sneakpeak [july 30]

Hiya!

First of all - happy birthday to my wonderful older brother! I am so very thankful for him and everything he has done for me!!! I love him to pieces (:

Anyway - I don't have the time or energy to blog right now. So I am simply giving y'all a few pictures of our tour of London today. It was such a wonderful experience, and I am so glad we were able to spend the last day wandering around London and enjoying its history and culture. Now here are the pictures - and it's bed time!!!

"The chief end of man is to glorify God and[by] enjoying him forever."

 changing of the guard (the part we saw)

Lunch at the Spaghetti House!

Westminster Abbey! (:

Big Ben

The London Eye 3D map 

Buckingham Palace

We found cheap seats for Wicked!!!

bye-bye Wales [july 26-29]

Hiya everyone!

So, it's been such a long weekend! I don't even know where to begin.

Friday was a very emotional day. Holiday club went wonderfully and afterward I was presented with gifts from Gateway Church and a couple from the church. It was absolutely beautiful, and I nearly cried. Especially when Kath was giving the presents and giving me a verse to keep with me. The one she chose was our theme verse for the week: Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." It was absolutely wonderful, and I am going to miss them all so much!!!

Then we had our last youth event that afternoon which was very, very fun. Just a little bit sad. It was wonderful to go bowling with all the girls. Daddy, you would be proud - I bowled over 150 since I got 3 strikes!!!! I'm never that good :P Afterward I packed up until Abi came over. She brought me a framed picture of us from the last post. Then we had a HUGE pity party/cry party with ice cream. Incredibly sad. Rose came in and joined us.

We had the friday night coffee house at Rhydyfelin and then fireworks afterward which were brill. Continue to pray for Abi and for Rosie. Abi and I talked a lot on friday, and I'm hoping I can begin to disciple Rosie even when I'm back in America. It'll be very, very good.

Saturday I joined with the American team from Greenville, ARP. We went on a "hike" through the Brecon Beacons. It was really walking through this sheep-poo covered green field but that's okay. The lookout over all the fields of Wales was stunning. And I got a nice nap on the grass when I got back (: That night we went and ate at the Upperboat Inn which was delicious. It's a very strange buffet where you get a fixed amount of meat but can go up for fixin's as much as you want. Very strange, but it worked out great. I could only eat one plate, so I gave most of my meat to Bobby because he ate all his the first round. So funny.

Sunday morning Bobby got to exhort at Rhydyfelin!!! He did SO WELL. I was amazed at his gift and how God use him to speak on Psalm 73 to the church in Wales. God has really blesse him, and I am so thankful for his word to me. He spoke on how we are to (1) trust in God by turning to him even when we think God is failing us (2) treasure him for we have nothing else but him! He is our prize! and (3) to tell others about the marvelous gift of salvation he has for us because that is the greatest work in all of history! It was so good. I am still blessed by it now. That afternoon we had a potluck style lunch with black current pie (delicious)! and then went to Ponty park with the Team.

Then we were rushed over to Caerphilly to join the Caerphilly churches in their worship service at the Big Cheese. It's a large festival that lasts all weekend (where we watched fireworks on friday). The church does a "little sunday service" (as described by the announcerman at the festival) in the open air. They sang some hymns and gave a little 5 minute devotion. It was wonderful to see some of the passerbys come, take a look, and either stay or walk off with a contemplating look. I also got to worship one last time with a good majority of the Gateway church who I will miss incredibly. It has been such a good summer, and I have been thoroughly blessed by them.

This morning Dottie picked us up. We stopped at a pup to eat and talk over things before she dropped us off at Cardiff to take the bus to London. Then it has been extremely hectic and crazy trying to get on all these different trains to get to our hotel. However, after an hour and a half of running through the stations, we are now comfortably settled into our rooms and about to sleep for the night. God even gave us a rainbow to celebrate our arrival. Tomorrow will be so much fun, and I can't wait to see what London has waiting for us.

Bye-bye Wales (crossing the Bridge).

Instead of a Gideon Bible - there's the Davinci Code!

Please pray for us that while we will have fun tomorrow that we will rest well to before our trip home on Wednesday. Pray for safe travels, that we won't lose anything, and that the rain will go away!!! It's raining pretty hard right now, but I'd love to see clear blue skies tomorrow as we walk around London and visit all these wonderful places!

Thank you for your love and support. I will try to update tomorrow one last time before we get home. Thank you for reading this, and it is my prayer that these posts have been edifying to your faith and given you a glimpse of what God is doing here in Wales. He is doing a mighty work through the power of His savior, and I am hoping that he is doing a mighty work in you also. God loves you. God bless you.

Ta-ta!

go and tell what God has done [july 25]

Hiya everyone!

Today has been pretty awesome. It first started out with Holiday Club, which I always love. The kids were really crazy today in my group (some of the boys just kept causing trouble), but it was good nonetheless. We got to share some of the gospel today with them, which was good.

Then after Club I went to Abi's house, and she taught me how to make welsh cakes!!! It was simply so amazing. Absolutely loved it. We just chit chatted, had a semi water/flour fight with her little brother, and made delicious welsh cakes. So good.

They were delicious, if I do say so myself. (:

We then went on a bike ride with some of the families in Gateway. It was pretty fun. I biked with Abi and Bethan pretty much the whole time. AND SUCCESS! I made it up the last two hills! We didn't go nearly as far (probably about 12 miles rather than the 27 we went to Cardiff Bay and back). It was really good. Very enjoyable.

I would ask you to pray for Abi. I love her dearly, and I have so enjoyed becoming her friend over these two months. It's been absolutely lush. I asked her what she believed, and she said she didn't know, nor did she know why she didn't know. I didn't quite know what questions to ask after that. But please pray for her. As I said, I love her dearly, and I want her to fall in love with my God. She was singing the "Our God is a great, big God" song tonight, so maybe the Lord is working in her. I hope so. How wonderful it would be to see her fall in love with the Savior! I would probably cry from happiness. I am going to miss her a lot. She is constantly asking me to move back permanently, and if there weren't other factors, I would do it in a heartbeat just to love on her every day I could.

Then after the bike ride we ate food at the pub, listened to a band play, played cards, and played with little Barnaby, who I love. I was a monster, so he just chased me around and put me in jail the whole time. So much fun. Then afterward Rosie, Nonny, Abi and I watched the Hunger Games. The boys were absolutely so obnoxious the whole entire movie but they eventually left us be after a time. But it was still great fun.

And now it's bed time. Tomorrow is my last youth group event. I was asked to give a little good bye speech, and I don't really know what to say. I'm at a loss of what I should share. Yet, in this moment, I am reminded of the man from the tombs. After he is healed, he runs after Jesus and begs to go with him. But Jesus says no and, instead, Jesus tells him to tell what God has done for him. Perhaps tomorrow I should tell them my story. So pray for me in this. Pray that I will allow the Spirit to guide me and that he will give me the words to say. I want them to love their Savior. I want them to learn what life is really about. Pray for me. Pray for them.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you for your prayers.

Ta.

saving souls [july 24]

Hiya!

So yesterday was another round of Holiday Club. My talk on King Neb went really well. The kids loved my costume, and they seemed to be able to answer the questions about the story which was brill. I'm still trying to get a picture of my costume, but I'll hopefully be able to update this later with such a picture.

After that we had a hiking trip with the youth group. It took about 2 hours, and it was really good fun. I got to dispel the youth's fixation on YOLO (how it doesn't work because we actually live twice according to the bible!) and got to talk with Georgia and Nicole for the whole hike! It was so fun, and I very enjoyed it!

I went out to Rhydyfelin for their youth coffee house which was wonderful. My Bobby did such a beautiful job in his talk, and it led into really wonderful discussion about how we have a problem we can't deal with: a problem that we can't uphold God's standards. His standards are perfection, and we are far from perfection. BUT that the news doesn't end there! We have someone who died for us, namely, Jesus! There was one boy named Sebastian who basically said to Garrison that if I can't meet God's standards and Jesus offers a way, I want it. Pray for him that he might be drawn into salvation!

Oh! A small aside. A girl in my youth group named Isabelle gave Bobby and I a gift as a thank you for the summer. It was a little Welsh slate thing that says "Happiness is having Welsh Friends" and a little snow globe that says "I love Wales." We got to open it last night, and I was simply thrilled! We both were. It was just so exciting, and it is so fun. The snow globe has a magnet on the back, so Bobby said it's our first fridge magnet. So fun that we get to decorate our house with welshy things!!! I love all these girls that are here. Pray that I might love them well even in my last week.

Then today began with more Holiday Club. Dottie and Shelia came today, and I was so excited to see them! It was good to talk with them and enjoy them. Club went well. Please continue praying that we will touch these children's lives and get their families more involved in the church.

Then tonight we went rock climbing with the youth group! Abi came, which was wonderful, so her and I got to spend quite a bit of time together and with Nicole, who I am really beginning to enjoy. We had some good conversation about the Lord providing. This guy named DJ again spoke on that as he shared his testimony of how God has lead him in the past few years of his life and that God has been showing him that He is trustworthy and he helps us throughout our lives. Pray for our your that they will "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Tomorrow I'll be going to Abi's house to bake welsh cakes and chit chat until the bike ride. Pray that that will be good conversation! I am very excited.

Then tonight Rosie and I had another very long and amazing conversation about the Bible, her role in the youth program (I'm hoping she'll sort of take charge of the girls when I leave), and in what ways she needs to be learning. We then started the book of James and spent nearly an hour and a half on the first 15 verses. It was so funny to me because the first question she asked me was "why is this relevant?", "this" being the Bible and then she and I spent all that time and wasn't even able to finish a chapter. It was so good, and she has taught me so much. I'm hoping to be able to set up a time for the two of us (and maybe some others) might be able to skype when I go home so we can keep doing a bible study. There just isn't enough time in the day. Pray for her, that she would keep asking questions, and grow in her faith. That Jesus would become the Lord of her life and that she would love him completely.

I also received a prayer request from Bobby. Please pray for a boy named Cade. He has shown interest in Christ as his savior. Pray diligently that the Lord might move in him, draw him in, and send the Holy Spirit to convict him of his sin and guide him to life.

Pray for me. Today it really hit me that I'm only here for another week. It hasn't been long enough. The friendships I've built with my girls are just beginning to bear fruit, and now I must leave. Part of me is truly saddened, as if I haven't worked hard enough this summer to build those relationships quicker. I know this guilt is ridiculous, so pray that I might be confident in God's plan. He is sovereign and has played these relationships out for a particular reason. I cannot rush his timing. Pray that I will be content and working hard to love these girls while I'm still here. They keep pleading with me to move here permanently. How I am going to miss them. I hope to see them again, either in this life or the next.

Thank you for your love and support. Today I am blown away with God's mercy and his love for me. Pray that I might get good sleep and rest well. This morning I slept through my alarm I was so tired. But God is good, and he is doing such a good work here in Wales!!! I appreciate each and every one of you.

Ta-ta!

rain rain go away [july 22]

Hiya!

The first day of VBS/Holiday Club went smashingly. Part of me forgot how much I completely love VBS. It's one of the highlights of my summer, and that's no different here in Wales. I am the leader of the middle (6-8) aged group, and they are all so wonderful! They are all so eager to learn and happy to help. It is so fun being with them and getting to know who they are. Today was the story of Daniel and the forbidden food which seemed to go over well. Please be praying for us as the week continues, that we will be able to share the love of Jesus with them and see their lives changed. Pray also that these families will be touched and led to become more involved with the church so that they, too, may come to know who Christ is.

After Holiday Club we headed over to Rhydyfelin to join their sports afternoon. I hung out with the younger ladies and played a few games including 4-square and Red Rover. It was a great time, and I really enjoyed being there with the girls and the American Team in Rhydyfelin. Thankflly I' loving the Caerphilly work so much that I don't quite miss being part of that Team as I spoke to y'all about yesterday.

Then I came home to prepare my bible lesson for the morning. I'm dressing up like King Nebuchadnezzar and giving the talk on his dream about the giant statue. It should go well, but please pray for me that the Holy Spirit might be guiding me and filling me, telling me what these children need to hear.

Also! After nearly 3 weeks of blistering heat in Wales, tomorrow it is forecasted to rain. Please, please, please pray that it holds off in the morning. There are so many holiday clubs here who are praying for clear skies, so pray with us. It would be dreadful to fit nearly 60 kids in the sports hall which is hardly the size of a basketball court. So, please be in prayer for us and for the weather.

Tonight is short. Pray for my stamina. Pray also for the stamina of the Team. I know they have a lot to do this week!!! Thank you for your love and your support. I appreciate each and every one of you.

Ta-ta!

seeking good rest [july 20-21]

Hiya everyone!

So yesterday was simply mad. Started off at half-nine at Pete and Kath's filling up water balloons. Stayed there (only with a short break for lunch) until nearly 7 for It's a Knockout. I think about 100 people showed up to play all these crazy games and have such a great, fun time with the group. I was on a team with the older girls, which was simply lush. I had Abi, Martha, Rosie, Nonny, and Hannah on my team with Raf and another mom named Christi (who was super fun). It was so lush just playing with the girls the whole time. I'm going to nab some pictures off facebook and put them up later. Right now, just take my word on it. Even though we came in 3rd place, we had such a blast.

That night Nonny, Rosie, and I went over to Maria's house to see her new puppies! Her Border collie had puppies a few weeks ago, so we went to go hold and play with these adorable little puppies. They're eyes were just beginning to open, so it was just so cute! I absolutely loved it.

Then we hung around the house and had a good time until bed which I went to early because I was so exhausted.

This morning began with Rhydyfelin. I got to see the Team from Greenville ARP and even got to eat lunch with Garison at Brian and Elizabeth's. For some reason being with Garrison really made me miss my brother, John. Thankfully I get to see him soon, but it really did make me miss him.

Afterward was a group meeting with the Team about their holiday club in Rhydyfelin. Part of me really was gutted that I wouldn't be working much with them this week. Their laughs, their joy, it makes me desire to be a part of their group. However, they are needed in Rhydyfelin, and I am needed in Gateway. God has such an amazing week in store for both of us. Please pray hard for both churches, that God will be guiding us through this entire week!

Pray also for the Jerusalem church, the one which Dottie is in charge of. An American team was supposed to go to that church; however, they didn't get visas before they came over, and the UK Border Agency sent them home. It's very sad for everyone, so please pray for that church. I can't even imagine the turmoil of not having that support come through. Ah.

Then tonight we had this huge pizza party here at Claire's. There were SO MANY people! It felt like Christmas in my house! I got to talk to all sorts of people and help out with the food. I love being a helper. So it was just a wonderful time of socializing and resting before the week begins! Tonight ended with a 4 hour chat with Rosie (and the others wandered in from time to time) about God, beliefs, the Bible, and all sorts of stuff. She is so keen to learn and to know more. I wish I had more time with her to talk about all this stuff. I feel like there is no woman close enough to her age to properly disciple her in these matters. Pray that God might supply her with a need for the Word and a woman for her to talk to. She is a wonderful young lady, and it is my hope that she will grow and be as strong woman of God.

Pray for me that I will rest well. So many more things are importaner than sleep and food, so as it rounds 2 am, please pray that God will grant me supernatural sleep and that I will rest so well and be ready for tomorrow's long day of Holiday Club. I think I will be joining the Team for their afternoon sport's day, so I definitely need good rest. Pray also that I would make myself less and lift up God, focus on him, and not distort the gospel. And that I would also allow the Holy Spirit to work in me and through me this week, that I might snatch some out of the fire and save them.

Thank you for your prayers and support. Don't expect much out of me as for blogging n' such. It'll be a long week. (Also, Bobby is sleeping in the school, so he probably won't be posting much either.) I appreciate you all. God Bless.

Ta-ta!

hoping for those I love [july 18]

Hiya!!!

My day didn't really begin until about 1 with the thursday prayer meeting. It was a wonderful time of focusing on what God is doing over the next few days and asking that he would strengthen us to "Be imiators of God, as dearly beloved children, and live a life of love, just as christ loved us and gave himself up for us as an atoning sacrifice and fragrant offering to God." Pray also for us in this, that we might be those imitators and a good witness to those whom we will be in contact with over the next week.

Pray also, while I'm thinking about it, for the teams who are coming over to help with holiday club. I think they are on planes right now or something like that. I'm not sure when they board; however, pray for safety in their travels and that they will rest well. There is so much to do here, and they need God strength in them!

After the prayer meeting I was dropped off about 1/4 of the way to Rhydyfelin. Bobby met me at about the halfway point, and we walked together up to his house. We talked and chatted about life and important things, and it was just really, really good.

After tea we headed to the Tyler's for my last ever youth club night. I don't think it's quite hit me how final that is. I'm not sure how my talk went, to be honest. The kids were so distracted it seemed like. At times they were really into it with wide-eyes, but when it came to the part of how we get rid of our sin it all just seemed to blow up. One girl said that we get rid of it by doing a good thing, and I was going to try and explain how that didn't work when they all started talking and laughing and just out of control. I brought up Hebrews 9:22 and asked them to talk through it with me, and they seemed to get the point: even one little boy shouted out, hey! that's why Jesus died! So, maybe their eyes were being opened. I'm not sure. Please pray that they'll be thinking about it and come to full realization of what those truths mean. They need to be certain of where they belong, either to the kingdom of darkness or to the kingdom of light. Pray diligently for them. My heart breaks at the possibility that one of those beautiful kids won't come to love their Father as they were created to and belong to his family. I hope love will win in their lives.

After the club we headed back to Kelvin and Claire's, to which Bobby and I talked a bit about Mormonism (Since Bobby will be joining us when the two men return to talk to us tomorrow!) and about atheism. We watched a video about Richard Dawkins which was just filled with hate and anger. I feel sorry for that man, in all honesty, and especially those he's teaching to hate. I mourn over the world that my children will grow up into if that sort of hatred is what drives people.

We then watched a video called "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." It was absolutely fascinating, even for me who really knows little to nothing about science. It's a documentary about the Evolution vs Intelligent Design debate in America (or lack thereof). I suggest you go watch it. It's about an hour and a half, but it's quite good. I sent it to Luke, the atheistic year 10, just to get his perspective since he is an atheistic and would see that in a completely different light than I. Pray that this will be a good means of conversation and questioning. He really is quite knowledgeable, but there are definitely things that he's simply taking on faith (although he's absolutely against faith as he describes it as "believing something that has no proof") and that he needs to begin to question. Here is the link if you'd like to take a look.

Pray that I'll get a good night's rest. It is very, very warm in this house and  want to get a good night's rest for the morning. Thank you all for your love and support.

Ta-ta!

mormons and prayer [july 17]

Hiya!

So this morning started out with a party at the Mother and Toddler's group! There was a giant bouncy castle and lots of food. I sat with Roisin and Kate and played with their babies. Liandro is starting to crawl, and it's just so precious! We got to talking about weddings and such which was so fun for me (: Then on the way home Kate and I had a wonderful conversation about Gateway. It was so good. I really enjoy both those women.

After that I had a pretty relaxed afternoon. Although just before Tea Kelvin came into the kitchen where I was chatting with someone and said, "Oh! There's someone in the lounge for you to meet." Uncertain of where this was going, I come in only to see two Mormon men sitting on the settee! We had a relatively short conversation about beliefs. Thankfully they'll be coming back on Friday to visit. Please pray for these two men. They have a real chance to hear the gospel and the truth of God's true scriptures. Thankfully Bobby will be joining us on Friday, and since he has taken a class on mormonism we'll be able to really challenge them and ask the right sort of questions. Pray that the Holy Spirit will convict them and that God will fill them with his true love.

Then I was immediately rushed off to the midweek church meeting. It was very informal as we sat around chatting for about an hour before a small time of praise and sharing round the lounge. It was good to hear the church's focus on our God being a God who listens to us and answers our prayers. It's so good to see them faithfully depend on their Father who gives us such good gifts!!!

It is crazy to me that I will be on a plane home in exactly two weeks. God is teaching me so much, and I am so grateful for this time. Part of me is ready to be home with my family, and part of me wants to stay here forever. But whatever God decides for Bobby and I, it will be good. I am so excited for what he has in store for us!!! Thank you all for your prayers and your love. Pray for me tomorrow as I give the talk at the Youth Group. Pray that his angels will ward off any demons that come round to distract the kids. They need to hear the gospel and what God has done for them. Pray that the Holy Spirit will be moving in that place and be convicting the youth of their sin and need to belong to their Heavenly Father. Pray that I will speak nothing but Christ crucified and act only in love. I love them. I want them to come to a saving knowledge and to become alive! Pray with me, please.

Thank you for your support in prayer and in love. I appreciate you all.

Ta-ta!

powerful prayer [july 16]

Hiya everyone!

Yesterday began with the Ladie's bible study at Jane's. We finished our book a few weeks ago, so we sat around and fellowshiped and talked about life in general. It was really good just to enjoy those women and hear their stories. One of the ladies was talking about the divorce that she's going through. It's particularly nasty because her husband keeps flirting with her even though he's got a girlfriend at the moment. Please pray for her. The situation is not very good, and I am just thankful that divorce isn't an option for Bobby and I. It's a terrible thing, and I am thankful for God's healing mercies in the families that are torn apart by it.

I then spent the afternoon getting ready for my Thursday talk until the prayer meeting at Kate's house. The prayer meeting was just wonderful. We spent about an hour and a half praying over the church and the holiday club for next week. We sang a few songs, and it was just good to meet together as God's church and pray over what he's doing here in Caerphilly. Please be in prayer also. There is so much to do, so pray that God will give us the strength and that we will be filled with his peace and not be anxious about what is to come.

Pray heartily for this upcoming weekend. Thursday is the youth club where I'll be giving a talk on the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light as presented in Paul's letter to the Romans (very excited). Saturday is our It's a Knockout event! Over 100 people will be coming to the event that is put on by the church. It will be a wonderful social time, but pray that we will be able to love these people and invite them back into the church in order to hear more of the gospel. Also for next week. We have 66 kids coming to our VBS/Holiday Club and we have 3 youth events and 1 family event next week, so it's going to be very, very busy. Pray that we'll get through it and that we will be able to show the love of Christ to these families.

Thank you so much for your support in prayer and in love. I appreciate you all.

Ta-ta!

going and going [july 12-15]

Hiya everyone!

So much for updating this weekend. Ah well. God is good even when I fail (: Thanks be to Him!

Friday began on the bus. I was there from 8 until 4ish doing bus work. Lots of ups and downs and such varying classes! I wish I could have spent more time there with the kids. One child said he couldn't believe in miracles, the other asked if she could pray to God even if she didn't fully believe all the Jesus stuff. How I wish I could do more than just give them one minute answers to all of their questions! One particular story I want to tell you, however.

Right before lunch we had a group of year 10s come on the bus. They were particularly good until the questions when, after giving them the gospel, I asked "So, before I let y'all go are there any comments? Questions? Disagreements?" (Oh, Dr. Evans, you should be proud!) And everyone just turned to this one kid and, under pressure, he just started talking away (saying that, basically, anyone who believes this is nuts and crazy to which I asked, so you think I'm nuts? The whole class was in uproar about that one). Unfortunately the class was so wild and crazy that he and I couldn't have an actual discussion about his comments. He's one who believes to heartily in science that miracles and the like cannot exist. However, that lead to a discussion with another boy who basically believes the same thing. His name is Luke, and he was asking me questions which got him to stick around during lunch.

The two of us had a wonderful conversation about our different beliefs, and he is one of the most well thought out and consistent atheistic belief system of any young person I've met. Most still try to claim absolute truth, but he admitted that, no, everything is subjective (which leads to him having panic attacks on occasion) and that there is nothing in our control and is accident (again, the panic attacks). The only thing I could not reconcile was his idea that this world is an accident but not meaningless. However we did not have the time to flesh that one out before the bell rang and he was off to another class. Yet at the end of the day he came back so I could give him my facebook information so we could continue chatting.

Please pray for Luke. He has such a curious and well-thought out mind which could be used for such good in God's kingdom. He is a nice guy, but he hasn't grasped the true reality of the gospel and all that it means. Pray for him with me that God might show him the truth which can set him free through Jesus' love on the cross.

That night we took 20 6-9 year olds to this huge jungle gym play area thing for nearly 3 hours. It was great fun although I keep forgetting how nasty these children are! All the way home they kept teasing me and saying I couldn't sing and just being awful. Sometimes I keep forgetting the true depths of original sin in these children. Terrifying sometimes.

Fell asleep late, as we had a spontaneous party with the PCYers. The next day Bobby and I had another saturday off, so we took the afternoon to go on a hike. Unfortunately it was so hot and Bobby's hay fever was so bad that he was just so sad and sick all the way home. He got to take a long nap when he got home which seemed to help (I got to help the kids in their water balloon fight while he rested. so fun!). Then we just had a relaxing night with the kids.

Sunday was another round of Rhydyfelin church, lunch with one of the Rhydyfelin members (Kelvin's mom, actually!) and Gateway. I gave the talk for the youth about our hope for Christ returning and what we will be like in the new heavens and earth. Most seemed to enjoy it, and I even got some of them to read from the bible which was very exciting for me. I love to see them want to read the bible! It's so good. So many of the adults here think it's too much of a challenge for them, but oh how these young people need the Scriptures! Pray mightily for them that their teachers might challenge them and give them more than just spiritual milk. They need more than that.

Today went well. Dottie, Jake, and Fion took us to St. Fagan's which is pretty much the Welsh equivalent to the Biltmore house (a lot smaller and a lot older). All around the house they have set up a museum sort of thing where you walk around the grounds and look at all these old houses, shops, barns, and the like. It was pretty cool. I am affirmed in my preference of actual castles to those which have been modernized and the like. We also sat over lunch and talked about a book Bobby ad I had to read for this internship: Grace, Grit, and Gumption. It's about the Welsh revival in 1904 and the years preceding it. An amazing book really, one that I learned a lot through.

We talked a lot about how the people who were sowing the ground before the revival went out into the streets (Matt 22:9) since no one was quite in the churches. It so reminds me of how, back home, we want to bring people into the churches where it's safe and comfortable, instead of going out onto the streets and telling the truth in a way that is biblically based and relevant to this culture. We are called to go in love. These leaders also went out into the streets, showed them the gospel, then brought them into the church. How often are we going?

So, that was my day (: We spent the night putting the details together for our last two days in country. We may have enough money to go tour around London the day before we leave since everyone here is on holiday (my host family is going to America and a number of others from my church are going away as well, so we have no work the last two days). I think it will work out!

Please pray that I will use these last two weeks diligently. I'm trying to build a connection with Abi since I've so enjoyed her this summer! Unfortunately these last two weeks are absolutely mad! It's so hard to find a night where she can teach me how to bake welsh cakes! BUT! We will prevail. So pray that I will work hard and rest hard in order to best be used in these last two weeks. Pray also for thursday. I'm giving the last talk of the summer to the kids about how to live freely (trick question! I know - I'm excited for it, and I'll tell you more about it on thursday night). Pray that God will speak through me that these youth might see His truth and the need for them toe be dependent on God alone.

Thank you. I'll put up some pictures of St. Fagans later. For now, it's bed time.

Ta-ta!

Deuteronomy 6 [july 11]

Hiya!

So, Tuesday and Wednesday were both fairly slow as things kept getting canceled and plans falling through. However, after I heard about Bobby's Wednesday I was wanting to see what God would use me for (read about his Wednesday here). I prayed that God might use me in His own way and in His time (wanting to be patient and not jealous), and God did that today. He is wonderful. Today was great.

It began on the G-SUS bus. The kids were fairly quiet, but it was all right. Most of my Thursday night kids go to this school, so I got to see a few of them. One girl from the group that Jesus helps us by cleaning us from our sins!!! I totally thought she never listened, but in fact she is listening! It was an amazing encouragement. I'm not sure if it's turned from a head knowledge to a heart knowledge, but it was just so good to hear her speak that truth. A lot of them stopped by to say hello which was good and exciting. I'm glad they actually say hi rather than just walk past as if to ignore me. Made me smile.

After the bus I got home for lunch and did some planning (I have 3 lessons to prepare for, all of which I have only a glimpse of what I want to do) and some reading (I have a book to read by Monday. Oh procrastination!). Then Rosie got home, and for some reason we have pretty much just talked. All. Day. About literally everything under the sun! Language, to the Bible, to Evolution, to heaven, to hell, to love, to idols of the heart, to demons, to everything. It has been absolutely amazing! I love hearing her mind, explaining things she doesn't understand, and just talking to her about what is actually important to me. Our conversation got the ears of the other three Hughes children, so the five of us ended up sitting up and talking about these things until 11:30! God is so good. I never thought I could get Sam to sit and talk with me about these things, but he was fully engaged and actually asking questions!

It is good to have a God who answers our prayers. I've felt very unproductive for his ministry this week, but God used me in this home to have good, meaningful, challenging conversation and see these youngsters actually want to learn about the truths of the Bible. Sometimes Thursday nights can be so discouraging because the kids just don't want to sit and listen, but tonight I remembered that these kids are being worked on and there are factors beyond me. But God is still in control, he is still working.

Next week is my last Youth Club where we will be teaching them the truths of Scripture. I have been praying so hard for these kids to see Jesus as their Savior and to make him the Lord of their lives. I want them to be saved because I love them. Pray with me that the Father might draw them and that they might become lovers of God. That is what I want for these kids. Pray for them with me. Please.

Pray also for me and my lessons. I've had a really hard time struggling with how to present the gospel and the truths of Scripture to them. These kids are engaged in a culture that tells them that church isn't cool and that it's cool to be disrespectful and get away with it. I mean today one of the kids said, "Yeah, I don't want to blurt out all the answers to Church-questions because I don't know if I can trust my friends with that." Basically, most of the kids of this place will tease and make fun of the christians here for being outloud about their faith. So, to me, I want them to engaged in truth and think through it all, so sometimes I forget that I can't always hide behind videos or eloquent words. No, that's not my job. My job is to speak the truth in love with all boldness. Thank the Lord for his good reminders. But continue to pray for me, that I won't bow down to making the Gospel cool or hip or whatever. It is the sword of the Spirit, my only weapon against the darkness of this world. I need to wield it as such.

Pray for me in this. I don't know if that made sense, but that's what I need prayer for. It's time for bed as I have to get up early for the bus. I love you all and appreciate your support so very much!

Oh - tonight's thursday night group went very well. Raf spoke on how can God guide us and the kids were very attentive for the first part, but they aren't always so good about sitting and being still when someone talks to them.We didn't have as many (only 13) since we went on a bike ride today. Yes! I got on yet another bike! We only went a few miles, so I didn't almost die this time, and I conquered the last 2 hills which killed me last time! So exciting. But yes, please pray for these kids. They need to learn how important this truly is.

Ta-ta!

not a typical American beach [july8]

Hiya!

Yesterday began with a hike up to the snack bar with the ladies. It was a good trip up, and when I got there Riley was there too! Absolutely fab. We ate good food and talked about how he went swimming and about the motorbikes which kept passing by. We played this lego game on the ipod, which was great fun. It was good to see him again. I didn't remember how much I had missed him!!! On the hike down I had a lovely conversation with Abi's mom about life and such, so that was a very good. I enjoyed talking to her and getting to know her a bit more.

Afterward, Dottie picked us up for our trip to Mumbles! We had a great time exploring and walking around. Good conversation (despite the fact that I kept falling asleep in the car! So grateful for their patience)! Now, Mumbles is a half rock-beach, half sand-beach thing. We walked across this rocky land part to race the tide in order to get up to the lighthouse (we made it there and back, thankfully)! It was beautiful. Then afterward I got the bright idea to walk by the water like I would do at home. I mean, we don't go to the beach that much and since my family was in Florida, I thought it to be a lovely idea. But, this wasn't sand. It was mud. So Bobby and I trekked through this muddy beach trying not to get caught in some sinking mud-pit. Very fun, but very messy! We ate Tea with Jake and Fion (love them). And after we got home, Bobby and I talked a bit about theology (love it!) and watched Chronicles of Riddick (also great). Below are some pictures of our trip to Mumbles!

Bobby cut his foot on the rocks ):

The mud beach.

We talked a bit about going to Ireland on a ferry - one of my really good friends is going there this upcoming weekend, and because we have another free saturday, it would have been wonderful to go see her! However, we haven't the money to get a ferry over across the puddle. So, we'll have to come up with another fun, and a lot less expensive, adventure for this weekend. Can't wait to figure that one out!

Thank you so much for your love and support. Yesterday was a wonderful day of rest, and I was grateful for it. Although we got Saturday off, there's something about meeting with Jake and Dottie that is just restful for me. I really enjoy going and talking with Dottie. I'm gonna miss her when I get home!

Ta-ta!

in spirit and in truth [july 7]

Hiya everyone.

Today was the first day that I was homesick. And the first day that I cried since being in Wales.
So, all in all, it's been a pretty emotional day.

I was homesick because my family is in Florida right now, and I got to skype them last night as they were eating dinner. I absolutely adore my family, and I missed our supper times greatly because of all the joy and the laughter that is found at that table. It was so much fun to hear from Daniel about his day at the beach and seeing the turtle and hearing everyone's voices. I miss them so much. So, that was what I woke up to. Thankfully it was a beautifully hot, sunny day in Wales. If it had been pouring down rain, I'm pretty sure I would have never gotten out of bed.

Then I went off to Rhydyfelin to worship with that church. It went very well, and the minister that came in gave a pretty good exhortation on how we should be spiritually aware of the culture around us, and use the tools given to us to truly engage those outside the faith as Paul does atop the Areopagus (Acts 17) while speaking to the men of Athens. It was thought-provoking, and I hope that I would be more aware of what is going on around me.

Then we went to Mark and Georgie's for dinner which was exceptional. It was a good time of fellowship with Mark and his family. An American missions coordinator with GEM (Greater European Missions) came to lunch to speak with us about sending future interns to Gateway through their mission. It saddened me that they wouldn't be coming through World Witness, but I am still blessed that they want to continue bringing in interns to help with the work they so desperately need to continue in doing. It was a wonderfully blessed afternoon of talking about what God is doing throughout the UK, and it was good to be able to talk through some of the challenges and wonderful things that I am learning over here. I don't think I had quite sat down and articulated what I was learning until Rob asked me, and it was good to receive encouragement from him and to hear his wisdom in this area of my life.

Gateway church was our next stop, and it went beautifully. A few weeks ago we had a different guy named Rob speak. I'm not sure if I ever blogged about this, but he visited the church to speak on Worship as a general topic. I agreed with his general principles; however it seemed he got lost in the midst of his truth and began to refer back to a more romantic notion of worship rather than the Romans 12 view of worship being as offering our bodies as living sacrifices. This week, however, he spoke on Colossians 1 and the Supremacy of Jesus Christ. He was spot on. Absolutely brilliant. And, in addition to God's edifying truth, he spoke it with passion and love for his Savior. Rob was so wonderfully excited about who he was worshiping and edifying us about. God was definitely moving in that man.

Today, my Welsh church worshiped in spirit and in truth. Recently they've had a brilliant take on what it means to worship in the spirit, but today God worked in them and they did it both. They were truthful, and they were in the spirit. We ended the service with In Christ Alone.

I cried. Not full blown, river-flowing tears, but I could hardly sing at times. I was so thrilled to see my Welsh family worship as God had called them to: not getting lost in romantic notions of God, but being edified with the truth and knowing who in fact they were worshiping, that Christ is the image of the invisible God, and the firstborn over all creation. That in him, through him, and for him all things were created. That our Savior, Jesus Christ, is before all things and all things are held together and sustained by him. That he is the head of his body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn of the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent and supreme. For in Christ the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, making peace by the blood of his cross. And this was edified in me, too.

It struck me that this great Savior and God, Jesus Christ, who is supreme and so much greater than all things, came down and "made himself nothing" and humbled himself.
Why? Why would God himself leave his throne; be born in a feeding trough; suffer ridicule, scorn, shame, mocking, and rejection; then die a horrific death on the cross? Why would someone all powerful and mighty and transcendent do that?

For me. For his people. For his Bride. He came down from heaven and died a horrible death (not just physically horrible, but spiritually too-it was on the cross he bore the punishment of our sins so that our stripes might be healed!). He did that so I might be reconciled to him by the blood of the cross. The Wrath of God was satisfied. For every sin on him was laid. "He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God." -- "He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun."

He did it because he loves me. He. Loves. Me.
Today, I am blown away by his love.

Thanks be to God for his work in Wales and in this church. They have so much to learn. I have so much to learn. But God is indeed working in this place and in me. He is doing a great work, and I am so glad to be a part of it. Today, the American missions organizer said something profound. He said that God can only work through us if he is working in us. Because as we are changed, as we are transformed into the likeness of the Son, the people of this earth are witnessing our transformation. They see that we aren't just pious for its own sake, but that we struggle, we hurt, and our hearts break. But, in the end, we come out victorious not because of our own power but because God is working in us because His power is made perfect in our weakness.

Pray that I will become a living sacrifice as my spiritual act of worship, that I will recognize that I am not my own. I am bought at a price, and I am a slave to righteousness. I am God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which he has already prepared in advance for me to do. Pray also for this church that they might continue to worship in spirit and in truth and crave the pure spiritual milk.

In Christ alone my hope is found.

he is my light, my strength, my song;

this Cornerstone, this solid ground,

firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My comforter, my All in All,

here in the love of Christ I stand. 

In Chrst alone, who took on flesh,

fulness of God in helpless babe! 

This gift of love and righteousness, 

scorned b the ones he came to save.

Till on that cross as Jesus died, 

the wrath of God was satisfied.

For every sin on him was laid;

here in the death of Christ I live. 

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain.

Then bursting forth, in glorious day

Up from the grave he rose again!

And as he stands in victory

sin's curse has lost its grip on me!!!

For I am His and He is mine

bought with the precious blood of Christ!

No guilt in life, no fear in death!!!

This is the power of Christ in me.

From life's first cry, to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

can ever pluck me from his hands!

Till he returns or calls me home,

here in the power of Christ I'll stand!

finding stuff [july 5 - 6]

Hiya again!

So, yesterday was pretty slow as everyone in our church is on holiday at the moment. Well, almost everyone. I got to spend my morning praying and in the Word. I'm going to start reading the Old Testament again, as I've found that I can't quite remember all the stories like I used to. So, I'm trying to figure out where to start. I'll clue you all in when I find it out.

After my relaxing morning with God, I decided that I would overcome my resentment with the bicycle (do remember I went on a 27 mile bike ride where I almost died). So, I biked down to the town center across from Caerphilly castle in order to get some candy for Bobby. He did a MARVELOUS talk at PCY that night, and he needed candy for sword drills (the kids didn't know what they were apparently)! It wasn't too terrible of a ride although the last hill got really tricksy because there were all these cars, and I couldn't figure out how to cross the road and keep momentum to get up the hill. All in all, I gave up and walked up on the pavement (side-walk for you Americans) then hopped back on after I crossed the road. It worked well, and I made it back in one piece.

Then after that we had the school fete which is like Grayson Days. Basically all these local businesses get together and pitch tables and tents out the back of the school and all the kiddies come running around to buy your stuff. We were decorating gingerbread men for about 2 hours, which was grand fun. I learned how to make icing sugar. (: I forgot to bring my camera, unfortunately, but it was good anyway.

Near the end, Claire sent Bobby and I off to hand out leaflets/flyers to people she didn't know because "We're American. We can get away with it." Honestly, I'm terrible at it. I gave half my flyers to Bobby because he was brilliant, then I got Charys to help me. She passed out several to her friends then pointed out people to hand leaflets to. Bobby was just teasing me the whole time, but I didn't care. I got rid of them, which was the whole point!!!

Afterward was Bath night at PCY where Bobby spoke on the Word of God and the importance to be reading it. He did such an amazing job. He has such a wonderful gift for exhorting the word, and I hope he continues to use it for God's glory. I am so excited to be able to see where God is going to take him. It is a blessing to me to watch him grow and use his gifts. Most of the kids really seemed to enjoy it (or they were at least paying attention), so all in all it went really, really well I think. We went home after that to watch Mr. Bean which I had never seen before. Brilliant. Really brilliant.

Then. This morning! It began with the Lions.
Who hunted the Wallabees with an ending score of 41 to 16. Superb game. Again, Halfpenny scored most of the points (or at least assisted with them), and he got MVP which just tickled me. Such a wonderful start to the morning!

Then today was Bobby and mine's first Saturday off since we arrived. There was talk of going to Spree, however, after talking to a few people, some thought that just going for the afternoon wouldn't really be worth it (since we couldn't go friday, and we didn't want to camp the night). So, instead, we took the day for ourselves and took a train to Cardiff! Cardiff is the big city around here as it is the capital of South Wales. We basically just wandered around for a few hours, bought a few things, and ate some food. Incredibly fun. A very relaxing yet long day. Oh! And apparently my family is famous over here. While I didn't get a picture with them, my family builds model trains!!! Heh. So cool. But, anyway, I may add some more details later on our trip, but for now it's bed time.

We found Lego Darth Vadar.

We found the Ministry of Magic.

We found a NFL sweatshirt.

And a wolf puppet.

And when I got home, I found a letter from my future roommate, Alanna!!! Oh, it just made my day. I was so incredibly excited. I am so grateful for her encouragement, and I am so excite to e living with her beautiful self next year. Today has been so full of finding such wonderful treasures. It's just been good and beautiful. God is so wonderful to me, and I am so grateful for his love and grace. "Rejoice! Again I say it: Rejoice!" "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

Pray that we might sleep well and be rested for tomorrow. It's going to be a very long day as there is much to do!!! Thank you all for your love and support. I appreciate you all so very much!

Ta-ta!

a welshy Fourth [july 4]

Hiya!!!

So, yesterday began with the G-SUS Bus. I went over to the Catholic school with Bobby and that whole crew to help out for the day since yesterday's prayer meeting was canceled. It was overrall a very good day, and a good refresher on the whole bus thing (since I'll be working on it all next week). The classes were fairly engaged, so there wasn't much to do during classes. However at break and lunch we got to hang out with the kids which was a blast. We threw the frisbee some, and I gave my testimony at lunch to a handful of kids. One of the girls, I forgot to get her name, asked me a bunch of questions about the difference between my beliefs and Catholicism, which I didn't go into much detail but focused on the fact that we all believe that Jesus is the Savior and it is through him that we get to heaven. I didn't much want to go into details of why we're all so separate. I didn't think it would be helpful at the time.

Afterward we headed back to Brian and Elizabeth's for tea. The Hughes, my host family, joined us after a time so it was a restful afternoon. Bobby and I even tried to find some fireworks at the local co-op to celebrate the 4th of July here in Wales. However, we couldn't find any and we had to settle for Chips and Salsa. Strangely enough the only salsa we could find was made by Doritos. Who knew they made salsa? Not me!!!

After tea we rested at the house and watched some tennis before we crammed 19 youth into Claire's house. It was great fun. Unfortunately the kids weren't paying attention all that much, so I'm not sure they quite understood what they were learning. Pray or them that God might work in their hearts and give them a love for learning about God. They are so excited and love to answer questions, but their excitement can be so overbearing that it pushes towards disruptive. Pray for them diligently. I want to see the love of God working in them so that they might be saved and come closer to the Savior.

We then headed up the mountain for a game of Capture the Flag (which a lot of the kids cheated. Mostly Bobby's team. That's why they won ;D). It went well, and they seemed to really enjoy it. I'm hoping that all these team-oriented game will help band the group together. They all need Christian friends as they're growing up to help them in their walk, and I'm hoping this group can be that support system.

After that we watched some TV and ate our chips and salsa before heading off to Tescos to get candy for today's school fete. From what I can tell it's sort of like Grayson Days. All the local churches and establishments put up tents and tables in the school and give out free stuff to all the kids. I'll fill you in more about that later.

Before bed Claire and I had a very long conversation about the state of Wales and what's happening here. I was really encouraged to see her joyous spirit and her hope of their ministry here. It reminded me of how plentiful the harvest is over here. The churches here are striving to go reap what God has sown here in these towns. Sometimes, it feels like there's so much work to be done that it is overwhelming. So, again, I ask you to pray that God would send out laborers into his harvest field. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are so few. They may stop the thursday night youth once we leave simply because they don't have the workers to keep it going every week. That thought saddens me ever so much. This is such a good ministry. So pray, please pray, that the Lord of the Harvest might send workers here to Wales. They need diligent and dedicated workers here in the churches. Oh how they need it.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for all of your love and support through prayer. I am so excited to see what God is doing here in Wales. I appreciate each and every one of you!!!

Ta-ta!

planet hopping [july 3]

Hiya!

So, I started this book today that I have to read for our internship. It's called "Telling the Gospel through story" or something like that. And, I have to admit it, I'm on the third chapter and I'm agreeing with nearly everything he says. It's really exciting, and I am really curious to see how I can become a better story teller. I love stories. I love telling them, and I love listening to them. I have this friend back home called Virginia, and she often tells me stories. She thinks I'm not listening, but I do. I actually love hearing them no matter how much I tease her for them. But it reminded me of how true the book was. When we tell stories we relate to our listeners and give them facts we can actually remember. I can't remember a whole lot of facts from Church History (sorry Dr. Evans), but I can remember blips history's characters' lives. Martin Luther became a monk because he got freaked out over a lightning storm (St. Ann, St. Ann, I will become a monk!!). Calvin, I think it was, his dad wanted him to be a lawyer, but he went a completely different route. Augustine struggled with sexual temptations because he prayed, "Oh Lord, give me chastity, but not yet." These things I remember. But not all of the 6 or 7 different versions of the Atonement or anything like that (I remember substitutionary and devil-ransom. that's about it--should I be admitting this?).

At least for me, stories work. So pray for me, please, as I learn to tell a story in a way that makes sense and is effective for those who are listening. Sometimes I just get so excited that I talk in circles and lose them on the way.

But anyway! Back on to my stories over the past two days (since I'm rubbish at updating this every night!).

Yesterday began with Mother's and Toddlers as all Wednesdays do. It was a wonderful time as always, but I missed little Molly. I'm not sure where she was, but the morning just seemed a lot sadder without her. Barnaby even seemed quiet, but it was wonderful none the less. We played and had a grand time with the other kids. It as, honestly, spent more with the adult workers than with the kids on Wednesday, and perhaps that's why it felt sadder. I love those kids, and I absolutely love being there with them.

That afternoon I had a meeting with Raf before he went off to Spree. We're going to do the story of Ezekiel 37 for our service on hope, which I am really excited about. That story always blows me away, and I am so excited to be sharing that joy with the families of Gateway. So many people forget that this life isn't everything. They forget that God has something SO MUCH BETTER waiting for us. A place where there is no mourning, crying, death, or pain but one where we are complete. Our bones will no longer be dry, but God will put his Spirit in us. We will be complete, without sin, and live forever and ever in bodies that will never grow weary or sick!!! Perfect forever to live and to enjoy God and to be praising Him forever in whatever form that takes. My old Youth Pastor used to say we'd go planet hopping so that we could explore God's creation forever.

Why not? Why can't Star Trek be real?
"Space. The Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. It's five year mission: to explore strange worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, and to  boldly go where no man has gone before."

Geek ramble done.

After that I was ushered off to the Rhydyfelin kid's club where we played on the park. It seemed more tense than normal, so be praying for that group. Those kids don't really know what it means to be respectful, and sometimes it's hard to deal with. However, through love, we can show them Christ and what He has done for us. Through love we can earn their respect.

Bobby and I got to go down and find some goodies at the Tesco, and we bought this cute little pint-sized milk jug! YES! A JUG, not a carton, a jug. It was just so cute!!! Bobby thought it a waste since we had milk at the house, but I thought it was brilliant. It's on my desk now until I figure out what to do with it. Bobby doesn't want me to take it home, but it's just so cute! I don't know what to do with it. Then we watched some NCIS, which is fab. It was a restful night although I didn't get to bed early enough. I never do.

Since this is so long, and I can hardly keep my eyes open, I'll update on today tomorrow. Yes, I know. I'm rubbish at this updating thing, but that's okay.

Thank you for your love and support. I appreciate all of you so much. Time is flying here. It's already July 5, technically. 3.5 weeks until I'm Stateside. I don't know what to do about it.
I'll probably cry.

Ta-ta!

imitators of love [july 1 - 2]

Hiya again!

So, my days are slowly getting slower as people go off on holiday. Thankfully it should pick up again next week as the G-SUS bus will be heading to St. Martin's for the week. Please be in prayer over that. A good majority of our students that come on Thursday go to St. Martin's, so it'll be interesting to see them interact with us!!!

Yesterday I got to spend the morning with God. I did a long devotional and read over the letters of John. While I can't understand him all of the time, I thoroughly enjoy reading John. His passion for love always encourages me, and I am simply grateful for his teaching: "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." - 1 John 3:1

Then Dottie picked Bobby and I up to go out to lunch with the Barrons! I had never met them before, but it was good to meet them and spend lunch and exploring with them! It's so funny how small the world is. Bobby has worked for the Barron's son, Will, and we both go to church with their daughter, Laurel. I had never made that connection before! But, either way, lunch at Weatherspoon was fantastic although I ate way too much.

After that we went to go see Castell Colch, or The Red Castle as it is named. It was refurbished by Lord Bute in the 1800s, and it is a beautiful castle. I have come to find that I much prefer jumping around ruins then visiting museums, however. There just isn't any imagination in museums. But it was beautiful nonetheless, and I really enjoyed walking around and taking pictures.

us and the Barrons

Lord Bute's bedroom.

Lady Bute's bedroom

That night Bobby and I played Rugby down by the lake and watching a movie just to rest a bit before the next day. Neither of us were feeling too well, so it was good to just sit and have a relaxing night.

This morning Bible study was canceled, so I got to sleep in!!! It was so good to wake up feeling rested and refreshed and feeling much, much better. Thank you all for praying for me. Yesterday was simply yucky with my stomach going all topsy turvey. However, I got to again just sit and spend time with the Lord in prayer and reading his word and today I ready over 1 Peter. It was especially relevant because the rest of the day I spent preparing the lesson for the next Family Service which will be on July 14. Please be in prayer over that service, as it is a tricky one. However, God can and will be working there. "Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am also." The lesson is fixed on hope, and I am hoping to focus on Ezekiel 37 where the Lord tells Ezekiel to cry out to a valley of dry bones, and they arise and have their bodies returned, pointing to the time when we too will regain our bodies after death if we repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am very excited as I love talking about heaven. Tomorrow Raf and I are having a meeting about it, so please be in prayer over that also. I have some neat ideas, but Raf tends to come up with better ones! haha.

Then tonight we had swimming. Bobby got to come tonight! Which was awesome. Unfortunately the lifeguard seemed to be very uptight about us playing all over the place, so it was a bit harder tonight to play any sort of games (it also doesn't help that poor Jess got kicked in the head). I got to play a lot with little Hannah though, which was very fun. I really enjoy her spirit.

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly beloved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." - Ephesians 5

Thank you for your love. Thank you for your support. I appreciate each and every one of you!

Ta-ta!