It has taken us a few weeks to write an update this time. You will see more about why in the paragraph below, but we are doing really well. It took us a couple of weeks to really get acclimated to the time change again, and there were many days if we stopped doing stuff, we felt so off kilter, and tired, but thankfully last week we finally started feeling normal again. We walk so much here, so we are averaging between 8,000 and 12,000 steps each day. Linda has been an absolutely wonderful host and such a blessing to us, and Mocha is finally used to having Aslan and Dougal as play friends. We have found some Italian pizza this time around, too! Yay for that. Lol!
The weather has been great the last few weeks- mostly sunny and in the high 50’s. We did have Storm Amy come through one weekend with torrential rains and 40 mile per hour wind gusts though. Thankfully we all stayed safe and dry! The last few days we have seen the temperature drop and we are just barely reaching 50 each day, and they are calling for rain most of the week coming. People here are saying winter has arrived.
Everyone loved the massive box of American sweets that we shipped over. The Moon pies, twinkies, and ding songs were the biggest hits. We are still enjoying the kool-aid from time to time as well!
I tweaked my knee 2 days before we left the states to come here and have been praying it would heal on its own, but a few days ago, I finally gave up and decided I was going to have to go to a chiropractor here because I wasn’t sleeping I was in so much pain. I was hesitant to go because I didn’t want to spend the money on one. Someone at church noticed I was limping one night and asked me about it and unprompted sent me some money to get it seen about. I wept. God is always looking out for us. She doesn’t know this, but she sent me enough funds to cover one chiropractor visit a month while we are here- which is about what I was doing in the states before we came! I am just amazed at God’s faithfulness to us! I am not 100% yet, but just one visit has me feeling loads better. I have another appointment tomorrow and I hope it will be right as rain again after that.
I am really struggling with writing updates while we are here this time. I just feel like I am exploiting the experiences of the people we have been ministering to and I am still trying to figure out how to handle it so I am not sharing anything specific for now, but that does not mean we have not seen God’s hand at work. We have been so enamored with God. He always seems to have us in the right place at the right time. I think in the entire world right now, we have seen the conflict heightened between what is right and what is wrong, and we have found so many here in the UK that are searching for the truth but are scared to ask for help. In just the few weeks that we have been here, we have been told “I would never be accepted in a church,” or “I wouldn’t even know how to act if I went to church, but I am curious.” The Lord has used us as a bridge for these people. Some the Lord is still wooing, and some were just seeds that were planted, and some we have developed strong relationships and are discipling them in the way of the Lord. We have so enjoyed getting to be with our old friends here and have picked up bible studies and mentoring at times even as though we never left. Every day is a new day and a new opportunity to share the Lord with someone. We have seen many physical needs of people and have been led of the Lord to bless people with the item needed. We have purchased shoes, bibles, and many meals and coffees already during our time here, but because you guys have supported us, we have been blessed to be able to provide. We have been blessed too! We have been given books, blankets, meals, and monetary support while here.
We have a burden placed on our hearts for this community and we intercede for the people here on a daily basis. We pray on the buses, while walking the streets, and even pray being woken up in the middle of the night with a burden for people. We have prayed for healing, deliverance from emotional burdens, and for all sorts of issues and we know the Lord has done a work.
I am not saying that Billy and I are all that, believe me, I am not, because we have our own daily struggles as well, but it’s amazing to watch God work when you allow yourself to be used. We have had conversations with Muslims, Atheists, addicts, homeless, the poor, and Christians alike and God uses us in different ways every time. I want to encourage each of you to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I know there are people around you that are feeling the exact same way as some of the people we have met here and all they need is a little encouragement to take a step and maybe a friend on the journey. Maybe the Lord won’t have you start a conversation with someone yet, but what about praying for your city? Take a walk in your local area and pray. Pray while you are at the gym, or in the grocery store, while you are out running errands. You can be praying and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and you have more idea where He might take you!
We thank you all for your prayers and support! You have been a huge blessing to us! We would ask that you continue to pray that the Lord use us as He sees fit while we are here! We pray for each of you as well! Be blessed! We send our love!
