Christmas Letter 2019

Grab a cup of tea or coffee and get caught up with us.

2019 has been a year filled with change.  Little did we know on January 1^st all of the changes we would go through.  Andrew visited his parents in January to see how his father’s health was doing regarding his cancer re-occurrence.  The cancer had returned in less than a year and with a vengeance.  It became apparent during that trip that time was of the essence. 

Upon his return to New Zealand, Andrew and I prayed for guidance on what we should do.  We both felt led to move back to Minnesota to be with his parents for the remainder of his father’s life and to be of assistance to his mother, Gerry.  There was so much going on and both of his parents were pretty warn out from the health struggle.

Once the decision was made, the next step was to share with the leadership team and staff at the school that we needed to move back to the States.  God totally took care of all of the needs at the school.  He brought a new admin on staff that semester and I had a week to train her with all that I did.  Andrew’s classes were taken care of – either by another teacher taking them on or they were cancelled.  Everything lined up, but the hardest part was saying good-bye as this wasn’t just a bit of an extended visit to the States, but rather good-bye until the Lord crosses our paths again.  So many tears and so much love.  We had a new assignment and we chose to walk the path of obedience.

Upon our arrival in the frigid great north, we were greeted by snow and lots of it.  His parents welcomed us into their home and it was so good to see them again.  We had two wonderful weeks with Andrew’s father, Brice, before his journey took a sharp turn towards eternity.  On March 8^th, Brice took his last breath here and his first breath in the presence of God Almighty.  The military honor service and the memorial service at the church were both touching and memorable.  He lived a life well lived and was dearly loved by many.

We settled into his mother’s house for a while until we had jobs.  Finding a job was not the easiest thing, nor rather the quickest.  We hunted for weeks and weeks.  We prayed for God to open the doors to where He wanted us and to keep the doors closed where He didn’t want us.  He was absolutely faithful as we surrendered once again our lives to His will.  Andrew was invited to join a call center team as a manager at Wells Fargo.  I was headhunted by a temp agency for an executive admin position for the president of seed company.  Literally God kept those doors closed until the one He deemed appropriate for us came up. 

Having jobs gave us the opportunity to start preparing to get a place of our own.  We considered renting, but looking at apartment complexes that were within our acceptable livability, a studio apartment with two garage spots (which is necessary up in Minnesota) was running over $1,400.  A studio!!  So we relooked at the possibility of buying a townhouse.  We made our wish list of features and started our hunt. 

We found a couple of townhouses that were acceptable and prayed again.  Lord, please guide us.  We found one we really liked and it felt like home.  Unfortunately, the seller accepted a higher bid.  We kept looking but comparing it to the one we loved.  The owner came back to us and wondered if we were still interested and we re-established our bid and it was accepted.  We moved in at the end of September and it has been a blessing!!

Dawn’s mother had loaned us a vehicle in March to help us get on our feet.  After the purchase of the townhouse, the next item to buy was a vehicle so we could return the loaner to her mom.  It was a blessing to have a second vehicle, especially while job hunting.  We are grateful to her and her husband for their generosity.  We found a CRV that fit the bill for Dawn and she is enjoying how it handles in the snow and cold.  Andrew bought his father’s truck before he passed and has enjoyed the height and comfort a truck can give.

The transition back to the US has not been easy.  We have been mourning two great things, the passing of Andrew’s father, and the closure of a dream and ministry that we loved so dearly.  Have you ever felt so a part of something that you just move in the groove with it?   Don’t misunderstand.  Ministry is hard and taxing, but when you love what you do, you don’t mind how taxing it can be.  Coming back to the States left a big void in both of us.  What do we do now?  We serve where we work and we are starting to serve at the church we attend.

Oh yeah, church hunting.  Finding a church that we felt at home and able to grow with was one challenge we didn’t anticipate.  Had the church changed so much in the three years we were gone?  We attended many churches and hoped more than once that we had found our home.  Sometimes it took a few visits to know if a particular church was home or not.  We have landed at a church where it’s not quite home, but God is meeting us, feeding us, repairing us, and building us back up.  We found a place where we can give back and we will see what He does through us. 

Through all of the things we have experienced this year, we have a few things we want for you.  May you find a church home where you feel safe, strengthened in the Lord and in the power of His Word.  May you know that you are loved and deeply cared about, even with your flaws.  No one is perfect, only Christ.  May you know that failure is not fatal and trying is worth it even if you fail.  May you know the love that Jesus has for you, even just a little more.. for His love knows no bounds and He never changes.  He is the same Jesus that healed the lame and made the deaf to hear.  He is the same Jesus that took the fish and loaves and fed the 5,000.  He is trustworthy, even when you are hurting, ESPECIALLY when you are hurting.  May you know that you are never alone, even when it feels like no one is listening and everyone is so far away.  God is right beside you and knows your heart.  He is right there and loves you with an everlasting love.. meaning it has no end. 

We love you and appreciate you!  Merry Christmas from our hearts to yours! 

Dawn and Andrew McBride

God is so good!!

Hello all!

We have great news to share.  God has been so good to us.  He is so faithful!  We both now have jobs!  Dawn started her temp to perm job on Monday (June 17) and Andrew starts his job on Monday (June 24). 

Now we are dreaming about what is next... finding a place to call home.  When we left Colorado, we sold everything and had no plans of moving back.  With the passing of Andrew's father, we are committed to staying here in the Minneapolis metro area.  We have started a GoFundMe page and would like to share it with you:

GoFundMe

We are still on the hunt for a church home, but know that God will reveal when we are "home".  Thank you for praying with us as we continue to seek His will.  There is a place that He has for us that we can grow and give back.

Thank you for joining us on the journey of faith.  God has been with us every step of the way.  Our hope is in Him and He has never failed to keep His promises.  Be encouraged that if you are facing a difficult journey, you are never alone!  He is right there with you and has promised to never leave you or give up on you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this update and for visiting our GoFundMe page.  Take care and God bless!

Dawn and Andrew

Fear is a thief

I was introduced to a new saying - when the tough times come or “the pinching season”, our heart shows.  Returning to the States and to a new place to live has been a tough time for me.  Being home with Dad McBride was amazing and I am uber grateful to God for bringing us home when He did, but the transition has been anything but easy or comfortable.

Fear had gripped my heart.  I allowed fear to steal my joy and rob me of what this “down” time could have been.  I still struggle from day to day with the "what ifs".  😳

• I was afraid that we will never get jobs and have to get government assistance.
• I was afraid that we will never get a place of our own.  
• I was afraid that we will never find a home church in the Minneapolis area that aligns with our hearts and doctrine.  
• I was afraid that the life I once knew of financial independence to buy pretty things or have some fun spending money would be gone forever.  

As I write these fears down, I see that they have lost their power… because fear is not based on fact, but on the unknown.  When I remember who God is, the promises He has made, and that He keeps His promises, I can let go of my heart’s enemy.. fear.  He is not a friend.  He is not one that cares about me, but wants me under his thumb, to rule me, to squash all of my joy... leaving me in despair.

So here we go.. what is the truth?

• We will get jobs according to God’s plan and timing.  They may not look like what we thought they would, but God will provide for us.
• We will get a place of our own according to God’s plan and timing.  Again, this place may not be what we are thinking of, but God will provide for us.
• We will find a church where we can plug in to… to be fed and to give back.
• We will have all that we need, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

I am seeing God in the midst of my unknowns.  He has provided a loaner vehicle for me through my Mom.  Thanks, Mama!  He provided a truck for Andrew (he bought his dad’s truck).  I am connecting with ladies at a Friday mommies prayer meeting.  They know I am not a mom, but I really enjoy the group as we laugh .. and it is so good to laugh again. 

I hear God’s voice telling me over and over to be still, be patient, and wait.  These words... they are not easy for me to put into practice.  I don’t sit still very well.  I don’t wait very well, but having applied for jobs like a mad woman has not made a difference, so I have chosen to trust Him and take Him at His word.

Now it's your turn.  What are you struggling with?  What are things the Lord has told you and you are fighting against?  Let me ask you this... do you trust Him?  Do you trust that His promises are true and that He really does have plans for good and not to harm you?  He is there with you and has NEVER left you.  Not once. 

Be still, quiet your heart, and give Him space to speak to you.  He loves you more than you can imagine and if you allow Him to, He will open doors where He wants you and close doors where He doesn't want you.  He is so trustworthy!  I love this saying, "God's past faithfulness demands our current trust."  It's true.  He has never ever failed me. 

A very special song about fear has been one played over and over recently.  I want to pass it on to you.  The message is very clear and worth your time!

Music Video: Fear is a Liar

Let me know how I can be praying for you!  I know there is a lot on your plate and so much on your mind, but I would love to partner with you and pray for you.  We are never alone!  Never let fear make you believe that lie.

God bless,
Dawn 
McBrideFlock@yahoo.com

Now what?

Since arriving in Minnesota on February 19th, so much has happened.  We had the special opportunity to be with Andrew’s father during the last days of his life.  He peacefully passed away at home on March 8th and has joined the crowd of heavenly witnesses as mentioned in Hebrews 12.

Untouched photo

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2

It was an honor to be with him when his last breath here was his first breath in heaven.  To be in the presence of the Almighty God, to worship in His presence, oh how we look forward to those days ahead.  We celebrated Brice and honored his military service.  The ceremony at the military cemetery was very moving as seven soldiers shot three volleys from their rifles.  The melancholy sound of Taps brought tears to our eyes as Brice’s day was done, gone the sun.  Thank you for your service, Brice!

The following day’s memorial service was one of tears, laughter, and tender memories.  Andrew shared Brice’s eulogy, his mom shared about the joy we have in Christ, and I shared the poem, The Dash.  We both were moved during our moments of sharing as Brice had a life well lived.  He cared much and loved deeply.  Those that knew him, knew that he loved them, that he cared for them.  Whether mowing someone’s lawn, shoveling their snow, or taking care of something in their home, people knew Brice cared.

With each day, the mourning has eased but there are days where a curve ball of mourning arrives without warning.  Deep breathes and remembering where he is at, no longer struggling to walk, breath, or simply talk, helps to gather our hearts.  God has been ever so present, so close.  Through spending time reading devotionals and the Bible, as well as writing out my thoughts and prayers, His presence is known and brings comfort and confidence for tomorrow.  One devotional book that has been especially helpful is Streams in the Desert.

It’s been a month since his passing, now what?  We have decided to make Minneapolis our home and plan to be available to assist Andrew’s mum in whatever way we can.  There has been a culture shift for us and we are adjusting to our new normal.  The time we spent in New Zealand has planted a mighty oak of memories and love that will not soon fade away.  Every time I see a photo or watch a video posted on social media, my heart smiles and weeps as part of my heart will forever be there.  We miss our dear friends and the team at CCBI, but know that God will make a way for them, as He always has.

Borrowed from https://morguefile.com/photos

We are getting back into the job market, applying for jobs, and interviewing here and there.  We believe that God will open the doors where He wants us and will keep the doors closed where He does not want us.  We both look forward to finding positions where we are growing and supporting organizations.  We have some fabulous ideas on how we want ministry to look like for us in the coming months, but until we can “set up shop”, we are waiting to pursue those ideas.

Thank you for your support as we served in the international missions arena.  Your love, encouragement, prayers, and financial support were pivotal and dearly appreciated.  Even though we are State-side, we are still passionate about serving.  We look forward to all that God has for us here in Minnesota and look forward to serving as He leads.

Much love to you!
Dawn and Andrew McBride  

Big Announcement

You may be wondering what happened to us as it has been a while since we have updated our blog.  It’s been an unusually busy season for us and the CCBI team.  CCBI has moved to a new location and we helped with the move.  After the school moved, we helped to move our friends, Jake and Tecla.  Then in January, a few short weeks later, we moved to the new campus and then helped our friends, Mark and Gwyn, move to the new campus.

We had the opportunity to step away for a two-night stay in Dunedin, which is located on the south island.  Dunedin is one of the most beautiful little towns that I’ve ever seen.  Some of the buildings date back to the late 1800s.  It was a sweet time to see this new place in New Zealand.  I even walked up the world's steepest residential street - Baldwin Street.  I had to stop a few times, but it was so worth it!

The same day we returned from Dunedin, while still at the airport, we welcomed two new staff members, Ken and Jemma, from Australia.  Between that time and the start of school, we all worked to get the new campus ready.  Some people painted, some people worked with drywall, and the list goes on and on.  It was exhausting work, but so much fun to see the campus ready for the students.  We have really enjoyed living on-site in our own flat and being so close to the school.

Throughout last semester up until today, there has been something underlying and heavy on our hearts.  Andrew’s father is battling cancer once again.  It came back much quicker than the doctors thought and his body has struggled with the treatments.  Andrew had the opportunity to go see his father right before the semester started and it became apparent that his father’s body just wasn’t doing well.  After much prayer we came to decision that we would return to Minnesota at the end of the semester.  Having settled that in our hearts, we were fine with this decision and looked forward to being of some help to his parents – whatever that would look like.

Recently however, Andrew’s father has changed and our time table has been moved up.  Andrew and I will be moving to Minnesota on Tuesday, February 19th.  We feel compelled by the Lord to come alongside Andrew’s parents and help them in any way we can.  We don’t have a lot of details at this time – such as how long we will be in Minnesota, but if you would like to reach out to us, please email us at McBrideFlock@yahoo.com.

Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for us as we head to the States.  
• Pray for Andrew’s parents and family as this is a very challenging time.  
• Pray for CCBI as they transition with us leaving.  There is a lot to learn in a short amount of time.  
• Pray for our transition back into American culture, as reverse culture shock is real.  I experienced it living abroad for a year in the late 1990s.
• Pray for wisdom for the decisions we have to make, as well as his parents.

Even in the midst of this crazy whirlwind, our great and mighty God already knew this and we believe He will continue to take care of us.  He always has and we don’t believe He is going to stop any time soon.

Thank you for your love, support, and prayers!  We appreciate you more than we can express!!
Dawn and Andrew McBride

It's been a little crazy

Hello all!
We are alive and doing well.  This semester at Calvary Chapel Bible Institute NZ has been full on.  So many great things have happened since the last update and we hope to catch you up as briefly as we can.

Outreach Week
Andrew co-led a team to Calvary Wellington's holiday program (aka Vacation Bible School).  Great things happened as children who didn't know Christ, came closer to Him.  A family of young ladies who did not attend Calvary Wellington have started attending that church since the program.  We even saw two of the ladies at the family camp (mentioned later).  The team from CCBI had a great time sharing in this holiday program and even got to see a bit of Wellington too!

Whole58.75
Dawn completed her Whole30 in September but didn't want to stop.  She aimed for another 30 days for a grand total of a Whole60, but the Ladies in Leadership retreat shortened it by a day and some change.  It was a challenging experience to tack on an additional 30 days, but she is glad she attempted it.  Would she do it again.... probably not.  :)

Calvary Ladies in Leadership Retreat
CCBI NZ hosted a retreat for the ladies in leadership at the Calvary Chapels across New Zealand.  It was a time to get together, to encourage, pray with, and let each other know they are not alone.  It was a profitable time as many of the ladies left encouraged to keep fighting the fight.  Please pray for those in ministry within New Zealand as it is challenging.

Genesis
Andrew has been teaching through the book of Genesis this semester.  Some of his big take aways from teaching this book are:
- That God, in His infinite wisdom and knowledge, already had a plan for man through Jesus.  We forget that not only was God at the beginning, but so was the trinity.  God made a way through Jesus and it begins in Genesis.
- We don’t have to be perfect to be used by God.  We just need to purpose in our hearts to follow and obey Him.

Ladies Class - God's attributes
Dawn had the opportunity to team teach the ladies class and they focused on God's attributes as seen in the Psalms.  Dawn taught on God's immutability (God is unchanging) and God the Creator.  One quote that stood out was from Ravi Zacharias:

"When God is our Holy Father, sovereignty, holiness, omniscience, and immutability do not terrify us; they leave us full of awe and gratitude. Sovereignty is only tyrannical if it is unbounded by goodness; holiness is only terrifying if it is untempered by grace; omniscience is only taunting if it is unaccompanied by mercy; and immutability is only torturous if there is no guarantee of goodwill.” 

The goodwill of the Father makes His unchanging nature not overwhelmingly challenging.  He is good, He is full of grace (giving us what we don't deserve), and He is merciful!

Dawn enjoyed sharing fun and uncommon facts about some creatures and our known universe.  She shared information from Louie Giglio's video about How Great is Our God and the four stars he focused on.  If the earth were a golf ball.....  She now has a golf ball on our bookcase to remember that God is so much bigger!

Calvary Wellington Family Camp
Dawn joined a team that went down to Calvary Wellington's family camp.  It was good for her to connect with ladies she hadn't seen for two years, when Andrew taught at their family camp in 2016.  Amazing how time flies, but the heart connections are still there.  The team helped with catering the camp as well as ministering to the children that attended the family camp.  Two young ladies that were introduced to Calvary Wellington during the Holiday Program came to family camp and got a good dose of lovin'.


Speakers Week
We had the privilege of hosting the following people at our Speakers Week:
- Fernando Ortiz and his family (Colorado, USA)
- Frank and Tammy Bartsch and their nephew Sterling (Sydney, Australia)
- Charlies Mareu (Fiji)
- Brian Kelly (Calvary Auckland)
- Doug Calhoon (Shoreline Church)
It was great and full of challenging messages where God exhorted us and encouraged us.  If you would like to listen to the messages, you can find them at this link:  CCBI Speakers Week - November 2018
We are grateful for their willingness to share what the Lord has been teaching them!

Shoreline's Men's Conference
A small team of us went to the Shoreline's Men's Conference to serve.  Andrew was part of the worship team, playing bass guitar.  Dawn was serving in the kitchen with Tecla and Jordi - the dynamic duo.  The men were encouraged, exhorted to press into God, and well fed.  If you would like to view any of the teachings, you can find them on the Shoreline Church's Facebook page.

Thanksgiving
The school came together and celebrated an American holiday.  We have staff and students from other countries (Denmark, Fiji, England, Romania) and they also joined in the festivities, some celebrating Thanksgiving for the first time.  Turkey was a first for a few of them.  There is much to be thankful for and we shared the loves during this time.  A big shout out to the kitchen team, the dishes squad, and the decorations crew for making this a special celebration.  We are so thankful for you!!

What's coming up: 
CCBI NZ is moving at the end of this semester to Te Awamutu.  We as a family are moving in January and will be back on campus and in our own flat.  We are excited for the things God is doing and look forward to what He has for us.  So much is going on and God is so good to meet us where we are at.

Prayer requests:
- Both moves to go smoothly and without any glitches.
- Next semester: God would bring the students and interns He would have be here.
- New staff moving from Australia.  Pray for an easy transition and for the move to go well.  Pray they acclimate to staff life well.
- Brice, Andrew's Dad, is battling cancer again.  Pray for both of Andrew's parents as they walk this road.
- God would continue to direct us and take care of us.

Thank you for taking the time to catch up on what is going on in our world.  We appreciate you and pray that God would make His love even more real to you.

Blessings from Aotearoa!
Dawn and Andrew McBride

Starting Our Fifth Week

Hello all!
It's hard to see that we are in the fifth week of classes.  It has been moving so fast and so much has been going on.  So much so that I thought you might want an update of what we've been up to.

Classes started during the last week of August and have been going strong ever since.  This semester I have decided to sit in on Hebrews which is taught by Mark Walsh.  Oh. My. Goodness!  I loved Hebrews before.  Now I feel like I am down the rabbit hole as there is so much goodness to chew on for a long while. 

One of the big take aways for me has been about unbelief.  It's not about a lack of knowledge or a lack of faith.  If we step back and look at the Jews that wandered in the wilderness, they had unbelief that God would provide certain things like water, food, etc.  They had just been through some crazy experiences watching God move on their behalf, and yet they lacked belief that He would take care of them after that.  We do that, don't we!?  We have seen God's past faithfulness in our lives and then, when faced with a new difficulty, we wonder will He take care of us again.

"Past times of deliverance are strong pleas for present assistance. What the Lord has done in the past, He will do again, for He never changes. He is faithful to His promises and gracious to His saints. He will not turn away from His people." Charles Spurgeon

I am challenged daily with these questions... do you trust that He will take care of your needs?  Do you trust that He will provide for you?  Going to the Word, I am reminded that He sees and He will take care of my needs.  I don't need to worry about it. 

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

“Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?                                                        Matthew 6:25-27

And we learn that "Therefore" points to what was said before it.  Looking at verse 24, it talks about serving two gods - God and riches.  Okay, Lord, I won't worry about You taking care of my needs because You value me more than the birds of the air which You also take care of.

As you can see, I am really enjoying Hebrews and what I shared is just the tip of the iceberg.  There is so much more.  I could pull out my notes and just share what I've learned with you.  Let me know if you are interested and I may do a blog entry on that class alone.

Andrew is teaching the book of Genesis this semester and seems to really be enjoying it.  I believe he wishes he had more time to teach it like he would like to, but it is taking shape as more of a survey of Genesis.  If you would like to learn more about his take aways, send him an email at mcbrideflock@yahoo.com and ask him.  I am sure he is more than willing to share them with you.

Every semester we have Outreach Week where we send out teams to various locations for 10 days.  This semester we have outreaches to Fiji, Lower Hutt (NZ), Camp Raglan (NZ), and Camp Kedron (Sydney, Australia).  The teams head out this Friday and we are so excited to see what the Lord is going to do in the teams and through the teams.

Andrew is co-leading the team to Lower Hutt where they will serve at Calvary Wellington's holiday program, which is like a Vacation Bible Study (VBS) in the States.  They will come alongside the program and help with dramas, activities, and engaging the youth that will come out for this program. 

It seems strange to think of a holiday program at this time of the year, but New Zealand does schooling a wee bit different than the US.  The kids will go on a two week break from October 1st through the 12th.  The location this program will be in is a lower income area and the kids seem to have less privileges.  It will be great to see the team love on this kiddos and share how Jesus loves them.

I will be staying back as the Lord has been challenging me to wait.  I was planning on going on one outreach and then my heart was touched by another outreach.  God started sending me the word "wait" over and over again and I didn't understand until it became apparent it was regarding outreach week.  Wait?  I want to go!  It's such a special time of working along side the students and interns.  You really have a special bond after such a time together. 

Awe, Lord.. are You sure You want me to wait and not go?  Wait.  Wait.  Wait.  Even this morning I saw that familiar word again.. Wait.  So I am staying back and taking the time to regroup, replenish, and rest.  I also plan to use that time to craft and even learn some new crafting skills.  I am sure God has a plan, so I am not making any hard and fast plans.

We have a praise report!  We have a home that God has blessed us with.  It is in Taupo, which is 35 minutes from the campus, but it is really quite a gift.  The windows bring in so much sunlight and the deck has a beautiful view.  It is a two bedroom flat that is the top floor of a house that was divided for in-laws.  We are so grateful for this place that God has provided.  I hope to share pictures soon.

• We need to apply for our next visa which will last for five years.  It comes with a good bit of cost.  Pray for God to take care of the timing and resources needed.
• Pray for strength and refreshment as living so far away from campus means long days. 
• Pray for our health as semesters are demanding and we are starting a journey of a more healthy lifestyle (going to the gym and better eating habits).

We love you all and appreciate your love, encouragement, prayers, and support!  Send us a note at mcbrideflock@yahoo.com. We'd love to hear from you.

Blessings and love,

Dawn and Andrew McBride