You Sneeeaky God!

In Whitby with 3 Texans and 2 English girls

     God's been up to something this whole time! For the past 9 months God's been drawing these young people to himself and has chosen to allow me to see the fruit of my labor before I leave! What a blessing!
     The "Texans," the mission team from UMHB, were here for 10 days. And we kept them very busy. They spent the first weekend with their hosts, so Ste and I joined another group with the 2 girls we're hosting and went to Whitby for the day. We had a brilliant time hanging out with 2 of our youth group girls and their Texan.  
     Last Monday we hit the ground running with schools work all morning. Throughout the week we were able to share our testimonies in 9 different religious education classes. In England, Year 8 students (12-13 year olds) are required to take religious education and study the major world religions. The school actually asks us to come into to their classroom and share our faith with the students. A couple of Texans would share their testimonies with the class and then we would break into groups and allow the kids to ask us questions about America, Texas, Christianity, God, and anything else they could think of. We all built so many relationships with the kids and many of them came to youth groups or Christian lunch club later on in the week. 

Journey Weekend

     We were also able to go into 2 primary schools and share our journeys of faith. We acted out the story of Jonah and allowed the kids to come up with their own creative way to tell the story using characters like Shrek, wrestlers, zombies, and Dory. Then we lead the kids in the song Waves of Mercy and talked about the theme of mercy and grace within the story of Jonah. It all fit perfectly together and the kids really seems to understand the concept. 

     Over this past weekend we went on a youth retreat with 21 of our kids aged 9-17. It was the most amazing part of my time here in Nunthorpe; I just didn't want it to end! First of all, it was energizing and encouraging to have the Texans here. Just to have a team who I could trust, knowing that they had the same passion and vision to see every kid come to know Jesus as their personal Lord - I can't even tell you how uplifting it was!
Now let me just try to explain some of the incredible ways God answered prayers. 

Me with some of the Thunderbolts

     We gave out 12 Bibles over the weekend and on Monday at youth groups. 6 high school-aged girls had asked for Bibles after the Beloved girls weekend, so the Texans brought some over from America and we got to write personal notes in each Bible to each girl. We gave out a couple of Bibles to some primary school boys - boys who, at the beginning of the weekend, said they didn't want to talk about God or have anything to do with learning about Him. Even after the first night, the Texans working with this age group had their kids reading Bible stories and talking about their meanings. By the end of the weekend, the boys had memorized Proverbs 18:24 "one who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." They were even excited to recite it to the rest of the group!

LightningBolt, we look related

     I got to spend a lot of my time with the middle school aged group. The biggest thing that stood out to me was their desperate desire to learn more about God and the Bible. They all wanted it. As the theme of the weekend was "Journey" we took the time to ask them where they think they were on their journey and relationship with God. They all honestly admited that they were at the beginning. Some understood the gospel more than others, but all said they wanted to learn more. Many of the 13 year old boys even took notes on the Bible verses that we talked about. I got to know these kids so much more than I have over the past 9 months and it was so encouraging to see the Holy Spirit work in their lives. I will miss this group so much, their awkwardness and honesty have made the past 9 months hilarious!

Me with my EQ girls, I will miss them so much!

Some more of my EQ girls

     The high school aged group was also amazing. We asked the group where they were currently at in their relationship with God. The girls went around the circle and all said that Beloved was a huge step of growth in their journey. One girl said it was the first time God seems interesting to her. She realized that He actually related to her life and she wanted Him to get to know Him more. Another girl said that Beloved helped her move from just wanting to learn about Christianity to wanting to know Jesus in a personal way. And another girl from Beloved said that she made a commitment to surrender her life to Jesus. WOW! We all begin tearing up in the group as all the girls explained what my time here has meant to them and how my example of following Christ has impacted them so much. And I've truly seen them grow over the past month since Beloved. They told us how they gathered together at Journey to read their new Bibles together. Since the weekend they told me that they call each other in the morning to read their Bibles together. One of the coolest things to witness was them praying out loud for the first time! One of their Texan leaders asked them to pray for something that they've seen God do in their lives or in the lives of others. Some girls thanked God for the Texan team coming and for a fun weekend at Journey. But some of the girls actually prayed for me, thanking God for the difference I've made in their lives. We all teared up a little bit but I just sat there in awe of what God had done through me even with my doubt and hesitancy. One of our leaders even prayed out loud for the first this weekend too! It's amazing to watch as they take steps outside their comfort zone.

     Another amazing story is about a lad called Joe. Joe is probably the most interesting person I've ever met. He's only 15, but you'd think he's 25. He came to Journey as the only boy in the high school group, so he roomed with a group of smelly 10 year old boys. Joe is definitely on a journey. He would tell you he's agnostic but is open to Christianity, if only he had proof. He's studied every major religion and even knows the Bible better than most Christians. He gets it. He just doesn't believe it...yet. He understands why the Texan team comes every year and he could share the gospel better than most believers, he just hasn't accepted it! He has asked the Texans questions like "when was the time that you felt God's presence most strongly" and "where do you want to be spiritually in 2 years." He even asks us to practice sharing our testimonies with him and gives us feedback! Who is this guy? A few of the Texan girls got to have a 3 hour conversation with him about Christianity and he's very open to sharing his thoughts and listening to others. Every time I'm with him I feel God's presence so strongly, we all do. I'm completely confident that he will find Jesus through his search, it's just a matter of time. He needs to come to terms with the fact that he will never find all the answers - knowing about God and the Bible isn't the same as experiencing God. I can't wait for this day when he does experience his savior because I know that God's going to use him in an INCREDIBLE way to change the world, and hopefully help bring the UK back to Jesus. Please pray for him to experience God in a way he can't explain. I'm so excited for that day when he gets it! 

Me with Dr. L, Nunthorpe team leader

     The Texan team leader, Dr. L (one of my professors at UMHB) was sick in the hospital for most of the week. He was released just in time to come to our Monday night youth group this week. IT WAS AMAZING.
     Monday was my last night of youth groups. I had to say goodbye to all the Thunderbolts, Lightning Bolts, leaders and a couple of other older girls that I won't get a chance to see again. It was so incredibly emotional. After Journey, I realized why I've needed to be here for the past 9 months; I've been planting seeds and waiting patiently for God to grow them. Monday I got to see the fruit of the past 9 months. I got flowers, 2 goodbye cakes, jewelry, an offering from the church, and so many notes/cards/letters from young people and leaders. I can't even begin to describe the joy and love that I felt as I said goodbye. People told me the difference that my life had made in theirs. They shared their stories of what God has been doing in them, giving the desire to read His word and grow closer to Him. 

     And the TEARS! There were so many people tearing up and balling and giving me hugs. So many of the young girls who I've struggled with over the year came up to me and begged me not to leave. This gave me the opportunity to explain that I've told them everything I needed to say. I told them about a God who loves them and sent His son to reunite us with Himself. But then I told them that now I need to go and tell others; so many more people haven't heard this good news! I got to keep pointing them back to Jesus and tell them how I've prayed so long for God to do something amazing, but that now it is my season to watch what He continues to do from afar. It's teaching me to trust the Holy Spirit and to not rely on myself for the spiritual growth of these kids. 

     One 13 year old girl wrote a note that said "I know I haven't been respectful at times but I guess my tears show that I'm going to miss you. I'm so grateful for all that you have taught me." Other people said things like "thank you for bringing me closer to God" and "thank you for teaching me to move out of my comfort zone" and "thank you for opening up our eyes to the word of the Lord." As a person whose love language is encouraging words, this was HUGE for me. I don't think I'll ever really know the extent of what God did through me until I get to Heaven. And I'll continue to hope and pray that I will see many of these young people and adults there. One of my favorite notes said "as usual when a Texan leaves I reflect on how blessed we have been to have them...this time it's slightly different because I'm now 100% confident that we'll meet again - unfortunately maybe not anytime soon but definitely in heaven...seeing you go is horrible but I wouldn't change you coming here for the world (even if it meant no tears)." This note alone would prove to me that the last 9 months have been entirely worth it. I'm so thankful for God's faithfulness and I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. 

     Another awesome thing: 2 boys that we met in religious education classes that week came to the Monday event and became Christians! It was the first time in 6 years that Ste has seen "official conversions." Most of the time, the church would rather just push the "Christian lifestyle" more than an overnight change. So we got to be so excited with them and tell them the glorious inheritance they will now receive! We gave them both Bibles and they've been reading Genesis, Matthew, and Jonah - and actually telling us how it applies to their own life! Who are these people? God is crazy!! 

     I still have the high school group to say goodbye to at our all-nighter on Friday. Please pray for that as I'm wanting to talk to some of the girls individually to see exactly where they are in their faith and how I can continue to support them from across the pond :) 

     Last Friday before Journey, one of the Texans read these verses: 

"We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work." -1 Corinthians 3:5-8

     It pretty much summed up the last 9 months. Although it's super difficult to leave now that things are actually happening, I realize that I needed to come in August and start planting seeds. There is a season to plant. And a season to patiently wait. And a season to reap the harvest of blessing if we don't give up (Galatians 6:9). Thank you Jesus for caring enough to challenge me to grow during each of these seasons. 

The whole group at Journey 2013

P.S. One Republic is sooo good at making theme songs for my life. This one's my current theme for the rest of my time here in England:

 

     When I first arrived in Nunthorpe, Acts 20:24 became my mission statement and I think the rest of the chapter is very applicable as well:

“You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.

So guard yourselves and God’s people. I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.

And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.

When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again." 

Excerpts from Acts 20:18-38