America - Week one

Just a quick update on the events so far. I am getting ready to fly up to Boston in the morning. I get the blessing of spending 5 days with the Manchester CofC there in Connecticut. I am really looking forward to the time up there. I have a rough idea of what I need to do and I am humbled by the way the Church there have responded to our need. They have sent money to help with the cost of my travel and have partnered with our ministry for a number of years now - it will be good to be there! I am excited at the opportunity to teach one of the classes while I am there because the subject for the class is the book of James. Before knowing this I pondered a while over what lessons to work on in preparation for the trip and thought I had it covered, but being challenged to look at James has been an unexpected blessing. I have worked on a class outline that introduces James from a fellow fisherman's perspective. I have loved looking over this and have been blessed in the process - hope the saints in Manchester are able to share in this blessing.

This morning I was hugely blessed! I heard that Jo-Jean Smith had moved to Searcy and was working in the Missions office here at Harding. I popped in to say hello and ended up in tears as we talked. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself as I considered the time I was to be away from Fenella and here I am sitting with Jo-Jean who has been separated from her husband for over 4 years. I was deeply humbled and at the same time encouraged by her devotion to the will of our Father and her love for her family.

At the weekend I had the joy of spending time with two of the loveliest people on the planet! James and Faye Pitts have come into my life out of nowhere and left a marked impression on me. I wrote on the thank you card as I left, "God knew I needed a couple like you two as I set out on this journey." They were so lovely! I was honoured to get to know them. I had the opportunity to meet with the Woodson Chapel CofC mission committee. The meeting went well, but I felt so inadequate trying to express what God is doing in Peterhead and trying to say it all in around 40 minutes! I pray that God takes things further as they consider our ministry and make a presentation to their elders. The drive to and from Nashville was long, but again turned out to be great time for me to meditate and consider stuff. I took the chance to listen to some good preaching from a couple of my favorite teachers, John Ortberg and Mark Driscoll. In all I am strengthened.

This morning I got the chance to go running with George. I miss being around him! We ran round the track for around 3 miles. The heat getting ever hotter! I miss Peterhead! Last night he and his kids were on the Wii Beatles rock band. It was hilarious to watch them trying to keep to the beat of the songs. The video is on Georges facebook page - worth a look if you're in the mood for a laugh.

Well things are moving quickly and although I am missing my family I am pressing on. I got to hear Beth's oboe solo that Amy had e-mailed over to me. I was amazed at how beautiful it sounded and proud that the beautiful sound was being created by my daughter. I am surrounded by so much beauty!

Please keep my 5 girls in your thoughts and prayers while I can't be there.

Till next time - God Bless!

Arrived in America

I thought I would take one last chance to request your prayers as I begin this journey to try and secure the funds needed for Fenella and I to continue our ministry in Peterhead. I arrived late last night into Searcy, Arkansas. I forgot the way out of Memphis and ended up taking an hour to find the right road west to Searcy, but apart from that every other part of the journey was spot on. It is good to be here and to see familiar faces that have touched our lives in the past. It was especially good to walk into George and Donna's house and see them face to face. His family have grown!

I am pushing to get my presentations finished up ready for Nashville tomorrow. There are so many memories of the campaign we just finished up that are encouraging me and giving me reason to be bold in sharing what God is doing in Peterhead and in deed throughout Scotland.

I must mention the amazing fact that last Friday Shaun Main became a Christian! Shaun is 17 and has been coming for over 5 years. This past 6weeks we were studying more personally and on the Wednesday night after class he told me, "It was time!" I visited with his mum later that night to make sure she was OK with her Son making this commitment of his life to Christ. There was no problem and in fact the visit was great. It was a great night and one that moved many to tears. We now have 11 teenage Christians in the Peterhead Church, two of which are now boys.

Anyway, must get things finished up. Please keep my family in your prayers as I am away from them.

God bless!

Under way!!!

Campaign has begun!! Everyone arrived last night during our teen class. I can't quit believe that this is it! Things are going so well so far. We had a fantastic day today with our picnic. The weather in the morning was gorgeous until about 3:30 then it began to rain. I don't know how many were there, but there were a bunch! We had, I think 8 families from the mother and toddler group. It was good to see tiny children running around in the sunshine. We had about 40 kids there and about the same in adults. Everyone had their fill of good times. This evening we were at the building beginning to get the school Program sorted and getting the group confident in their roles. What a joy to be working with such an amazing bunch. I will tell you more later about the content of our program, let me add it is centred around two "knocking down" cavemen who through the progress of the presentation are changed into two "lifting Up" cavemen. Job done for today and I will now go to bed excited about worship tomorrow!

For this bunch to be doing this for the first time - their desire to serve is genuine and it is my joy to be working alongside them for the good of the community and for the furtherance of the Kingdom!

Please keep our efforts in your prayers. From Tuesday we will be presenting our program in 7 local schools which means we will be influencing over 2000 children with the blessing of our Father. Please also pray for Fenella and I as we try to keep the financial worries to the background and keep our focus in the campaign.

I am humbled and thankful for the readiness of fellow Christians who are fighting our corner and sharing our ministry with others - our deepest thanks.

Take care and God bless!