Is it already April?

Hello all!
We are still alive and doing well.  It's been quite the semester, as it has been very consuming on so many levels.  I wanted to send out a quick update so that you would know that we are still alive and doing well.

This semester has been refining us as a couple and when long weekend arrived, which is over Resurrection weekend, it was a blessed time set aside for our marriage.  Friends from the church we attend in Tauranga invited us to enjoy the apartment on their property.  It was a perfect get away, a marriage retreat of sorts.  The space was peaceful and the time well enjoyed.

View outside the living room of our vacation location.

Andrew has been helping out with the Worship Fellowship night that Vickie, a fellow staffer, is managing at CCBI.  He has enjoyed sharing his knowledge of music theory, which to me is an enigma, but a wondrous joy for him.  Many of those that attend want to learn more, so it will be interesting to see if another fellowship will be set aside for more music theory.  It is a deep black hole that cannot be explained in a few short sessions.  Anyway, he has been enjoying his time with this fellowship.

Andrew teaching music theory.

I just have to say, I loved watching him worship last night as he played the bass for Koinonia.  As he worshiped, others were drawn in to worship.  Pastor Mark and Andrew were both jamming and I wished I had the guts to pull out my phone to capture it on video.  Those of you who attend Calvary Aurora may remember how Andrew unabashedly worships as he plays his bass and sings.  That is one of the many things I love about him!  He enters in and just goes for it.

I have been helping on the admin side of the school and we have been busy with getting documents ready for the local government to register the school's kitchen for food safety.  FUN!!  Ha ha.. he he!  Thank you, Tecla, for taking such amazing care of the kitchen and the team that serves in there.. whether cooking, cleaning the dishes, or setting up the dining room.  You lead that team with such strength and grace.  I know you are constantly pouring into their lives whether they recognize it or not.

Tecla, my crazy and wonderful friend in the kitchen.

Tecla, this amazing woman mentioned above, is married to Jake.. our new director.  Jake has been Mark's right hand for the past 6-7 years.. since the beginning of CCBI NZ and now is the director of the school. He is doing an amazing job learning the ropes and leading this team.  So many things have come across his desk this semester and he handles it all with God's strength and he leans on God for wisdom.  We love this family and ask that you pray for them as they continue to serve this school and their community.  They are a HUGE blessing!

Jake with his son... we love this family!
(Not pictured - their adorable and energetic daughter - Jade)

Andrew and I will be heading out to Sydney next week (early Friday morning - April 20th) to serve at Sydney Refresh.  Andrew will be joining Mark on one of the worship teams for the conference.  I am helping with the crafts for the kids ministry.  It will be a great time to come alongside the team in Sydney and love on and encourage those in attendance.  It reminds me of the Refresh conferences that Calvary Aurora has hosted.  It takes a small village to pull these events together.  A team of us from CCBI NZ will be focused on the kiddos that get to attend.  We have all kinds of fun plans in the works.  We would love your prayers as we go and serve this part of the body of Christ.  We will share an update on the flip side of outreach week and let you know how it all went.

Fun news... we will be coming to the States for a furlough in June and July.  Our first stop is in Virginia to join in the wedding festivities of my sister, Jackie, and her beau, Darrell.  From there we will head down to Florida with my dad and stepmom.  We look forward to a visit with them as well as some friends that live close to Englewood - Liza and Mike.  From there we will head to Colorado on June 19th and look forward to catching up with family and friends.  Our last stop will be Minneapolis on July 18th where we will celebrate a very special anniversary with Andrew's parents.

For those in Colorado, we look forward to catching up with you and sharing all that God is doing in our lives and learning what He is doing in yours. 

We would love to hear from you!  Drop us an email at mcbrideflock@yahoo.com and let us know how we can be praying for you.

For more information about our prayer requests and such, please check out the right hand column on our blog: mcbrideflock.blogspot.com

We love you and thank God for you!
Dawn and Andrew McBride