Missionaries in the Pipeline
Derek and Kristin Dearth
Derek and Kristin both grew up in the Midwest~Derek in Neenah, WI, and Kristin in Mt. Pleasant, MI. During what was supposed to be their college years, they instead chose to be nonconformists and spend one and a half years with ACTION in Lusaka, Zambia, which is where they met. Both of them spent time working primarily with street kids and the HIV crisis. It was in Zambia that God gave Derek the desire to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and Kristin the desire to become a Registered Nurse.
After returning to the Midwest and getting married, they soon realized that their hearts were back in Africa. They pursued various opportunities to work with HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa, but none excited them like the unexpected request from Tim Hilty, AZM’s field director, to return to Zambia and lead the C.R.O.S.S. Project. Because Derek and Kristin were pursuing career missions, they wanted overwhelming confirmation that this was the right fit, which God graciously and repeatedly displayed through hours of conversation with the Hiltys and through a visit to Zambia in August 2009.
Currently, Derek is looking forward to graduating from Moody Bible Institute in May 2010, and Kristin happily finished nursing school, passing her Boards Exam in May/June of this year. They are soaking up biblical teaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN, and are focusing on raising support to be in Zambia by the summer or fall of 2010.
They are delighted that God’s good providence would send them back to Zambia and are excited to join such a stellar team.
Kelly and Tricia Huckaby
Kelly and Tricia met in Bellingham, Washington, in 1995. After Tricia graduated with a BA in English in 1999 from Western Washington University, they were married and moved to Portland, Oregon where Kelly planned to pursue a degree in culinary arts. Their first year of marriage, out on their own in a new city, was extremely challenging and it was those challenges coupled with persistent anxiety issues that drove Tricia to call out to the Lord and submit her life to Him. Kelly and Tricia decided to move back to Bellingham to attend Cornwall Church so Kelly could complete his BA in U.S. history, social studies and political science. After seeing first-hand how God was transforming his wife, Kelly also gave his life to the Lord in 2002.
The Huckabys served at their church as well as volunteered in the community at an adult family home for people living with HIV/AIDS. At that time God gave Kelly and Tricia a heart for Africa, the people who were living and dying with HIV/AIDS, and the children being orphaned because of the disease.
God eventually led Kelly and Tricia into high school ministry. While Kelly pursued his Master’s in teaching and Tricia coordinated a sexual abstinence program for teens, they served as high school leaders at their church. Kelly and Tricia continue to enjoy mentoring high school and college-age students. To this day they cannot resist pizza and board games.
Early in 2007 Kelly and Tricia spent four months in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where Kelly completed his student teaching requirements. This was an exciting and valuable cross-cultural experience and Kelly and Tricia both felt that God was possibly preparing them for life outside of the U.S. Upon completion of student teaching, Kelly and Tricia returned to Bellingham where Tricia gave birth to their son, Lucas, in August of 2007. After the joy of adding Lucas to the family, Kelly and Tricia began discussing and researching adoption. Through that process God reoriented their hearts and minds towards serving as missionaries in another country.
After many months of studying and praying, Kelly and Tricia sat excitedly in their seats at Oikos Fellowship in Bellingham where an Action Zambia missionary was preaching. It was as if the speaker’s words were a message for the Huckabys! Kelly and Tricia could not contain their joy after the service as they shared their hearts’ desire. At that time they learned of an opportunity Ciyanjano, Action Zambia’s Ministry Centre. (For more information, check out “Ministry Areas” on AZM’s website.)
Just weeks later Kelly and Tricia were in Zambia to meet the team and there was no doubt that God was calling them to serve in Lusaka. In early May the Huckabys completed their orientation with Action International and began their deputation.
Kelly and Tricia are living in Bellingham, Washington where they are raising the necessary funds to head to Zambia. If you would like to contact the Huckabys click here.
