Filling the memory bank

Arriving back in England after a sunny month in SA has been a shock on the system!  It is C-O-L-D [colder than what I remember England to be] and the days are so short [It is dark at 17:00 in the afternoon!]... Spending a whole month (unplanned) in South Africa, was wonderful - good fellowship, good conversations, good weather but most of all, spending time with people I love.  Thinking back over that month, it was definitely a blessing from the Lord - I was able to celebrate different new seasons in loved one's lives.

My "welcome home" card from my 2 year old niece

Some fun with my niece, Ame :)

First on the celebration itinerary was the celebration of new life, my niece Lea,  and being there as her parents (my sister and her husband) dedicated her to the Lord...  What a wonderful privilege to be there and witness this special occasion. “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God." ~Jesus~

Secondly, I was able to celebrate my birthday, at home, with a lot of people I love! And my parents flew from the other side of the country to be there (they are the best!).  The Lord blessed the day with a beautiful sunny day in Blouberg - spending it with a lot of people I love, all together in one place. If you were there - thank you for making the day special :) - and if you were not there, thank you for the calls & messages on the [actual] day.

Thirdly, and the main reason for going to South Africa: I was able to celebrate with Johann and Engela the start of their new and beautiful season as husband and wife.  J&E - your wedding was beautiful and thank you that I could have shared the day (and the month leading up to it) with you.  Engela - you were a beautiful bride :). The Lord is good and His mercy endures forever... It is a great one for the memory bank - and just know (and remember) you are in my prayers!

Saying goodbye at the end was, once again, difficult! I've come to the conclusion that hey, I'm just not good at goodbyes and don't think I will ever be :).  Since arriving back in the UK, I've started to refresh my memory on some Bible verses and the one that has really ministered to me was:

Romans 12:1-2: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

As I meditated on this verse, I realised that coming back to England, being obedient to what the Lord has called me to, is just one way of me, offering my body as a living sacrifice to God.  Having to say good bye, once again, to the people I love - being far away from them for an unknown period - is just one way I can offer my body as a "sacrifice" - my reasonable service.  God sent His only son to die on the cross for my sins... to be MY Saviour from sin. Isn't being obedient then the least I can do?

 

Maybe you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Saviour from sin.  Then I want to urge you to take the first step by surrendering Your life to Him.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to the Father [God] except through Him.  God promises that whoever calls on the name of the Lord, will be saved.  Put your trust in Jesus - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.

 

If you are a believer - then what is your reasonable service to God that did not even spare His own Son for you?

 

Hope you experience in this festive season God's love, His mercy, His grace and His peace! 

 

Please continue to pray for me and the ministry:

1) Phil Pechonis, the Creation Fest Director, has been diagnosed with cancer and has started his chemo treatment on Friday. The treatment is for at least the next three months.  Please keep him and his family in your prayers

2) For the Lord's continuous guidance, leading and provision (divine appointments and partnership, additional staff and financial) for Creation Fest ministry in the aim to expand the work.

3) For myself, to continue to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and that He might work in and through me according to His will

Celebrate Life, Friendships and God-given Adventures

How time flies!  I can't believe it has been over a month since I last wrote - but it has.  I don't even know where to start and what to tell of my adventure :)

 

Thank God for Life... And new Life!

I became an aunty last week.  My sister gave birth to my beautiful niece (Lea) a week ago - and praise God that everything went well.  I'm so looking forward to meeting her very soon! Isn't she beautiful?

A month ago, my first "off Sunday" since I got here, I went to visit my very good friends, Jaco and Lizelle in Norwich (it is about 8 hours away with the bus).  It was a weekend filled with good company, good conversations and just quality time with 2 special and close friends. The baby shower for their first born happened the same weekend and it was a blessing to have been able to celebrate the day with them.  And now, Baby Ruben has arrived.  He was born 2 weeks ago! 

In the last month, there was also some adventure.  I spent one Saturday in Plymouth - a nearby city with a beautiful harbour and promenade.  Strolling around and exploring the new sites.  One of my friends from South Africa had a business trip in the UK and came to visit in Cornwall for the weekend.  We explored a little bit of Bude - a nearby coastal village.  We did a walking trial along the canal and coast (really beautiful) passing by the local Surfing Comp.  I must admit, those waves were so small, I wouldn't think they should qualify as waves, never mind waves for a surf comp... BUT, the ministry, The Wave bus was there and a big hit amongst the surfers.  I'm praying that the Lord will use that bus more and more for His glory.  Anybody else that wants to come and visit me :)?? This past weekend, I had a wonderful time with the Doyle family in Wadebridge (it is the family that I stayed with during Creation Fest). "New friends" that is a real blessing to me... Good, edifying conversations and lots of fun and laughter.

Plymouth

 

Bude Coastline

Two sweet girls - Emma and Lily Doyle. They are ready for action!

 

From a ministry point of view, we are in a 'transition' period both for Creation Fest as well as in Boscastle.  It is a period of seeking the Lord's guidance for what the future holds and I would appreciate your prayer for both.  It is a time where we are looking to the Lord for guidance...  There is a popular worship song at the moment that really ministers to me (personally and for the ministry) and the chorus says:  

He goes before me

He is there beside me

And if I wonder, Love will find me

Goodness and mercy, will always follow

He goes before me

My Guardian

Isn't the thought wonderful that the LORD is my Guardian and my Guide...  He goes before me, so no matter where He leads - it is going to be good. Wherever He leads, He's already been there.  I might not know the next step, but in Psalm 32:8, He promises that "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye" and in Psalm 48:14 God promises "For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death".  WOW!  I love this, He doesn't just promise to guide me, He promise to be my Guide forever and ever!  God is faithful, so no matter what situation I'm in, no matter what answer I need or waiting on, He promises to be my Guide!  And you know what?  This promise is for you too... Feeling discouraged?  Looking for some answers?  Look to the Lord Jesus, our Guide!

 

In exactly 2 weeks (almost to the minute), I will be boarding a plane for South Africa for a month's visit.   My best friend is getting married... Woohoo! And I'm really looking forward to be able to celebrate this time and the wonderful day with the 2 of them.  The Lord is good and great things He has done! And then off course, to meet my new niece, celebrate my birthday and to see most of my friends and family!  What a blessing indeed.

 

Please continue to keep Creation Fest and Boscastle in your prayers...

For Creation Fest:

* Wisdom and guidance at the start of the preparations for Creation Fest 2014

* Vision to develop Creation Fest into a year round ministry established by the foundation laid by the festival

For Boscastle:

* For guidance on the future of the church, outreaches and ministries involved

 

xxx

 

 

 

Running... Just keep running!

I can't believe that it has been 2 weeks since my last update... It's been 2 weeks of learning, adjusting, obedience, trusting (should I continue?)...  The last 2 weeks was getting used to the calm AFTER the storm - the quietness after the busy few weeks of Creation Fest.

 

As I prepare for Sunday School, I feel privileged to be able read up on God's Creation (for the last couple of weeks) and teach the kids about it.  The last two weeks, I got to read about Dinosaurs as well as our human body...  It has been weekly reminders to myself of the powerful Creator that I serve as well as just how much He loves me (and you).  How different we are to the rest of His creation and how He created us in His image, His nature / character to be His representatives on earth!  The Sunday School at Boscastle are still small... but I'm getting to know the kids and I think they are getting used to my accent - apparently I have one :) :)!  Here are the start of our Creation / craft wall:

 

This past weekend we had a Creation Movement Road show in Camborne, Cornwall.  This road show took place in the car park of Tesco's in Camborne.  At the Creation Movement Roadshow we have a stage struck from where the bands are playing (and testimonies are shared), we took the new The Wave bus where we did some kids crafts and we built a mini skate park - where the kids could skate / scooter and had a competition one day.  With limited resources and a couple of hick ups before we started, The Lord comforted my heart on Friday morning with 1 Samuel 14:6: For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few! I knew that this road show is in the Lord's hands and I personally feel that He blessed it...  The small team worked really hard - but God blessed it with good, meaningful conversations.  I "worked" mainly at the skate park - and I really enjoyed hanging out and chatting with those boys.  One new friend in particular, Josh (he also got to judge our scooter competition).  We had some good conversation and he is keen to join the one local church youth group.  Thank you to everyone that prayed for the road show and the team and praise the Lord for a blessed 2 days where His name was exalted and the Good News of Jesus was shared. 

 

 

My friend at the road show - Josh

 

 

A while ago my mom asked me if I'm doing any exercise... I was like, "Ja, I walk to work and back... but then, all of a sudden I had all this time after work (it only gets dark here after 20h and I get home from work at a decent hour).  So, the last two weeks I've decided to take up walking/running. Those that know me really well would know that that in itself is quite an accomplishment because running isn't my favourite sport (but we'll see how long this trend of mine lasts - haha)!  The week I started this new running programme of mine was also a really tough week for me emotionally... Too many changes & adjustments (or so I thought).  But the time walking/running that week became a time of constant prayer - pouring my heart out to the Lord.  And in a very physical tired running moment, I had this beautiful picture of the Lord standing there with His arms wide open - inviting me to run to Him. And a few verses came to mind:

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary [tired; exhausted] and burdened,

and I will give you rest" 

Hebrews 12:1b &2a "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus"

I might have been physically tired at that moment - but emotionally and spiritually I found comfort in the fact that Jesus is inviting me to run to Him... He will give me rest.  He will strengthen me.  His grace is sufficient. He is in control. He knows my every thought and my every need. I need to let go and focus on Jesus and trust Him... 

 

We are all running a race. God is standing there with His arms wide open for you too - wanting and waiting for you to run to Him, to turn to Him, to focus on Him and to find your rest and your peace in Him. 

 

May you run your race this week with endurance, looking unto Jesus... Knowing our loving Father is standing with His arms wide open to you.

 

xxx 

Bigger & Better

It's been just over a week now that Creation Fest 2013 finished... And I don't know quiet yet if I've fully recovered :).  This last week most of us spent trying to recover, while starting the clean up / sort out after the festival.
 
I don't really know exactly how to describe Creation Fest 2013 other than AMAZINGLY BLESSED!  This was Creation Fest best attendance ever... On Tuesday night we had our attendee-high with an estimate 3500 people in the main venue - with the local band, The Grenaways, album launch as well as the well known (and my favourite), Rend Collective Experiment in the line up.  Over the week more than 30 bands performed on 5 different stages and we had over 550 kids registered at Creation Kids through the week.  A prayer answered was really the work that the Lord did in the youth venue, The Tube... The venue had a "make over" this year (in programme as well as appearance) and it was combined with the ever-so-popular Skate Park - and this venue was constantly buzzing!  Although I was working behind the scenes / in the office most of the time, I had the wonderful privilege of sharing the gospel with 2 girls and they both prayed to accept Jesus as their Saviour.  Through the week many came to know and accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour or recommitted their lives to Jesus.  I thank God that I had the opportunity to have a small part to play in this event and just be able to see His hand at work all around.  Thank you to each one of you who had a part in it by keeping me and Creation Fest in prayer.

The Main Stage - thousands worshipping God



Above and Below - the buzzing youth venue: The Tube 



 


One of our pro-skaters - Jud Heald in action

 We have a Creation Movement Road show planned in Camborne, Cornwall the 30th & 31st of August.  This is an opportunity to take Creation Fest to the people - so please keep us in prayer as we prepare for this outreach and God preparing the hearts of those that will attend.  Please also pray that God will open the door for more Creation Movement Road shows - partnering with the local churches.
 
The Boscastle Sunday School is going well.  It is still small, with anything from 2 to 10 kids in the 7-12 year age group.  But I am really blessed by it during my preparation time.  Currently we are looking at God's Creation and I'm just once again amazed at what a wonderful, powerful Creator I serve.  I feel so blessed that I get to read up on God's Creation - and that to be part of my "job".  I wonder how many of us actually take the time to look at God's creation and appreciate His majesty and glory? One of the challenges I gave the kids was just to go out at night, lie on your back and look at the stars... When last have you actually done that?  Do you know that if we count all the stars, only in the Milky Way, and we count 1 star per second, it will take 2500 years!  And that is just our sub-division (which is one of billions of sub-divisions out there). WOW!  And the Bible tells us that God placed the stars there and He knows each stars' name (by the way, He knows yours too and loves you in case you forgot :) ) He just spoke it all into existence. Psalm 19:1 says:  The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork.  God gives us daily reminders of His glory, His BIGNESS, and His power... Take a moment and just look around you... the stars, the sun and the moon, the ocean, the air that you breath, plants, trees, animals, birds!  If you are God's child, be reminded daily through His creation that you have access to His power through Jesus in any situation (at work, in relationships, at school etc.).  If you are not in a relationship with God or hasn't accepted Jesus as your personal Saviour, He has the power to save you from your sins and reconcile you with this BIG and powerful Creator God! God promised that "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved" .

This past week has been the birthday of 3 very dear people... my beautiful niece, Ame (now 2 years old), my precious nephew, Alec (he is 6 years old TODAY!) and my big brother Rinus, (won't reveal your age - haha). I hope you all had a wonderful day and I love you all very much...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Please continue to keep me in your prayers:
Creation Movement Roadshow - happening 30 & 31 August
Boscastle Church and Sunday School - meeting every Sunday
We are struggling getting me mobilised a.k.a sorted with a car :) - please keep that in prayer as the public transport in this part of the country isn't great!
Personally for the adjustments that need to happen as crazy festival time is settling down and to meet new people / friends

Until next time... Be blessed by God's beautiful Creation!

The Spirit and the rain pours down!

We are in full swing of the festival - and while it is pouring down with rain outside (I actually had to go and buy myself some rain boots this morning), I thought to quickly type an update inside our Media cabin (my office for the week) where it is dry!

All of our office staff moved down to Wadebridge last Saturday, 27 July.  Since then I've been staying with "friends", Sophie and her family, and they have been amazing.  I've just met them, but it feels like I've known them for years.  We are one in Christ, aren't we? And how wonderful to once again experience that! As for the rest of last week our time was spent setting up the Creation Fest site, ready for kick off on Saturday 3 August and in the evenings we did an outreach in Boscastle.  The outreach was kicked off by a Sunday morning service at the 'new' church (The Ship), with Sunday School (BLESSED!!), followed by another 3 days of outreach. We took our new "The Wave" bus and parked it in the parking lot.  For the kids, we did some kids crafts in front of the bus and watched movies inside of the bus (weather isn't always great here in the UK :)).  Across the road, we had some of our Creation Fest artists performing outside The Cobweb Inn Pub.  The people really enjoyed it... The Gospel was shared... Met some of the local people as well as some holidaymakers. Praise the Lord for a blessed outreach.  As for Creation Fest - the site got set up - in time - for opening at 4PM on Saturday.  We are 2 days into the festival, and it has been SO GOOD!  The Lord is doing an amazing work and what a wonderful privileged to be part of it.

Kids Craft at The Wave Bus

The inside of the bus - watching movies

Live Music at The Cobweb Inn

Creation Fest Main Stage

 All of these experiences are very new to me - the organisation of the festival but especially the Sunday School part - doing it alone (although I've had amazing help from Lorna all the way from South Africa - THANK YOU!).  Its been such an experiential journey... preparing the lesson, the games, the worship, the crafts... but then also not knowing how many kids will show up, what their ages would be and getting to know the kids here.  I am really learning that I can't do it out of my own strength and knowledge (which is very little anyway)... But with Christ, all things are possible.  During our Creation Fest Prayer Meeting, Psalm 127:1-2 came to mind:

Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labour in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
 It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

 

I can now rest in the fact that it is the Lord building the 'new' church and Sunday School.  He promised to instruct and teach me... 1 Corinthians 1:9 says:  ^"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord". He just called me to be faithful and obedient - His Spirit is doing the work in the heart of the kids at Sunday School.

 

The Lord Jesus is amazing and He loves you... Do you know Him?  Do you have a relationship with Him? Do you love Him?

 

Please continue to keep Creation Fest this week in your prayer... Pray that the people that are not in a relationship with Jesus will get to know Him, accept His love and surrender their lives to Him.  For their eyes to be open to the Truth.  And please continue to pray for "The Ship" and "The Ship Sunday School"

 

XXX

Falling in Love

Another whirlwind of a week... Wow, so much to do, so little time!  Can I please have more time in my day :)! No, just kidding -  I am enjoying it.  This past week, we were once again working hard on finalising the last logistics for Creation Fest that are officially kicking of in 2 weeks... 14 sleeps!

On Tuesday (16th of July) we spent most of the day outside of the office.  We visited one of the most beautiful coastal village, called Boscastle (You will sure still here a lot more from me on this little town).  It is really beautiful and sure the Lord is going to do great work there!  We are planning an outreach from the 28th to the 31st of July in this village.  The outreach will kick off with a Sunday morning service and a Sunday School programme (which doesn't currently exist) and the rest of the time will be filled with Live music from Scott Cunningham and about 4 other bands, Kids crafts (sharing with them the Gospel and the greatness of God's creation) and playing Playstation in our new "The Wave" bus - all excited about this - and please keep this in your prayer.

The Church in Boscastle

The coastal village - Boscastle

I am at the moment involved in assisting with the big, week-long Creation Fest (that starts the 3rd of August) as well as organising the outreach and the start of the Sunday School in Boscastle.  Earlier in the week I started to feel overwhelmed about everything that needs to be done and wondering where I am going to find the time (never mind the additional time required to figure things out and learning the HOW TO...) - and that night, when I read my Bible, I read Psalm 16:8 - "I have set the LORD always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved"... WOW! What comforting words, at the RIGHT TIME!  God is with me in all of this, and with Him, I will not be moved / shaken!  That just once again made me think how amazing the Bible is - God's Word to us... to me and to you!  That was God speaking to me that night.  Psalm 19:7-8 also describe God's word as perfect (reviving the soul), sure, right and pure - now really, who wouldn't want to read a book that is perfect, sure, right and pure!  So yes, this week I've once again fell in love with God's word.  God's word is alive and powerful, speaking to me and to you!

This upcoming week is our last week in the office in Launceston before we move down to Wadebridge for the set-up of Creation Fest.  Please continue to pray for me, the Festival and the outreach!

Launceston - where the Creation Fest office is

My prayer is that you will fall in love (or fall in love all over again!) with God's Word as you read and study it - listening to what God says to you.

I would like to leave you with the following words from jcrylequotes.com (Thanks Lorna, was so fitting to my week)!
“The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good the design and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. Pray it in. Read it through. Live it out. Pass it on."

Important upcoming dates in  my life:
28 July - Start of Sunday School in Boscastle
28 - 31 July - Boscastle outreach
3 - 9 August - Creation Fest
4 August - First Sunday School after the outreach!
17 August - Creation Movement Roadshow in St. Ives
30 - 31st August -  Creation Movement Roadshow in Camborne

Busy preparing for the 1st Sunday School

From Marketer to Missionary

A new season in my life started… I’ve made the decision to take the step of faith from just over 6 years in the corporate world as marketer, to come to England as a missionary.  After a long and emotional 2 weeks of “goodbyes”, I safely arrived, in good spirit, in the UK and have already got my first work week behind me. It has been go go go from the moment I stepped into the office… But it has been good.  Creation Fest is in 3 weeks’ time (3-9August) and we have a 4-day outreach in Boscastle the week before, and two Creation Movement Road shows (17 Aug in St. Ives and 23-24 Aug in Cambourne) afterwards.

This past week was hectic, so no time for pictures yet… but, while I did my round of goodbyes, I was asked a lot of similar questions, and I thought I will answer the main two in my first blog.

 

What exactly will you do?

I’ve joined the Creation Fest team (one of the places I volunteered on a short term basis in 2012 – see blogs of July – Aug 2012) on a full time basis as an events coordinator in Cornwall, England. Currently, Creation Fest is a week-long Christian Music Festival (www.creationfest.org.uk) that happens in August in Wadebridge, Cornwall. The vision is that Creation Fest be extended with smaller outreaches and road shows throughout the year, presenting an opportunity to take the festival to the people.  There is also an opportunity to serve the Lord in Kids Ministry – but an update on this will follow later!

 

How or why did you make the decision?

The best place to be is in the Lord’s will.  In 2012 just before a four month sabbatical, the Lord gave me a promise in Psalm 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eyes”.  As always, God is faithful and He did. In December, I received an email from Phil Pechonis, the Festival Director, asking if I'd want to come on board with Creation Fest full time. I consistently prayed about it and waited on the Lord for the answer.  At the end of January God answered my prayer through 2 Scripture passages: Revelation 3:8 (“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it…”and 2 days after that through Acts 16 - with the challenge: The Lord still sends out missionaries today - if the Lord calls you, will you go?   That day I knew the Lord answered my prayer and that for the next season of my life I need to serve Him at Creation Fest.

 

During the traveling on the planes and trains, I read a book called “A present Help – Standing on the promises of God” by Marie Monsen (she was a missionary in China).  And it made me think about all the promises God gave us in His word.  I tried to figure out how many promises there are in the Bible for us, some say over 3000 and others over 7000 – but that is not important.  The important part is that no matter our situation or circumstance, there is a promise God gives us and we can hold on to knowing He is a faithful God… As a Christians we need “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). I’ve just taken a big step of faith in my life, but I can know and be assured that for this next 10 months in the UK (and the rest of my life off course), my faith can rests secure in the promises of God (no matter where He leads me).  Here are some of promises to remember:

Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”

Romans 10:13: “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

Hebrews 13:5: “I will never leave you, nor forsake you”

Matthew 19:26: “with God all things are possible.”

 

What is your favourite promise from God?

Xxx

 

P.S – thank you to you all who have been showering me with your prayers and please do not stop!  I am really blessed through your prayers. 

 

Some prayer requests:

Personal:

Please continue to pray:

* That the Lord would use me to glorify His name wherever it might be

* That my mind would continue to dwell in His Truth (Phil 4:8)

* For godly friends and fellowship

 

For Creation Fest, the Creation Movement Road shows and the People of the UK:

* Please pray that all those festival goers, that do not know Jesus, hearts will be touched and open to the Gospel

* For strength (and energy), wisdom and focus for the Creation Fest staff, team leaders and volunteers for the final preparations and logistics before the festival