Faith grows in impossible circumstances...

Faith grows in impossible circumstances…and God is always faithful.

This is what I am holding on to at the moment…I hope that out of these trials I am facing at the moment that my faith will grow!

For the last 3 days…following an encouraging series of events these past few months…the penny has dropped and I guess that the devil realizes again that he is in trouble and will try and stop what is going on here…

To start with I have heard that the ‘new pastors’ chosen by the village pastor, to be in charge of the village (as he is a little old to be going there all the time), well they don’t want me there… and the fact that I left the country for a few months seems to be one of the main reasons that they are using, even though I said before starting the ‘school’ work there, that it would be the case…and that I am not teaching there forever, just so that they knew so as to allow me flexibility.

These are not the only pastors I am having difficulty with either…my main obstacles here have been pastors in the way and not accepting what I want to do because of their religiousness…their ‘normal’ way of doing things…and their lack of dependence on God, and lack of freedom they are giving Him.

I can’t say that I have been relaxed and accepted these obstacles and struggles in a joyful laughing way… I even got annoyed at the photo shop when I went to collect my photos...they were busy watching cricket that they hadn't got them ready even though I specifically said I needed them as I was to be going to Trincomalee...I got annoyed and frustrated verbally infront of the 5 men who worked there...then just walked out without my pictures...which for me is a first and rather bold...as I usually try and avoid conflict in these situations by just sitting and waiting, then I got annoyed at the train station because no one working there would tell me why they were not selling me a ticket, they were just leaving us to wait and ignoring us...they were too busy watching cricket too...!!
It has been a tough couple of days though…to know that the work that I have been doing is under threat by these pastors, not even the people…but I know that God is in control and nothing has stopped me doing what God has wanted me to do so far, or going where He has wanted me to go even though it may have demanded more effort sometimes etc….
The fact that I have now got a team who can share the gospel in the village is a major threat for the devil…and I know that these things that are coming in the way are from him, so I just mustn’t accept defeat… and should just carry on and do what God expects me to do…
The other obstacle is that the bridge that you need to cross in order to just get to one of the towns on the way to the village has split in two this week…so there is no way of taking a van…so…a little opening had occurred in Trincomalee, where I tried to go last night to investigate and get a Fun day outreach ready there, but the train was delayed and they were not issuing tickets…so I was not able to go…but I would like to take the team there to carry on learning to step out there also…but everything that has been happening this week so far has just been frustrating and difficult…but I know that God will make a way…and I have to learn to be patient (again!!) and wait on Him and do what I can do and He will do the rest.

“The Lord gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them, the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hands. Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass” Joshua 21v45
These verses encouraged me…and I know that it will be the Lord’s Word that will come to pass in my situation also, none other.

To be called...or....not to be called a woman...did it matter...?!

The other week was a funny week.  For some reason the fact that I wasn’t to be called a woman in this country came up in so many conversations…even the assistant pastor was telling me I can’t be a woman or a lady until I am married…and others also said that I was a girl, not a woman.  I know in Britain and other countries you can be a woman even though you are not married and don’t have children and that the fact that you are a grown up allows you to be called a woman… at the end of all this, I went to morning church that week, and two ‘real women’ came up to me and said…’we know that you are not a woman or a lady, but we would like you to come and talk at the ladies meeting!’. So yesterday I went and talked about the destiny that God has for them and their value in God’s eyes…and I believe that there were seeds that found some hearts to grow in.. and for my part...I felt the most comfortable I ever have speaking to ladies, I wasn't intimidated...I  didn't even sweat!! God gave me the boldness and the words to share with these ladies...He gave me everything that I needed!

The lesson I learn from this is that you don’t have to be like the  crowd that God wants you to talk to…it doesn’t even have to seem reasonable…if God has something to say to someone or a group He will find a way…and it may make us feel a little uncomfortable and like we are out of place, or because we may seem like we are nothing like them they may not even respect us or even listen to us because of who we are…BUT if God chooses to use us in that field, and we do go…then He will use us to touch the hearts, and give us the words to say…like in Job 32v6b : ‘I am young in years, and you are old;  that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know.  I thought ‘age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom’.  But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty that gives him understanding.  It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.’

  God uses those who are willing, never mind their age, never mind their background and social status, nationality…never mind if they are well written or not…he uses those who say ‘Yes God, I am available, use me’, he gives us opportunities, opens doors, and wherever there is the need of His love, He will send us, and it will be successful, and exactly where we should be, not because of who we are but because of who He is and because He is in us.

What people say or think that we are, what others say that we can or cannot achieve, does not limit or hinder in the slightest the possibilities and opportunities that God has ready for us, or the way that He is going to show His power and love through us!

Boy's Home Trincomalee

 Well, we went to Trincomalee to the boy's home from last Wednesday to Sunday...without me knowing it, the boys were having 3 days off school, which meant we could spend all day with them!!
We went to the beach and had a great time! We were nearly the only ones there, playing cricket, splashing and jumping in the water, and one boy even came and held my hand...so as not to get washed away with the wave, but it made me very happy that they are maybe feeling a little more comfortable with me!  With the rest of the time we played loads and loads of cricket and even had a huge huge water fight...it was supposed to be just water balloons...but Carrie, my friend who came over for 2 weeks, thought that buckets of water were a better weapon...so...basically we all got soaked!!

The relationships with the kids is getting a little better each time I go, so that is really encouraging...little steps...but getting somewhere! And the friendship with the house parents is great, and it really feels relaxing, restful and like home going there!
Carrie and I even went exploring a little, well a little ride on the scooter...turns out that she has never been on a train or even on the back of a scooter...so lots of new things for her.  She was great with all the children that we met and they loved her too, I think that she loved the fact that kids are tougher here and that there are no health and safety rules!!!!
But I am really encouraged and happy with this trip and to see the boys smile a little more and play and just be a little more free...there are 3 new boys there, 2 of them are just so so relaxed and smile at me all the time and even chose to sit next to me when waiting to bat for cricket, which was  a great surprise...and it gives me hope! So I'm looking forward to the next time!!

!!Funday!!

Well, the funday was a huge success, we had about 60 children that came and of course the group of adults watching and laughing!! They all had a blast and the team that was with me also had a great time and enjoyed participating with the games and everything! They did some tamil songs with the children and did a mime also, the Good Samaritan, and the kids were silent all the way through it, well...all except for the part where one of their friends gets ‘beaten up’ in it!! And they were screaming and laughing!  

When we got there, I thought that we would be at the school but we weren’t we were by the small church and it started chucking it down with  rain, but it only lasted about 20 minutes so that was a relief!!!

our crazy team

  We were also able to go out in the village and pray for a few people…unfortunately we had a man sent with us from Batticaloa to show us supposedly only the directions to the village from the main street as we had to go another way because of the state of the roads after the floods, but he somehow started to talk to the people too…but it wasn’t out of love, he was forcing them to become Christians and was being very condemning…of course I didn’t understand what was going on, but the team told me afterwards…and told me to talk to him…so I did, andexplained the way we do things…unfortunatly  he didn’t seem to want to listen or follow the way we were doing things…but because of the relationships already formed I don’t think that it will affect our work in the village…but he wont be coming again with this team…I will ask for a paper map next time!!! But it was good for the team to see the difference in the way of sharing the gospel… they understood that his way was wrong and were encouraged to share God’s love even more…they were bold and stepped out and I was really happy to see them love the people, not be shy…but participate in everything… and they all want to come again!!

Faith

Saturday is the 'Funday' outreach...there will be competitive games so the kids have a blast, and prizes and there will be snacks and there will be God appointed conversations, there will be free reign for the Holy Spirit and freedom to share God's love...and I believe that there will be the continuation of sowing of seeds in the village, and people accepting Jesus...that is the aim of the day and the work of the last year there also...

I was in the car on the way back from church and listening to someone asking me questions of what am i doing and how the Saturday is going to work...and had to listen to the sarcastic and doubtful answers...like...so you're going all that way for a day, you know you'll be spending most of the time in a car, it's not worth it... or spending all that money on one day just to play games...ect...and I was thinking...yes...that is true...it is just for one day...and it is a lot of money...I didn't argue with her, I just said yes...but just imagine how many people are going to come to Jesus...

It's what faith is all about...we don't know everything, the whys...the hows...but what I do know is that God is in control and He has an amazing plan, and He is going to use the little team that we are to reach that village, a car trip and some money that he has already provided...to love them and share God with them...and He is going to work in this group, and through them, and show Himself and his power more to them...we can't explain all the things of God...He works in mysterious ways...if we were to understand everything..then there would be no need for much faith....and we wouldn't be able to be amazed at the things that God does...the only thing that I do know, is that it's the next step and I trust God...and it's on God's agenda, and where God is going... I want to go too!! Those who understand can join in and those who don't understand...well they can observe the fruit and then start to understand...!!!

Back Again!!

Well, having forgotten my blog password...or having been locked out....the outcome is that I have had to start a new blog!! But maybe this time I will be more consistent!

I'm in Sri Lanka again! Things here are yet again different...God has already done so much this year since I've been back, it's been amazing!! 

I'm going about things a little differently, whereas last year I was teaching in the village in order to open doors to sharing God, this year will be no more teaching but going to have one big fun day a month, taking a team from the church in Colombo where I go,  in order to teach them about sharing God's love and giving them an obvious outlet to do so, and using our presence there to share God and pray and just see how God will move through us and reveal himself to the village. The doors are wide open there now...so it's a good time to move in!!


On this side of the country, I have started to work with a few from the church, teaching to listen to God, move in the Holy Spirit...learn to step out not just to shine in the church...but to take that light and shine it in the darkness...using every  opportunity to share God's love...to see people through Jesus' eyes...and to have the boldness to reach out in anyway that God is leading...


I am learning valuable lessons also...through my frustrations and also just through relaxing times!! Learning to be patient, , to not seek commitment from others to the things that I am doing but to be available to them when they want to come and learn, to rest in God and not rest on visible success, to just dwell in God and not circumstances, to carry on reaching out to those in need  even if they are hostile or don't quite react in the way expected, to be wise and seek God's guidance in everything, to open my eyes all the time to see where God wants to use me even when just doing ordinary mundane things...God uses every opportunity that we give him to use us...
I don't know the outcome of the things that I am doing...but God does and so leaning on Him, just obeying and following is all I can do, and trust that there will be seeds sown, that there will be fruit...that God will move through me to touch others and make a difference even when I can't see anything happening.
It's been a lot more relaxed here these days...not so much running around like last year...so that has been nice, I have been able to work a little more around the area where i live, teaching a little, sharing and going in the street doing treasure hunts; asking God who are the treasures he wants to point out to us, and then go and find them and listen to the Holy Spirit, and encourage them, say what God wants to tell them...I have been able to take a couple of people with me on that sometimes, and it has been really good, God uses that time that we make ourselves available to Him, and people have been touched so it has been really encouraging and amazing to see God work through us!


So that is the little update from January till now!! 
I'm really encouraged by how God has been planning all of this,  and setting it all up, as usual He is so faithful, loving and provides for every single need!! Of course there are challenges and I am being stretched all the time, but that is just the way it goes and God equips me for everything that He puts me through and asks me to do, so it's always something I am able to do...even though it may be way out of my comfort zone!
I find after quite difficult days...of which there has been a few!!, that as I just flop at home...all hyped up...tired...and wondering what on earth is happening...that he just gives me the love that I need, the encouragement...the peace and the security that only comes from Him...and I realize that the only important thing, is to love Him most of all, and from that will come the other things....flowing out from that place...it's out of love that we serve Him, so if people react in ways we don't want or expect...we can still carry on because it's not man that we lean on or expect things from for us to continue, but only God...and I am on a mission for Him...to fulfill the plan and purpose that He has for my life...