Chatsworth House

We took our last site seeing trip on Sunday to the Chatsworth house in Derbyshire. It is the home to the 12th Duke of Devonshire. Check it out! http://www.chatsworth.org/learning/history.htm UNBELIEVABLE!!! This is the house that doubled as Pemberly in the most recent Pride and Prejudice. We toured the home and the gardens....both were BRILLIANT!! Original construction began in 1552...the house has seen many changes over the years but remains one of Britain's best loved historic houses and estates. Enjoy the pictures!
Another praise report...as of today, we have received the last of the funds for our trip to the Philippines!!! God is so good!!! As for the last few days...we are class as usual through Tuesday...bags packed and in the reception area by 8 am on Wednesday and then we will clean the lodge until noon. We leave by coach for the airport at 14:45 Wednesday afternoon!! Our weekend is free to finish any last minute classwork, packing and of course calling our friends and family. :) We are all very excited and ready to go!!!

Philippines one week away!

Well...it is just a week away now. Where did eleven weeks go?!! This has been an incredible time of learning...sharing...growing...or forming, storming and norming as it was put to us in a lecture on day 1. :) Many tears...much laughter and a greater realization of just how loving and BIG the God we serve is.
I must admit that I spent week seven wondering why I signed up for this...suddenly I felt like a fish out of water...there is no script for this stuff and we just keep digging deeper!! The challenges of community living...shedding more of self on a daily basis....listening for God's voice in all that we are learning and for what the future holds...fighting to give God all we have, everyday....UNITY!!! Word's can't express how special these people are...I know God will use us to bring hope and life to the people we encounter in the Philippines.
Flights look like this: 21:30 out of Heathrow on June 27th...we arrive at Seoul International at 16:20 on June 28th and depart for Manila at 20:10. Arrive in Manila at 23:00 and will stay the night. We will depart on the 29th for Mindanao..I don't have times yet but will pass along ASAP. We return to England on the 23rd of August and will spend a week debriefing.
Also want to pass along a praise report...four weeks ago we still needed 20,000 pounds for outreach fees, purchasing bibles, feeding the hungry and to buy clothing for the poor. As of today, all outreach fees are paid and we are only lacking about 1200 pounds to have our goal met. It has been amazing to watch God release that kind of money into this!!!!
I thank all of you again for your prayers and ask that you continue to remember us as we prepare to leave. Blessings!!!!

Banana Bread

Tuesday night is family in missions night...we usually learn fun and creative ways to interact with people in order to get the message of Jesus out to them. Tonight we were taught two short dramas/skits that involve the adults and the children...though drama is not my thing, I really want to participate and allow God use me. The children loved this and I think most of the adults warmed up and found it fun as well. :)
We also had a woman who is currently living in India speak to us about what life as a missionary looks like. Patience is originally from Scotland and spent six years here at The King's Lodge training to go on to where God was calling her. Living in India since 2004, she does a great deal of training with the people at YWAM bases...they attend similar classes to the one's we are taking here...She said the language is one of the biggest obstacles but after living with a family for two years and studying she is getting along ok. Her desire is to see God raise up locals to take over her position.... she will then move on to the next adventure.
I thought everyone would get a kick out of my hairnet so I included pictures from today's banana bread baking frenzy...we only need enough to serve 100. :) Sara...maybe we should try this in your kitchen in December...what you think??? ;) Part of my daily work duty is to bake treats for the student's, staff and meetings that we are hosting at the base. My partners in the kitchen are Christi....in the stripes and Solvieg...in the checks. Great fun working with these young women....both half my age...man is it weird to say that. :) But God is good as I feel 15 in my heart!!!!
Well.... only two weeks until we leave for the Philippines. This weeks lecture is focusing on relationships and the importance of unity and communication. Great information and I know we will be glad we had this teaching as the enemy will attempt to separate us as we move into his territory. Would you all please pray that we continue to grow in unity and that the enemy will have no room to operate among us. Thank you for your prayers.
"O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!" Jeremiah 32:17 I pray that I keep this scripture close to my heart...He is the creator of all things!!!! Nothing in our lives is too big for Him!

Old Testament Overview

Fantastic week of study....we basically got an overview of the entire Old Testament! Our instructor, Phil Leage, is a missionary based out of The King's Lodge. He is one of the founders of the SBS, School of Biblical Studies and he travels all over the world sharing his passion for God's word. SBS is a nine month course that takes you through the bible.. five times...each time you read it in different ways...you get an overview of the full counsel of God. I think the average weekly study time for the SBS student is 60 hours...INTENSE but they learn so much. Wow...I got off course...we also had a two hour lesson entitled Discovering the Psalms. I have so enjoyed the Bible study this week...when you begin to understand the culture of biblical times and what God's intentions were for Israel, it really paints a beautiful picture of His character...His goodness, faithfulness and his patience with mankind...He is good and he is faithful!!!
I am working on my second book review at the moment... Foreign to Familiar...it is a guide to understanding hot- and cold-climate cultures. Good so far. :) Hope to finish a lot quicker that I did last time...no last minute stuff!! I think we are to do a third on the outreach...haven't studied this much in 18 years...I'm actually enjoying it this time around. ;)
This morning Patrick and I went to Asda..England's walmart...and we handed out beautiful lavender scented wooden roses to Asda employee's. It was awesome to talk to people and see their reaction when we told them we simply wanted to bless them for how hard they work. Having worked in retail for a long time I could appreciate the smiles. :) I hope we do this again.
Memory verse for the week: Genesis 12:1-3 The Lord had said to Abram "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you."

Answered prayers

We are finishing 48 hours of continuous prayer, focused on the Philippines and outreach, this afternoon at 6 pm. Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us as we get closer to the time of departure.
One of the areas we have found opposition has been in our housing arrangements. The hotel where we were to stay basically gave our rooms to another group...this left the leadership to find last minute housing for 120 people! BUT...God is FAITHFUL! Just this morning the hotel contacted Maged and has decided they have room for us after all. What a blessing!! We thought we may have to rent houses which would require more money and more items to purchase for the trip...towels, bedding etc... Thank you again for your prayers in this and many other areas. This is wonderful news for the outreach!
A few of our team members have been ministering to a group of elderly people at a local church. They share meals and fellowship once a week...it has been a blessing for all. This week, as they were leaving the meeting, one of the women said she wanted to give some money towards the outreach. They were all grateful and expected to receive 20 - 30 pounds....she wrote a check for 2000 pounds!!! WOW...we all were in shock but so excited to see the Lord provide. Only 4250 pounds left to reach our needs as a group!! It has been so exciting to watch the number drop from a need of 14,500 pounds to where we are today...THANK YOU LORD!!!

Stratford-upon-Avon

Some of us took the train while others ventured out by car...we met up and had a wonderful day touring the former stomping grounds of Shakespeare.
Stratford-upon-Avon is situated in the heart of the English midlands. It lies on the River Avon in south Warwickshire. A market town dating back to medieval times, Stratford is today most famous as the birthplace of the Elizabethan playwright William Shakespeare.
We had a picnic on the River Avon and then took an hour bus tour of the town and homes just outside of Stratford. Highlights included the Swan theater, Henley street which contains the birthplace of Shakespeare, Anne Hathaway's Cottage at Shottery..which is the former home of Shakespeare's wife, Mary Arden's House..which is the former home of his mother. Stratford is a beautiful English town nuzzled up to the River Avon...very green, full of quaint streets and VERY old homes and buildings...quite lovely. :) We ended the afternoon with a river cruise on the Avon...incredible!!!
It was a beautiful English afternoon...lots of sunshine and absolutely no humidity. :) I think the Philippines will be a shock to my system after all this cool air...maybe being raised in Alabama will come in handy at that point!! ;)
As we walked back to the car I ducked into the Starbucks for a Cafe Americano and a shortbread cookie...what a treat and a picture perfect ending to a wonderful day. Thank you Lord for blessing us with this day.

Worship service

Two Thursday's ago our DTS took part in an amazing worship service...we worshipped by giving. We prayed and asked God if he wanted us to give anything away...then we asked Him who the gift was to be given to. We gathered together in our classroom to present what the Lord had asked us to give...this giving was to be done in a group setting so we took turns calling the one we felt led to bless up and presented them with their gift. Many items exchanged hands...some gave jewelry..diamond and gold earrings, rings, necklaces..others gave clothing, a portable DVD player...many gave money to help those who still need funds for outreach...and one gave her new Volkswagen car to a family in the class! After presenting the gift each person said a prayer of blessing over the other. The children in our class participated as well...I was so blessed by their willingness to part with their things. It was amazing!
It was a night of tears and celebration as we worshipped through giving.....beautiful evening of sharing and worship.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Remember this-a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." And the Scriptures say, "They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever."
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving-the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words.