A New Direction

Dear Friends and Family,

What is God’s will, and how do we know it? Sometimes it is clear and other times we just need to step into a calling and watch the doors close or open.

As we remained stateside during the DTS outreach, we prayed and discussed our future in missions. We love serving in YWAM, and feel like we have had 2 years of growth and ministry and love living in the Pacific Northwest, but is this where He wants us? 

A few weeks ago, we picked up our DTS outreach team from SeaTac and brought them back to the campus for debrief and graduation.  Within 3 days, most staff and students headed for home. We have to admit a bit of sorrow now that the people we spent so much time with are already gone. (Some photos of the DTS outreach are below)

So here we are with just a few staff on campus looking to see what the Lord will do next. We have continued game nights on campus and see the numbers growing, and talk and pray with people each week at the local soup kitchen. I have had the privilege of mentoring/discipling a couple of guys and April has been doing a study called Living Set Free – a course she said has transformed her thinking and life more than any other study she has ever done.  We will be doing a leadership training in May and April hopes to teach the material 1-1 or in a Bible Study. It’s been a joy leading in worship in different churches and teaching Sunday School together once a month in Port Angeles. Occasionally I’m asked to fill the pulpit in different churches.

Since most of our staff has left, April is now the head of hospitality/housekeeping and I’m the head of maintenance. We share groundskeeping on the campus through the winter storms and it has been a challenge as large limbs have come down on multiple occasions, pipes and fence posts have broken and small branches have continued to shower down from the trees.  Through that, we are getting ready to host our first camp of the year in a few weeks.

Ministry and Maintenance Photos

With our Fijian friend Selai, The Soup Kitchen, Fallen branches, broken pipes, Newly installed lamp post, Fastest mower has maintenance issues, Living Set Free chart, Game night dinner, April and I leading worship at church, Elon's new nametag, Picking up a valuable saw for the campus

While it is clear we are having an impact here, we have been praying for God’s direction as we believe He has other plans for us. So far, we have seen doors fly open and are blessed that those around us are supportive and excited for us.  We are stepping into a calling to YWAM in Kona, Hawaii as April and Elon are planning to take a medical missions’ school called "Healing for the Harvest" with the goal to "See lives transformed with God's heart of compassion. Learn to train others and treat medical illnesses while sharing the gospel." For more info: Healing for Harvest - YWAM UofN Kona (ywamkona.org) Outreaches from these schools often go on YWAM ships to Pacific islands or Papua New Guinea. I am planning to take a "Discipleship Bible School at the same time" - a school that will allow me to teach books of the Bible in future schools around the world. For more info: https://www.ywamshipskona.org/school/discipleship-bible-school/

One thing YWAM is concerned about is that many of the more recent DTS students have less Biblical literacy than those of a few years ago. There is a need to teach more of the Word than a DTS can in the 12 weeks of the lecture phase. This is where the Discipleship Bible School comes in. It focuses on grounding students, preparing them to stand on the truth of God’s Word.

E’Lon has gotten a job and is saving money for her school and April accepted an unexpected (God thing!) offer to work for 2 days a week using her nursing skills. This will make a substantial contribution toward the upcoming schools. Our 3-month classroom trainings will run $4400 each, including room and board, followed by a 3-month outreach, costing approximately $4500 a piece (about $1500 each per month for the 6 months). This doesn’t include transportation to or around Kona.

While our costs of living here at Discovery Bay are well below average, we are still having to rely on savings to cover expenses and the upcoming schools will dramatically increase our costs. While not everyone has the opportunity in life to go into the mission field, we would not be able to go without your prayers and support. We praise the Lord and are so grateful for those of you who have been on our team by praying and supporting us and we pray for our team to enlarge. If the Lord moves you, would you consider a one-time gift or monthly support?

Our school starts in January 2025 and until then we will be faithful serving where we are at YWAM Discovery Bay and the surrounding churches in Washington. Please pray for our home church, Calvary Chapel Port Angeles to find an affordable building as they have been waiting on the Lord for several years! (We currently meet in a Seventh-Day Adventist Church Building)

Hearing back from you would mean so much, to know that you are praying for us and are willing to support what God is leading us to do.

Knowing that we will be far away for an extended time, we are hoping to visit friends and family around the holidays before heading out. Please let us know if we can visit you and how we can pray for you – we would be honored to be a part of what God is doing in your lives as well!

Shalom, Shalom - May you have His perfect peace,

Mark, April and E’Lon