Like A Child

This is a post I've been meaning to write since February, hope you enjoy and remember to laugh today:

Hearing a child laugh has to be one of the most beautiful things I've heard today. I was sitting in a café doing some graphic design research for work and around the corner behind me I heard some of the most delightful, deep giggles that only a child can make. It made me smile and reminded me it's the little things in life that are the most precious and life is meant to be utterly enjoyed, like a child.

"Then he said, 'I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.' " - Jesus  (Matthew 18:3)

Outreach Stories

We started our 2 month outreach in Manchester where we did a lot of speaking to people about faith and Jesus in the street, prayer walking, rough sleeper ministry, student ministry, café prophecy (where we would ask God for an encouragement about someone in a café and give it to them and speak to them if they wanted), worshiped Jesus in the streets and general prayer for the city.

Our fellow leader Laura chatting with a local.

After a month in Manchester we headed to the north of England to Newcastle Upon Tyne. Where we were able to work with our friend Andy who runs a YWAM location there. We did a lot in 10 days, worked with youth groups, prayer walked, spoke to people in the street, helped out at an International Student Café and got to baptise one of our team members! This is her below.

Doing a drama and volunteering at the Globe café, the church's international student ministry.

Bre about to be baptised!

After New Castle we made our way back down south via Cambridge for a few days with another YWAM location. Praying and worshiping in the city. And for our last two weeks we were in Brighton. This was really helpful for Phil and I to make more relationships with people/ministries because we would like to plant a team there. It was a great opportunity to see possibilities of having outreach teams come to Brighton in the foreseeable future. Below is a photo of a map of Brighton which we used quite a lot and were able to sketch out and write down some prayer walks that we are looking forward to using with groups.

A tree we helped a local church to decorate for their lighting of the tree in the local community.

Phil speaking and sharing about YWAM at Elim Church in Brighton.

And last but not least, we as Youth With A Mission Holmsted Manor tried something new this past Christmas season and held a Live Nativity which brought out quite a good crowd. We had a pop-up café and people were able to sing along with Christmas Song sheets as the Christmas story of Jesus' birth was narrated with live sheep, shepherds, a pony and hay.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the Wisemen, shepherds and the star in our live nativity.

A New Birth!

Phil with Nina

On our outreach to Spain Phil and I got to baptize one of our team members, Nina who is from Germany, in the Mediterranean. The pastors and some members from the local church joined us and on the 1st of January, after a brisk dip, she had a new birth in Christ! It was extremely exciting for everyone involved, but especially for Phil and I because this was the first person either of us had ever been asked to baptize. Here are a few pictures.

 

Nina is a beautiful young woman, with a beautiful faith. What a great step for her and such a privilege for Phil and I.

Conversations with Jesus

Value number 3 of Youth With A Mission is: Hear God's voice. Every once and awhile I find this difficult, but below is one of my stories of hearing God's voice.

The Communion prayer station that our team put together at the church. One of the six prayer stations that our team set up. A place where we could have communion and could "speak" to Jesus as there was a seat for us and for Him, it was very powerful.

One night during the DTS outreach in Spain (that Phil and I are leading at the moment) at a 24/3 prayer time, I asked Jesus to help me love like He did/does and I thanked Him for grace, then I felt like I got this response:

*Remain in Me and I will remain in you.

So I asked Him how I remain in Him and He responded:

*When you are tired seek Me.

When you are dry, let Me fill you up.

When you are weak, call upon My strength.

When you have no forgiveness, ask for My mercy and grace.

When you are hungry, let My life fill you.

Put Me on the throne of the throne room of your heart.

Ask for My peace to fill you when you have none.

Believe in Me!

Believe that I can do all that you can ask for or imagine.

Believe in My strength; Believe in My power.

Believe in My righteousness.

Let Me take your dirty rags and wash them clean, there is no stain that I cannot get out, nothing that is too strong or embarrassing for Me.

Take My yoke upon you, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

My presence is with you wherever you go, whatever you do, I am there with you. Before you were born I AM.

Before the world was created I AM.

I AM the beginning and the end.

I created light and laughter.

I created the sun, moon, earth and stars.

I created the hemispheres, for I AM THE LORD.

Apart from Me you can do nothing.

This lead me to look up John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Lately I have been feeling a little stuck in my relationship with God, but during the 24 hours of prayer, going through the 6 different stations really helped to rekindle the ongoing conversation between God and I.   

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. – Romans 8:1&2

Preparing Hearts and Minds

This is our last week before 'outreach' as a Discipleship Training School (DTS) and we are looking forward to reaching out, serving and loving the people of Spain and Brighton.

But before that, we are preparing for 'Carols at the Manor', our annual local outreach to the nearby community, for a time of worship through Christmas carols, food and conversation, and remembering the reason for the season: Our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

May you know the blessing and love of God in this Christmas Season.

Last week of class, our topic for the week "Outreach Prep"

One of our Swedish Students, Jenny, helping to decorate the tree in preparation for Carols at the Manor

Definition

Here at YWAM Holmsted Manor there are 17 acres of grounds, full of flower beds, shrubs, trees, bushes, hedges, grass, stonework and weeds. Since we've been back from Poland we've been getting to know the grounds and working hard in them to create definition and bring beauty back. We've pruned, weeded, trimmed, prayed, mowed and learned a lot about gardening.

Me helping to edge our island

A wonderful lady from the States has been helping us for the past couple of months. She is a Horticulturalist and a wealth of knowledge, stamina, and faith. She has been such a blessing and breath of life into our grounds, teaching us how to steward well what God has given us.

Carol our Horticulturalist and Phil the Head Gardner at Nyman's, he brought us a gift!

The other day a man from Nyman's (a local National Trust, kind of like a National Park, but with manicured gardens and a large house) came and walked around our grounds with us and identified all of the shrub and tree names and gave us advice on a lot of things like pruning. It was such a blessing for him to come, we learned A LOT and he enjoyed it too because he used to play here as a child when his mother worked here. God has been so faithful, giving us a lot of connections with people who have been quite helpful in the grounds as we've been working in them.

We are also having an "Open Gardens" day tomorrow, which we've invited the local churches and public to come and enjoy our grounds. I've been inspired being able to work in God's creation, getting it prepared and ready so that others can enjoy it too, taking time to stop and reflect on our Creator!

JustGo - Summer Outreach

Wow, what a great time we had! 30 delegates (16-25 year-olds) from across the UK showed up Friday a bit nervous about meeting people, but when we worshipped, oh how their hearts were in it and they were ready to go. We had a few days of prep- time, teaching and prayer and then split off to Poland, Serbia and Romania

Phil and I helped to lead the Poland team with our friend Laura. There were 8 of us total, 5 delegates (3 guys and 2 girls) and the 3 of us leaders.

5am drop off at the airport

Where we stayed in Krakow

Laura's parents kindly let us use their flat for the 10 days were were in Krakow.

Inside the flat

Some highlights from our time-

* Starting off each day with worship and prayer, listening for what God would lead us to for the day.

* Singing and praying God's truth and life over the city of Krakow from the city centre up to the Wawel Castle.

Where we sang from Wawel Castle over the city

Prayer walking around the city

* Seeing 5 young artists grow in their gifts and confidence.

Our five wonderful delegates :)

* Working with people from a local church to help in the community, cleaning a blind man's house and painting over graffitti and weeding at Szkola Podstawowa (a local school) getting them started with their charity.

Finished product, no more graffitti :)

Weeding at the school

Finishing at the blind man's house

Outside the blind man's house that we cleaned

* Bringing joy to Greg our waiter, just by being us. When we told him we were in the city to pray and bless the city and people, he was encouraged and asked us to pray for him as we left. So we prayed and were able to write down/draw in a card encouraging words we heard from God for him and give them to him the next day. 

The restaurant where we met Greg

One of Josh's drawing's for Greg

* Learning more about human trafficking and praying in strategic entry and exit points in the City for God's protection, safety, freedom, salvation and restoration.

Where cars, trains, buses, cyclists, and people on foot meet

* The 3 of us leaders planning in one room and hearing spontaneous worship coming from our delegates in the next room.

* Singing worship songs through the streets of Krakow.

Prayer walking and singing through the city centre

* Doing dramas by the Castle as a declaration of Jesus' love and freedom for the people of the city and hearing people in the crowd say, "It's Jesus!" and cheer when  Jesus breaks down the walls and brings freedom at the end.

The "Everything" drama

* Seeing the surprise and delight on the local grocery store staff's faces when we gave them roses as a thank you and to honour them on our last day, after we had botched through their language to get food for the previous 9 days.

Buying flowers for the supermarket ladies

Thank you to everyone who blessed us with prayers and funds while we were in Poland. God bless you!