Philippines Update: God loves surprising his children

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Lots are happening here in DC, besides the growing baby inside of me! :)
One thing is we send off an amazing team of 7 to the Philippines for a 2 month outreach!


Outreach Team to the Philippines

Back to Front: Renca, Danni, Jonathan, Destiny, Caleb, Taylor and Claudine

We had two days at the base of debriefing everyone's Christmas break and time at home and preparing for the Philippines.  God answered many prayers that we prayed for our families before we left for the break.   Everyone noticed that they were different, that God has done a great work in all of them and going back home they noticed it!  The next day, we had a time of prayer and worship for the Philippines as well as going through all the plans for the outreach. 

Packing. Packing. Packing.  

I do not think anyone slept the night before we left for the airport except Caleb!

We left the base at 4 am to drive to the Philadelphia airport.  Most slept on the 2 hour drive. 

We prayed and send them off knowing that God would met them in extraordinary ways, 

as He always does! 

                                      

God totally met them on the way! A good friend of YWAM DC and the ASL DTS, Colin (the guy with long brown hair in the third picture below with our team) was on the same first flight!  Colin is the twin brother of Casey, Kari's fiancee.   

Above: Right to Left: Casey, Kari, June (Colin's wife), and Colin

Below: Kari and Casey, engaged this Christmas break and will be getting married this June 

They were so encouraged to know that God is setting up divine appointments even on the way! :) Renca, sent this picture below to Dan and I saying Colin decided to join the outreach! 

To say the least, we were very confused. 

She shared that Colin and his family were supposed to leave the day before but Colin got food poisoning thus he stayed one more day in Philadelphia and got an early flight to Atlanta, GA the next day.  That just happened to be the exact flight that our team was on before flying 13.5 hours to Japan! I love God and how He loves to give surprises to his children.  

Colin is an amazing christian family and is Deaf, he understands the heart of YWAM very well and was the perfect person to encourage the team before they left.  He was actually the one that led Brandon Burnett to Jesus at Gallaudet University, almost 3 years ago.  As well as served at the Indiana Deaf Camp this summer with us on the BE summer trip. The team and Colin got to prayer together before departing ways in GA. 

And that was just the first flight to Philippines! God is doing so much more!  They arrived safely and first helped clean up some schools and buildings that had been destroyed by the typhoons that hit the islands.  And the last 3 weeks, they have been serving the with an organization for the Deaf called IDEA (International Deaf Education Association).  They have been in schools loving on children, leading bible studies with school age kids, having the opportunity to teach on topics like faith, Deaf awareness, and so much more! They have also had the opportunity to do home visits and spend a night with a Deaf student and their family to really experience what a traditional Philippine home is like and what life at home is like for a child who is Deaf in the Philippines. 

One amazing testimony is about Caleb.  Before coming to YWAM, he was a welder.  Before break, he shared with Brandon that he missed welding. Brandon said well maybe God will have you welding in the Philippines.  They laughed but then prayed for an opportunity for Caleb to weld in the Philippines.  The first week the team was there, they worked with a school and had an opportunity to share at a "Career Day".  And guess what? Yep, they had welding equipment and Caleb got to weld and present welding as a job for some of these Deaf students!  How cool is God! He cares about the big things and little things and again loves to surprise us and touch our hearts! 

Thanks for your prayers for the team. They are a great team and doing well and sharing Jesus there.

Here are some pictures I found on Facebook below.

Claudine

Danni

Renca

Jonathan 

Baby, baby, baby!

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Baby, Baby, Baby!

My due date is less than 3 weeks away, Feb 6th, although our daughter can come anytime between now and the second week of Feb!  This post is dedicated to her and her arrival!

I am so grateful for the generous blessings, prayers and gifts for our daughter.  I am blessed and overwhelmed with the generosity with so many amazing friends and family who poured out gifts, love and prayers.   I was blessed with two baby showers.  One in DC and one in PA!  Both were amazing and I wanted to thank each one of you! 

 A few friends hosted an amazing shower in DC! Unfortunately, we lost the pictures from the shower but I got two from a phone of a friend to show!  The DC shower was filled with fellowship, prayers and gift opening! There was such a great diverse group of my friends there.  I was so excited to have my friends met my other friends!  I had hearing and Deaf friends from both YWAM and my church, NCC as well as others I have met.  Everyone was fellowshipping it was hard to get the group together to open presents. But we did and then we had an amazing time for prayer for our baby!  

Dan's mom hosted the other shower at the Farm in Mercer, PA.  This also was a great time of family and friends, laughter, stories, food, worship and prayer! Mom had carefully planned the shower which not only included all things that I love such as games, fellowship and prayer but reflected who I am in every way! She divided up everyone into three groups: Last months of pregnancy group, labor and birth and the first weeks at home.  I rotated in each group and they prayed for that stage of pregnancy for me.  When I was with other groups, the other groups played a baby scattergories and told funny birthing stories.  Below are some pictures from the day. It was an amazing day. 

Liz leading worship

Group 1: Last months of Pregnancy

Group 2: Labor and Birth

Group 3: First months at home

Dan got to hang out with his cousin and best friend from childhood, Luke for the day. 

Liz and Amanda

Emily and Angela

Sue telling a funny birthing story.  I think she won. :) 

Family: Jamie, Me, Cathy and Aunt Cinda from Dan's mom's side

Laura and the blanket that she made

Being silly with Luke and Lindsay

Within the last 2 months, Dan and I have been getting ready!

 Enjoy some random pictures!

  In early Jan, we also took a birthing class, called "Birthing Basics", which was amazing and really prepared us for labor and birth and caring for a newborn afterwards.  There was only one other couple in the class so we basically got a person session and I got all my questions answers!  Kelby and Rachel, Dan's brother and sister-in-law, came up this weekend as Rachel is a Bradley instructor (a birthing class method) and gave us a few hours of lessons and Kelby got some maternity photos and then we just got to hang out with the kids and play games it was really fun!

Winter cover for the car seat for our baby to be warm coming home!

We have been setting up our room making room for our daughter, washing all the new baby clothes, learning how to swaddle and putting together pack n plays! It has been really fun.

 

Since it has gotten cold outside, I have been walking less and less which I have noticed a difference in how I am feeling.  I still swim 3 to 4 times a week but usually walk on the other days.  Just this week, I had a thought, I live in a big church with a lot of stairs! I can walk laps around the church and still get my walking in. There was only one problem: I do not have "summer" workout clothes that fit me right now.  It was solved by going into Dan's closet. :)

Conquering Mountains and Rivers

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This Christmas, 8 months pregnant, I conquered a mountain and a river in Harrisonburg, VA. 

However, it would not have been possible without my 100% reliance on 

Dan McClelland, my amazing husband.

I have learned so much about God, my Father, Jesus, my Lover, and Holy Spirit, my Best Friend, through my husband, Dan McClelland. He is an man of strong godly character and is an amazing example of God in my life. My relationship with God today has grown so much because of knowing my husband and being challenged and encouraged by him. Not only have I learned in the past, but I still learn and grow through him. This past Christmas was yet another moment where God spoke to me about the upcoming year through my husband and his actions.

      

The best Christmas present ever for the last couple years has been a week in a cabin for Dan and me. It is a time of relaxation for both of us; a time where we reflect on the last year and pray into the next year. It is a time where we let go of all work, ministry and just be TOGETHER as a married couple. We have our own time with God, have Bible studies together, and have worship and prayer times too. This is a time where we quiet our hearts and minds to hear God, and also a time of FUN where we play games, go on hikes, watch movies and enjoy each other.

  

One of Dan's favorite things to do and ways to connect with God is in nature! Walking, hiking, anything outdoors refreshes his soul! This is something that I have grown to love since marrying Dan as I was raised in Chicago and did not have much exposure to the outdoors growing up. However, I love being with my husband and doing things his loves. Over the years, I personally have grown to love it too!

    

We were so excited to find out that there was a national forest with trails about 5 min walk from our cabin! During my pregnancy, I have swam, walked or exercised in some way almost everyday. It has been glorious, and I was excited to walk in the beauty of nature for my exercise during our stay.

Well, I was so dishearten when we arrived at the start of the trail and there was a flowing river that we had to cross to hike the trail. I stood staring at the river thinking I did not want to walk on those slippery rocks let alone jump from one rock to another at 8 months pregnant! I knew that Dan would cross easily so I encouraged him to walk alone and I would go back to the cabin. He said, "No, I want to hike with you. It is always better with you." He asked me to stay by the side as he crossed.

I watched him cross, leaping his long legs from one rock to another with ease. He came back saying, "Yep, you definitely will not be able to cross it at this point. Wait here, as I search out some other places easier for you to cross."

  

He scouted out a few places and found a place. Then immediately, pride welled up inside of me. I said confidently, "Dan, don't you think this place over here is better? It looks like there are more rocks, and it will be easier for me to cross." Again, I am from Chicago while Dan is from a farm with a creek that he played in. He has probably crossed rivers millions of times! Here I am questioning him and thinking I know better. He gently explained why the spot he picked would be better due to more sturdy rocks and less slippery ones.

It was a moment of choice:

Do I completely surrender my will, my way, 

and what I felt was right and trust my husband's wisdom?

I thought for a moment of who my husband is, what He has done for me in the past (protecting me, guiding me, teaching me), and how much He loves me and our baby. It only took a moment of looking back for me and remembering who my husband is to completely surrender and TRUST everything he said.

     

I walked up to the place where he knew was best and watched as he placed rocks along the path making it easier for me to step from one to another. Carefully, planning my every step and where each foot of mine would go, he made the preparations in order to safely have me cross this river so I could go on adventures with him on the trail. After I looked at the path he had made and was confident, he held out his hand for me allowing me to take and hold it for the whole way. I grabbed it; not letting go for a moment as I completely relied on him for my every step.

   

Not only did I cross over the river 5 times in the next couple days, but I climbed a mountain with Dan's help. We went hiking 3 days in a row, each day going further and further into the forest. Together we saw beautiful things while enjoying nature and each other. The last day we were able to hike with Dan's parents when they came down for the weekend to join us which was a blast.

   

It was interesting to notice that Dan's Dad, Rick McClelland, did the same thing that Dan had done on our walks. Dan and his Dad did it together; scouting, placing rocks, stretching out a hand of support for me and Patty, Dan's mom. I knew where Dan had learned it from and imagined Dan's childhood with his dad as he learned through example how to lead. I knew in that moment that our daughter will have the same experiences with her dad.

 

Dan could have gone so much farther without me; he could have accomplished soo much more ground on his own. However, it was not about the end result or about accomplishing anything for him. For him, it was about enjoying the journey with his wife and child. For that I am so grateful. For that I am able to say that I conquered a river and mountain.

A revelation happened that week. God was trying to speak to me. Just like my husband, God has adventures this year, and He wants to take me along. Adventures that, when I face them and look them straight in the eye, I will want to run from them and stay at home. Adventures that I will not and can not do alone. Adventures that He can do easily on His own but chooses to take me along to be with Him, to enjoy Him, and to grow in my relationship with Him. He will scout out the ground and find the best place for me to cross; He will place stepping stones for me to safely cross; and He will hold my hand the whole way. He is standing with his arms stretched out asking me to SURRENDER AND TRUST.

Adventures of 2015

(childbirth, motherhood, ministry and whatever else comes my way),

I am looking you in the eye for a moment and deciding to stay.

Then moving my eyes to my Creator, my Savior and my Guide

and keeping them completely on my God.

I am grabbing His hand.

I am surrendering and trusting.

I am going on adventures

with my Heavenly Father,

with Jesus, my Lover

and Holy Spirit my Best Friend.

How about you? What adventures does God want to take you on this year? Are you willing to surrender and trust?Are you ready to grab his outstretched hand and experience life with Him?He is ready and waiting and so excited!