Hello, Family and Friends!

Continuing in Council Bluffs, Iowa

In April’s newsletter, I talked about what we have been doing here in Council Bluffs, IA. This month we are still doing the same things, just continuing to keep busy and work on lots of projects. We work outside, take care of the kids, and stay involved in different things. Also we celebrated Casey and his twin brother's birthday with a small group of friends and family. It was a really good time. Kari and I have developed a cherished godly relationship after learning more about each other, and noticing many reasons God has for us to meet each other -for no coincidence. I thank God for connecting people to work with me as the mission team. I am still planning to go to Jamaica next month or July, depending on Jamaica’s progress in re-opening the borders. I will share more about that after the scriptures below.

SCRIPTURES

"...the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen."

James 5:7

"Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act...."

Psalm 37:7

Calling to Jamaica

I am excited to share with you how God has called me to go to Jamaica. I have been saving this amazing testimony for a few months but I feel it is the right time to tell you.

In September 2019, I learned that Dan and Carole McClelland, my YWAM Discipleship Training School DTS leaders in DC, planned to move to Jamaica pioneer a Deaf ministry with the YWAM base there. I was so excited about their new journey, without a thought about God’s plan for me as well. The next month, I asked God what He wanted me to do with my future plans. As I was thinking about it, Jamaica appeared in my mind, and I decided to contact Carole about my slight interest in working as a staff member there someday. I was just going with the flow to see what God wanted me to do next. I flew to Romania and stayed with the YWAM couple for two nights, and I felt so at home there. I looked back and remembered how I grew a lot during my DTS in YWAM, and how much I enjoyed the opportunity to learn and grow under Dan and Carole's leadership. I realized that for future mission work, I want to continue to grow and learn more about the YWAM values and how to live them out on the mission field. It made me realize that God was increasing my passion to serve under a YWAM base, and possibly with Dan and Carole again. I returned to the USA from Gambia and decided to release all the possible plans into God’s hands and allow Him to lead me, asking for clear confirmation.

I focused on my spiritual healing during my furlough time and connecting with many family and friends. This season of waiting was so worth it. I stayed with people from my church in Virginia, and one day one of them handed me a mini-book about missionary things. The front page said “Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf.” I thought nothing about it until I opened to the first page and read “Jamaica,” and that gave me a strong electric flow throughout my body. I kept gazing at it for a few minutes. I knew this somehow was a way God was confirming His plan for me.

Immediately, I asked my leaders in Jamaica "Do you know Caribbean Center for the Deaf (CCCD), and what is it?" Carole was surprised and explained to me that CCCD is the deaf school that YWAM Jamaica is in the process of partnering with. I was so amazed and shared with Carole about the mini-book a man gave me at church. Before she told me, I did not know about the partnership, with plans to live on one of CCCDs campuses and run the YWAM JA Deaf ministry there!

For a few weeks, we both decided to wait for more confirmation about Jamaica. In February 2020, I finally had peace in my heart about working with Dan and Carole in Jamaica and contacted them about becoming staff with them.

Carole and Dan prayed and agreed that I should go ahead and complete the YWAM applications. After the application process, and good dialogue about what it would look like joining staff, they accepted me to join the training for three months to see if Jamaica was a good fit for me to serve for the next 2 years. Jamaica YWAM requires all future staff to be trained and observed for three months before they can become staff. I was supposed to fly to Jamaica for the 3 month training season in April, but due to the coronavirus pandemic I have not been able to fly. Carole and I kept in touch during the pandemic season which gave us the opportunity to get to know each other more and see that Jamaica would be a good match for me to serve. This month, they decided to share the exciting news with me that they have decided to accept me as a staff during this unique pandemic season! I am excited to share I will be serving on the pioneering team for the Deaf ministry in Jamaica for the next 2 years, with the first 3 months set aside for cultural and character training that is required.

Currently we are staying updated on the news with when Jamaica plans to reopen their borders for USA citizens, and the best plan for me to get my Visa and paperwork to be able to stay in Jamaica for 2 years.

I look back and see the mighty hand of God and how He led me to serve in Jamaica, especially that moment several months ago, when the man from my church gave me the mini-book about CCCD. And guess what? The Deaf ministry team just moved onto the CCCD campus from the YWAM base and are living there right now! I look forward to working with them. Here is the picture of the Deaf ministry below.

Olive, Anna, Valor, Carole, & Dan

Update about the Mission Funds

My monthly financial commitments have reached $715 out of $800! The remaining amount is $85 for me to join YWAM in Jamaica. Again, my goal is still trying to reach out to $1,000 instead of $800, so I can receive health insurance. I kindly ask you to pray continually for me to reach $1,000.

Thank you for the prayers of God's continued guidance during my time of furlough. I have appreciated your support. The next newsletter will be on June 28.

Love in Christ,

Kevlasha