12 Degrees North

09/29/2026

We have some great news to share! After a long process, McKinley’s Colombian visa has officially been approved!

For those who have been following along, this has been a long road for Joel and McKinley. After multiple visa denials and a trip back to the United States to work through the process, there have been plenty of moments when the next step wasn't clear. But through it all, they've continued to trust God and wait for Him to open the door.Joel and McKinley can finally return to Colombia!

We are praising God for this answer to prayer and are incredibly thankful for everyone who has prayed, encouraged, and walked alongside the Ballew family through this season.

We're excited to see Joel and McKinley get back to Barranquilla, reconnect with their community, and continue the work God has called our family to do.

09/08/2026

I started an English class for beginners on Monday nights. Now that we have water, we can start making plans and weekly activities. Next week should be full with 10 signed up.

Be praying for our time together. I enjoy teaching, and pray that love of Christ pours out in the process. 🌸 📖📓

08/06/2026

McKinley's U15 team is going to the big national tournament!
Her coaches called me to let us know that one of her teammates that they are giving a scholarship to to be on the club team will not be able to go to the tournament without a scholarship. The coaches are going to pay her plane tickets there and back, but she needs help for the rest, $800usd. If this is something you'd like to participate in blessing her with, please DM me! She also happens to be McKinley's favorite teammate. 🏐🩷

07/15/2026

At the end of last week, McKinley and Joel had the opportunity to serve as translators during a Vacation Bible School in one of the neighborhoods in the far north of Barranquilla.

More than 110 children came to hear about Jesus, enjoy games and activities, and experience the love of a team that traveled from Costa Mesa, California, to serve alongside the local church.

One of our favorite parts of the day was reconnecting with many of these kids. We've had the privilege of serving with this ministry several times through one of the local pastors we partner with regularly, so it was fun to see some familiar faces again.

We're grateful for every opportunity to serve and help bridge the language gap so the Gospel can be clearly shared. Thank you for praying for the churches, pastors, and ministries faithfully investing in communities like this throughout Barranquilla.

07/07/2026

UPDATE:
God is so good! Our car's transmission has been covered! Thank you. To God be the glory!

Sometimes ministry updates are exciting. Other times, they're simply real life.

Over the past few months, it feels like we've walked through one challenge after another. To be honest, there are times we hesitate to share these struggles because we never want our updates to feel like a list of burdens. We'd much rather celebrate what God is doing than focus on the difficulties of everyday life. But the reality is that ministry families experience the same unexpected hardships that everyone else does, and sometimes those burdens can feel overwhelming.

For the past month and a half, our family has been without a vehicle. What started as what we hoped would be a straightforward repair turned into a long and frustrating process. We took the car to two different mechanics, and one of them charged us without actually completing the work that was promised. Between the repairs, towing, and diagnostics, we've already spent more than $4,360 trying to get our car back on the road.

After finally finding a mechanic we trust, we've learned that the transmission needs to be completely replaced. That will cost another $1,640.

While that may not seem like a huge amount to some, it's a significant expense for our family, especially after everything we've already invested.

Even in the middle of all this, God has been incredibly faithful. He has allowed us to use savings to cover everything up to this point, and we're grateful for His provision. At the same time, we're not sure where the remaining funds will come from, but we know that He already does.

Would you pray with us?

Please pray that God would provide the remaining funds for the transmission, give us wisdom as we continue navigating this season, and remind us daily that He is our Provider. We have seen His faithfulness time and time again, and we're trusting Him once more.

If the Lord lays it on your heart to help us get our family back on the road, we would receive that gift with deep gratitude. More than anything, though, we ask for your prayers as we continue serving here in Barranquilla and trust God to provide every step of the way.
Thank you for loving our family, praying for us, and faithfully walking alongside us. Your encouragement means more than you know, and we're grateful to have you on this journey with us.

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19

06/03/2026

We wanted to give you all an update on Reagan's situation since so many of you reached out after our last post.

First of all, thank you. The messages, the prayers, and the encouragement from this community meant more to our family than we could ever put into words. You showed up for us in a big way, and we haven't forgotten it.

Here's where things stand. After a lot of research, conversations, meetings with officials, and more than a few dead ends, we finally have the right people in our corner. We recently hired Play Legal, one of Colombia's leading sports law firms, and they have hit the ground running.

This week, they filed a formal petition directly with Colombia's Ministry of Sport demanding Reagan's immediate reinstatement and asking that the resolution that excluded her be declared unconstitutional. We have also signed the official legal power of attorney authorizing them to file a 'tutela', which is essentially a constitutional rights protection action, on Reagan's behalf.

Reagan has handled all of this with more grace and maturity than most adults could manage. She keeps showing up, keeps working, and keeps believing. And honestly, watching her do that has kept us going on the days when this felt frustrating to say the least.

We don't know exactly how this ends yet, but we know we are moving in the right direction with the right people. We will keep you posted every step of the way.

Thank you for being part of this journey and praying!

06/01/2026

New on the blog: Extravagant: The Love of God — a short, thoughtful reflection on giving freely, beauty in ordinary things, and the freedom to love without practicality. Read Angelynn Ballew’s piece and let it remind you that some gifts are meant simply to delight. https://wix.to/xzHa8YM

For years, fresh flowers felt too temporary to justify. But through music, writing, and the beauty of ordinary things, Angelynn reflects on the extravagant love of God and the freedom to give without needing every gift to be practical.

06/01/2026

In just a couple of weeks, Taylor will be heading back to the United States on June 14th for two months to work, serve, reconnect, and get herself reacclimated before this next season begins. We are so incredibly proud of her and honestly super pumped for all that God has ahead, but we would be lying if we said we were not already feeling the sadness of another big transition coming.

Would you please be praying for Taylor as she steps into this season? Pray that the Lord would give her peace, confidence, good friendships, a strong sense of purpose, and a smooth transition back into life in the States. We are excited for her, but this is one of those parenting moments where joy and sadness sit right next to each other.

06/01/2026

In just a couple of weeks, Taylor will be heading back to Impact 360 on June 14th for two months to work, serve, reconnect, and get herself reacclimated before this next season begins. We are so incredibly proud of her and honestly super pumped for all that God has ahead, but we would be lying if we said we were not already feeling the sadness of another big transition coming.

Would you please be praying for Taylor as she steps into this season? Pray that the Lord would give her peace, confidence, good friendships, a strong sense of purpose, and a smooth transition back into life in the States. We are excited for her, but this is one of those parenting moments where joy and sadness sit right next to each other.

05/29/2026

Happy Friday!!! We hope you are doing well and having a great morning. Our family has a few prayer requests, and we would be grateful if you would lift these things up with us.

1. Presidential elections are taking place this Sunday, and this is a very important moment for the country. Please be praying for peace, wisdom, and stability during this time.

2. McKinley has gotten progressively sicker over the last week with something we still have not been able to identify. Today we needed to take her to the emergency room so she could be seen sooner instead of waiting another week or more for a pediatric appointment. Please pray for answers, and healing for her.

3. This coming Monday, we have to turn over the rental home we have lived in for the past eight years to the real estate agency. We still have a lot to do to get everything ready, and the pressure is definitely on. Please pray for strength, endurance, and grace as we finish this transition.

4. Angel's visa process has finally been submitted after the new paperwork requirements. Now the payment system is down nationally, so we have to wait for it to be up and running. Please pray that the process will finish smoothly!

Thank you all for loving our family so well and for praying with us. It means more than you know.