So much happens in just one day here. Last night, Bri and I were up late talking about God and just being amazed by Him. I was thinking about trust and I opened her Bible to Psalm 20. "Some trust in chariots and some in horses... but I trust in the name of the Lord our God. It was bananas! God was confirming things left and right yesterday!
In the middle of the night last night, Bri woke me up by talking in her sleep. I freaked out and looked over to see if she was ok. She was. But then I heard a voice in my head screaming at me: "GO, GO! Get out of here, NOW!" I wanted to talk to Karen about it, but something held me back. So I prayed and fell asleep. I believe it was the enemy SERIOUSLY trying to get me to leave. That only gives me more motivation to be here!
This morning, Colin took us to see Loraine's parents. She seems pretty set on coming to the states. After that, he took us to the Marina and went to a meeting. Karen, Bri, and I walked along the sea for about two miles into the next town where we found a beach. I filled up a bottle I had with sand for Tim. On the way back, my feet started blistering really badly. I've been wearing the same flip-flops the whole time since my bag just came in today. Speaking of which, MY BAG CAME!
Later, we went to a house meeting. The hosts were Tama and Geof. Awesome people! Bri did worship and spoke and it was awesome! Tama's brother, Peter, had come up for prayer Sunday night for his drug addiction. He said he wants to see his wife and kids again. Tonight, his wife and kids were there! His wife's name is Tracy. She's such a strong woman of God who loves her husband so much and wants to see him free! She's showing the same love and devotion that God has for us. It's beautiful.
Tama and Geof have a ministry called "crossways." They get people into rehab and the help they need. Tama has such a servant's heart and she's so giving. We're excited to see how God uses them. Well, I definitely skipped things tonight. I'm very tired! We had fish and chips today! Delicious!
Ps. Tomorrow, NEWCASTLE!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 13th--- 10:30pm (Hartlepool)
Today was a revealing day. This morning, we woke up at 9 from Karen saying, "Get up girls, we're in England!" It was a beautiful day.
We started off by Karen reading out of the "princess book." It's a book of letters from God to his princesses. Each one has a theme. She randomly flips thru it and reads it to one of us. Bri's was about being content in Jesus and mine was about stepping out in confidence. It was a great way to start.
We walked to a cafe in a church called Cornerstone because Karen felt earlier that we needed to build relationships there. Shortly after she told us she wanted to go, Colin said that they had kicked him and his group out for having Bible study too late or something. Karen's response was, "Well, that's why then. We need to go for restoration."
So, at cornerstone, we ordered a pot of tea and teacake (sort of like a toasted raisin bun with butter on it.) Colin walked in while we were eating and it was cool that he went back there. We decided to eat there every morning and do devos.
After breakfast, we went back to the church we're helping (ELIM) and Colin let us email our families. When we were there, we talked to a girl named Loraine who, last night introduced herself to us. She's young and could really get out of the environment here. It's a whole other mindset. People in Hartlepool work so they can drink at night. I think she needs to come back eventually but, God's gotta transform her mind and it's difficult here.
So then we took a walk around town, looked at tea sets, and saw some sights. Ok... something you have to understand about England is that there are barely any restaurants that aren't also pubs. We wanted to sit and talk and there was a restaurant and a pub right next to it. But they shared one door and you had to walk thru the bar to get to the tables.
We were standing around being indecisive and unsure about how to get in and we didn't want to look weird looking around. Then I remembered what Karen read this morning. Walk in confidence! So I walked right in, got us a table, went up to the bar, ordered, paid, and sat down. HAHA!
I know it's little, but I feel like we need to be faithful in the little things and practice the things we're called to do. That way, when it's something more important, it's easier.
Later, we went to Hartlepool museum. Now let me backtrack... A theme of this trip is opening the gates. Karen gave me a key to the gates of praise and she had more keys she gave out to people thru out the trip. Also, Karen LOVES the queen! haha... So the museum had double doors and between them on the wall, there was a picture of the queen with an article underneath about her giving someone the key to Hartlepool. Underneath the article was a key! It was amazing. We all just stood there looking at each other. It was another confirmation that we belong here. Definitely in my top 3 moments of the day.
We started off by Karen reading out of the "princess book." It's a book of letters from God to his princesses. Each one has a theme. She randomly flips thru it and reads it to one of us. Bri's was about being content in Jesus and mine was about stepping out in confidence. It was a great way to start.
We walked to a cafe in a church called Cornerstone because Karen felt earlier that we needed to build relationships there. Shortly after she told us she wanted to go, Colin said that they had kicked him and his group out for having Bible study too late or something. Karen's response was, "Well, that's why then. We need to go for restoration."
So, at cornerstone, we ordered a pot of tea and teacake (sort of like a toasted raisin bun with butter on it.) Colin walked in while we were eating and it was cool that he went back there. We decided to eat there every morning and do devos.
After breakfast, we went back to the church we're helping (ELIM) and Colin let us email our families. When we were there, we talked to a girl named Loraine who, last night introduced herself to us. She's young and could really get out of the environment here. It's a whole other mindset. People in Hartlepool work so they can drink at night. I think she needs to come back eventually but, God's gotta transform her mind and it's difficult here.
So then we took a walk around town, looked at tea sets, and saw some sights. Ok... something you have to understand about England is that there are barely any restaurants that aren't also pubs. We wanted to sit and talk and there was a restaurant and a pub right next to it. But they shared one door and you had to walk thru the bar to get to the tables.
We were standing around being indecisive and unsure about how to get in and we didn't want to look weird looking around. Then I remembered what Karen read this morning. Walk in confidence! So I walked right in, got us a table, went up to the bar, ordered, paid, and sat down. HAHA!
I know it's little, but I feel like we need to be faithful in the little things and practice the things we're called to do. That way, when it's something more important, it's easier.
Later, we went to Hartlepool museum. Now let me backtrack... A theme of this trip is opening the gates. Karen gave me a key to the gates of praise and she had more keys she gave out to people thru out the trip. Also, Karen LOVES the queen! haha... So the museum had double doors and between them on the wall, there was a picture of the queen with an article underneath about her giving someone the key to Hartlepool. Underneath the article was a key! It was amazing. We all just stood there looking at each other. It was another confirmation that we belong here. Definitely in my top 3 moments of the day.
Sunday, June 12th--- 11:30pm (Hartlepool)
Wow! What a day! So much happened in the last 12 hours that it feels like we've been here for 2 days. When I got into Manchester, my bag wasn't in baggage claim and I had to fill out a form. The airline lost my bag. But honestly, it was the first thing I was able to laugh off.
The enemy succeeded in taking my focus off of God, but it wasn't very smart to do it so early in the game. Because at this point, I just didn't care anymore. I surrendered my way of thinking of how the trip was supposed to go. By the time I heard about my luggage, I had had enough and I pretty much didn't have energy to care.
So, when I walked out of the terminal, Karen was there with Bri and Billy and Lilly (a brother and sister who were there to pick us up.) As soon as I saw them, I felt all of my fears, worries, and anxiety melt away. Bri and I instantly clicked and Karen't hysterical!
We drove 4 hours to Hartlepool in a tiny car that drives on the wrong side of the road. We slept on and off the whole way and stopped at a pub called the Merry-go-round. But they can't say that. It comes out "Merry-go-a-round." We ate roast beef. It was delicious.
Then, we were taken to the church to meet Colin, the pastor. He took us to the house we're staying at and we quickly got ready, pulled some music together, and prayed. At the service, we did worship and were asked to share testimonies. I spoke about my story with "How he loves." The funny thing is, all 3 of us spoke on God's love. We talked later and realized that God had us do that because God's love is foreign to some of them.
The coolest part of the night was when we prayed for people. While I was praying, I could feel the Holy Spirit making things click for them. One man said that he felt 10 lbs lighter.
The enemy succeeded in taking my focus off of God, but it wasn't very smart to do it so early in the game. Because at this point, I just didn't care anymore. I surrendered my way of thinking of how the trip was supposed to go. By the time I heard about my luggage, I had had enough and I pretty much didn't have energy to care.
So, when I walked out of the terminal, Karen was there with Bri and Billy and Lilly (a brother and sister who were there to pick us up.) As soon as I saw them, I felt all of my fears, worries, and anxiety melt away. Bri and I instantly clicked and Karen't hysterical!
We drove 4 hours to Hartlepool in a tiny car that drives on the wrong side of the road. We slept on and off the whole way and stopped at a pub called the Merry-go-round. But they can't say that. It comes out "Merry-go-a-round." We ate roast beef. It was delicious.
Then, we were taken to the church to meet Colin, the pastor. He took us to the house we're staying at and we quickly got ready, pulled some music together, and prayed. At the service, we did worship and were asked to share testimonies. I spoke about my story with "How he loves." The funny thing is, all 3 of us spoke on God's love. We talked later and realized that God had us do that because God's love is foreign to some of them.
The coolest part of the night was when we prayed for people. While I was praying, I could feel the Holy Spirit making things click for them. One man said that he felt 10 lbs lighter.
Sunday, June 12th---10:08am (London)
I'm exhausted. I'm jet-lagged and extremely emotional. My flight to Philadelphia was cancelled and they had me go from Newark to London. Right now, that's where I am. I'm waiting to board a flight to Manchester. I left Karen a voicemail last night. My biggest fear is that she won't find me and I'll have to go home.
I seriously want to curl up in a ball and cry/sleep for hours. I had to fill out a card telling the UK what I was doing here. Then I had to give the card to a lady in immigration or customs or something. I had no address to give her.
"So, what are you doing here?"
"We're going to different churches to minister."
"What kind of churches?"
"Um... christian churches?"
"So, why? Why are you doing this?"
"Cause God called me to."
"Excuse me?"
"Um... God called me to?"
"So where are you staying?"
"I'm not really sure. I'm meeting someone at the airport and they're gonna put us up."
*sigh* "Do you have an itinerary?"
"NO.... I'm meeting someone and we're going to different churches. I promise I'll go back to the states at the end of the 2 weeks!"
*stamp* "Ok, take this to your gate."
She looked at me like I was nuts.
I feel like I'm praying constantly lately. I get little nuggets of peace every once in a while. In fact, as I'm writing this, I feel my anxiety chipping away slowly. Very slowly. I keep getting choked up and tearful. I called my dad and immediately started crying.
The thing that sucks is that the lady questioning me had me questioning myself. What am I doing here? Am I nuts?
I seriously want to curl up in a ball and cry/sleep for hours. I had to fill out a card telling the UK what I was doing here. Then I had to give the card to a lady in immigration or customs or something. I had no address to give her.
"So, what are you doing here?"
"We're going to different churches to minister."
"What kind of churches?"
"Um... christian churches?"
"So, why? Why are you doing this?"
"Cause God called me to."
"Excuse me?"
"Um... God called me to?"
"So where are you staying?"
"I'm not really sure. I'm meeting someone at the airport and they're gonna put us up."
*sigh* "Do you have an itinerary?"
"NO.... I'm meeting someone and we're going to different churches. I promise I'll go back to the states at the end of the 2 weeks!"
*stamp* "Ok, take this to your gate."
She looked at me like I was nuts.
I feel like I'm praying constantly lately. I get little nuggets of peace every once in a while. In fact, as I'm writing this, I feel my anxiety chipping away slowly. Very slowly. I keep getting choked up and tearful. I called my dad and immediately started crying.
The thing that sucks is that the lady questioning me had me questioning myself. What am I doing here? Am I nuts?
Saturday, June 11th--- 2:30am (The night before I left)
It's the night before I leave and I just got done packing everything that I don't need tomorrow. Reality is setting in and I'm starting to get really nervous and think about little details, like the fact that I'm flying alone for the 1st time. I keep trying to convince myself that flying is safe and that I won't have any trouble at the airport.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I LEAVE TOMORROW! My stomach's doing flips. I'm making myself sick. All the while, God is working on keeping my ADD/toddler-like attention. "Focus," He's saying. "Everything else will follow if you just keep your eyes on me." I know He's right. And I'm already starting to feel peaceful. No matter what happens, God has a plan. He's sovereign and can handle things way better than I can.
Tomorrow, when I'm at my terminal, God will be holding me. When I'm in the plane, He'll be there. When I land in Manchester, He'll guide my every step. I know this because I've been praying for it for months now. "God, just let everything I do be guided by you!" That's all I've ever wanted. I just recently started to see it happen; just started to live it out. The only regret I have going into this is that I didn't practice listening to God sooner. I wish I had acted on it more.
"No hesitation." That's my motto. When I hear Him telling me to do something, I will not go back and forth debating myself. I will not hesitate.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I LEAVE TOMORROW! My stomach's doing flips. I'm making myself sick. All the while, God is working on keeping my ADD/toddler-like attention. "Focus," He's saying. "Everything else will follow if you just keep your eyes on me." I know He's right. And I'm already starting to feel peaceful. No matter what happens, God has a plan. He's sovereign and can handle things way better than I can.
Tomorrow, when I'm at my terminal, God will be holding me. When I'm in the plane, He'll be there. When I land in Manchester, He'll guide my every step. I know this because I've been praying for it for months now. "God, just let everything I do be guided by you!" That's all I've ever wanted. I just recently started to see it happen; just started to live it out. The only regret I have going into this is that I didn't practice listening to God sooner. I wish I had acted on it more.
"No hesitation." That's my motto. When I hear Him telling me to do something, I will not go back and forth debating myself. I will not hesitate.
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