It's nearly April here, and there's only three more weeks to this journey left. WOW!! After writing you last time about being in a desert emotionally and otherwise, God has definitely been refreshing me with His spirit and through lovely times with friends in Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeare's stomping grounds). He's also been speaking to me through dreams and this weekend's Betel-wide gathering (like a full weekend of church meetings). As always, there's so much more I wish to share, to write, but that will have to wait until either I have more time and energy or I return to the USA.
In these last few weeks, I ask that you pray for my body to be rested. Sleeping well is something I've continually found difficult. I feel it upon my body greatly now, and in short, the work here is very demanding which adds to the problem. Pray for the relationships to grow here. Connections here are still hard for me and hard for me to gauge, I guess mostly because of cultural differences. Pray for me to just be so in love with Jesus that it just can't help but naturally ooze out of me onto others. Well, I should go. Playing the guitar for worship in the morning. May His Kingdom come in Birmingham, UK as it is in Heaven. Love and hugs to you all.
3/25/12
3/11/12
Desert Times
Time is short, so here goes. Really feeling like I've entered the desert, you know, the dry and thirsty land. My spirit is needing refreshing from living water and strength from the Ultimate source. Five more weeks here in the UK, but I feel like I could pack my bags today. Tired and emotional at the moment and not sleeping well again. I ask for your prayers for the above and for this lonely sense of disconnectedness to leave my soul. It's been clinging on since Friday. As bad as all that is, it confirms that I'm exactly where He wants me doing exactly what He wants me doing. But ... I miss my family and friends, my home in NYC, and simple things like jazz music and walks in the park terribly right now.
In other news, after nearly two months without a day off, I get my first bit of time off this Saturday to go to Oxford with a friend to visit another friend we both met in Spain. Her name is Lucy. Then, I'm going to get to go see Shakespeare's home turf with one or two friends as it's just a bit north of here a few days later. That's another day off with a different friend (or two) whom I met in NYC. Plans in the works to see London as well before it's off to the States for family time until possibly the summer.
Again, I'm tired and emotional. Sometimes it honestly feels meaningless to be here, but that's just the Enemy attacking. So, as the Brits say, "Keep calm and carry on." Well, it's time I should go. Thanks for your prayers!
In other news, after nearly two months without a day off, I get my first bit of time off this Saturday to go to Oxford with a friend to visit another friend we both met in Spain. Her name is Lucy. Then, I'm going to get to go see Shakespeare's home turf with one or two friends as it's just a bit north of here a few days later. That's another day off with a different friend (or two) whom I met in NYC. Plans in the works to see London as well before it's off to the States for family time until possibly the summer.
Again, I'm tired and emotional. Sometimes it honestly feels meaningless to be here, but that's just the Enemy attacking. So, as the Brits say, "Keep calm and carry on." Well, it's time I should go. Thanks for your prayers!
3/4/12
It's all downhill now ...
Wow! I have such limited time left in the UK, nearly as limited as my time to use the internet. Gaining a bit of cheekiness here and humour. As you can see, I can now type in British English too.
How do I summarize all that has been happening in such a short time? I am seeing God answer many prayers, some big and some small. He did some amazing physical healing and emotional healing in my life and the life of the women here this past Friday through my devotional. Work is always steady and usually very tiring here. Haven't had a break since I arrive six plus weeks ago, but I'm about to get some time off. Planning to visit with friends in nearby Wolverhampton, in Oxford, and take on a weekend in London. A few of the women here just left to open a new house for women there. Relationships continue to be a struggle here for me, yet I've seen God mend things that had gone sour between two women and myself recently. Praise HIM!
As always, there's so much more that I want to write ... but that is being somewhat contained in my journal. For those of you who want more details and the longer version of things, just ask me upon my return to the USA (post April 13th) when I will have the time and be face-to-face with yall again. Hoping and planning to return to NYC in the summer. New photos are going up on my facebook.
On a personal level, please be praying for my family in particular my Uncle Joel and sister Ame. Pray for my body to heal from the raging cold that I've had for a week. (It's nearly gone, but they are worse on me here because of the weather.) Please also lift up my application to Covenant House, an organization to helps homeless youth in New York City. (Working on it here with my limited time and computer access.) Lastly, in the six weeks I have left here, pray that I serve and love others well. Thanks!
How do I summarize all that has been happening in such a short time? I am seeing God answer many prayers, some big and some small. He did some amazing physical healing and emotional healing in my life and the life of the women here this past Friday through my devotional. Work is always steady and usually very tiring here. Haven't had a break since I arrive six plus weeks ago, but I'm about to get some time off. Planning to visit with friends in nearby Wolverhampton, in Oxford, and take on a weekend in London. A few of the women here just left to open a new house for women there. Relationships continue to be a struggle here for me, yet I've seen God mend things that had gone sour between two women and myself recently. Praise HIM!
As always, there's so much more that I want to write ... but that is being somewhat contained in my journal. For those of you who want more details and the longer version of things, just ask me upon my return to the USA (post April 13th) when I will have the time and be face-to-face with yall again. Hoping and planning to return to NYC in the summer. New photos are going up on my facebook.
On a personal level, please be praying for my family in particular my Uncle Joel and sister Ame. Pray for my body to heal from the raging cold that I've had for a week. (It's nearly gone, but they are worse on me here because of the weather.) Please also lift up my application to Covenant House, an organization to helps homeless youth in New York City. (Working on it here with my limited time and computer access.) Lastly, in the six weeks I have left here, pray that I serve and love others well. Thanks!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)