God and baby Isaac are on the move!

Friends and Family,

Josh and I are doing great! Baby Isaac is doing great, he is definately kicking and moving all around. Sleeping is getting a lot more difficult, tossing and turning. Josh is loving connecting and loving on the boys even when it is pretty rough. God has so blessed him and given him such a gift of compassion and love. My work is doing good. Working the nights is getting harder, but do-able.
Josh and I are really excited at what the Lord is doing and how He is rapidly moving among us. We both really feel that He is growing us and shaping us more and more into the team He has called us to be. We know we are set apart to do His good works, and are really excited to see how that plays out in the bigger piture. In February josh and i are going to be heading to Los Osos for a little bit, we don't know any of he details yet but we are super excited for what the Lord is going to do there in and through us. We know we are not only set apart, but that we are annointed to do His works and definatley feel a calling in our lives to minister. Exactly what that looks like we are not sure but are pressing in and seeking guidance and direction. Know that we don't say any of this to boast in our flesh, but to boast in the new creations we are because of Christ. 2 Cor 5:17 We are FREE to live and hide in Christ, and to walk out what He is calling of us. A huge thing that I am meditating on is Isaiah 8:11- Do not think like everyone (the world) thinks! That is huge! We have to be transformed by the renewing of our minds continually everyday-every moment. We are not of this world! Thank you God!
So all this to say, please be praying for us to hear and obey what God is calling us to. And please if you feel that God is giving you a message for us share, you all are so imporant as the body of Christ!!! We all need one another to build up, teach,instruct and encourage one another! We love you guys and really want to know how we can be praying for you. Thank you for your prayers!
Blessings,
~Jess and baby Isaac for the Clark's~

BABY!

Friends and Family,

We are having a baby boy! His name is Isaac Joshua- it means he will laugh, and God saves. We know that he will have the Joy of the Lord because he will know who Christ is. That is so exciting to Josh and I, just knowing that Isaac will know who his Father is and who he is in Him. So many people live their whole lives not knowing who they are in Christ and who Christ really is. We are so excited to see him and see what he looks like. Last week we had our first ultra-sound. His litle foot was our favorite picture, but we didn't actually get the picture :( Our official due date is May 2nd.
Josh and I are doing Great! Baby Isaac is doing GREAT as well, they said that everything was looking good. Isaac is moving like crazy, it is so amazing to feel life moving inside you. Josh hasn't felt him yet but we still have 4 months :)
Jesus is showing us some amazing things right now, in the way of revelation and dreams.
~Blessings,
the Clarks

Preparing for the birth to come!

Family and Friends,

It as been a while-the story of most our blogs-but that's okay.You still love us right? :) Well to give you all an update I am about 22 weeks along. I have been able to feel the baby move-a so much anticipated event :) It is really amazing to feel life inside you moving and growing. It is such a miracle! On the 30th Josh and I have an appointment, were we are hoping to get our first ultra-sound. I am feeling great now that the morning sickness is over-praise Jesus! It was a little rough getting used to the fact that I was going to be sick or nauesous everyday. The only nauesousness I get now is when I am in the car. So I really can't complain. Josh is so good with dealing with all of the pregnacy stuff! He is going to be such a GREAT Daddy-he already is! He talks and prays for baby and he even journals! I don't want to brag but thats pretty awesome : ) I am continualy thanking Jesus for the amazing husband and baby I-we have!
We are transitioning exceptionally well here in Beavercreek. We love it here!!! The Truax's are amazing people! We basically share a kitchen and have our own house. They added a whole addition to the kitchen where they stay! So we live in two houses with a huge shared kitchen! God has really blessed us with a place to live, free of rent.
I am currently working for the Truax's and the state for their beautiful daughter Katelyn. I am taking care of her two to three nights a week. And Josh is workng about 60 hours or more a week at Parrot Creek Ranch-a boys facility! God is using him mightily in these young mens lives-and he is so good at connecting with the boys with love and discipline. Josh will have to tell you some of the amazing testimonies that are happening while he works.
All that to say Josh and I know that we are right were we are supposed to be. We know we are having a baby sometime in April- but past that we have no idea yet! But we both really feel that the Lord is birthing not only a child but something so big and life changing. We know that it is definately a standard and a way of life for Josh and I. We feel it even though we don't know what specifically what it is. God is definately speaking and we have really been pressing in and asking Him for so much more of Himself! The "real Jesus" to be revealed to us and everyone we know. So many of us are so miss guided by a "false" Jesus and we just want people to be freed of everything they have been taught about Christ that is not real. God is good and is the author and perfector of life, not death and destruction-John 10:10. He has called us to live an abundant life! Not just an okay life, but ABUNDANT!!! What does that look like and how do we live it out day to day? Ask Him...
We love you all and would love to know what's going on in your lives and how we can pray and partner as a body together with you.
Jess for the Clarks

BABY!

Hi Family and Friends,

Sorry it has been a while since we have written anything! We are trying to transition back in America and WE ARE PREGNANT! Can you believe it, Josh and Jess are with a a child :) God is so good and His timing is perfect! When we got married we both said that we would like to have at least three years to get to know each other more before starting a family. Well God definately did answer our prayers and a few other small requests I had, like wanting to see a baby being born before I had one, giving us a name for the baby and not just a cute name we through sounded pleasing to the ears.
So whats happening now:
-Josh just started work today back with the youth facility and got a raise :)
-We had our first doctors appointment today for baby- they are guessing that I am a little over 10 weeks along
-This week we will be moving to Beavercreek and finally settling in and we are going to be able to sleep on our own bed after 4 months! Now that is pretty exciting to us because we have eithor been camping-doing cycle Oregon or sleeping on two separate twin beds since we have been home.
-I just found out that I will be working at Beavercreek where we will be living-It is through the state like I have done before just with a little girl named Katelyn who is such a sweety and a miracle!
So all that to say, Josh and I have been extremly busy and tired.
We love you all and can't wait to catch up!
Blessings, The now Clark "clan"

We are going to miss our African home!

Family and Friends,

We are coming to the end. We are really sad to leave this beautiful place. The Macua people, the children, the land and the Locke’s are going to make it really hard to go. We really feel at home here in so many ways. It’s amazing what 3 months of your life can do, especially with a call in your life and when God is in the center of the whole thing, perfectly orchestrating it at His timing. Living here has really taught us to live Jesus out. This is truly a place where simply speaking about Jesus and throwing a bible at someone isn’t what it takes. It requires you to be in the dirt as they are in the dirt; to eat with your fingers when they eat with their fingers and to live in complete community with them; to be all things to all people so that we might win some for Jesus.
Josh and I have truly learned that the comforts of home are way overrated. Yes, they can be and are very nice but we have learned to live without and to have such Joy without! It has been so beautiful and so humbling. We live in a room that is 5 ft by 10 ft, and we sometimes have electricity and a well where we can get water at any time. We are richer than over 90% of Mozambique! We both have about 5 outfits each and a pair of shoes. Over 90% of people don’t even have shoes here. What I am saying in all of this is that Jesus has really taught us to live without the “American Norm” and we are loving it!!! It is so so freeing!
Josh and I are really praying for our school loans to be paid some how. We have an amazing vision of what God has put on our hearts. We will have to tell all of you later  In person at least. God has put missions in our hearts and has really given us a Kingdom focus, in America, South America, Kenya and England! We have met some really amazing people here that we will be able to net work with for the rest of our lives. God has brought such rich relationships to us that will definitely be life long. God is really showing us that He is adventurous and so FUN!! GOD IS FUN… He is the creator of Fun! He loves to lavish His love on us and He loves to answer the prayers of His children, just ask Him and rest in the confidence assurance that we have in Him. God is truly blowing our minds away at how much He loves His children. He will give you the desires of your heart if you have a pure heart and faith in the power of our KING! Don’t even doubt for a second! There’s no need to, He is all knowing and has the perfect timing. If God has put something on your heart or a certain passion for something it is for a reason, pursue it in prayer. I say this as a reminder to me and for Jesus to truly tell you His heart! I love all of you and I want you all to experience the power of the one we love and worship. He is not a boring King with all of these religious rules ready to condemn you when you slip up. If any of you are struggling with this just ask Jesus to CHANGE YOUR WAY OF THINKING- that is true REPENTANCE in the Greek and Hebrew translation. Repentance is to change the way we think. Pray it- you will be amazed at what God does.
Jesus, we love you so much and are so honored that You chose us to represent You! You chose us to love your people with the love of the Kingdom, through Kingdom eyes. Teach us how to receive Your love so that it enables us to be free in our callings. To be free in the person you have made us, so free that we no longer have to be self conscious about anything. You haven’t called us to live with a spirit of timidity but of boldness and power. Thank you for all you have given to your children!

We love you and can’t wait to see you all and serve with you. Blessings!!!
~Jess and Josh~

Dad and Jody,

We miss you and can’t wait to see you both. How was the summer? Harley? I hope great! Connecting has been so hard, especially with the Mozambique internet. Josh and I are so excited to go camping and eat real food! We are already planning our meals that we want people to make  Is that bad?
We are leaving Pemba on the 19th. We are so sad to go; we have really loved our time here. God has done such amazing things in our lives and hearts. We are so excited to share what God has given us a vision for!
We love you lots!
And by the way, Jim and Jean are going to call you for camping info for cycle o. their number is 503-394-3059.
we will be arriving in Oregon the 22nd. We will check to make sure.

Josh and Jess



Dad and Mom,

We love you and miss you. We are so sad to leave this amazing place. How you’re your summer? I hope great! I can’t wait to go camping. Mom please do me the biggest greatest favor. Josh and I need to go to Lake Billy for at least 4 nights and I really need help getting reservations. Please mom, can you call them and get some dates after cycle Oregon any time after the 16th. We both know that we will definitely need some time together to rest and process the summer. We know that we are asking alot but this would really be a blessing. Are you both still in for cycle Oregon? I hope so, if you are going call Josh’s dad for reservations for the camper 503-557-0976. He will give you all the details. It has to happen a.s.a.p. if they don’t answer, keep calling. They are funny that way. We love you so much and I think we will be arriving in Oregon the 22nd. We will check to make sure.
We love you so much, Jess and Josh

It was done on the cross!

Hello everyone. We hope that this is a little bit better with no keeping you all waiting so long. Yesterday Jess and I had the chance to visit a village to be with a local pastor. He invited us to his house and gave us a papaya even though they had no other food. It was amazing and we had the opportunity to buy them food to last them a month. We actually got to be the hands of Jesus and provide for a family who has nothing. They were so blessed by this. We are both learning so much about loving people. Jesus is amazing. Jessica is growing so much. She is beginning to get visions and words and dreams. Jesus in her is exploding! It is so much fun to watch. We are growing deeper into the things of Christ and growing deeper together here. We truly are at home here as well as in Oregon. We can’t wait to see all of you. I, Josh, am also learning the language like a madman. I am holding full conversations with the locals and having no problem being by myself on the street. Jesus is so good. I want to share with all of you a little bit of what Jesus did this week in me. Jessica will share later with all of you.

A couple of days ago my house group did a presentation interpreting a parable from the underside. This means that we needed to see it through the eyes of someone on the margins of society. We had a very powerful presentation that I had the opportunity to write. I was then asked to write another longer presentation and narrate it as well. It was a true story from one of the guest speakers who has an amazing story to tell. This particular story was about a young 16 year old girl in India who, to make a long story, was raped by her husbands friends and then hung by her husband. The rope didn’t hold her and she came crashing down, hit her head and became insane. She was tortured many times and many times people in her own village tried to kill her. The speaker, Shampa Rice, ended up caring for her after they had poisoned her many times. No doctor thought she would make it because of the high level of arsenic in her system. All in all, she was healed of everything, including her mind being lost. After she got well she told Shampa that she wanted to go back to her village and be with her husband. In the process of her healing, she forgave her husband and the village and the village became radically saved because of what happened. I didn’t have much time to process this during the writing but Jesus allowed me to process this after we performed. I was broken and began sobbing right there in the tent with everyone around. I was asking Jesus, “How can I forgive those who hurt other people so badly?” Jesus then spoke very clearly to me, “You love me and I will teach you how to love them.” I then heard from Jesus again, “If you can love those who hurt you, you will be able to love those who hurt others. Look at the Cross.” This has begun a change in me like never before. The Cross is the key. Jesus was able to forgive those who hung him on the cross. All I have to do is see the cross; see the work done on the cross out of Love. The Cross has to be the model for loving others because it takes us face to face with what Jesus did and who he did it for and why he did it. We can’t hide behind our preferences; we can’t make the choice not to love because we are offended or have a grudge. We simply have to see the Cross. I believe this is the beginning of what God has in store for Jessica and I; to see people as Christ saw them on the Cross; worth dying for. It’s about seeing them not as a target but as people worth helping, touching, loving, without any expectation. Imagine what the church would look like if this was our focus; to love everyone without the expectation of them coming to Jesus; to still love and care for them if even on their death bed they don’t accept Jesus. If we can love even then, we will see so many people changed for the Gospel. Pray about this and I promise Jesus will meet you on either side of the spectrum (you may totally disagree, just seek Jesus). I love you all.