I am a little late posting our weekly blog as we have been moving this week. I started writing this on May 1st, but have only just now had the time to finish it and get it out to all of you. Last week we started our 2nd month in the UK. I can’t believe it is going by so fast. Our new place is teeny, tiny, and down quite the precarious steps (see pictures below), but we are thankful for it. It is a much more peaceful place than our last one. We are on a side street and right behind Christ Church in Upper Armley, Leeds. The church bells ring every 15 minutes. We love it. The area not very far from us is pretty sketchy we have been told, so we don’t venture to that area after dark. We are so close to the prison that one of the bus stops we use to get groceries is actually called “Armley Prison”. We are safe though and don’t feel like we are in any danger. We are at the top of a massive hill, and so we are building our muscles getting from the bottom to the top every time we go to catch the bus! The commutes from here to Fountains Church and Halifax are much easier. We can take one bus (that runs either every hour, or every 15 minutes depending), and it takes us to a place we can get off and walk the rest of the way so we are praising God for that. The thing we miss the most at the moment, besides our families, is the ability to just hop in a vehicle and go at the drop of a hat. Everything requires planning here. We are adjusting though so yay for that.
This week I want to talk about faith, emotions, and being double-minded. I have had so many varying emotions hit me here. Overwhelming joy over the reality that we are finally actually here and doing this, the joy that comes when you are in the will of God for your life, moments of elation, and moments of fear. Fear that once these 6 months are over, that’s it, feelings of inadequacy, feelings of not being strong enough physically, mentally, and spiritually. We are so much more than our emotions though. We can allow our emotions to rule us and guide our day, or we can choose faith instead of those negative emotions that try to raise their ugly head. This past week the Lord has really been speaking to me about Faith, and continuing to stand in faith when our emotions and circumstances don’t necessarily line up in the natural. He has shown me that I can be double-minded when it comes to standing in faith. For example, I have seen improvement in my hip the past few days (yesterday I got over 14,000 steps in). I keep standing on the word of the Lord that I am healed, but I still have times of pain and in those moments, I have a tendency to complain and begin to doubt that I have been healed. Every time I have that thought though, I am now beginning to recognize it, and I immediately repent for my doublemindedness and begin proclaiming the word that I am healed. I was healed the moment He went to the cross for me. He took my pain and nailed it to the tree with him. I know I have been healed. He took my fears and insecurities to the grave with him too. Every time I get assaulted with negative thoughts about our future, I keep reminding myself of all the promises we have had. I am learning to trust the Lord in an entirely new way. We don’t know what next month looks like, but I am learning that is ok. I am learning to trust Him with my future, with my goals, with my dreams. I am learning to say it’s okay when I don’t have everything all figured out. I know that He does, and my single goal is to listen to the Holy Spirit’s prompting and be bold in that which I am tasked with, and everything else will fall into place. I have been standing on 2 verses this week around these ideas. Proverbs 3: 5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In ALL your ways, acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight. The other is in regard to my physical body. Isaiah 40:31 – they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint. I have taken that literally on occasion here. I will run and not grow weary and walk and not faint. I thank the Lord for the new strength that he is giving my body. I have been able to run this week (twice!) to catch a train, and made it both times.
One of the guys we have met at Fountains Church just amazes me with his faith. We had a long conversation with him about the Christian faith, and the way he talked it was second nature for him to trust and believe God for everything. He kept telling us “when you guys get your Visa’s” and telling us we would be here for a few years, etc. It resonated in my spirit as prophetic. He had that much trust and faith in the Lord that He KNEW it would happen. There was not an ounce of doubt in his mind. Lord, help me to believe like that. Forgive me for my unbelief.
We got to meet a pastor from Zanzibar, Africa this week. Wow at the ministry we had in that little get-together service. Such a touching moment from the Lord. To hear his heart for this community there in Zanzibar and the battles they face, and then hear his stories of his life in the UK the past few weeks were amazing. We were able to bless him and prophecy into his life as well. He has such a heart to share Jesus with all who will listen. Be praying for him and his community of faith there in Zanzibar.
We also got to attend an African church yesterday morning. Most of the people there have immigrated here to the UK. It was such a wonderful time of worship. You could tell the entire congregation was earnest in their desire to serve the Lord. We made a real connection with the people there. I cried all my makeup off by the end of the service as the Lord just ministered to us through them and the message and prayers shared. We also learned about some evangelistic things they are doing there in Halifax and they invited us to join them in their mission once we have an opportunity to get back over that way in June.
Last night we went to Fountains Church in Bradford, and it was also a great time to reconnect with some of the friends we have made there. We also got to meet an American missionary to Bradford who has been here 6 months. She has family that live in Boiling Springs, SC!! Just right around the corner from us in Greenville. We look forward to being able to chat with her more soon hopefully.
The Lord has given us a real burden for the people here. There are more than a few people that the Lord is placing before us several times a day to pray and contend for in the Spirit. We are believing for their physical and emotional healing, for strength in the battles they are facing, and for their true identity in Christ to be made real to them. We are beginning to see people trust us and allow us to delve into some deeper topics with them. They are allowing us to pray with them and speak into their lives. We have had some tell us how much it meant to them and how they feel different now. Some tell us that it feels like a weight has been lifted and they enjoy being around us now. When I hear the song “I Speak Jesus” now, it has a new meaning. I am contending for those around me and speaking Jesus over their lives, hearts, and minds. I am here to stand in the gap when they need it most. We have so much gratitude to the Lord for allowing us to come and serve and share His heart with those around us.
