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Posted in Mozambique
by Jessica McClure
on 6/7/2008
I just got through typing a blog for our group site, so for the sake of not being redundant (and the fact that I have gotten probably 5 hours of sleep total in the last two days), check it out here.
God is good. This summer is going to be good. I fly out tommorow. Pray for us.
Much love. I'll update again when I can.
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Posted in Mozambique
by Jessica McClure
on 5/30/2008
Hey friends,
Tomorrow, the craziness begins. I report for Real Life training and meet my co-leader Stephen (Marissa, the other female co-leader is meeting us in Jo'burg since she lives in Swaziland right now). On Tuesday, our students will arrive and we will have training together for about a week. We fly out of ATL on the 7th, arriving in Johannesburg, South Africa sometime on the 8th. We will have to bus up to where we are staying in central Mozambique (which I hear is about a 16 hr trek -yikes!), but these details have yet to be divulged to me. We missionaries have to go with the flow, eh? :)
Right now I am at work in the AIM office, tying up loose ends and trying to finish up some projects before tomorrow evening. I am really antsy to get this party started, though-meet my team and get going already! But I know that there is a time and purpose for everything, so I look forward to bonding this time at training camp.
 I appreciate your support so much and do ask for your prayer covering as we go out. Here are some specific ways you can pray for me and my team:
· For hunger-I am asking God to increase my hunger for Him-and for each one of my teammates as well. We can't truly love those around us if He is not the main desire of our hearts.
·For protection from the enemy: any where there is an increase of light and hope, satan tries to increase his darkness. This can be especially evident in places of extreme poverty. Pray that we will recognize spiritual warfare and put on the armor of Christ(Eph 6)
· For our leadership team (Stephen, Marissa, and myself). That God will show us how to lead, love and serve well. Pray also for me as this will be my first experience intensely discipling others. I know God will equip me with every good thing when I need it.
· Safety. There has been a lot of unrest and violence in South Africa lately. Pray for protection as we travel.
· For ministry opportunities. I know we will be working with the children under the Rudolph's care. I also know that they show the Jesus film there and do outreaches in various villages. Pray for boldness and love as we go out and be His hands and feet.
· The Rudolph family, who were are partnering with in their ministry to orphans. You can check out their website, too at http://www.mozambique-orphans.co.za/. They are truly living in sacrificial obedience and we want to serve them in every way we can while we are there.
· My support. I currently have 2000 dollars in my support account and a hand full of monthly supporters, but am still a long way from my 1500 dollar a month goal. I pray that this trip will help cast vision more for my ministry at AIM as I speak to supporters upon my return in August.
I will continue to post on my blog during the summer, though my internet access will be sporadic. Check back for pics and stories!
Again, thank you so much for who you are in my life. I pray an increase of God's grace, peace and blessings upon each of you
~Jess
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Posted in Mozambique
by Jessica McClure
on 5/26/2008
Ok..I was just perusing some of our World Racers's blogs, and I realized that some of our racers are currently in Vilanculos, with Jaco and Maria, our host contacts. One of the girls posted a blog about a snorkeling experience she and her teammates had off the coast of Vilanculos, which is apparently known to have one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. Check this pic out
ummm...yeah. can you say beautiful?
Do you know what is more beautiful, though? The 43 little ones that are under the Rudolph's and their ministry's care. 43 precious children of God with no mothers or fathers to take care of them. Yeah, that pic looks like paradise, but they are the reason that we are going to spend 55 days eating peanut butter for lunch and sleeping in tents. The Rudolph's have a website describing their ministry. Check it out, if ya like.
Only a few more days until my training begins. I will post again before the craziness starts.
I got this from the Mozambique orphans website. I think it is of Jaco with one of the kids in their care. Awe:)
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Posted in Just For Fun
by Jessica McClure
on 5/21/2008
Well, on a less deep and heart wrenching note than my last couple of posts, I thought I would share a blog site that has had me chuckling and procrastinating the past week or so. The author of Stuff Christians Like does a tongue in cheek critique of the Christian sub culture. Some of it is just for fun, like #233. Reading every single word in the bulletin when bored (come on, you know you have done it), but he does wedge some nuggets of truth in there from time to time that actually make you think and nod your head in agreement like #244. Making God Emo.
I want to post one that made me laugh out loud yesterday. Sure, it's ridiculous. I need a little more ridiculousness in my life. Plus, he mentioned Bio-Dome's Stephen Baldwin, which is always a sign of a good time.
 Have you ever thought what it would be like if Kirk Cameron and Bono got into a street fight to see who is the best famous Christian? Just a no holds barred, anything goes donnybrook? No? It's just me then, huh? Well here is what I think it would look like:
Kirk Cameron:
"Look Bono, even before I became really well known for my Christianity I was providing nice, appropriate laughter to millions of people on the hit show, 'Growing Pains.'"
Bono:
"Was that the one with Tony Danza? I get those all confused. Well, while you were making sitcoms that paved the way for 'Two and a Half Men,' I was touring the world singing songs with hidden Christian meaning to millions of people."
Kirk Cameron:
"Fair enough, but I have a powerful ministry called 'the way of the master.' Not only do we have an official crest and a series called "Hell's best kept secret," but my partner has a mustache and everyone knows there is something inherently spiritual about mustachioed men."
Bono:
"Ha, that is hilarious. I touched more hearts than you'll ever reach with my Super Bowl performance after 9/11 and I've allowed Christian musicians to cover my music for years. I didn't even gripe when my songs were covered and suddenly deemed acceptable for Christian radio just because a Christian band was doing them. And don't forget my work in Africa."
Kirk Cameron:
"Oh please, you have a guy named "edge' in your band. Who changes their name to 'edge?' And didn't you swear at the grammy's one year?"
Bono:
"Whoa, low blow, Mike Seaver, low blow. Don't you have a photo shoot you need to be doing with the Jonas Brothers for the magazine Tiger Beat?"
Stephen Baldwin:
"Guys, there's no need to fight. I'm the best famous Christian."
Bono:
"Bio-Dome's Stephen Baldwin, what are you doing here?"
Stephen Baldwin:
"I have a skate ministry and since Stuff Christians Like refuses to give me my own entry I had to crash your entry."
Kirk Cameron:
"None of this matters. I've just been toying with the both of you?"
Stephen Baldwin:
"Why do you say that?"
Kirk Cameron:
"Simple, I was in the movie version of 'Left Behind.'"
Bono:
"You win."
Stephen Baldwin:
"Thanks for having me. Good game. Jon give me a call. I'll give you a free Rob Roskopp old school skateboard."
You've never honestly had that scenario in your head while you're pumping gas or mowing the lawn? Not even a little bit?
I am weird.
Update: Tomorrow I'm writing a post about Bono's faith. And yes that is an autographed photo. And no it is not mine. Unfortunately.
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Posted in Heavenly Revelation
by Jessica McClure
on 5/19/2008
read Confessions of a Recovering Scoffer, part 1 for the beginning of this tale.
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does
not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matt 3:12
Once the IHOP dude got it together a little bit, he brought a powerful message based off of Matthew 3, where John the Baptist began his ministry. The Pharisees, the religious people of the day, the denominational leaders, if you will, came to where J.B. was baptizing and he totally called them out. "You brood of vipers!", he said (v.7). Talk about not being "seeker friendly". I don't know why the Pharisees came out to the Jordan that day, but it was probably not to repent and be baptized. More than likely it was to see what this crazy guy that forsook his priestly lineage, ate bugs, wore camel hair, and yelled at everyone was up to. Making sure he wasn't rocking the boat too much or saying too many crazy things. They were ready to shoot him down with their arsenal of religious history and theological know-how. The one who was destined from birth to prepare the way for Christ's ministry on earth was before them. But they were too busy scoffing at him, plotting to get his head on a platter, to see who he really was. They couldn't get past the externals that made them uncomfortable to see that God was using him. He wasn't crazy. He wasn't a fraud. Yes, he was beyond the scope of their experience. But that didn't make it any less real.
The speaker then told us about a dream God gave him a couple of weeks ago. In it there was a faceless prophet, which apparently symbolizes the Holy Spirit a lot of the time. This prophet had periodicals and magazines in his hand that had headlines that told about the dismantling of structures. The prophet said to him, "The structures within the church that are inhibiting the move of my Spirit are going to be judged. I will not continue to allow them to squelch my Spirit any longer."
As we began to pray and worship in response to this message, I was reminded of another verse in Matthew 21:
"Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit."
Suddenly, I knew I was on the threshold of a critical moment in my spiritual life. Was I with Him or was I not? Did I want all of Him, despite how messy it was or how uncomfortable it made me? Or will I continue to sit in my little judgmental corner, missing His Kingdom coming to this earth?
It's my choice. It's your choice.
One of our AIM staff spoke to us on Friday and told us: Either you change or you die. John the Baptist said that Jesus already has the axe to the root of the trees. Those that do not produce His fruit will be cut off and thrown into the fire. This is all harsh stuff to hear, but I think it is the wake up call our Christian culture needs. He wants us to be with Him where He is. He aches for it. He has been so merciful. Do you sense the urgency of this hour? He is calling us to join Him. He won't force us. But He also won't let us keep His Spirit from pouring out on those sons and daughters that are crying out for it.
So, here I am. On my 12 step program to scoffer recovery. Sure, holy laughter still irritates me a little. I still can't watch Todd Bentley bing, bang, boom for more than 15 mins at a time without needing a break. But, I also want Jesus more than I want to be comfortable. Or right. And only His grace has gotten me to this point.
So....what do you want?
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Posted in Heavenly Revelation
by Jessica McClure
on 5/19/2008
Change. It seems to be everywhere. In the weather patterns ( I know I have been away for awhile, but summer is usually pretty much here by now, right? And my parent's pool is still too cold to swim in..what's up with that?), in the economy, even in AIM. We were just told of some major restructuring that is going on within our leadership. The World Race is getting a new director. All kinds of new developments that will, I am sure, be the best thing for us all in the future. This time two weeks ago, I wasn't spending my summer in Africa. Now I am. Just over a week ago today, life as usual was going on in southwest China, now 34,000 deaths are being mourned while many, many more are still left buried under the aftermath of a devestating 7.8 earthquake. If life is anything right now, it is unpredictable.
I sense this change in the spiritual realm as well. God is revealing Himself in ways that we have never personally seen before. People are being healed. Set free. And I am not just talking about those crazy charismatics that love to whip themselves into a spiritual frenzy every Sunday with no real fruit coming of it. I am talking about tumors falling off, people getting out of wheelchairs, the dead being raised. I heard a story the other day of a man from a good 'ol evangelical church who went to the healing outpouring that is happening in Lakeland, FL. He came back to his congregation, full of the Holy Spirit. He was like, well this Todd Bentley guy said this is transferable, do you guys want it? They all said yes. Having no clue what to do, they called a meeting, and the man began to just lay hands on everyone present. Every single person fell out under the power of the Spirit. There was no flash or pomp, or sweaty prophet guy screaming at everyone. Just a desire for encounter. And He met them there.
Last night I attended the Encounter Service at the International House of Prayer in Atlanta. They were finishing up some kind of conference, and, boy was something stirring. Their director was pretty wrecked. Totally drunk in the spirit. He could barely talk. I had never been here before so I didn't have anything to compare it to, but my friend Dawn leaned over and said "He is NEVER like this." People were laughing uncontrollably in the audience. He was calling out symptoms of people who needed healing and as people stood in response we prayed for them. There were testimonies of healings from over the weekend-arthritis being healed, knees being restored. Lots of moaning and groaning, tears, and crying out.
Let me stop and be honest for a second. Usually this kind of stuff gets on my nerves. Bad. My knee jerk reaction to it is almost always negative. I sit and analyze what kind of group think is going on, how everyone is feeding off each other (dang that silly psych degree I have). I feel almost repulsed by it, yet there is a part of me that wonders why I am not laughing uncontrollably like a hyena. Is everyone just so much more spiritual and "with it" than I am? Well screw that! I don't want any part of it anyway...
Ah, can you see where this is going? Hi, my name is Jessica and I am a recovering scoffer. It's been a long road, but I think I am finally realizing something: I have put my God in a box. He is sick of it and is ready to come out.
stay tuned for the rest of this story in Confessions of a Recovering Scoffer, part 2
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Posted in Mozambique
by Jessica McClure
on 5/13/2008
the following is excerpts from my fellow World Race staffmate, Jimmy's, blog. He and his World Race team first connected with Jaco and Maria, the South African couple that is hosting me and my Real Life team, last summer. It has been great hearing about his experience there, and getting to know a little bit about what to expect. Reading this makes me excited to hop a plane with my team and get there already!!
4:30am in the distance is heard a series of drum beats of unknown meaning or origin. The sun rises shortly thereafter and the African day begins. The people of Vilanculos rise and retire early by nature (and necessity due to firelight being the only source of illumination available).
Squad A is living on the grounds of a church led by Pastor Laura. The church was demolished in the recent cyclone and the congregation has been busy at work dedicating all their free time and resources to rebuild. At any given point in time, wooden shafts can be de-barked and large tree trunks can be cleaned in the same fashion.
The church is home to a community of individuals many of whom are still ambiguously related if related at all. Children run everywhere, many of whom have been orphaned but are cared for by the village of people. The children are happy and mesmerized by the group of American's now living nearby. They stay as late as possible to watch how we do everything and engage with us whenever is permitted by our hosts.
Music fills this culture like none other I have ever seen. The repertoire consists of many spirituals and a series of upbeat choruses. The acapella refrains echo in natural two and three part harmonies in an incredibly beautiful blend of voices. The style is for one individual to lead and somewhat improvise as the chorus chimes in in complete unison to follow. The children know their own set of music and complicated dance routines and love performing for us on a regular basis.
The African culture has been unbelievably hospitable. We have realized that there is almost nothing that won't be done for us should we ask including rides into town and around the area and water should we need it. It is an insult to offer compensation unless it is presented as a gift.
We are living almost directly on the Indian Ocean on the Mozambiquan coast. We have discovered that Vilanculos is a known hot spot for Marlin and Barracuda fisherman so South Africans and other tourists are not uncommon to see around town. Despite the remote nature of the town, it is surprisingly familiar to many foreigners.
Team LO and us have set up camp with the Rudolph family here in Vilanculos and are having a great time living in community. Jaco, Maria and their two children Rudo and Maggie are South African and have lived here in Mozambique for the last four years. Prior to Mozambique they were in Namibia and believe with all their heart that God has called them to the mission field.
Their lives are truly inspiring! They are industrious, friendly, hard-working, passionate people who have chosen to live in their little reed house and dedicate their lives to the people of Mozambique. They have chosen to spend quite a bit of time investing in the lives of two sets of orphan villages. The village of Tamane has 23 orphans that survive due to the food and affects provided by this family.
We have spent our time since leaving Pambara slipping into various roles that come with living in community. Some cook, others clean, the boys build, the girls sew, it has become one big happy family. I have been blown away by the faith of this family who live month to month using their generator to power their house and take hot showers when God provides the money to support such luxuries. The children attend school some days during the week but learn the majority of their academics through Maria's homeschooling efforts. They host an English church service in their home and spend their days serving churches, schools, community leaders, orphans and others in need.
Jaco has bought into the Jesus Film project and has copies of both the Jesus Film and The Passion of the Christ in Portuguese and Xitsua (the local dialect). He has been blessed to start literally dozens of churches through the showing of these two films. We will be participating in one or two of these efforts before leaving Vilanculous. Today, some of us will be delivering blankets and sleeping pads to the Tamane orphans. The boys are continuing construction on some shower and bathroom facilities that will be used to serve short-term mission teams that visit Vilanculous and the various projects Maria has put us to are a tremendous blessing to their family.
We cook together, drink coffee in the mornings together, ration our hot water together. It's true community and I love it. Pray for LO's and 61 as we continue our ministry here with the Rudolphs and share God's truth with the people here in Vilanculous.
Our orphan friends in Pambara,Mozambique
Mozambique is beautiful, the people are friendly and God is very apparently present. Praise God for Africa!
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Posted in Mozambique
by Jessica McClure
on 5/12/2008
This is a blog I wrote over a year ago about my time at Iris Ministries in Maputo, Mozambique. I know God has so much more to show me about His healing power and our role in it all. I love seeing how He is continuing these lessons for me.
written 1/27/07
"Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land." ~ Proverbs 25:25
I
get an email newsletter from a missionary couple who works at the
orphanage I visited in Mozambique this past November. It is great to
still be in the loop on what is happening there. God has been teaching
me about the mairaculous more and more and His desire to astound us
with the work of His hands. And while I am belieiving more and more in
mairacles that can happen in the blink of an eye (the lame walking, the
blind seeing, etc.), He has encouraged me most in those little
mairacles, the ones where he uses his people (he loves to use us!), the
ones that you watch develop over time. The pictures below are of
Mateus and Yuran, two sweet baby boys I encountered during my time in
Mozambique. Mateus was abandoned on the streets at just weeks old, and
brought to Iris by the police. Yuran was wasting away at an ill
equipped orphanage that the director of Iris Zimpeto visited, and she
couldn't bear to leave him there. The first pics in the progression
are ones I got from the missionaries that they took upon the babies'
arrival to Zimpeto. The ones that follow show their progress. It is
astounding. It did not happen overnight. This transformation came
through hours of night-watches, of 3am feedings, of prayers of healing,
of trusting the Lord with these little lives. Now these children,
whose eyes were so clouded with pain and hurt, and fear beyond
description are smiling, laughing, walking, and, dare I say, CHUBBY!
That is a mairacle, my friends, no less than turning water into wine or
spitting on some mud for a blind man to see. He wants to work through
us, to use us. Are we hearing His call?
Yuran arrival
Yuran around 2 months later-taken while I was there!
Mateus arrival
Mateus with me in November
and Mateus NOW!!
"Why are you waiting for a mairacle when YOU are the mairacle that I sent??"
-written in my journal 6-15-06
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Posted in Testimonies of His power and grace
by Jessica McClure
on 5/11/2008
Every good and perfect gift
is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who
does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
This past week God has just been so gracious to me. There are times in your life that you trust God's goodness sometimes just by the sheer fact that His very nature is good and you know He doesn't change. And then there are other times where you are just smacked in the face with His goodness-the times His hand is just so evident in your daily life.
Here are a few ways He has shown me His goodness within the past week:
1.) Well, as I have already announced on the blog, I am going to Mozambique for two months! The craziness of how this has all unfolded this past week has left me a little dazed. Returning to Mozambique has been something I have wanted to do ever since I visited there in the fall of '06. I saw how God was moving through that country in such a powerful way-and even in the midst of the devastation that continues to hit that place, His hope is so evident there. After spending three weeks there, I felt strongly in my spirit that I would return some day, though I had no clue what that looked like. I had even considered doing the Holy Given School of Missions through Iris Ministries. Personal circumstances in my life made me doubt that I could pursue this, even though it was a strong desire of my heart. I feel as if this opportunity to return to Moz is God's gracious, gracious way of giving me that heat desire, despite my own self doubt and uncertainty in the past. And the orchestration of this venture could only be fleshed out by a sovereign God who loves to give good gifts to His children. I get to be in the field (where my heart really is, anyway), work with college students (which I love), and get some personal experience with AIM (something that I think is really vital to my success there as I come on staff full time). And as if God hasn't shown off enough, He provides all this for me pretty much FREE. Seriously, could it get any better?
2.) Since moving in with my parents a couple of months ago, I began attending the church I grew up in and have become involved with the children's ministry on Wednesday nights. I have been teaching the older kids (which, on a good day is three girls. Let's just say, the church has been through a lot.) about prayer after the regular teaching. I have worked with kids a lot in the past, but this has been my first solo teaching experience. Last Wednesday, we were talking about contemplative prayer and I had the girls (two sisters) meditate on a passage of scripture for a few minutes and then ask God to speak to them about it. I was a little nervous. I mean this is a Southern Baptist church. These kids have never heard this kind of stuff before. When I had given them a couple of minutes in silence and prayer, I asked if any one wanted to share what came to mind. A word, a thought, a picture, anything. Alisha, the older sister said "I heard God say that when I go on a field trip with my school this Friday, that He wants me to tell someone about Him while I am there." What?! So...wasn't expecting that one! I was so excited for Alisha- that she heard Him so clearly and that she was open to share with us. We prayed for her about that, asking God to give her a divine appointment on Friday and to make her bold. I can't wait to hear how it all turned out!
3.) I was able to see most of my Cairo family at the ATL airport last night as they passed through on their way back from Lakeland. They had a two hour layover, and we met in the atrium there, had some dinner and caught up. I loved hearing about their experience at the revival. We also had a really sweet time of prayer together-and they "sent me off" to this task God has called me to this summer. Their support means so much to me and I know that I cannot do this without their prayers and spiritual covering. I thank God so much for the opportunity for a little commissioning to happen in the food court of the ATL airport.
4.) within the past 5 days, my support account has quadrupled,and I have been blessed with another monthly supporter. He really is Jehovah-Jireh, our provisional God.
 thank, you, Abba, for being the type of Father that delights in showing your goodness to your children. Thank you that goodness is the very core of who You are. Forgive me for forgetting...
surely goodness and mercy cover me
all the days of my life, they cover me
-Jason Upton
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Posted in Mozambique
by Jessica McClure
on 5/6/2008
So..my immediate future has changed drastically in the last 24 hours. Yesterday I recieved a phone call from the Real Life coordinator here at AIM-and was asked to co-lead a two month long trip to Mozambique starting on May 30!! (yes that is 24 days from now). This trip is with AIM's Real Life program, which is a one-three month discipleship and ministry training program for 18-22 year olds. I would be co-leading with another AIM staff and bascially discipling and walking alongside the students during this missions experience, concentrating specifically on the girls of my team. With the blessing of my supervisors here at the World Race I accepted the position! I really believe God has opened this door to get some real, hands on experience with AIM and to give me a stronger foundation in my ministry here. Plus, I absolutely fell in love with Mozambique when I went there 1 1/2 years ago, and I have been aching to go back ever since. And the best part--I have no expenses for this trip-my flight and living expenses are 100% covered (except for personal needs, of course). I am praising God for His faithfulness and provision right now!!
So...I have a busy next few weeks ahead of me. Please keep me in your prayers as I embark on this new adventure. Pray for my Real Life team-that we will be unified and that God will equip me to lead, serve, and love well.
I am going to be writing more about this later, but I just wanted to get the word out! Thank you all so much for your support and prayer.
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