identity as gathered believers. I also had the privilege of teaching on the life of Martin Luther in our Adult Sunday School, sharing about God’s grace in the Reformation and the legacy of gospel courage that still strengthens the church today.

One of the highlights of this year has been the continued growth of our Spanish Fellowship, which meets monthly at URC. We’ve been growing in unity and maturity. Lidia and I continue to lead the worship in Spanish, singing hymns and spiritual songs together, and I’ve been teaching through the book of Galatians, connecting each passage to our shared need for the Gospel of grace. God has also raised a couple of new team members from within the Spanish group who are now helping lead music with us. What a joy to see this small community take ownership and grow!

I’ve also been blessed with opportunities to preach and teach at several affiliated churches in our region, as URC encourages residents to serve more broadly. One particularly special opportunity was traveling to McKinney, Texas, to teach at a Family Retreat. It was a rich time of fellowship, encouragement, and ministry, as I spent time with the church, its families, and the pastor and his family, who welcomed me so graciously.

One especially meaningful adventure on the horizon is an upcoming short-term mission trip to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Lidia, Genesis, and I will be traveling, together with a small group from URC, in February to encourage and support a missionary family serving there. This trip feels like a sweet gift from the Lord.

For the first time, we will be taking one of our daughters overseas to serve in missions, and we see this as a clear answer to prayer. Genesis has grown up hearing about missions, praying for missionaries, and learning about God’s heart for the nations. Now she will have the opportunity to live that calling in a tangible way. She will take on a special role of encouraging missionary girls her own age, and we are deeply grateful for this hands-on opportunity to see the global church and the faithfulness of God at work beyond our borders.

Through all of these open doors, we’ve seen again and again how the Lord is building His church, not through flashy methods, but through faithful preaching, worship, prayer, and fellowship. It’s a privilege to be part of that work, and we don’t take it for granted.

We are so thankful for your prayers and support!

5. Will You Pray With Us?:

As we finish this year and step into a new season of life and ministry, we want you to know: your prayers mean the world to us. We have felt them. We have needed them. And we will continue to depend on them as we follow Christ in this calling.

Would you please consider praying with us in the following ways?

• For a Refreshing Christmas Break:

  Pray that these days would be a time of rest, reconnection, and joy as a family. After a full and stretching semester, we’re eager for unhurried time together—reading, singing, resting, and delighting in the coming of Christ.

• Praise for God’s Sustaining Grace at Seminary:

  We thank God for carrying Samuel through his first semester at PRTS. It was rigorous and demanding, but every class deepened his understanding of God’s Word and confirmed this calling. We are grateful for His help.

• For the Upcoming Spring Semester at PRTS:

  Please pray for strength, clarity, and renewed focus as Samuel begins a new round of courses in January. Pray that he would not only gain knowledge, but grow in humility, joy, and love for Christ through his studies.

• Upcoming Mission Trip to Honduras
  Please pray for our February short mission trip to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, as Lidia, Genesis, and Samuel travel to encourage a missionary family. Pray for safe travel, meaningful relationships, spiritual encouragement, and that Genesis would be strengthened and shaped through this first overseas missions experience.

• For Our Girls: Genesis, Eden, and Adeline:

  Ask the Lord to grow their young hearts in love for Him—shaping their minds, nurturing their faith, and anchoring their identity in Christ. We long for them to know that the Lord is their Shepherd, even from a young age.

• For Lidia and Our Homeschooling Journey:

  Pray for daily wisdom, energy, and grace as Lidia continues to lead our girls in their education. She juggles many roles with quiet faithfulness, and your prayers are a precious support to her as the school year unfolds.

We can do nothing apart from Christ—and we can do very little without the prayers of His people. So thank you, truly, for lifting us up in prayer!

Fund: Fellows/Residents/Interns

Sub Fund: Placencio Support

With love and gratitude,

The Placencio Family

Samuel, Lidia, Genesis, Eden, and Adeline