INTERVIEW WITH DARCY MCLANE

By Rita Prochazka and Deborah Malone

Questions by Rita:

Darcy, would you share some of your testimony with our readers?

I have been blessed to have been raised in a Christian home and have experienced God’s provision and guidance from a very early age. I am grateful for my personal relationship with Christ and how it has grown over the years. From my childhood, I remember learning Bible stories for how God created, provided and guided His people. I remember memorizing scripture in my youth that I still draw on today. I remember seeking His truth and purpose in my young adult years. As I raised my children, I remember learning the power of prayer, as I prayed for wisdom and strength to raise my children. As I started Hope Endeavors, I remember learning the importance of obedience and putting my trust in His plan to bring HOPE to the children we were ministering to.

In your walk with God in this season of your life, what are some things you’ve learned you can share with our readers?

In this season of my life, I have learned of God’s faithfulness, and I seek to bring Him honor and glory in everything we do. I have seen first-hand how God provides as we have fed far more children than the food we provided should have fed. I have seen Him not only bring HOPE to those suffering in extreme poverty, I have seen Him be HOPE.

Darci how have you prepared/been prepared for your ministry over the years?

I think my preparation began very early as I shared in my testimony. I also believe that God used my education and administration skills for His purpose. Or maybe He knew what skills I would need and began preparing those opportunities for me in advance. While I am not a preacher, teacher or speaker by any means, I have administrative skills. God has used those skills to cast the vision and mission of HOPE Endeavors, to build a team, develop project plans and the resources for those plans. He has been faithful to bring those plans in being for His Glory.

Questions by Deborah:

Darci, thank you so much for being our guest today. What would your advice be to other “seasoned” women on ways to stay active in ministry?

My advice would be that God is faithful and can use you in any season. I would encourage you to look at all the blessings, experiences, skills and abilities that God has given you and for you to use them to bring the HOPE that is in Christ to those God has prepared for you and your ministry. I can no longer carry 50lb bags of maize or supplies, I can no longer hike up mountains delivering HOPE buckets, but I can pray, lead, support and share this ministry with others who can.

Can you tell us a little about your ministry?

It all started in 2004, on a mission trip to the Philippines. I had been completely content living my version of the American dream. I was raising three wonderful gifts from God and had a career I enjoyed. On this trip, I came face to face with extreme poverty. God broke my heart, and I knew I had to do more. But what? I wasn’t a doctor, nurse or pastor. It was through this experience that God showed me how he had uniquely gifted me to serve Him.

My gifting was in the area of administration so I founded Hope Endeavors in 2005 along with my husband, Rod, and dear friends, Mike and Denise Vrooman. Today I am the Executive Director of Hope Endeavors and oversee the operations of Hope Village in Malawi, Africa as my hobby on steroids.

Hope Endeavors is a 501c3 charitable organization whose mission is to bring HOPE to those suffering in extreme poverty. We are committed to helping children not only survive but thrive by providing holistic care and sustaining projects that provide hope for the future. We seek to educate, engage and empower others to make a difference.

We operate Hope Village in Malawi, Africa, the poorest and hardest hit country with HIV in the world. Hope Village is an HIV/AIDS Orphan Care Center where children affected by AIDS (mainly born with) receive residential care, nutritious food, clean water, medical care as well as emotional and spiritual care. Over the years, Hope Village has expanded to be a compassionate community with not just a Care Center, but also a Preschool, a Medical Clinic and Kids Clubs that serve not just Hope Village but the surrounding villages as well.

In an effort to provide for the needs of the children and the community, Hope Village also operates a maize mill, a poultry and goat barn, a garden and a maize farm.

We reach over 6,200 HIV/AIDS affected children each month thru our Kids Club. We are currently in the process of building Family Homes for children which will allow them to live in a home with house parents instead of a dormitory setting to enhance the parental and spiritual role modeling offered by a family.

A vocation school is the next BIG endeavor! We have come a long way from hoping our children can survive to seeing a future where they thrive. So now we need to equip our young adults with vocational skills. We will start with three courses: Plumbing and Sheet Metal Work, Carpentry and Joinery, and Textile Design and Tailoring.

I am so excited to see how God moves in this next season at Hope Village and in my life.

Darcy, what challenges have you had to overcome in this time of your “seasoned” ministry?

As I am getting older and can see retirement from my career in my future, I am excited about the additional time and focus I will have to devote to Hope Endeavors, but the challenge is wondering how this ministry will be sustained, who comes after me. The challenge is to remember that God is always in control and while I do not always see His plan, I can rest assured that God has this too!

Learn more about Hope Endeavors and how you can help at www.https://hopeendeavors.com/