Travel and Thoughts [May 31]

          

The Welsh coastline from our seats.

Crossing from England into Wales!

Hello from Wales! 

Today was a travel day, so there hasn't been much but driving and flying. However, we have already met wonderful people, and my excitement for this summer is just growing even more!! Dottie picked us up at the airport early this morning, and we got numerous lessons about Wales on the ride out of London. We stopped for lunch at a Burger King and got our new in-country phones and some other goodies. We also got to spend a lot of time getting to know Dottie who is simply wonderful. It'll be a blessing to work with her this summer. 

The view here is absolutely "lush." I love all these beautiful hills and the cute towns. The castles are pretty amazing too. I'm very excited to go into the town where I'll be working. That's for tomorrow though, so I shouldn't get ahead of myself!

Our host families are currently away on holiday, so we are staying with a couple from the Ryhdfelin church where Bobby will be working this summer. We got a nice cooked meal and a great time of fellowship here with Paul and Sarah. We even got to play a round of Settlers of Catan, which was a nice way to rest after the long day. They also introduced us to an American game which was so much fun. I plan on finding it when I return stateside. Paul and Sarah are so incredibly "brilliant," and I am so glad we get to stay with them for the night. So many laughs, and I've learned a lot already. For instance, pudding is not pudding; pudding just means desserts. And cookers are ovens! Craziness.
Tomorrow we start our training for this summer, and I can't wait to get going. We'll be training for the G-sus bus which is a modern, interactive way for kids to learn about the Biblical stories. It'll be very good to hit the ground running and get right into our busy schedules. We have a really full weekend, so I'll update this later when there is time. 

I have been in thought over the believers' prayer in Acts 4 and an occurrence in Acts 5. Two particular verses stick out to me. First in Acts 4: "Indeed erod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They dd what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." Then in Acts 5: "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah." 

This is what I wish for Bobby and I this summer: to learn how to pray such a prayer, to continue forward in boldness no matter the hostility and apathy we will face in the coming months. No mater what trials we encounter, I want us to be able to realize that God is Sovereign. And that we will be able to speak boldly like those who came before us. This is my prayer so that, hopefully, when we face the hardships that are to come we will count it a joy. That when we face trials we will realize that the Lord is counting us worthy to suffer for His Name and that we will continue proclaiming the Gospel of Truth. 

Will you pray with us in this? God is doing a work in the heart of the Welsh. "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." All we need to do is share; God will do all the hard work. Thank you for your prayers and support. We appreciate you all.