Lochalsh, Scotland

This summer I'll be spending all my time overseas in Lochalsh, Scotland.  Below is a picture of where it's located (it's labeled as "Kyle of Lochalsh" on the map).  Lochalsh is located in the North-Western area of Scotland.

Most of what we (I say we because I'm thinking of myself as a part of the team I'm working with, even now while I'm still home.) will be doing is being labeled as Evangelism.  I've had a difficult time explaining to people what I'll be doing because I haven't had a better reference to what will happen.  Since I was unwilling to give up on leaving my supporters, friends, and family wondering what I was going to be doing I found a reference on MTW's (Mission to the World) website for the place I'm going. Below is the description along with a link to the church's website.

Lochalsh, Scotland:  Join this Thrive team as they serve the congregation of Plockton and the Kyle Free Church a Presbyterian congregation with deep roots in the community. This ministry is near a rural part of North-West Scotland (Lochalsh), but through partnerships in the neighboring isle's, interns will be a part of reaching several communities in the area.  Ministry will include helping the congregation in its outreach to the community, visiting homes and building relationships.  This site will afford the team opportunities for children, youth and adult ministry and fellowship, including during Sunday services,  while visiting local schools, and a Holiday Bible Club. Come and develop your interpersonal skills, use your creativity, evangelistic and youth discipleship skills to serve this team. www.plocktonandkylefreechurch.com 

I'm excited. I'm excited to see God move and work.  I'm excited to see the love of Christ in a different place, and to build relationships with believers and non-believers across the globe (relational evangelism).  I look forward to serving on a team, and building friendships with them.

God has been so good already as I've prepared for this trip.

Please be in prayer for me even now:
     *that the team members would already be preparing
     *that when we are brought together, we would get along, that we would be of the same heart and mind
     *for the church we will be working with
     *for the people we encounter-that God would be seen in us, and that He would give us the words to     
       speak

There are many other prayer requests, but those are what have been on my heart as of late.

In other news, I have a little under $400 left to raise!!!  Praise be to God, He is GOOD!

Growing Pains

I'm feeling pains, aches both in my heart and in my body, to grow and stretch--to move forward.  I am feeling growing pains. 

This time isn't always easy, and at times completely heart-breaking--painful.  

Growing pains. 


Our Father ordains each and every event in our lives.  The beautiful, the joyous, the painful, the heartbreaking, the times of growing--He knows them all.  He has planned each and every one of the moments in our life.  Not just the easy, not just the beautiful ones.  The painful, difficult moments are His also.  Our God holds us in His hands even while in the midst of pain and turmoil.  


The key to it all is to not be defined by the pain, but rather by how we react to it, what we become at the end of it.  I choose to not let the painful or difficult moments of my life dictate who I am.  I choose freedom in Christ.  I choose to be victorious.  I choose to learn from whatever happens in my life, good or bad, and grow closer to Abba. 

Every joyous moment is from Above.  

   

Every painful moment is from Above. 

The growing pains are from Him.  They shape us. 

God is in the midst of my every moment.  I will be thankful and rejoice, for nothing can rip me from my Father's hands.

My future is set...and I will become whoever my Father has planned me to be.  What hope and relief I can know because of that!