God Is Working

We have some very exciting news to share.  For several months now, our family has been in the process of switching missions agencies.  We got the awesome news on Saturday, August 8th, that we were accepted as missionary candidates with Baptist Medical and Dental Missions International. 

This began in our hearts last September when Rick, Melanie and baby Elliot, took a vision trip to Managua, Nicaragua.  We stayed in the home of Josh and Laurie Moudy, whom we had never formally met, and spent that week praying and seeking where God would have us serve in that country.  We spent a few days speaking to pastors in the area and just visiting with local people.  Rick began to feel that God was doing a great work there already and He was in fact, not calling us to work here.  Melanie had a Bible study on Wednesday, and from that, God gave us a word.  The scripture came from Acts 16:7.  "When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the spirit of Jesus would not allow them to."  We began to pray where the Holy Spirit would have us work, and at the same time enjoyed our visit with the Moudy family, hearing about the vision which God had given them to do a work on the Eastern Coast of Nicaragua to work with the indigenous people of that area.  They shared how they would be moving there and would build a hospital.  They also shared that they were praying for help in doing this. 

We traveled back home to Mississippi at the end of the week feeling confident that just as God had shut the door for work in Diriamba and Masatepe, that he would also open the door he had for us.  We sought the Lord, and felt assurance that he would have us team up with this couple that we just "happened" to meet.  Of course, there are no chance meetings, and we were eager to be obedient to this call. 

While we loved Reaching & Teaching and the leadership which we believe God had placed us under, after counsel, we realized that two agencies working together to undertake this endeavor might be harder than we thought.  So, we started praying about switching to BMDMI.  God has been faithful every step of the way to show us where to take the next step.  We did not want to just move because it "felt" like the right thing to do, but wanted to make sure of the leading of the Holy Spirit.  He has been more than faithful in showing us this was His desire for us.  Rick and Melanie met with the personnel committee in June and got the first approval as candidates pending approval by the board.  We were eagerly awaiting the news and were so excited when we got the call that they had approved us.

Rick had the opportunity to go to Nepal after the earthquakes in May to work with others in building shelters for the people there.  He got to work hands on with others from BMDMI and was able to see the hearts of the leadership.  We are thankful God has allowed this to take place as we desire to trust and obey Him completely. 

Our family would like to thank those who have faithfully supported us financially and with prayer during this time.  We are grateful that God has called some to partner with us so that we may take the gospel to the physically and spiritually sick and hurting in Nicaragua.  We are currently at 20% of our monthly budget and almost have enough to pay for language school upon arrival on the field. We will also need about $5600 for tickets to travel to Nicaragua.  We ask that you lift this up to the Lord with us, and in His time, we will be serving in Nicaragua. 

This was a poem that I read on the day God shut the door for us in working in the Masatepe area:

When I cannot understand my Father's leading,
And it seems to be but hard and cruel fate,
Still I hear that gentle whisper ever pleading,
God is working, God is faithful, ONLY WAIT.
                                    -Streams in the Desert...Sept 24th


Unitl the whole world hears,

Rick and Melanie Dardar
Gabe, Austin, Juliana, Addey, Eamon, Mary-Klaire and Elliot

A fresh vision

God has really gotten my attention over the past week.  I am so grateful that he cares enough for me to grab my chin and turn my face towards Him and tell me a thing or two.  The everyday of life distracts me. I don't ever intend on that happening, but somehow, if I'm honest, I just flat out get distracted.  Between trying to keep the house semi-clean and cooking, and homeschooling, and making sure the baby isn't eating Legos, I get distracted.  At the beginning of last year, I was so excited about what God was doing and was plunging head first into the exciting world of missions.  We were speaking at churches and different groups, partnering with prayer warriors, and financial supporters and just being excited about the work we set out to do.  Then, life happened.  My school year started with no school funds.  There was never enough gas to get anywhere we needed to be, and absolutely nothing there to run a household.  I got distracted.  Panic set in my heart.  We paused our efforts for missions and began to look for ways to take care of our household.  God provided work and has blessed Rick while he has been there.

About three months have passed since we've spoken at a church.  Rick and I were talking about how we needed to get back to support raising so that we could get on the field.  But God, had bigger plans than that.  He has been prompting me to search my motives as to why I feel called to be a missionary.  Why is it that I want to go to a foreign land to tell people that I have never met about Jesus. Is it for a career or His glory?  Is it for me or for Him?  It would be so easy to fall into the comfortable pattern of living the American dream.  Way too easy.  That house with the white picket fence has been calling my name.  Distractions.  

This morning, during my quiet time, God took me back to the call.  I was remembering what it was that I told God the day I put my "yes" on the table.  I was surrendered and eager to do His will.  Nothing else mattered in that moment, except being obedient to my Savior.  I wasn't thinking about a specific job or location, but that He was calling.  He has had to take us both to a place of quietness and waiting. To test our motives?  To test our endurance?  Maybe so.  All I know is that all I want is to keep my "yes on the table" and seek him daily so that I don't get bogged down.  

There is no new news to tell.  God has not given us anything that we didn't know already.  He confirmed in our hearts that we need to get back to the basics; making ministry partners and focusing on getting to Costa Rica.  He will work out the details as they need to be worked out.  Wow, that takes a load off of our shoulders! Just being obedient and leaving the details to Him.   Isn't He good!  This vision isn't a new one, but it is fresh.  It is fresh because in the midst of my distractions and period of quietness, the call never changed.  It is fresh because the mercies of God are fresh every day and so the vision He gives is fresh to my soul like a soaking rain to a place that had become so dry.   I don't have to worry about who will partner with us or how we will get there.  He will take care of everything.  I don't have to worry about the job I am to do once I'm there.  Nope.  He hasn't told me that yet.  But he has told me to walk everyday in steps of obedience whether they be tiny steps or big steps.  Just take the step in faith.

We are so thankful for the ones who have been faithful in partnering with us.  You are a blessing to this ministry.  If God is leading you to partner with us now in giving monthly, then you can do so  by clicking the link at the top.  It is needful that we begin our missionary journey in language school.  We are seeking partners to help us meet our budget so that we can get to Costa Rica and begin the study of the Spanish language.  Would you prayerfully consider partnering with us?

Blessings,

Rick and Melanie Dardar

Thankful for...

This past month we have been making a lot of calls and reaching out to as many people as we know to try to get the word out about what God is doing in our lives and how others can partner with us to take the Gospel to Nicaragua.  We are so thankful for the opportunities He has opened and where we are potentially speaking in the coming months.  We have shared in our Sunday school class, and Melanie got to share at a women's missions meeting.  We also shared with Austin's sixth grade Sunday school class.  It was a great hour.  The kids really had some awesome questions and it was refreshing to hear them ask heartfelt questions about the people in Nicaragua and be genuinely interested in what God is doing there.

This month, we are looking forward to sharing in a Sunday school class at Kirby Woods Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. There are other dates available to be filled.  Please pray that God would open up hearts to have us come and share.

We are eagerly awaiting the day when we get to Nicaragua to minister to the people and share God's love.  Until that day, though, God has been teaching me some valuable lessons. One of those lessons is learning to be content in my present situation and not worrying about how to change it.  It is hard to be content in a day when the world is telling you to go out and fight for the newest and best. I have found that when I have that mindset, that I start to forget about my first priorities and get sidetracked.  I lose sight of the blessings and take on the burdens.  I cannot tell you how many times I have read the Scripture where God says to not worry because He is going to take care of me, but I still find that when the electricity is due or the tire blows out, I get very anxious and wonder how the needs will be met.  Our God IS Faithful.  Those valleys are so hard and sometimes they seem SO deep, but the lessons are very much needed and useful for training.  Oh, how much sweeter it is when I put my trust in Him.  Because even in the valley, I know there is a mountain coming when I can rest and be refueled for the next leg of the journey.  I love that He knows exactly who I am and He knows what I need to be conformed to His image and be useable for His Glory.  Oh, how I am learning to be thankful for those valleys.  It is a sweet time of fellowship with my Savior where I am learning to lean on Him and trust Him with my life.

We cannot get to Nicaragua without God's people partnering with us.  Please pray for our family that we would take every single step in obedience and not move at all unless we hear His voice.  If He has it on your heart to give or come and share with your family, business, Sunday school class, or church congregation, please contact us.  God bless you as you seek to draw closer to Him.

Until the whole world hears,

Rick and Melanie Dardar

New vision

It is an amazing thing.  Prayer is a special privilege we have to talk with our Father.  He loves to hear from us, to share with us our joys and sorrows and our longings of the heart.  We started off to Nicaragua last Monday with hopeful expectation that God would give us a vision for our ministry to the people there.  We left at home friends and family who were praying on our behalf that we would get a word from The Lord.  We petitioned The Lord for an answer.  We sought Him and asked what His will was.  We went with a desire only to be where He would have us be.

Months ago, while sitting in Sunday School, I was looking at the wall map and noticed a prayer card for a missionary family, Josh and Laurie Moudy.  I examined it closer and was shocked and intrigued to see that this family was from Hattiesburg and were serving in Nicaragua.  When I left church that day, I looked them up on Facebook and started being friends.  Melanie and I have been reading their story and following where God was taking them in their ministry.  A while back they shared how God was leading them to start up a hospital on the eastern coast to serve the Meskito people.  We thought it was great but really did not pay much attention to it at the time.

When we were preparing to go on this trip, we were figuring up expenses and trying to find a place to stay.  I messaged Josh about where the best place to stay might be and some costs of things while there and they offered for us to stay with them while we were visiting.  What a blessing!  We raised our funds and planned out our course for the week and tried to imagine what God had in store.  Were we ever in for a wonderful surprise.

We touched down in Nicaragua, made our way through customs and found Nolan and Robbie waiting for us just outside the airport.  Nolan teaches the Moudy's Spanish and graciously agreed to pick us up from the airport and take us around while we were in His country.  He asked about how we met the Moudy's and was a little surprised that we had never met them personally but were staying at their home for a week.  Josh and Laurie were not even home.  They were visiting the area where God was moving them to start the hospital.  They left the key with the next door neighbor and we let ourselves in, greeted by Bailey and Buster, the Moudy's 4-legged family :).  Early the next morning we set out to meet pastors in the area and planned out a preaching schedule.  I desired to work in the Masetepe area, so I figured this was a good place to start.

As the days went by, talking with the pastors of the area, I felt the Holy Spirit telling me that He was not sending us to work here.  Inside I was a little discouraged because I was hoping for this to be it.  But God, who does all things well, knows better and has a perfect plan.  On Wednesday, Melanie was doing her Bible study and in her devotion, it talked about the Spirit forbidding Paul to go to the area he longed to go to, but was sending them another way.  She did not tell me about it, but just continued to pray.  As we talked with Josh and Laurie, they shared their vision and let us know they were looking for another family to partner with them. We began to share our hearts with them and by the end of the week we were sad to leave them.  Josh and I talked about boats that could maneuver the Rio Coco, hospital layouts and lots if other facts about the people of the area.  By the time we left, we  told them we would pray about what we should do.

As we sought The Lord, He showed us that we should partner with them.  We are so excited that God is choosing to use our family to serve Him in this way.  Words cannot even express what we feel about what is going to happen through this ministry opportunity.  As I was reading this morning, "when the vision is big, the sacrifice seems small." (Shirley Bott)

Thank you to everyone who has prayed for us.  Please continue to pray for our family.  Pray in your own life where God is leading you to serve Him.  The Harvest is ready.  Who will go out and work?  He'll give you a task if you will just let Him know you are available.

Blessings!!

Our Newest Addition is Finally Here!

We are so excited that God has chosen to bless us with our 7th child, Elliot Jude.  He was born Monday, May 12, 2014.  He has the sweetest personality and I already wonder how I ever lived without him.  His name means "The Lord is my God; The One who is praised."  We named him after the missionary, Jim Elliott, and pray that God would choose to use him mightily for His kingdom.  At his birth, the midwife showed us his umbilical cord and said it was truly a miracle that he was alive.  His cord was tied in a knot which, in many cases, causes stillbirth and his cord was wrapped around his neck twice. We praise The Lord, who knits us together so perfectly and then sustains the life that only He can create.  I feel so completely blessed that we have the privilege of being parents to seven, healthy, awesome children.  I pray that we bring them up in a way that will please God and bring Him glory.

Many people have continued to ask when we will be on the field.  To that,  we can just say, in God's perfect timing.  We are praying and seeking opportunities to speak about the work which God has called us to and are eager to be on the field serving.  But, in all things, we are praying and waiting.  He alone knows the exact minute we are to leave.  We will go through training in July with Reaching & Teaching so that we will be better prepared to work as missionaries.  We are so excited to get to work with such great people who truly love The Lord.

We are needing partners to help us to be able to take the Gospel to the people of Nicaragua. We are not able to do this without your help. We need people who will pray fervently and give to further God's work. You may not be able to go on a trip, but with your gift, you can be a part of what God is doing in Nicaragua.

Taking the Good News

As a homeschooling family, we get the opportunity to incorporate the biographies of missionaries into our curriculum.  This has been the biggest blessing, not only to our children who love to hear the stories, but also to me.  This week, as we were hurrying to finish up the school day and move on to our next venture in the day, we read a story in our book the has really challenged us.  This isn't a new theme, as God seems to be relaying this message to us through Bible study and through our pastor's messages.  God has been telling us to make our time count.  Don't waste any precious minutes because they may be our last opportunity to share Jesus with a soul who doesn't know Him.  Or, Jesus may return and we would be out of time.  He said to work while there is day because night comes when no man can work.  Also, He tells us that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, so pray for God to send out more laborers into the harvest.

My eyes and heart were opened as we read this past week about the missionary, Hudson Taylor.  We have all heard the importance of missions our whole lives and some even answer the missionary call, but this story really took hold of my heart and a new fire to share the gospel was ignited.  I  had to share with Rick, who was equally as touched by the story.

Hudson Taylor was a missionary to Ningpo, China.  He had a heart for the people there, but he had a heart for Jesus.  He believed that God would supply everything he needed, he just had to ask.   God always supplied everything right on time, just as he has promised us in His Word.  If you never have read his biography, it is so great.  I highly recommend it.  The part I wanted to share was one particular instance in Taylor's ministry.  He had been preaching in Ningpo for a year with no one taking the gospel seriously.  He was severely disheartened and wanted to give up, when a highly respected Chineseman shared his testimony about how he and his father and his grandfathers had searched for truth their whole lives, looking into Confucianism, Taosim, and Buddhism.  He said they had never found peace in any of those, but that night, this man gave his heart to The Lord.  A few nights later, he asked Taylor how long the people where he was from had known about Jesus.  Taylor told him they had known for hundreds of years.  The man was so hurt and said that his father and grandfather had died searching for this truth and never found it.  He wanted to know why he had waited so long to share it.  This former Buddhist lived out the Great Commission from that point on telling everyone he met about Jesus because he knew first hand the importance of sharing this truth.

I know that a lot of times we get caught up in our day to day activities that lost people going to Hell just don't cross our mind.  But, God is touching someone's heart and causing them to search for Him.   It is our job to be so in tune with Him, that everything else pales in light of what we are to be doing for the Kingdom.  I pray that we would have a passion to see others around us come to Jesus and that we would start in Jersualem, go out into Judea and then out into the ends of the earth.  After all, "The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time." Carl F. H. Henry

Where would God have you work for Him?  Ask Him what you should be doing for Him and He just might surprise you at who you are to be sharing with.

The Vision

God has given us a vision and we want to make sure God is going before us. As I read in "My Utmost for His Highest" it was a good reminder.

"The only way God sows His saints is by His whirlwind. Are you going to prove an empty pod? It will depend on whether or not you are actually living in the light of what you have seen. Let God fling you out, and do not go until He does. If you select your own spot, you will prove an empty pod. If God sows you, you will bring forth fruit.
It is essential to practise the walk of the feet in the light of the vision."

As you notice in the picture, the people of Nicaragua are hungry for the Word. It is our desire as in Romans 10:14-15 to go and help in bringing the gospel to them. But also remembering a quote from Elizabeth Elliot, "Wherever you are, be all there".  My prayer lately has been that we would not waste a breath and that anything we do that would bring glory to His name.  We want to "be all there" in the today, in the very breath of where God has our family right now.  It is hard to wait on God's timing when a passion burns in your heart to be where you believe He has called.  But, ultimately, His hand has us here, and there is work to be done in our lives and in the lives of those around us.  It is equally as exciting when you look at it in that light.  What does He have in store for these next months?  We don't know, but we know the One who does.

When people ask us what our timeline is for being on the field, to that we answer, we don't know.  Whenever God gets us there.  We are praying that He would bring things into focus for us, but we know His timing is perfect.

We are so excited to see what God is doing. Churches and individuals are partnering with us. We are thankful for the partnerships, but our hope and prayer is that we will get to work with you on mission trips on the field to see it first hand. God is opening up doors for us to speak at churches. We pray that you would consider teaming up with us finiancally and through prayer.

You can do so by going to this link https://www.egsnetwork.com/gift/gift.php?giftid=8D425B347BCC4D4