Last week I was in a small town called Pontesbury with the new students for an outreach. We slept on the floor of Pontesbury Baptist Church, had a few classes, planned an International Night for the community, went door to door... and did an outreach in Shrewsbury, the home of Charles Darwin. We distributed tracts, initiated conversations, and had dramas, face painting, singing, and testimonies- all in the town square! The first gentleman I talked to told me I was brainwashed for not thinking that we all evolved and that the earth was created by a big bang. I also talked to a few young girls and tried asking them questions.. They didn't believe in God and thought that science held all the answers. After giving them a few questions and asking about God, they said that they would rather (if God was real) God just make everyone love Him and have no free choice.. I wasn't sure if they were really listening or not.. But I know that they will be thinking and God will be working in their hearts and I don't have to be the one to convince them that God loves them...
The best part of the outreach... was the FOOD. Sorry to sound unspiritual ;), but I had the privilege of going to Cliff and Ann's house for dinner.. and she is celiac, too! It was the first time that I had smelled the cooking after walking into their house in a whole year!!! and I felt at HOME. It was sooo delicious and wonderful. I was blessed.
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Rubbed and Scraped
"Over a sketch made idly to amuse a child, an artist may not take much trouble: he may be content even though it is not exactly as he meant it to be. But over the great picture of his life- the work which he loves, though in a different fashion, as intensely as a man loves a woman or a mother a child- he will take endless trouble- and would, doubtless, thereby give endless trouble to the picture if it were sentient. One can imagine a sentient picture, after being rubbed and scraped and rec-commenced for the tenth time, wishing that it were only a thumb-nail sketch whose making was over in a minute. In the same way, it is natural for us to wish that God had designed us for a less glorious and less arduous destiny, but then we are wishing not for more love but for less."
-CS Lewis
-CS Lewis
Monday, 13 September 2010
Warwick Week
THe last week after GO Conference I've been staying at one of the outreach team houses in Warwick, England! (I went here with the Enrights when they visited!!) I stayed with the 'oldies,' or the GAers that arrived in January. We went because there were no seminars for us (muahahaha ;) and the new GAers (27 in total!) needed to get settled in..
I really enjoyed the Warwick Team ministries! On Monday we had Coffee Stop at the church. This is where the team sets up a coffee/tea time for church members and outsiders can enjoy a hot drink and cookie. One of the reasons I enjoyed this day so much is because a homeless guy, Mark, came in. He told me his story of how he had been kicked out of his house and sleeping under a tree by the canal. He told me that he had nothing but that he had just gotten a job at a restaurant in Solihull (20 min train ride). He let me pray for him (!!!!!) and I got the rest of the team involved. We were able to provide him with food for a a few meals, a tarp, a sleeping bag, and a few extras to get him ready for his first day of work. After coffee stop we took him to the train station and bought him a week's worth of train tickets to Solihull because he had no way to get to work..
The next day was our day off. YEEEHAW! :D
Wednesday was Venla's birthday!! Venla is from Finland and arrived when I did.. We had a nice, slow morning before taking her to Birmingham to celebrate. :D
Thursday was Prayer Emphasis Day.. Our once-a-month day at the base where we have a message (this time from my pastor, Jonathan Greaves from Monmouth) and a few hours of prayer.
On Friday we hosted another Coffee Stop. Mark showed up again and we were able to give him some clothes from Charlie, our missionary 'closet.' He said that work was going well.
Warwick has the a super sweet ministry on Saturdays... Kayaking!!! Soooo fun. :) We went with some people from church- including one of the teens we chauffeured to Teenstreet! Of course, I splashed him with my oar, and by the end of the trip was soaking wet. :) A day well spent..
Now for those of you who are interested in English geography.. Warwick has a freaking amazing castle and is located on the river Avon... I stayed right across from the church where JRR Tolkien got married. And yes, I licked it, too.
I really enjoyed the Warwick Team ministries! On Monday we had Coffee Stop at the church. This is where the team sets up a coffee/tea time for church members and outsiders can enjoy a hot drink and cookie. One of the reasons I enjoyed this day so much is because a homeless guy, Mark, came in. He told me his story of how he had been kicked out of his house and sleeping under a tree by the canal. He told me that he had nothing but that he had just gotten a job at a restaurant in Solihull (20 min train ride). He let me pray for him (!!!!!) and I got the rest of the team involved. We were able to provide him with food for a a few meals, a tarp, a sleeping bag, and a few extras to get him ready for his first day of work. After coffee stop we took him to the train station and bought him a week's worth of train tickets to Solihull because he had no way to get to work..
The next day was our day off. YEEEHAW! :D
Wednesday was Venla's birthday!! Venla is from Finland and arrived when I did.. We had a nice, slow morning before taking her to Birmingham to celebrate. :D
Thursday was Prayer Emphasis Day.. Our once-a-month day at the base where we have a message (this time from my pastor, Jonathan Greaves from Monmouth) and a few hours of prayer.
On Friday we hosted another Coffee Stop. Mark showed up again and we were able to give him some clothes from Charlie, our missionary 'closet.' He said that work was going well.
Warwick has the a super sweet ministry on Saturdays... Kayaking!!! Soooo fun. :) We went with some people from church- including one of the teens we chauffeured to Teenstreet! Of course, I splashed him with my oar, and by the end of the trip was soaking wet. :) A day well spent..
Now for those of you who are interested in English geography.. Warwick has a freaking amazing castle and is located on the river Avon... I stayed right across from the church where JRR Tolkien got married. And yes, I licked it, too.
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