Belfast

The evening before arriving Belfast, we were hosted in Dumphries, Scotland by Pastor John and Susan Donnelly.  It was John’s birthday and they served us a yummy dinner in their home.  We also had fellowship with and were entertained by worship pastor John and wife Emma Afterwards they ministered to us and spoke over each of us before farming us out to various church members, who graciously housed us for the night.  They rounded us all up early the next morning and pointed us in the right direction for the ferry. 
 
We arrived in Belfast, Northern Ireland Monday afternoon and were greeted by CBC students Jim Wilson and Carol Smyth who loaded us in a mini-bus and delivered us to CBC Belfast.  They had a soup lunch ready and waiting for us served at tables with bright daffodils that really hit the spot on the blustery day.  We had a short introduction to the school and got schedules then were introduced to our host students and sent to our various locations to get acquainted and spend the evening.
 
Tuesday morning we began our teachings.  Bob went first followed by Aurora and Lois.  We had some extra time so two of their students shared their testimonies with us.  Linda and Wendell both taught one session each day as well.  They have praise and worship every day first hour led by Pamela on guitar and our own Greg Strom on tambourine.  Grady and Yvonne do announcements following worship and anyone who needs prayer is ministered to by them and the students.
 
After school we had a real treat.  Jackie MacArthur took us on a bus tour of Belfast and gave us the history of “The Trouble” as they call it.  We toured the IRA museum and went to a center that was formerly UVF headquarters.  He humorously sang songs, played a variety of instruments, including the shofar, and was assisted by Lawrence, and equally talented musician and singer while we enjoyed tea and biscuits (that’s cookies for you Americans).  Afterward we had a shopping opportunity at the mall before attending night services at New Life Community Church, where Wendell was the guest speaker.  We were able to minister to people afterward, which was nice.  Their pastor wasn’t there, but generously left each of us copies of two books he had written about “The Trouble” in Belfast.
 
Sherri and Tom taught Wednesday morning then in the afternoon we had a vegetarian lunch at a small town called Holywood.  They pronounce it like our Hollywood.  Everything the restaurant serves is organically grown by special needs adults who also serve and work in the kitchen.  It is how they support themselves.  It’s really a great idea and the food is delicious!  Then we went to a museum where they have taken an old village and reconstructed it brick by brick into a turn of the century village.  It was very interesting.  Unfortunately, they closed  earlier than expected and we were forced to spend an hour shopping until Yvonne was ready for us.  Grady and Yvonne had all of our team as well as the CBC students into their LOVELY home for a chili dinner.
 
Ken and Wendy finished up the teaching Thursday morning at CBC.  We left at 10:15 just after long break to go to Fisherwick Presbyterian church to help serve lunch to 400-500 Queen’s University students.  We set up, served, visited with the students from all over the world, and then helped clear and tear down tables and chairs.  It was a lot of fun.  They also have an internship where Americans can commit to a year of service with their church.  Derek McKelvey, their spirit-filled Pastor gave us a tour and history of the church and prayed with each of us before we left.  It was refreshing to hear the church partnerships they have created and the community outreaches they are actively performing there.  We ate dinner at Spence’s, a little mom & pop fish and chips place before attending the CBC Belfast recruiting meeting.  Grady and Wendell both spoke and we hung out and encouraged the guests.  Then it was home to pack and get a very few hours sleep before our early flight. 
 
Friday morning we left CBC at 5:30 am to head for the airport.  We had a 55 minute flight and then spent four hours at Heathrow airport in London before catching our connecting flight home.

Sharing with CBC - Walsall

Each of the members of our group were able to share at least once with the students at CBC.  We have been very well received and are loved by the students from over a dozen countries represented at the school here.  It is alway great to have a different perspective to our everyday lives that we are benefiting from here.

Anyone who thinks the British people are “stuffy” has never been to visit this delightful fold of brothers and sisters in Christ. We were embraced and taken into the fold with honesty and laughter that fill this warm-hearted group. They are an amazing bunch of folks and we will leave part of our hearts here with them. The apprentices run the Manna House Cafe as part of their training, where Siew Fong oversees and insists on feeding everyone to overflowing.

Friday night they hosted a Barn Dance to benefit their mission fund. It was a mixture of Scottish/Irish/Square dancing. It was so, so much fun and welcome aerobic activity. We were mostly horrible, but laughed hysterically at ourselves and everyone else. They go on several mission trips, not just one as we do. They have contacts in various places and are led by the 3rd year apprentices as well. They have a trip leaving for Cambodia very soon.

Saturday began with the ladies having breakfast at Abby’s house, where most of us visited, but a couple of us (Sherri & Wendy) slept. The guys held a men’s breakfast at the college with Wendell as the guest speaker. Then we headed off for Warwick Castle with Wendell & Linda. We were also joined by Katie Peak, which was a delightful surprise. Tom, Ken and Bob braved the narrow, steep, climb up to the turrets of the castle. The rest of us stuck to the tour and shopping... and shopping. The day ended with a Chinese buffet in Coventry at Wing Wah hosted by Paul & Siew Fong. We celebrated Kath’s birthday with the restaurant’s signature melon fruit bowl topped with ice cream and a mini fountain shooting out the side. We ate and talked ourselves fat and happy.

Sunday we packed up and headed to Grace International Church, where we had full-reign of the service. Anthony, a 1st year student, graciously played guitar and led praise and worship with Kendall, Aurora, Wendy, and Sherri singing. There were also 3 other ladies who sang with us. Kendall played guitar and sang a duet with one of the ladies. Tom gave a brief testimony, then Bob addressed the congregation on the cross. Lois led an altar call for the Holy Spirit, and Sherri encouraged the members to come up and receive ministry from all of us.

We left Birmingham and the city Sunday afternoon. The further north we got towards Scotland the more beautiful the landscape became. There are green rolling hills with stone walls dividing the farms. The pastures are filled with black-faced sheep and the glow of a clear golden sunset. We had our noses plastered to the windows of the mini-bus like a bunch of American tourists. Imagine that.

On a personal note:
Aurora says “Hi” to everyone. Will someone please call her mom, Belen, since she has no way to contact her. The phone number is (806) xxx-xxxx. Tell Belen that Aurora is fine and having lots of fun. Thanks very much. Thanks also for all of your prayers-- she can really feel the peace.

Bob loves Mary, and misses her, and wishes she was here.
Wendy says aloha to everyone from the UK and a special hello to her precious family and mom (grandma). I love you all!

Sherri can’t think of a better way to spend her birthday than this glorious day. I got to speak twice and they didn’t run me off the stage. Thank you for the wonderful birthday surprise! I love you! Siew Fong found out I like bakewell cherry tarts and got me a box. Then before we left for Scotland, she brought me 3 more boxes. Mom & Dad-- I haven’t taken one picture of a sheep. Ronnie-- I’ve invited everyone to come visit, so change the sheets in the guest bedroom. ;) Girlies-- I love and miss you. I hope you’re choosing life.

JoElla and Kendall says:
Wow, we are having a great time. I feel like a Mother with all her children. I am so proud of each and every one of them. Every one has stepped up and ministered, had something that God had spoken to them to share and the testimonies have been tremendous. At CBC in England we had 5 hours of teaching and sharing time. How wonderful. That was not even counting doing the church service today. I know part of this has been covered but just to repeat I have been so blessed.

Hi to all the Mitchells in NC. We miss talking to you and seeing you on our webcam. Yes, we got you all something in England. You all would love the Warwick Castle it is so beautiful.

Hello to all the Kempfs, Reisers and everyone else. We are having a great time we just wish we could have brought all of you with us.

I just have to say we just stopped at a road side stop break station services Moto and to no one’s surprise Kendall almost, “I said, almost” (Nomie, that is for you) got busted. He was taking a picture and a lady came up and thought he was the press, since they are not allowed to take pictures in their place of business. He said he is a tourist, the minute he opened his mouth she knew he was from America. Then she wanted to know where he was going and what he was doing. Anyway, he took her picture. Her name is Sylvia and here is her picture. She was so sweet and he ended up giving her the blog address, so HELLO, Sylvia.

Well we are nearly to Scotland it is dark but we are so excited to see what God is going to do in us and through us during our stay here and also in Ireland. Thank you so all of you that have supported us through your prayers and also your finances. We are so blessed.

Disciple Evangelism Last Evening - The Men

The men’s DE group needed an interpreter for their group of three Ethiopians (all with bible names), an Irishman, and two ladies -- one from Zimbabwe, and one from England. They taught “Salvation by Grace” which was a difficult concept for the Ethiopians to grasp due to their legalistic background. Several examples of grace were given, but we weren’t sure that they received a full understanding of grace. However, they seemed to be very hungry for the truth of God’s Word. We believe the use of an interpreter also made it more difficult for the ideas to be relayed. Ken prayed for one of the men, who got a full manifestation of his healing by the end of the meeting. Eyerusalem was very hospitable to us during our visit. We were also able to encourage her to continue in her efforts with her weekly group.
We split each of their fifty-minute teaching sessions in half so that each member of the team had an opportunity to share their testimonies and teachings they had prepared. Everyone presented a demonstration of their unique personalities and lives, and were warmly and gratefully received by the UK students. The last session we spent the last half hour praying for UK students and was a good time of ministry for everyone.

Disciple Evangelism Last Evening - The Ladies

Thursday we needed to split the groups after school because of having two different DE lessons at the same time.  The ladies went with Barrie & Carol Dupree for home cooked dinner, then later Aurora led the group in “What happens when a Christian Sins” to their small group that meets weekly. There were just short of 30 people, mostly first year studentas representing seven countries. The lesson was received with much enthusiasm and discussion and we were impressed that they have received and are applying God’s truths here in England, just as we do in Colorado. The lesson was followed by a student from Scotland giving his powerful testimony of how God had shown him love and grace in his life and had led him to CBC England. It was followed by a half an hour of worship led by two students from Ireland and Hungary on guitar. We left around 10:30 full of the joy of the Lord and blessed immensely by their fellowship with us.

Our Arrival

It seems we lost most of Wednesday (with the time change) but got to eat at the Toby's Pub and Carvery where we had Yorkshire Pudding (a pancake-like muffin, and I thought it was something you eat with a spoon) and carved meats of your choice.  We had great fellowship with Andy and Barbara who picked up up at the airport.

DIA Arrival

By mid-afternoon we are in Denver at the airport.  We had a lockdown at the security area coming in.  We're not sure what happened.  Here are a few of the guys going on the trip.

Leaving Colorado for UK

Today we leave for the UK with seven students for their AWM mission trip. We will go along with them to help facilitate their ministry in England, Scotland and North Ireland over the next ten days. Wendell and Linda, JoElla and I, and CBC students Lois, Wendy, Sheri, Aurora, Bob, Tom and Ken will be ministering in the CBC schools in Walsall, England and Belfast, North Ireland. Next Sunday they will be ministering in a church in Walsall. Stay tuned to see what God will do.

Thanks to Gary, Ted and Merlene we got to the airport on time.  We were on time but the plane was an hour and a half late.