Week 8: Conversations, Both Individual and Corporate

One more week in the books. Another week of spending time with crazy, wonderful English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, and Northern Irish people. They are truly incredible people.

This week was a calmer week in terms of activities. With Andrew and Grace out of town early in the week, Daniel and I spent the week building bunk beds, putting up new mattresses, and taking apart the old ones. After two days using a screwdriver, I felt like I was developing rheumatoid arthritis in my right hand. There are still some red spots on my hand from the screwdriver, nearly a week later.

This week, I began reading through the Psalms. I had been reading a Proverb a day since July, and so I felt like I needed to change things up a bit. So I started reading the Psalms. We as a team found out that one of our church members reads a Psalm every night. I thought it might be the perfect opportunity to further engage and encourage them in Christ. Since we would both be reading the Psalms, we could share ones that stuck out to us in the week. Later I found out they do not read the Psalms in any order, however, I still feel that I can encourage them through my reading of it also. This will also encourage me and push me to not simply read the text, but to study it, mull it over in my mind. I've heard people use the illustration of a cow chewing its cud as what we should do as Christians with the Word of God. We should read it and take it in, then a little while later, bring it back up into our minds, and think on it some more.

Throughout this week, I have been preparing for today. Today was marked on our calendars here as the day that I would preach at the church on the estate. For those of you who don't know, I never preached before in my entire life. While my training in university has made me comfortable with talking in front of people. This was a whole new animal to try and wrangle. My experience with public speaking has been with sub-10 minute speeches. The majority were under 3 minutes, and about the weather. This one was expected to be 15+ minutes. Thankfully, God has placed an illustration on my heart for children early in my time here. This illustration was to describe what it means to be a Christian. I was able to in a way, use the illustration through the text I was given. For those who are curious, the text was Luke 18:9-14. This passages talks about the Pharisee and the tax collector. I focused on how they approached God, and how we should approach God. Well, today was the day. I preached. With the church being made up of mostly non-Christians, specifically, non-Christians with loads of children, there were plenty of distractions. Yet, I was surprised and blessed by how closely some paid attention to the sermon. I know that my voice isn't the most exciting of voices to listen to, and the fact that they listened and paid attention for 15+ minutes (I have no idea how long I preached) is solely something to give the praise and glory to God for. I pray that as they paid attention, that God spoke to them, that they would see for themselves that they can do all they want to look like a Christian to the world (like the Pharisee), but that will not make a lick of difference when they come before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

This weekend I also had the opportunity to speak about Christ and Christianity to a Swedish girl who is working for a local family. She brought the children to a bonfire night we had in Harby. The children come regularly to our Bible study on Friday nights for the youth of Harby. Although she isn't a Christian, or even interested in Christianity, she and I were able to discuss religion, our thoughts on it, and also through our discussion we talked about holidays, in Sweden, England and America. I was able to tell a little bit about why we celebrate Christmas, and Easter. I pray something sticks with her, and that she would start to ask questions, to herself, as well as to the family she works for, who are also Christian.

I know there are not any pictures in this week's update. However, I plan on having loads of pictures tomorrow, as this coming Saturday, we are going to London as a team! There is also plan to go on the London Eye. If that is the case, there will be LOADS of pictures.

Week 7: The Return To Routine

Hiya!

This week has been a much calmer week here, the children are back at school, and so our regular routine of working in the schools, visiting and having Bible study is back. Little Charis started nursery today, and is loving it. So is Grace, as that gives her three hours of relative quiet in the house every weekday.

One last update on last week, at church Sunday we had a family service, where the kids stay in during the whole service. We advertised it at the holiday club, we had 63 people at church on Sunday! Praise God! Many were kids (naturally), but we got the parents also. We had parents of kids we have been praying for and watching for a while now. What a blessing to see God bring people to hear His Gospel.

Picture doesn't do it full justice.

Tuesday, we had a meeting with someone in Newark, so after the meeting, we explored Newark. For those who came with me in May, the team from PRCC went to Newark one day, and their leader bought a bunch of stuff at an antique shop. We went into that antique shop just to look around. I'm not sure I could have found enough small things to fill a extra suitcase, but then I don't have the eye for that kind of thing.

Miniature roulette table.
I wonder if James Bond practiced his gambling skills with one of these...

We walked around the remnants of Newark Castle. Built in the 12th century, it became a royal castle under Henry VIII, but during the English Civil War, the castle sided with the Royalists and King Charles. They lost in the Battle of Newark and Parliament promptly ordered the castle be demolished. The only thing left is the castle wall facing the river, because that was the hardest part to get to. Many of the good stones used to build the castle were looted by the townspeople for their own homes.

River view of Newark Castle.

From inside the castle.

For lunch, we ate a "chippy," this chippy came well recommended by a mailman on the street. He was right though, it was quite delicious. I had a double cheeseburger and chips. Sidenote: all mail in the UK is sent via RoyalMail, so the mailman is in the service of the Queen. This means that when you put your letter in the post, it immediately belongs to the Queen until it reaches your intended recipient.

Delicious. Bring it, Mickey D's.
"I'm lovin' it."

Newark has the closest Starbucks to Grantham, so naturally we stopped there also, and the closest Marks and Spencers. We picked up more Percy Pigs there.

The Salted Caramel Mocha. Pretty good!

Thursday was Halloween, and while some people here do go all out for the holiday, we really didn't do anything. It was nice, I am also with the Howson's, and their house is a good distance from the road, or anyone else, so it makes for a quiet Halloween.

Friday night was Harby Bonfire Night. They had a huge bonfire, and some fireworks. This is their celebration of Guy Fawkes Day. If you have ever seen "V For Vendetta," you know who Guy Fawkes is. He had a plot to blow up Parliament because he didn't like what they were doing. His plot was exposed and he was executed, but the people in England still celebrate him. "Remember, remember the fifth of November." Mostly, it is an excuse to burn stuff. Bonfire night is the only time where you can legally burn anything in a bonfire or any outdoor fire.

The fireworks!

This thing was pretty big.

The ticket.

Today I had the pleasure of going to my first football match. Football here means soccer to everyone in America. I went to the Nottingham Forest v. Blackpool match. Lois is a big supporter of Nottingham Forest. We had solid seats, and it was a very good match, and fairly clean through much of the game. It was a draw, 0-0, at the 90th minute. The referee added 4 minutes to the game because of stoppages. Blackpool then scored in those four minutes. Blackpool won 1-0. While we were all disappointed that Forest didn't win, it was a hard fought match, and the Forest goalie was named Man of the Match. The topic of football reminds me of two things on my bucket list for being in England. One, was to go to a football match, check. The second is to find a premier league to support. Forest is in the championship league, so I can cheer for them, but it doesn't fill my bucket list. The reason why I say premier league is because in America, no one really even knows of the other leagues beneath the premier league.

The stadium.

The sky was gorgeous.