God's big plan and our little plans

First, a short message from April,

Being a part of God's plan is far better than my own plans. I don't know about you but sometimes when I don't know the plan or the plan has changed, I tend to try and make things happen, instead of waiting and trusting in the Lord! The enemy then takes advantage and reinforces the lies he has used on me in the past - "see, you don't belong", "you're not good enough", and "you need to be doing something to have value". Depression, self-pity, and isolation set in and the spiral continues. Thank you, God, for helping me recognize what is happening and the ruin that thinking leads to. I Samuel 2:8b says, "for all the earth is the Lord's, and he has set the world in order".

Psalms 52:8,9 NLT

I am an olive tree in the house of God.  

I will always trust in God's unfailing love.

I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done.

I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people.

Despite thinking I was going to be doing an internship with all the medical ministries and schools, the Lord had other plans!  Spending more time with my Savior, praying and encouraging people, walking 4-6 miles per day, and connecting with the homeless was a wonderful place to start. Then the flood gates opened - I started doing a Bible Study with my friend, am a part of Living Set Free leadership, volunteering at Ships in 2 departments, working in the kitchen at the main YWAM base and doing devotions for the Kokua Crew on Wednesday's, getting involved with the Discovery Center (helping students find their calling) and “Street Feet” (a ministry to the homeless, washing and treating wounds etc on their feet). What an honor to serve my Father and watch him put a beautiful plan together!

Dear Friends and Family,

It has been exciting to see God at work, directing and providing for our needs. Last year He made a way for April to work and earn the money for my (Mark’s) Bible school and here we are. When campus housing was unavailable, some friends provided a beautiful, peaceful, and cooler place to live up the mountain. We found a car to rent for 3 months from a student who is overseas on outreach.

It is awe-inspiring to go deeper into the word of God as we are doing in my Discipleship Bible School. We are reading through the entire Bible in small groups and discussing it as we go. The teaching has been eye-opening, showing the literary structure of stories, and sometimes entire books, designed to highlight the intended message.  We are also seeing how God’s character and nature and His plan of salvation is woven into almost every page of the Old Testament.

The school isn’t having a regular outreach, so in our praying, God made it clear that we are to spend the next 3 months here in Kona. April was accepted into the Foundations for Counseling school, and I was accepted to staff the next Discipleship Bible School. While we don’t see ourselves staying in Hawaii long-term, He is providing for us in this short term. We prayed and looked for another car and while expecting to pay $1000 for one we looked at, the seller, a local pastor said, “since you are with YWAM, how about I just give it to you?” We were praying for a clear sign to buy it, and that was it.

Scroll right for more photos: April with Dawn, the kitchen manager at U of N, At rainbow falls with a classmate of E'lon. Mark reading Psalms in class, View from Ships balcony.

As you read, God has given April a heart for the homeless and hurting and she is excited to attend the school "Foundations of Counseling Ministry", with hopes of doing a school addressing "Addictive Behaviors" in the future. The cost of the school is $4495. If you feel called to contribute, https://apply.ywamkona.org/s/payment?cId=003f400001Y2Bnq

I (Mark) am looking into attending a 3-week course for Bible Teachers this August in Amsterdam. This will not only give me effective ways of teaching but will help establish connections for teaching in Bible schools worldwide.

For the short time we are here, we will be helping a new Calvary Chapel church plant in Kona. The pastor comes from Jon Courson's Applegate Church. Please be in prayer with us that this new work gains a foothold here.

E'Lon's journey

It is fun listening to E'Lon share what she is learning in her school "Healing for Harvest, an Introduction to Primary Health Care". Before we came to Kona she wasn't sure about going on an Outreach because of the cost, but after finding out where they will be serving she didn't hesitate to start fundraising. We love her motivation and willingness to do whatever it takes by calling people and taking advantage of opportunities to work. She has some potential weekend jobs coming up but still needs about $2000. To see her newsletter, go to https://elons-newsletter.webador.com/

We are grateful for your continued prayers and support,

Mark and April