BIG change :)

Well I am writing this post having just bought my ticket to England.
I have decided to have a break after these six months I have been here.

Since last year already getting the impression that my time in Sri Lanka was coming to an end but not knowing quite when. It seems like that time is now upon me.

Usually I tend to stay longer than I am supposed to in a place and it takes some drastic circumstance to get me to finally leave and go on to the next step in the journey.  This time it is exhaustion that has brought me to evaluate my situation here.

I obviously have had many thoughts going through my head since making this decision... a lot of uncertainty... guilt... confusion..and sheer panic and so I took the afternoon to go out and just sit on the beach and just get to a place of peace and quiet in order to spend good time listening to God.

  Whilst I was just being still, I was reminded of my vision for the season, I was also reminded of the things that have been accomplished, I was reminded of the changes that have happened in the church and the amount of new people who are stepping out and preaching the gospel and equipped to spread God's love wherever they can and who know who they are in God, I was reminded of the ever growing team who will continue the Fundays and who are seeking new opportunities to spread the gospel and of course of all the people who have accepted Jesus during this time and of all the fruit that has started appearing in bigger numbers and of the harvest that is going to continue...  This was the vision of the season.

Sri Lanka was one other stop on my journey. I do not know when or whether I will be coming back.  I also do not know where I will be off to next but for the time being I will be going to England for a time of rest. These past months have been really hard and have taken a lot of energy to get through but it has been a time of wonderful fruitfulness...I have been reminded and encouraged several times of this verse in Psalm 126v5-6: 'Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.  Those who go out weeping, carrying seeds to sow will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves'. God knows what this year has been like but I am confident that the seeds that have been planted are going to produce amazing fruit and I am looking forward to hearing from the people here about the wonderful things that are going to continue to happen through their obedience and boldness to go after God and what they will continue to become in Him. Since taking this decision and spending time with God today I have peace in my heart and I will be able to leave Sri Lanka with joy and no regrets (apart from never really being able to speak either of the languages)...only some sadness at not seeing my friends here again for some time.

 It has been an amazing few years of my life here in Sri Lanka. I have learnt so so much, I have learnt so much about God and how wonderful He is and how He never leaves me and always provides for everything and I have learnt who I am in Him and the amazing things that we can do together and have seen how He loves people and how He transforms their lives for the better and the hope that He brings!!!

 I am looking forward to what He is going to do with me and where He is going to send me next.

Thank you for all those of you who have been supporting me these past years, I couldn't have done it without you.  You may have heard many times that the team at home is essential, well it really is true. I really couldn't have done it without knowing that you were all there being a part of everything that was happening. You brought strength and support, encouragement and smiles :)