tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37030125108753272542024-03-13T07:19:15.278-07:00Daughter of LightsThe journal and life of an American girl living as a missional artist in London.Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-15737071256316815692024-03-13T07:18:00.000-07:002024-03-13T07:18:27.593-07:00Alpha Away Day<p> One of my favourite parts of my job is helping to lead the citywide Gospel Sharing group for One Voice. James, the other leader, and I have coordinated Citywide Alpha as a part of that group for two years now. Last year, when we were encouraged to figure out what a citywide Alpha would look like, it was a challenge to communicate our vision and to help others to envisage how we could blanket York in Alpha courses. But this year has gone a lot more smoothly, with ten different Alpha courses starting across the city on the same week. They meet during different times of the week, so that people can choose a time and location that suits them. We all come together for the Away Day, the time on Alpha when most people make their decisions to follow Jesus.</p><p><i>(Alpha, for those who aren't familiar, is a 10-week course where non-Christians come together to have a meal and explore what it is to be Christian. It is most often hosted by churches, and the guests are then invited to make decisions for Christ, if they want, and to come along to church. It is international, but originated in the UK and works really well for our culture of people who love to approach things intellectually.)</i></p><p>It may seem obvious, what with my job being a missionary, but I love translating Christian-ese for people who are exploring the church. And on Saturday, I got to do just that! We had 118 people come together at a venue in the centre of York, and we got to listen to talks, worship, discuss and pray together. </p><p>This may not seem impressive, but considering that non-Christians rarely do any of those things, it really was! Many of them were overwhelmed at being in a room with so many people, and I realised that gathering together in large groups to listen to a talk (a British term that can range from a lecture to a sermon), discuss and sing together is pretty uniquely Christian. And once again, I had the privilege of explaining it in everyday terms to the people in the room and to leading them in worship, many for the first time!</p><p>The lead up to citywide Alpha was not without its challenges. It always is when you are working across tradition and denomination. It is also quite hard (and maybe this has been exacerbated by Covid) to get people to commit to something like an Away Day. But the day itself was amazing. We discussed getting to know God more deeply and offered times of prayer for healing and decision making. I was not with a specific church group, since I had coordinated it for everybody, but one woman still came up to ask for prayer. It turned out that she was ready to pray to give her life to Jesus! God was so kind to let me be a part of that process for her - He knows how much I enjoy getting to be a part of that moment. I think her group could easily have led that prayer with her, but God gave me the cherry on top! She then immediately began praying for her family members!</p><p>Many others were so encouraged by being all together as Alpha courses from across the city. York is pretty decidedly non-Christian, as I tend to bang on about. But on Saturday, they had the chance to look across the room and see how many other people were interested in learning about God and how to follow Him. And many of them have been taking the next steps in these weeks of Alpha. </p><p>I am so encouraged by seeing so many people exploring Christianity in our city, and by the way that they asked for prayer and for healing, even if what they were asking for would have embarrassed most of us (think UTIs, porn addictions, etc). They were open to receive and humble. </p><p>Sorry if this whole explanation and good news report is a jumble - I am still tired from the coordinating and executing of the day (especially because my usual duties haven't paused!), and the Alpha courses haven't finished yet! Please pray that those on the ten courses who haven't made decisions for Jesus yet will in the last few weeks of Alpha!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S7hIylrA-pZxNt87oULtquXXsZePIkWo7JQiveTmPhwaTvfUnoCyfu8JcQU1hVmH7SJiyZLjXKYFi7uRbYxq9vg5c92YTbAai3tEPlXk91DNBBzLWG2zOVLNNBy19W95o95FRPvtJFEP-DQhrzCgKVqbewUwT-5TCgM5AIQKuGJXm2rAkDMcodXUSsE/s4032/IMG_2459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S7hIylrA-pZxNt87oULtquXXsZePIkWo7JQiveTmPhwaTvfUnoCyfu8JcQU1hVmH7SJiyZLjXKYFi7uRbYxq9vg5c92YTbAai3tEPlXk91DNBBzLWG2zOVLNNBy19W95o95FRPvtJFEP-DQhrzCgKVqbewUwT-5TCgM5AIQKuGJXm2rAkDMcodXUSsE/w400-h300/IMG_2459.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><i><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(watching a talk all together)</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs92TjLk1BZqNh5jNtpoVyoSlStelrOfxTYOquDrX9LgCMuJ1if7blzxf8jGcI9CD7kk_5qlpP3-SFUV_MJxPtZOQ7x9cFoouSWhAAa_pAEo1sCnnnsW1mQQWqpa5BRgIYX-0q9P1C0oxSRc6EVBK2Iul2wim-DAqv5zRFawbBxK147yo3RpFx-oIJRos/s4032/IMG_2447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs92TjLk1BZqNh5jNtpoVyoSlStelrOfxTYOquDrX9LgCMuJ1if7blzxf8jGcI9CD7kk_5qlpP3-SFUV_MJxPtZOQ7x9cFoouSWhAAa_pAEo1sCnnnsW1mQQWqpa5BRgIYX-0q9P1C0oxSRc6EVBK2Iul2wim-DAqv5zRFawbBxK147yo3RpFx-oIJRos/w300-h400/IMG_2447.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><i><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Praying in small groups)<br /></i><p><br /></p></div>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-61753658472513764372023-12-09T02:55:00.000-08:002023-12-09T02:55:08.822-08:00The Christmas Journey<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It wasn’t until speaking with my mum this week that I realised how incredible of a thing our Christmas outreach was. I mean, I knew it was amazing that we had a real Baby Jesus. And I knew that the transformation of our old church building into Israel in 1 AD was surprising. But what I had forgotten is how rare it is to be able to teach school children about Jesus.</p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">You see, there is no separation of church and state in England, and all children are required to learn Religious Education, or RE. So for the whole of the past week, they’ve come to our church, put on robes and tunics, and lived the Christmas story for themselves.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But I’m getting ahead of myself.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This past week, we partnered with our church and the local charity that goes into schools to teach them about Jesus, and we put on the Christmas journey. I wrote the script with my friend Anna, and our outreach worker at church, Louis, worked alongside several others to source the materials needed to turn our old church building into five different scenes from Israel in 1 AD. The story was told from Mary’s perspective, and we used my friend Vanessa’s baby, Tilly, to be Baby Jesus. And over the course of a week, we welcomed in over 100 people from the community and over 400 year 3 & 4s (7-9 year olds) into the story of Jesus. The best bit was being able to be blatantly evangelistic and say to them things like, “Jesus was all of God, but in a human body. Jesus came to be with all of us. How amazing that the Messiah we’ve been waiting for came to be with us all.” And because we were in a stable with a real baby, the story became real for them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It was hard work to do this every day for a week! But it was worth it to hear these rowdy classes go silent when they entered the stable and the presence of Jesus. Some of the adults even cried when they saw Baby Jesus. One man said, “Everything up to that point was fake, but Jesus was real.” It impacted him so much that he was deeply moved. It was important to me that the children and adults alike should all be able to touch and interact with Jesus, because we are all so good at putting Jesus out of our daily lives. But Jesus came for all of us! And luckily for me, Tilly is very sociable, so she enjoyed meeting everyone as well! I do have to say, for a three month old, she was a dream.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We still have a few more Christmas outreach bits this year for our local community, but doing the Christmas Journey helped me to think about how amazing it is that the Messiah, the chosen king that was long awaited, came as a wee baby. The king didn’t live in a palace. He came to a working class family, to be with people as one of them. And Jesus is still that person who is close to us today. How amazing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Here are some pictures and a video so that you can experience a taste of the Christmas journey for yourself!</p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEILgj9SoZNyY9Z2fPVakBAXT8dCXUhuVlLRqbY5CZ9nkiPdWt1nvrZr3pOz89KBO5CYoRzv0FkBSwC8Vpohk1pOvvid9JZyAKTY2tMtOm1OIEKLL7nWdwHh7jPsnXQ-HluX4-CxEpqb2yzd6oTwgqDEpw1ej2WTqcm0arFYfFF7CBU1-56ersgg30UU/s2048/4b3a3d18-41ba-4805-9d85-73e3ae8c0262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEILgj9SoZNyY9Z2fPVakBAXT8dCXUhuVlLRqbY5CZ9nkiPdWt1nvrZr3pOz89KBO5CYoRzv0FkBSwC8Vpohk1pOvvid9JZyAKTY2tMtOm1OIEKLL7nWdwHh7jPsnXQ-HluX4-CxEpqb2yzd6oTwgqDEpw1ej2WTqcm0arFYfFF7CBU1-56ersgg30UU/w400-h266/4b3a3d18-41ba-4805-9d85-73e3ae8c0262.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The marketplace where you meet the wise men.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOnIaYZFlwYISXZxuhyphenhyphenC1bSfdCnGS2oY4hyD3NNeFRK6vrT5LpEHaGpB-x-8cN1BupsZ3ntxM29Rnxv0coICWXOizv1zX49s5qtZAA8drTEoruSqKotTESXMUMBlyfiF7E-pJ3Ga-9h1Bij1MIHXhEeTB98T3yKJ_xApyegSkPkrgGK4YfSU1mHaPL7E/s2048/91012eeb-3d92-4439-b676-67d45ae3605c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOnIaYZFlwYISXZxuhyphenhyphenC1bSfdCnGS2oY4hyD3NNeFRK6vrT5LpEHaGpB-x-8cN1BupsZ3ntxM29Rnxv0coICWXOizv1zX49s5qtZAA8drTEoruSqKotTESXMUMBlyfiF7E-pJ3Ga-9h1Bij1MIHXhEeTB98T3yKJ_xApyegSkPkrgGK4YfSU1mHaPL7E/w400-h266/91012eeb-3d92-4439-b676-67d45ae3605c.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me as Mary in my kitchen, ready to meet an angel.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1kCtg1racJs2N5NHh8EoDPPcR7GzhL2nclqllyOC3SthMap9Nw8dK5Rppd88tvClGYmo-Dfgw13t7mrYyuhQ8m1naCa83hSb7S7ql2nHTJAikkE6FilbVv5-OBckcEbTdXkyUHOzg-64oMkLynaGq7N3AmayAOlykjmtxAEfHykINUF583qQTkIEBpI/s1599/a08aa265-9791-4e00-8d0d-8e5f0e735b55.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1kCtg1racJs2N5NHh8EoDPPcR7GzhL2nclqllyOC3SthMap9Nw8dK5Rppd88tvClGYmo-Dfgw13t7mrYyuhQ8m1naCa83hSb7S7ql2nHTJAikkE6FilbVv5-OBckcEbTdXkyUHOzg-64oMkLynaGq7N3AmayAOlykjmtxAEfHykINUF583qQTkIEBpI/w300-h400/a08aa265-9791-4e00-8d0d-8e5f0e735b55.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mary and Baby Jesus (aka Tilly and me)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIimE2kVWrRk9rYvxT7Vz7HnXN64H8Z5WIt1Dy9QdkrZrpoQII75AnuT083fCWIvs5QGAqD0VL_3LiSZ9JqaX-eba2Fh2_JxFQbyi6aI1KraYZRkmHqP7VCaGp9fcJXubL_x4oj4R_6OD20i4ZRGEsUXo4g3nWQsN8QaEXfD3bZ1WPsIlC9wW-wvITc8/s2048/ac69a649-0d2e-46d1-a3e5-662b6be62676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIimE2kVWrRk9rYvxT7Vz7HnXN64H8Z5WIt1Dy9QdkrZrpoQII75AnuT083fCWIvs5QGAqD0VL_3LiSZ9JqaX-eba2Fh2_JxFQbyi6aI1KraYZRkmHqP7VCaGp9fcJXubL_x4oj4R_6OD20i4ZRGEsUXo4g3nWQsN8QaEXfD3bZ1WPsIlC9wW-wvITc8/w400-h266/ac69a649-0d2e-46d1-a3e5-662b6be62676.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The marketplace</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQE3WGyxYi_aLVszcyK28zX7mou4m3NRlLfGmEmphrJfspHE9y934z5tfayXZfpXL8h0QAhcKJuHkr7NHb8breXU_VpH5T-K35qQK5NaJI4Ddy9ejUZbsFE_oHAwLPSY5F0h02jXVFmJEWQu3Z67wRgJThcDoHyEUfhjh1sQC2KqhS0_zqecoow3AmXcY/s2048/f9b723a1-1a12-416c-9b7a-68f2600abba7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQE3WGyxYi_aLVszcyK28zX7mou4m3NRlLfGmEmphrJfspHE9y934z5tfayXZfpXL8h0QAhcKJuHkr7NHb8breXU_VpH5T-K35qQK5NaJI4Ddy9ejUZbsFE_oHAwLPSY5F0h02jXVFmJEWQu3Z67wRgJThcDoHyEUfhjh1sQC2KqhS0_zqecoow3AmXcY/w400-h266/f9b723a1-1a12-416c-9b7a-68f2600abba7.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The stable scene - with a real baby!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxZgDB06vPBfKxKTjixvJ1z9fXgZE3nbf9BXqZlUQjqJpOaUqjizDXG9o4VxSxqnEn_8AutJpNrDO18Sl2w8dsXcrNh67xGsmJXGcBtsvyTkbdfsZzFDV8JHL8aypNXxhr-c0nFdYf1fRfSOMb5hhqiGZiUXKnWWVR8nL7K7fFaTH4i51UvIi1moHBHs/s4032/IMG_7592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxZgDB06vPBfKxKTjixvJ1z9fXgZE3nbf9BXqZlUQjqJpOaUqjizDXG9o4VxSxqnEn_8AutJpNrDO18Sl2w8dsXcrNh67xGsmJXGcBtsvyTkbdfsZzFDV8JHL8aypNXxhr-c0nFdYf1fRfSOMb5hhqiGZiUXKnWWVR8nL7K7fFaTH4i51UvIi1moHBHs/w400-h300/IMG_7592.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our snowy church building!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWwSanMvvp9xSAI000PktzbaQqF035igK9OXopuwkTpFeL_UdL2qqrYKZVbLWN0eWijmhIBlIWZwAXEokwTcCGEt12lXnhyphenhyphenQHjMI-6P__Ymbzbc6vCv0KQ_BpWngx7oZni5I63zyXpp44yWB2_FWfbU9rrk260RMq8v9jMs21lo6fURBfHvK6HrBh7ps/s4032/IMG_7634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWwSanMvvp9xSAI000PktzbaQqF035igK9OXopuwkTpFeL_UdL2qqrYKZVbLWN0eWijmhIBlIWZwAXEokwTcCGEt12lXnhyphenhyphenQHjMI-6P__Ymbzbc6vCv0KQ_BpWngx7oZni5I63zyXpp44yWB2_FWfbU9rrk260RMq8v9jMs21lo6fURBfHvK6HrBh7ps/w300-h400/IMG_7634.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vanessa and Tilly in the manger.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kjZefXfUl6iuCKiPpMNIUZKH0Df-asMeNYysagunOxw9aEMPpizUjKa_2uSKLsLwokOooDvDLiuqFPet3e4EPwM3_z5vzzrjXMGJordfrPKn-k3r54I8YmFMDGJmqs3aUWkfy5IlHMXHy6n387fq8b_SCNLF3l5KwBWUzkdov0Vy5nPgNSBWp7fYo4o/s4032/IMG_7873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kjZefXfUl6iuCKiPpMNIUZKH0Df-asMeNYysagunOxw9aEMPpizUjKa_2uSKLsLwokOooDvDLiuqFPet3e4EPwM3_z5vzzrjXMGJordfrPKn-k3r54I8YmFMDGJmqs3aUWkfy5IlHMXHy6n387fq8b_SCNLF3l5KwBWUzkdov0Vy5nPgNSBWp7fYo4o/w300-h400/IMG_7873.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All three of us YWAMers with Baby Jesus!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwthaLVhpnXt3ySPJP4xxag2z3FfV242gzc-0Ck_ZYOP7eMmaCpV6N83jjVvoJya5tu81P1m8QsVktRehYRbw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A video walkthrough of the Christmas Journey!</div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-60615805372380257112023-11-06T11:20:00.007-08:002023-11-06T11:20:53.853-08:00further joy<p> Two posts so close together? It must be good news!</p><p><br /></p><p>And it is!</p><p><br /></p><p>Mondays are generally our free day, but when we found out that Simon Guillebaud, a missionary to Burundi and evangelist, was holding a time of evangelism this afternoon, we decided to forego our free day and to spend the afternoon on the streets with him. He shared an app that will help to share the Gospel easily, then paired us off. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_gonHo4Vin58lhiOlnxAPLFqcbkoilcA6McD1OaVpfW3m0Fi1dNSk5XCpW6mcx25TF3-HZtdVsTNoidIvg6nei08oaMFJhW8f3QwwnuHTn9v5SPmfI5ODa_twyFvnMTk_-yAyk9_Om_A26RANJocuJ60087MG-NauTKNCRWyw9dghJJgMhCnY2B1f4k/s3853/IMG_6478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3853" data-original-width="2890" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_gonHo4Vin58lhiOlnxAPLFqcbkoilcA6McD1OaVpfW3m0Fi1dNSk5XCpW6mcx25TF3-HZtdVsTNoidIvg6nei08oaMFJhW8f3QwwnuHTn9v5SPmfI5ODa_twyFvnMTk_-yAyk9_Om_A26RANJocuJ60087MG-NauTKNCRWyw9dghJJgMhCnY2B1f4k/s320/IMG_6478.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Yvonne and her evangelism partner, Bobby</i></div><p><br /></p><p>I had the opportunity to go out with a guy called Chris, who is from Hull (a city about an hour away) and who recently came to Christ from a rough background. It was a great opportunity to approach people who would normally not respond well to a woman alone, and he related really well with some of the homeless people we met. We were speaking to one of these men who had just been kicked out of his hostel, and after speaking for a while and sharing the Gospel, he decided to receive Jesus. So we prayed with him and gave him the information for how to get to my church on Friday afternoons for a meal and different courses (Alpha, a debt course, a life skills course, etc) and church on a Sunday. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNh547MpWsg0CUcQGd4aJ3lSZuWMZch5iUt1RJDLOBDulKcT9jGACojDL-mmnZz0OVl8x0lbAAjwS-nLbgvVqLoVTjlNxLnnH3do6pmH8NleC9PDWtIzU69FRCqe7o2B7fJ4LoyGRXgQ42bZmIN23W0JlbQyNkTGAvv93UjfBF1KziFuJKi3x1REeqzA/s4032/IMG_6482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNh547MpWsg0CUcQGd4aJ3lSZuWMZch5iUt1RJDLOBDulKcT9jGACojDL-mmnZz0OVl8x0lbAAjwS-nLbgvVqLoVTjlNxLnnH3do6pmH8NleC9PDWtIzU69FRCqe7o2B7fJ4LoyGRXgQ42bZmIN23W0JlbQyNkTGAvv93UjfBF1KziFuJKi3x1REeqzA/s320/IMG_6482.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Simon Guillebaud praying with a man</i></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>I wanted to share that quickly because that's the second person I've seen come to Jesus within the span of a week - that's a record for my time in England! England has been notoriously hard ground for Gospel sharing, so I do feel that both of these are definitely encouragements and gifts from God. And I am so grateful!</p><p><br /></p><p>You may also be wondering why I haven't been very vocal on this blog lately. Well, I began studying in September! I went away for a 5 day residential to kick of my graduate diploma studies in theology, where I had twelve hour days. It was incredible to learn about the Old Testament and spiritual formation with around 60 other classmates from across the UK and Ireland. Since then, we have had "hub night" once a week, where all of the York students (there are only three of us) come together to watch our recorded lectures and to have video calls with our lecturers. I also submitted my first essay - an exegesis on Genesis 2 - last week. As I cleaned up my annotations (the notes that I made in the Biblical text), I was so thankful to see how much I had learned and to realise how fun it had been! </p><p><br /></p><p>I am still leading YWAM in York, and we've been doing our usual kids and youth work. Last week, we had a "light night," where we gave away glow sticks and hot chocolates to the trick or treaters who came by. We had a lot of great conversations with local families. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq0RKpjgkJYPyiVjx8MVLVSUYrK3EkWR1uT1NNQAfZ9VGVKXMzvHGMTKzqoAGPG4Shd00PPmctjU_5fgwoI6LLZhkpvAS_eBwc8AVxNeFXLnXCOp8DMEJJNHCkDgaOglYbIGtJJl8EC-uJAxEfmV-3cDIdddcQ05FzKqgvcrLJqxT7ka6Xxf-FHbxd3A/s4032/CF78E985-3907-40AF-8F3F-DB57B428D138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq0RKpjgkJYPyiVjx8MVLVSUYrK3EkWR1uT1NNQAfZ9VGVKXMzvHGMTKzqoAGPG4Shd00PPmctjU_5fgwoI6LLZhkpvAS_eBwc8AVxNeFXLnXCOp8DMEJJNHCkDgaOglYbIGtJJl8EC-uJAxEfmV-3cDIdddcQ05FzKqgvcrLJqxT7ka6Xxf-FHbxd3A/s320/CF78E985-3907-40AF-8F3F-DB57B428D138.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Izzy, a youth worker who helps us with our local youth work.</i></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>I am also preparing for citywide Alpha, which will run again in January. It takes a lot of planning and coordination to get around 15 churches across the city to begin their Alpha courses together, but last year, when around 100 people met together for the Holy Spirit weekend, all of the effort was well worth it. It is such a privilege to be able to share with people about God and to introduce them to how we worship Him together in church. We are asking God to prepare the hearts of the people who will come on to Alpha - could you pray with us? </p><p><br /></p><p>Next month, we are partnering with our church to bring The Christmas Journey, an interactive experience where we will walk primary school aged children through the Christmas story with Mary. I co-wrote the script with my friend Anna, and we will be spending a whole week doing the set up, acting and tear down from the event. Last year, this outreach reached many families in Tang Hall, the neighbourhood we hope to move to next year. We are hopeful that this year will reach even more children and families! Please pray for us as we finalise the set, props, script and bookings with the schools. </p><p><br /></p><p>And in the midst of all of this, I am still studying, photographing weddings, going to counselling with somebody who specialises in helping those who have been hurt doing religious work, in a relationship with a godly man and volunteering at church. My life is very full at the minute, but I am thankful to be able to both work and study as well as to be a part of seeing God move in York!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLHOUdBdD56Ibv-m4_E1zD6a34dyNQC6ZCQleekUkKyBT2l-kARlNob3Ooj9MZdM0V6V5tPDd5-D9bvPPLbmFZTWKz9de1wJ6jbCRShGcjnKv-dauwKS1RLVclE1TDv2MfQl89AbfZQRGb3mrdklhIlBzOtEkZOyGhzk_ARVe-JmZky4jmDFTFtKpauc/s4032/IMG_6474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLHOUdBdD56Ibv-m4_E1zD6a34dyNQC6ZCQleekUkKyBT2l-kARlNob3Ooj9MZdM0V6V5tPDd5-D9bvPPLbmFZTWKz9de1wJ6jbCRShGcjnKv-dauwKS1RLVclE1TDv2MfQl89AbfZQRGb3mrdklhIlBzOtEkZOyGhzk_ARVe-JmZky4jmDFTFtKpauc/s320/IMG_6474.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-53962726695840138702023-11-02T13:57:00.006-07:002023-11-02T13:59:53.295-07:00a little celebration<p> I have just a very brief update because I wanted to share that tonight, I met with a friend (who I mentioned in the last post - the one that I took a walk with) that I made last winter. She was not Christian, but ended up being very open to hearing about things of God. We have met up consistently since then, and she has come to different barbecues and social events at my house. It's been so nice to integrate her into my other friendships. </p><p>Tonight, I gave her a Gospel of Mark and we talked about how Christianity is different to other religions because it isn't completely individualistic - it's about loving and caring for other people, as well. We read the bit in Mark when Jesus encounters the rich young man who he tells to sell his possessions - it says, "And Jesus loved him." We marvelled at this Jesus who loves us so much that he'll tell us the hard truths that are best for us. We saw that it is love to be spoken to in such a way and to be offered a different path to what the world offers us.</p><p>And in the course of the conversation, my friend said that she follows Jesus. We spoke about how I can hear God speak today and what it means to have the Holy Spirit among us. I love walking this journey with her and hearing the way she grows to love Jesus more and more. It hasn't been a one-time decision - she is walking closer and closer to him, and now, by her own admission and the evidence in her life, she is following him.</p><p>And we are rejoicing. Hallelujah. </p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-48379252220691574962023-08-18T04:27:00.006-07:002023-08-18T04:29:25.009-07:00A Day in the Life<p style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">“What is a typical day in YWAM like?”</span></span></b></i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After 11 years in YWAM, I still cannot answer that question. Or the, “So what is it that you do? How does it work?” question.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Last night, a friend was giving me a lift home, and she mentioned that she has never understood it, despite a dear friend of hers having been in YWAM for several decades.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So today, I thought, “It isn’t a typical day, but it’s typical enough.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So here is what I did today:</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzA_kxI5SW04s3B8hinlbrwXmw1Vdzqtf1bCG6n9yytN2l_fTqJ0I8ee7B7Nz8MwtV9rNg_yI6Zami-vKiIb-T5EI3bUwd3Vxp6Z1d3ZLlXT5VwFj189W0EUF294fCqumE9TDxZ5PWzgWs90N-6pQRfm3yUuYsQedbZ16SQ24cjlku0vjTdkWjsz1yBcE/s4032/IMG_2572.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzA_kxI5SW04s3B8hinlbrwXmw1Vdzqtf1bCG6n9yytN2l_fTqJ0I8ee7B7Nz8MwtV9rNg_yI6Zami-vKiIb-T5EI3bUwd3Vxp6Z1d3ZLlXT5VwFj189W0EUF294fCqumE9TDxZ5PWzgWs90N-6pQRfm3yUuYsQedbZ16SQ24cjlku0vjTdkWjsz1yBcE/s320/IMG_2572.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I woke up and spent time with God.</span></span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfb60PKuL5zwRM8I7cuvATT7k9tMdSg-s9cES0j56ekduNpSxqnqHb88lDLi3iAHDQhKUSgVBdJOT5u7lSWlLBTZsGVJXBCL9xJm1EGtrlfLhIwL3PdRiTZHlygAbPry6ZoHjspKesKNvWwNEBzW3yCiKpIPZipAWA_rtAp-vuDnaSL8pJtqewvosNsU/s4032/IMG_2576%202.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfb60PKuL5zwRM8I7cuvATT7k9tMdSg-s9cES0j56ekduNpSxqnqHb88lDLi3iAHDQhKUSgVBdJOT5u7lSWlLBTZsGVJXBCL9xJm1EGtrlfLhIwL3PdRiTZHlygAbPry6ZoHjspKesKNvWwNEBzW3yCiKpIPZipAWA_rtAp-vuDnaSL8pJtqewvosNsU/s320/IMG_2576%202.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We maintained the Barnabas Centre (we currently have a rat problem that has also given us an electricity problem - this is why maintaining a 100+ year old building is not one of my favourite activities).</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVMawxMfI0WvjPpEGl4NZD64gTr8hquBtVQklri30yNKB2cfoqS27BU7iU9l8SARzQX9PkhuGJHnJnGpgna1APX8CWGlUePNWQdPJTLTBY96H9ewbjp9Hq5gg2Q6OPcImwDu1CIIgqx-7z49asAdh0Y-1LkF-BdOLWb8Xz6qmS8XCAfL01SV1X5z_wRI/s4032/IMG_2577.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVMawxMfI0WvjPpEGl4NZD64gTr8hquBtVQklri30yNKB2cfoqS27BU7iU9l8SARzQX9PkhuGJHnJnGpgna1APX8CWGlUePNWQdPJTLTBY96H9ewbjp9Hq5gg2Q6OPcImwDu1CIIgqx-7z49asAdh0Y-1LkF-BdOLWb8Xz6qmS8XCAfL01SV1X5z_wRI/s320/IMG_2577.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We worshipped together and went on a prayer walk around the church where we will be having a Table Top Sale on Saturday. We then continued praying as we did a walking loop through town.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyEZZgmfUQDymyNwB_XusK0ZSogL4URiP-PLuPjqKfm5GVF2euIFpMGBOGKTM4Bequr-RuqNfSLyjEnq4rJMMLQCIvhskq_FexuUbbWREHN4Al3F2dyGQSnZen0Ty4Nj_Nm2xguT4pLGRuWrvYnIAiGdCICZFWmEXv8BKLysunZ60IMuZFKmFVS-Kle8/s1024/3e68d816-4ae9-40d5-8057-f55cb58c3489.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyEZZgmfUQDymyNwB_XusK0ZSogL4URiP-PLuPjqKfm5GVF2euIFpMGBOGKTM4Bequr-RuqNfSLyjEnq4rJMMLQCIvhskq_FexuUbbWREHN4Al3F2dyGQSnZen0Ty4Nj_Nm2xguT4pLGRuWrvYnIAiGdCICZFWmEXv8BKLysunZ60IMuZFKmFVS-Kle8/s320/3e68d816-4ae9-40d5-8057-f55cb58c3489.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8mRZI0VkXbcqJ54uN1zAytcHN96RlYOTzRMhR2m6_0OjF0uBN51VdqBMMRN53TP5BnK_I9Gs8RxsQdOQdQFLtNyeorz49y54cYnb40Mlj8EoqmCyquhbfyjxtARKpJO4g66Mx2KO_rZG8IfN1yO4vBoXNVE0ZKevIM2jKV4pNRWgrUbCs5Q4sxB5aO4/s2000/IMG_2589.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8mRZI0VkXbcqJ54uN1zAytcHN96RlYOTzRMhR2m6_0OjF0uBN51VdqBMMRN53TP5BnK_I9Gs8RxsQdOQdQFLtNyeorz49y54cYnb40Mlj8EoqmCyquhbfyjxtARKpJO4g66Mx2KO_rZG8IfN1yO4vBoXNVE0ZKevIM2jKV4pNRWgrUbCs5Q4sxB5aO4/s320/IMG_2589.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />I met with a woman (not pictured) who just moved to York from Germany. My friend Eliza came along last minute, and we got to know her and showed her around the city.</span><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I had a call with one of my elders where we spoke about vision for the base and next season and prayed.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63dPcItcQRO9TLoBsIrfRbO7BSKjpXBVIqAi0sfT2yGbp2mr1QuSbuifHeXERg-YEhgzRUk1DkWPeMWq5Sj5LQk70TdgtZ-RfQ_N5AiYizByZXPr3JCHdxB7HzcnIAKKLmmpPaShd3fsBmlzjUgFXtCG0eyKy1M-aZvu5R2wnQzhq14mFN6o2EFZeaaQ/s4032/IMG_2595.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63dPcItcQRO9TLoBsIrfRbO7BSKjpXBVIqAi0sfT2yGbp2mr1QuSbuifHeXERg-YEhgzRUk1DkWPeMWq5Sj5LQk70TdgtZ-RfQ_N5AiYizByZXPr3JCHdxB7HzcnIAKKLmmpPaShd3fsBmlzjUgFXtCG0eyKy1M-aZvu5R2wnQzhq14mFN6o2EFZeaaQ/s320/IMG_2595.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />I went on a walk with another friend who has deep questions about God. She has just started reading the New Testament, so we got to speak about what Matthew means by “childlike faith.” I also recently gifted her a Psalms journaling book, which she pointed out was so different to the New Testament, because it talks about fear. I got to try to explain what “fear of God” is - but something I am learning from these conversations with her is how simple it can be to explain what faith is. After so many years of learning about faith, I think that I over-complicate it in my own thoughts. But getting to walk through the beginning of faith with her helps me to simplify it - which also helps when I get to be a part of citywide Alpha or speak to youth who may not know about certain aspects of Christianity yet.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZGmGztIdut-nyR8EH7QYJpFjOmBNqGcgbWKHSA2A6FoM6Tt2BwfpxKa0OnS9S2YZXuYC_jM2T5hiuQhAZ4g013_VUph7hpDY2j6KZPHL26GPLFtUXpzvgCMvQKzhaZ50n9JX0MGHOMRYEDijLOrLDc2-ogP_Q5Ag-d6yvVhG8U54qLvDNAIy1PwkHyA/s4032/IMG_2597.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZGmGztIdut-nyR8EH7QYJpFjOmBNqGcgbWKHSA2A6FoM6Tt2BwfpxKa0OnS9S2YZXuYC_jM2T5hiuQhAZ4g013_VUph7hpDY2j6KZPHL26GPLFtUXpzvgCMvQKzhaZ50n9JX0MGHOMRYEDijLOrLDc2-ogP_Q5Ag-d6yvVhG8U54qLvDNAIy1PwkHyA/s320/IMG_2597.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I got home, I found Yvonne prepping for the table top sale (she is baking bread), so I went to do some organising for it as well, before Yvonne, Renee and I had dinner and watched telly together.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So there you have it - a day that is as typical as any is likely to be!</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Whilst I was speaking with my elder today, I was struck again by how much I do love getting to walk with people through different stages of faith. I was reading 2 Corinthians 5 this morning, where Paul talks about our job being to reconcile others to God. What a beautiful thought. It is my job - and an absolute privilege - to be able to walk with others as they discover the wide open arms of their Saviour.</span></p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-72437405139292735172023-06-27T01:26:00.005-07:002023-06-27T01:26:42.971-07:00Half-Term Club <p>Every half-term, we hold a half-term club for primary school aged children (ages 4-11). We have games, crafts, and of course, Bible stories. It is such a privilege to share about Jesus with the children in our community. This time, I made a small video to show you what this outreach is like!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hm8yQoBFQmM" width="320" youtube-src-id="Hm8yQoBFQmM"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-30016186328351346112023-06-01T09:34:00.002-07:002023-06-01T09:35:09.119-07:00Theology School<p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">I have applied to theology school!</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I always knew that I wanted to do further studies at some point after I finished my bachelor’s degree, because I love learning, but it wasn’t until the past few years that I realised that I would value the opportunity to study theology. I researched different programmes that allow the study of theology alongside a full-time job, and whilst at many different Christian festivals serving YWAM last year, I spoke to different schools. I landed on Westminster Theological Centre (where my friend Vanessa happens to attend), which does a hub model, meaning that you travel to one of the hubs once a week for an evening of study. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a hub near me. I decided that, if WTC ever came to York, I would look into getting a graduate diploma with them.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Fast forward ten months, and WTC is opening a hub in York in September! It has just become official this month, and I have already completed my application!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I have spoken with my YWAM elder about it, and we agree that, after living a difficult time in the London team and being taught a lot of things that weren’t helpful, it would be good for me to have a solid basis of theology. It might even provide some healing!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">In addition to that, in my role as a YWAM location leader, I am frequently asked to teach other groups of people, whether through churches, universities, youth groups, or other YWAM teams. I enjoy being able to teach, but I am also aware that James wrote that teachers would be judged more severely. I want to make sure that I am teaching what is Biblically sound, and not just what makes sense to me. I also want to empower people to be able to study God’s Word for themselves, so that they can read it and decide what they believe. If we don’t teach people in this way, they will believe whatever others tell them is true!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">The course I am going to do is a two year graduate diploma in Church Planting and Leadership (A graduate diploma is the next step if you have a bachelor’s degree that isn’t in theology. After I have a graduate diploma, I can do a two year master’s degree). I attended a taster lecture last night on servant leadership, and I learnt so much through that half hour! Whilst I am a little bit nervous to write essays again, especially because they are marked differently here to in the States (you are allowed to write in first person! What????), I am also excited, because even the essay topics are geared towards helping you think about your current ministry and how the study of theology applies. The school also holds two residentials a year, where all of the students come together for four or five days to do teaching in-person. The days begin and end with prayer and worship as a whole school. The lectures are begun with prayer, and from the residential day that I attended last year, I can tell that the lecturers take time to speak about what they sense God leading them to say in the moment. It is amazing to see a theology programme where God and His Word are living and active!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">This course will take one night a week for two years, as well as the two residential study weeks in September and January. I will re-structure my weekly rhythm so that I have a day a week to study and write essays, so that I can do both studying and missions.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">While I am very excited, I do have one final hurdle: the finances. I need £4250 a year for this course. I have begun teaching singing lessons and photographing more clients alongside my regular, full-time missions work, but that won’t bring me nearly all of the £4,250. So if you would like to support my theology course, I would be very grateful. For Americans, you can still send money through the YWAM base in Tyler, Texas.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">For Brits, you can bank transfer me and put a note that it’s for WTC. My bank details are:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">D E Stevenson</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">20-96-55</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">83047881</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">For Americans, there are several ways that you can support me:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ol class="ol1"><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Send money using Paypal.com to <a href="mailto:deborahestevenson@gmail.com"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">deborahestevenson@gmail.com</span></a> (it goes directly to my personal bank account - there is no tax receipt for this.)</li></ol><ol class="ol1"><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If you are in the States, you may also contact <a href="mailto:susancookstevenson@gmail.com"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">susancookstevenson@gmail.com</span></a>, since my mother is a co-signer on my bank account and helps me conduct my finances State-side.She can help you use the apps Xoom (a Paypal method of sending money to my bank account) or Zelle to transfer money to my Bank of America account. She can also tell you how to support me via YWAM Tyler in Texas, from whom you may receive a tax receipt. </li></ol><ol class="ol1"><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If you are in the States, you can also give cash or a check to my parents or grandparents.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></li></ol><ol class="ol1"><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Mail a check made out to <span class="s2" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Deborah Stevenson</span> to:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></li></ol><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s2" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Susan Stevenson</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s2" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">49 Belle Gate Court</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s2" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Pooler, GA 31322</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Thank you so much for all of your prayer, and as ever, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to email me at <a href="mailto:deborahestevenson@gmail.com"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">deborahestevenson@gmail.com</span></a> if you would like to talk! I also have WhatsApp, which I will give you via email!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Deborah</p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-21545625355984667782023-03-21T06:54:00.000-07:002023-03-21T06:54:01.396-07:00Long Overdue 2023 Update<p> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">Hello! It has been five months since I have updated my blog - please forgive me for that! I could say that we’ve been busy, but then, when haven’t we been busy?</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Over the past few months, we have turned a corner with YWAM in York. We are working with our local Church of England church to transition our youth and children’s work to them over the next nine months so that we can prepare to move into Tang Hall, a neighbourhood across town that is larger and rougher than our current neighbourhood. I’m not quite sure how that will look, so I am praying with my elders and asking God to help me to make the right decisions now that will open the doors that we need to have opened in order for us to transition across town - which includes selling our community centre, finding a new house, etc, etc.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are working with our church, which is located in Tang Hall, to create a week of Easter outreach events for the community, and we are so excited to be able to meet more of the families and youth of the neighbourhood where we feel God calling us! It is also amazing to see Yvonne and Renee reach out to our local youth and build relationships that have now led to our unchurched youth signing up to Feaster, the Easter event for youth that the church youth workers for the city are putting on together on Maundy Thursday.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Despite the work load of all of that, it is refreshing to dream again. There has been a rough situation with another YWAM team that I have been dealing with over the past 14 months, and it has taken a lot of my attention and energy. I have also been battling some health situations - I’ve had gastritis that has led to me being poorly since November 2021. I am finally seeing the gastroenterologist in hospital next week, so hopefully we will have a new treatment plan soon!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I have spent the past few months coordinating city-wide Alpha as a part of my role as a One Voice York trustee. I love One Voice York - our church unity movement - and I have been a part of the team praying into gospel sharing. We are asking God for strategies for reaching the 190,000 non-Christians (as opposed to 20,000 Christians) in the greater York area in the next ten years. If we all turn around and reach those closest to us, we will achieve it! But that means equipping the local church (one of my favourite things!) to be able to do that. I was very privileged to be able to share at the Holy Spirit Day that we had as citywide Alpha a few weeks ago. Twelve churches have run 14 different Alpha courses simultaneously - at least one every week day - and we held the Holy Spirit Day all together in the city centre. I had the opportunity to explain worship and giving a testimony to people who had never been to church before - and to see them trying out worshiping and giving testimonies for the first time! It was beautiful to be able to pray with them and to see them encountering God. As the Alpha courses are all winding down, I am looking forward to hearing more about what God has been doing. I know that several refugees who fled a Middle Eastern country were baptised at one of the churches this past week!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjschruqWae_pJgDhs3wrzXnMpJ6VjYwaUyUdxbTa6azy4lomzRhQuq5kX3d1CGoimrpGXKPs-QeK0XLyZ9o-mfQ0PmQLvHZKUHOt_YJEfxObvThJOp4N8aq-uifMqjl6BfXHrNSbevVB6v8cY7yaGfguAG_kW_sG3BXFVjDsXg5Kjif_1q9vgY_cYd/s3871/IMG_2054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2903" data-original-width="3871" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjschruqWae_pJgDhs3wrzXnMpJ6VjYwaUyUdxbTa6azy4lomzRhQuq5kX3d1CGoimrpGXKPs-QeK0XLyZ9o-mfQ0PmQLvHZKUHOt_YJEfxObvThJOp4N8aq-uifMqjl6BfXHrNSbevVB6v8cY7yaGfguAG_kW_sG3BXFVjDsXg5Kjif_1q9vgY_cYd/w400-h300/IMG_2054.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cooking for outreach week for our local university's Christian Union.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBIUryzeSKA0TWlsEaMR9ZRAzR5CIEaKOBVPqb-Ru_yXDPlEW2Klnz9nmLksdoVhHMKECrxKWxejuIDXDv_LSIplTLupTjVfTUE51mIenFDioldFcU4rnBvBuizSrKI14ppbJEne2zGdlGmWjhoSx008FV-jmvUQK3NtYBpdhOh1n1OS6-JL9zVAB/s4032/IMG_3837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBIUryzeSKA0TWlsEaMR9ZRAzR5CIEaKOBVPqb-Ru_yXDPlEW2Klnz9nmLksdoVhHMKECrxKWxejuIDXDv_LSIplTLupTjVfTUE51mIenFDioldFcU4rnBvBuizSrKI14ppbJEne2zGdlGmWjhoSx008FV-jmvUQK3NtYBpdhOh1n1OS6-JL9zVAB/w300-h400/IMG_3837.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">City-wide evangelism</div><br /><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">On a personal note, I was speaking to a non-Christian friend about God as a Father this week and about how His consistent love makes it possible to know that we are loved, in spite of what earthly fathers or friends may do or say. She said to me, “Yes, and because you have His love, nobody can take that away. You are loved.” It was so beautiful to hear about God and His love from her perspective. These kinds of conversations are certainly not the norm, which makes them even more precious when they do occur!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Something else that I have really enjoyed is leading worship in different circumstances. I’ve known since 2013 that God has made me a worshipper, and since coming to York, there have been so many opportunities to both grow in that gift (and in using it as a part of a team). We have a monthly extended worship meeting at the House of Prayer where we have seen so many younger people growing in their relationship with God in leaps and bounds. I have also gotten to guest worship lead at a few different churches and events, and it is so good to see the ways that God is worshipped in churches across our city! Our church has a monthly worship team gathering where we learn more about the heart of the worshipper and how to bring that to our church and grow together, and it has equipped me really well to be able to take that out to churches who don’t have as many musicians in their congregations. This Sunday, I get to worship with a local church who invites me in quarterly to guest worship lead and to spend time with them. Their church consistently has visitors who have never been to church before, and I learn so much from watching how they welcome those people into their family and teach them about God.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God is moving in York, and the local church is searching out how to prepare ourselves to open our arms to people who are going to encounter Him. Please pray for those of us who are coordinating things on a citywide level, that we will follow God and the ways He is opening for us. And please pray for YWAM York as we transition across the city, that we will complete the work God has for us where we are and that we will step into the right things that He has coming!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">On a personal level, if you could pray for my health and healing, I would really appreciate it! I am also continuing to learn how to drive in the UK and looking into starting studies to pursue a graduate diploma in theology part-time, hopefully in autumn, so I am looking in how to finance that dream that I’ve had for a while, which I feel God leading me into now. Buying a car and studying both cost money, but I recognise that they are both necessary if I am going to step into the more that God has for me and for my ministry in York!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And as ever, if you have any questions or want to chat, please email me at <a href="mailto:deborahestevenson@gmail.com"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">deborahestevenson@gmail.com</span></a>. I’d love to hear from you!</p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-63307061824369554962022-10-29T08:10:00.001-07:002022-10-29T08:10:13.873-07:00Investing in the Future<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The past few weeks have been all about investing in the next generations. I am not old by a long shot, but God has been speaking to me about how I pour into the generation coming after me - Generation Z and the unnamed generation below them - as I grow and step into new roles. This summer I attended four Christian festivals, three of which were aimed at youth and young people. I heard what God has been speaking over these generations: they care deeply about justice. They are prone to suffering from poor mental health. They value authenticity and have open minds, but at the same time, they struggle massively with forgiveness when those who they look up to fail them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUb2QN5bS_wZlZzrx4sU3brFUjiX_EdCvbsXhejnlHpYCzxAZ0xNoDtxEp2yTyqbebKjq1xtJS5d5XSHiLgKzYjTogNwCU0U12AWFEV8flB0sYhZ-g_uwlcUSu0ztrpPWhwlGTnhocgX7jvgf0ASWXsccSHDqGmIn5Qe3yNfpgzZ-lyZQ2NkqooIUx/s4608/Holmsted_photo-3261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUb2QN5bS_wZlZzrx4sU3brFUjiX_EdCvbsXhejnlHpYCzxAZ0xNoDtxEp2yTyqbebKjq1xtJS5d5XSHiLgKzYjTogNwCU0U12AWFEV8flB0sYhZ-g_uwlcUSu0ztrpPWhwlGTnhocgX7jvgf0ASWXsccSHDqGmIn5Qe3yNfpgzZ-lyZQ2NkqooIUx/s320/Holmsted_photo-3261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yvonne, Renee and I - <a href="https://www.ywamyork.org/">YWAM York</a>!</div><br /><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">This summer and autumn, I have also stepped back into youth work. It started last year, when I began praying for good leaders to take over youth work for my church, York Community Church. I believe that you have to be willing to be the answer to your own prayers, so when I was asked to consider co-leading the older girls’ group, I already knew that the answer was yes. So now my friends Eliza and Lucy and I meet together weekly with the 14-17 year old girls that are attached to YCC’s youth work. We eat tea together (dinner for you Americans!), worship, pray for each other and study 1 John. Some of the conclusions the girls have drawn from 1 John have surprised me! They are good at pulling out over-arching themes and applying it to other stories that they know from the Bible.</p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2DocK6PTmGn2ObYfDw1cK-RGZ2lW8FJBzMLyTtCwTOC7Ewfcw9ytoUB7KXVIhNwzJpa67B6xmH-3Cy81ds2qtKLcAYxKWatTK8d4Z1QxQ2E6ZIT96yyO32y9qCgeYC72uZT5Pa9JY7sKFYjuNJC0pmiDxn2IKX3DJuOKCtEbwJU5WPoDEE6vt4qm/s4032/IMG_6879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2688" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2DocK6PTmGn2ObYfDw1cK-RGZ2lW8FJBzMLyTtCwTOC7Ewfcw9ytoUB7KXVIhNwzJpa67B6xmH-3Cy81ds2qtKLcAYxKWatTK8d4Z1QxQ2E6ZIT96yyO32y9qCgeYC72uZT5Pa9JY7sKFYjuNJC0pmiDxn2IKX3DJuOKCtEbwJU5WPoDEE6vt4qm/s320/IMG_6879.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Baking with uni students</div><br /><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As a team, we have also been opening our house to university students on Wednesday nights. After speaking with several of them at Sixty One, the young adult festival run by Fusion and New Wine, I realised that they need a safe place to come where they know that they can ask questions and find support. So we open our house, and sometimes they come just to drink tea, or to bake, or to listen to records, or to just be. It’s been a slow start, but it is a privilege to be a safe place for them!</p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8LT8nJOUpzz79313YPDnhT9ACApQNvmWoijlIQpTGSEp-GMqyopMyqb9ufbV2v6Po31zy52sLLgj2KsWaQzT4gQ6B1TTeo51DRmBSGudeDBeSNkDTwTyxx7uNHr-PieIMTh-0lVX2PT1w1FMzY9lVt1HqLejz3m416mgTu7j_ZTgEpb1BiqoO20C/s4032/IMG_6954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8LT8nJOUpzz79313YPDnhT9ACApQNvmWoijlIQpTGSEp-GMqyopMyqb9ufbV2v6Po31zy52sLLgj2KsWaQzT4gQ6B1TTeo51DRmBSGudeDBeSNkDTwTyxx7uNHr-PieIMTh-0lVX2PT1w1FMzY9lVt1HqLejz3m416mgTu7j_ZTgEpb1BiqoO20C/s320/IMG_6954.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yvonne and Renee in character at half term club!</div><br /><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We also just finished our first half term club of the school year! England has a week-long break off of school for every six weeks of term, which means that there are three half term breaks a year. We have held a club for every half term that we’ve been here (barring the ones during strict lockdowns), and while it was a slow start, we now have waiting lists and families who sign up for every club. Many of these children also come to our weekly kids’ club, so we’ve built strong relationships with them. This half term club, we had a safari theme, and Yvonne and Renee decorated The Barnabas Centre vacation Bible school-style and created characters who walked us through the week. The kids loved it, and we got to teach them about David and Goliath, the Good Samaritan, Moses, Aaron and Hur and manna from Heaven. The more that the kids come, the stronger a culture we can create, and this club, we saw them choosing to be generous and to prefer each other. It was beautiful!</p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4hL4N0--H4l9uqMZZHakM2f5h195mVFLBukCTBWXOvWtFc-VP0MUrdR5z59UpkhH2LgPsSDz2UhmDWtw-PvugMS3sse3VkslpYXqO83rNkQzzRpdkMv_gkdjs93BBBCbp9wYYIAaph5eM_wD4ayHiG4TSUJ3T31uNWCFbtEzsdtRT8r7db_1WTcO/s1800/03A7F420-42D0-45A5-B43F-C997FE87461C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4hL4N0--H4l9uqMZZHakM2f5h195mVFLBukCTBWXOvWtFc-VP0MUrdR5z59UpkhH2LgPsSDz2UhmDWtw-PvugMS3sse3VkslpYXqO83rNkQzzRpdkMv_gkdjs93BBBCbp9wYYIAaph5eM_wD4ayHiG4TSUJ3T31uNWCFbtEzsdtRT8r7db_1WTcO/s320/03A7F420-42D0-45A5-B43F-C997FE87461C.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylIoi28hSWygjA6RkgYCjTySvhTRA3VU7vQRv2IzVdohS93-TCJUPFdrFLb2E9pI8yOSPLUP0GI8dtcy8NQmb5FMqTzmfqXXflBqJyy3vIwDyitDvG-7_03InzSCViwETP9IuLNFY1MkQvHD85QosLuQ8fum0z1qED3GR3vbqpxPrLIIQZa-CxGl9/s1791/EE4C8A93-62A0-4B82-BE68-333DE850ABBD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1791" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylIoi28hSWygjA6RkgYCjTySvhTRA3VU7vQRv2IzVdohS93-TCJUPFdrFLb2E9pI8yOSPLUP0GI8dtcy8NQmb5FMqTzmfqXXflBqJyy3vIwDyitDvG-7_03InzSCViwETP9IuLNFY1MkQvHD85QosLuQ8fum0z1qED3GR3vbqpxPrLIIQZa-CxGl9/s320/EE4C8A93-62A0-4B82-BE68-333DE850ABBD.JPG" width="257" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Teaching at Holmsted Manor</div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">If you know me, you know that children’s work is not my passion. I prefer working with young adults, which is why last week was one of my favourite weeks of the autumn. I was asked to speak on the DTS at Holmsted Manor, the YWAM base in the south of England. I went down for four days and taught on worship and intercession. We also had a worship night whilst I was there, and it was amazing to hear afterwards about the different things that God was doing across the room. Worship is an area God has worked on a lot in my life since coming to York, and it was a privilege to get to pass on everything that I have been learning. A phrase that I have been holding for a while is that of being a glorious footstool - allowing God to use me as a stepping stone for those who come after me. Passing on what He has given me is a good way to do that!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Next month, we will take part in Big Green Heart training. Big Green Heart is a tool that takes forgiveness and healing teaching into schools. It has been developed by a friend of ours, and we are excited to be able to put it in our toolbox. I was also trained as a parenting course facilitator with Family Matters (a local Christian charity) this summer, and in early 2023, we hope to be able to put on a course that helps parents manage anger in their teens. Please pray for us as we equip ourselves to serve local youth and our community as best as we can!</p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This coming Friday, 4th of November, is Hope for the City, a city-wide prayer event with <a href="https://www.onevoiceyork.org.uk/">One Voice York</a>, the church unity movement with which I am involved. We are meeting together as the greater York church to pray for the social action projects that the churches of York have come together to create. We will also be praying into city-wide Gospel sharing - an area that Renee and I have been meeting with other pastors and church workers to pray about for several months now! We will be introducing city-wide Alpha, which I get to head up with one of my friends who pastors a local church!</p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOnIgdZoupc_KDYnjqv6_Uib9XhvIRnf3ldSXUci0FQhxF0lx46Xr6oGbGPXVqCTEcMu5EWAiF6bKbimScl7yiQ5dscy7LHgpNgmMe0yWzxAWCLA0mLbpI_Y99vKkmycMclb3rU7NGOWxLdLjBSJcv1N2Xgy-4bpgufvavP8T3e44Cuv7LMdMbbXr/s4032/IMG_6796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOnIgdZoupc_KDYnjqv6_Uib9XhvIRnf3ldSXUci0FQhxF0lx46Xr6oGbGPXVqCTEcMu5EWAiF6bKbimScl7yiQ5dscy7LHgpNgmMe0yWzxAWCLA0mLbpI_Y99vKkmycMclb3rU7NGOWxLdLjBSJcv1N2Xgy-4bpgufvavP8T3e44Cuv7LMdMbbXr/s320/IMG_6796.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Barnabas Centre, our community centre!</div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God is doing a lot here in York. We are very thankful to see Him open doors and direct us where to go. We had a difficult time with housing this autumn, and that means that we are staying in the same house we’ve been in. We are working on sorting out our governance and some other loose ends with the charity as well, and I would appreciate prayers in that area. I am seeking advice and help, but these are still areas that I am no expert in. I do feel the weight of them. And please also pray for God’s protection over all of me: mind, body, emotions, spirit, as we walk through these difficult things! I love that God has called me to this life of missions, but it does have a cost! There have been some rough aspects to this transition to York (which I am happy to discuss over email), but I am very thankful for the family of believers that God has put around me here to support me through it. And I am very thankful for all of your prayers that come so faithfully.</p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To end on a happy note: thank you to everybody who contributed to my new computer. My old one died abruptly earlier this week (and would have cost several hundred pounds to repair), but thanks to all of your generosity, I was able to buy a new one. Now I can carry on with preparing for the Hope for the City event and all of the other admin/communications work that I didn’t realise came with running a charity!</p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thank you for your prayers and your constant support. It is a privilege to be able to see God’s kingdom come in York!</p></div>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-52653779548805131002022-07-19T09:46:00.000-07:002022-07-19T09:46:39.878-07:00Follow Up<p> Hello!</p><p><br /></p><p>Sorry for the long gap between updates!</p><p><br /></p><p>The last few months have been full of challenges and growth for both me and for YWAM York. We have established local ministry more solidly in our community through weekly kids club and youth nights, as well as through Easter activities and a holiday club. Our relationships in our neighbourhood are going deeper, and we love getting to know our community better. We especially love our deepening relationships with our youth, who have started to let us into their lives more. In our most recent holiday club, we talked about heroes in the Bible, and several of the children initiated conversations about Jesus and God. It is amazing to get to be a part of those moments of discovery with them! </p><p>We also saw somebody come to Christ on a recent evangelism that we did with a Brazilian DTS team that was visiting York, and a time of Easter evangelism, a Chinese man met Christ! In our unchurched nation, these are victories that we celebrate! </p><p>However, there are also internal challenges that we are facing. Our team has gone down to three members now - Raya left at the end of June after praying and feeling that it was time for her to return to the States. Her departure was not due to anything in YWAM York or in our relationship with her, and we miss her! We are learning to do life as a three and not a four. We are also now splitting our rent and other costs between three instead of four, so we are trusting even more for God to show up every month!</p><p>The first weekend of July, we hosted a retreat for all of the bases of YWAM North England. Before you get too impressed, I should say that there are only four bases, and that each team has around 3 members on it (give or take a few for children!). We came together to pray, share vision and to get to know each other. We are already planning activities that we can do together, which are much easier to run with 12 people than with three! It's also nice to have nearby support from our YWAM family. During the retreat, somebody prayed that we would receive money from an anonymous businessman to help with the upkeep of our community centre. I decided that I would really trust God to come through in this way, instead of just agreeing with the prayer and keeping going. This prayer was prayed on 2 July. Three days later, we received a thin envelope through the post at the base. I opened it, and there was a cheque to YWAM York for £1,000 from an anonymous person, dated 2 July! To be honest, I was not surprised; when I saw the envelope, I knew there was a cheque. But it was tangible confirmation from God that He will provide for us in these next months! He is already providing for our building in the face of increased energy costs and maintenance issues!</p><p>We are also taking part in several festivals this summer. English people love a festival - the not terrible weather really encourages them to get out their tents and brave the rain in order to be all together. I will be at a total of four festivals this summer - three of them camping! This past weekend, Renee and I were at Cedarwood, a festival for northeastern churches. We represented YWAM England, and we even got to pray with some of the children and the youth who came to visit our YWAM England stand! </p><p>In a few weeks' time, I head to SixtyOne, which is a festival for Christian young people. I have the privilege of creating the artwork for the venue (a massive shed that fits 1,000 people). This intersection of two of my passions - art and students - has me very excited! Some of the students that I know will also be at the event. I can't wait to see students from across the UK awakened for Jesus! </p><p>A few days after arriving home from SixtyOne, I will head back to the same location for Satellites, a youth festival. I will both be representing YWAM England at the YWAM England stand and helping out with the youth from my church! I am so excited to be able to be there as they encounter God in a festival setting - something that hasn't been possible since 2019. </p><p>Festivals are the time youth and young people generally make big decisions for God, decisions which we then get to walk out with them throughout the year. Could you pray for our youth and young people to feel encouraged to take those steps at the festivals this summer, and for us to be able to support them, not just in the coming weeks, but throughout the year? It takes enormous courage to be a Christian young person in England - there aren't so many of them, so just being Christian is a bold move. But they are also the ones who will reach their generation - it is a privilege to be able to walk with them as they influence their generation!</p><p>Could you also pray for YWAM York? Renee, Yvonne and I are doing well, and we want to grow in our communication and to create a healthy, good culture for anybody else who decides to come with us. We are spending time over the next few weeks to ask God how He wants us to move ahead in different areas of both our ministry and our community, and we are re-structuring accordingly. We want to be a YWAM base that moves in God's best way for us, that loves God and loves people well!</p><p>If you'd like to receive our team newsletter, which will be going out soon, send me an email at deborahestevenson@gmail.com, and I will sign you up for it!</p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-33485830920673301142022-03-24T11:05:00.005-07:002022-03-24T11:05:49.419-07:00A Quick Visit<p> Hello, and happy spring! </p><p>I am travelling to the States this next week, and I can't wait to see some of you and to share with you what has been happening in the past few years since I was last with you!</p><p>I will be at two locations whilst in the States: at Calvary Baptist Temple in Savannah, Georgia on Sunday, 27 March (sharing in the combined adult Sunday School) and in Laurens, South Carolina on Wednesday, 30 March. You may email me at deborahestevenson@gmail.com for more details if you would like to come along!</p><p>I also have a new prayer card, which I thought I would unveil here. I will be happy to give you one in person next week, but equally, please email me if you'd like one posted to you! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sbOq3PNjQMD02eSKAtBrIh40xN9FOhklbdM78KUf2JNMsrD1JXK5beOKAPMOKsjAHOmQ6JzVlISeSFVWpe4qrc_lY12wf9DvFA_kR_xUdb6zSZEPh79uY9TAc_Yb1_M66ZR_hy_TheqJzBjr6NvIRzWwdYzpvbQ2x45YK5AKCRAUXzfMtt7ZG3_U/s1748/prayercard1reois.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1748" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sbOq3PNjQMD02eSKAtBrIh40xN9FOhklbdM78KUf2JNMsrD1JXK5beOKAPMOKsjAHOmQ6JzVlISeSFVWpe4qrc_lY12wf9DvFA_kR_xUdb6zSZEPh79uY9TAc_Yb1_M66ZR_hy_TheqJzBjr6NvIRzWwdYzpvbQ2x45YK5AKCRAUXzfMtt7ZG3_U/s320/prayercard1reois.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><br /><p>I have also realised that it's been a while since I shared how to support me financially. I am a completely self-supported missionary, which means that I raise my own funding; YWAM does not pay me (or anyone else, for that matter. We all get to live by faith!). So here is how you can join me in missions in York by supporting me financially:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><ol class="ol1" style="background-color: white; color: #000102; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><li class="li1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Send money using Paypal.com to <a href="mailto:deborahestevenson@gmail.com" style="color: #2674d3; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="s1" style="color: #e4af0a;">deborahestevenson@gmail.com</span></a> (it goes directly to my personal bank account - there is no tax receipt for this.)</span></li></ol><ol class="ol1" style="background-color: white; color: #000102; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><li class="li1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you are in the States, you may also contact <a href="mailto:susancookstevenson@gmail.com" style="color: #2674d3; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="s1" style="color: #e4af0a;">susancookstevenson@gmail.com</span></a>, since my mother is a co-signer on my bank account and helps me conduct my finances State-side.She can help you use the apps Xoom (a Paypal method of sending money to my bank account) or Zelle to transfer money to my Bank of America account. She can also tell you how to support me via YWAM Tyler in Texas, from whom you may receive a tax receipt. </span></li></ol><ol class="ol1" style="background-color: white; color: #000102; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><li class="li1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you are in the States, you can also give cash or a check to my parents or grandparents<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></li></ol><ol class="ol1" style="background-color: white; color: #000102; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><li class="li1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mail a check made out to <u>Deborah Stevenson</u> to:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></li></ol></h2><p></p><div class="p1" style="background-color: white; color: #000102; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><u>Susan Stevenson</u></div><div class="p1" style="background-color: white; color: #000102; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><u>49 Belle Gate Court</u></div><div class="p1" style="background-color: white; color: #000102; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><u>Pooler, GA 31322</u></div><div><br /></div><div>And if you would support me in prayer, I would also be very grateful. If you sense that God is telling you anything, or if you'd like to share Scripture, songs, images, etc with me, please do email me at deborahestevenson@gmail.com. We all hear from God, and I would love to hear what He is sharing with you about York and my ministry here!</div><div><br /></div><div>I can't wait to see some of you this next week!</div>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-20910742248542047532022-01-15T02:39:00.002-08:002022-01-15T02:39:12.714-08:00Receive to Give<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Last year, when we were praying together about what God had for our base, we felt that we were going to be a base of hospitality and generosity. Those are big concepts for a small team, but we know that York is the third most touristic city in the UK and that we are equipped with an amazing building and a beautiful home, so we have the resources that we need to live those two words out. But it can be challenging to live that out when financial resources are running low, or when you are hosting an outreach team of 12 and three of your four team members are still having to self-isolate after coming back from the States.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span>That was the specific circumstance that I found myself in last week (if you couldn’t tell already). But whilst praying for the YWAM Urban Key London (the base where I did my training a decade ago!) outreach team, I felt like God really wanted to pour into them as they poured into our city. As the York team, we had also been asking God to show us new ways to be generous and hospitable this year. So the girls held down the fort with doing our mountains of admin work at home, and I got to be with the London outreach team and show them our city.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span>The London outreach team came with a heart to serve. From the first day that they were in York, they prayed for ways to bless the city. They joined in our day of evangelism with The Belfrey church, even though it was a balmy 0 degrees outside. They helped us host our youth nights (vital since we were down 3 people), joined our weekly evangelism, and prayer walked the city with us. And in between our activities, they also served a local church and did prayer walks and practical work of their own. It is so beautiful to see people come with a heart to bless your city, and I think that we were all amazed by their willingness to serve York.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />But for me, the most beautiful part was the way that the church of York reached out to the team. I have been a YWAMer for a decade; I know that it is our heart as YWAM to serve and to bless the nations, so I expected that of the team. But what we do not often see is the local church pouring back into a team. And this week, without me even asking or orchestrating it, that happened. Our local church, York Community Church, welcomed the team to various activities and took time to pray for them and to give them lifts home. Our friend Vanessa organised a worship night for the team, and the House of Prayer brought their team over to join in and to minister to and with the outreach team. Our pastor, Simon, prayed for the team at numerous activities and got to know them. Our neighbours, Ruth and David, showed up to the base many times with blankets, heaters and more to make sure that the team was taken care of and helped lead the first prayer walk. Our worship night carried on even after it had officially ended, because the outreach team and the Yorkies were praying and talking to each other, and they were enjoying being together too much to go home, even though it was late.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span>I think what amazes me the most about this is the way that God orchestrated it all without us. We had a lack of manpower, but we still had the heart to host the team well. What we couldn’t do ourselves, God did. He brought together a team that had a heart to serve the city and the people of the city who were so grateful to receive a team. It was bigger than us as YWAM York - it was the body of Christ mutually loving each other and pouring into a place together. I’ve been reading a lot about that mutual love and how it will show people Christ (John 15). And over the past two weeks, God has been teaching me about it by letting me see it in practice. Now we will go back to being a team of four, but the way God has moved will continue to affect this city for time to come. He is so good.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_tZDkoehk_TElbMJIxH4h-zAR6Gj_pTI-GAaJAqVX7DHahS4MYMOh01I0ZZlUJkdrZesbR_z2Mb1Dqw7RcZVgDQH0aZR8aD5H-aiU0kSjS1VB81qEYaxFvsdlXSnGdDIiPyJB2xvrYu094oIMgEJX5j8QQmaJNsPo-RQ970OicqBNmF9pINQNzyJj=s1840" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="1840" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_tZDkoehk_TElbMJIxH4h-zAR6Gj_pTI-GAaJAqVX7DHahS4MYMOh01I0ZZlUJkdrZesbR_z2Mb1Dqw7RcZVgDQH0aZR8aD5H-aiU0kSjS1VB81qEYaxFvsdlXSnGdDIiPyJB2xvrYu094oIMgEJX5j8QQmaJNsPo-RQ970OicqBNmF9pINQNzyJj=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNv89reDZMDmjcdi9tcSBhBzIRmvGSsOEbGLyOy70frvCT2kcfS-3gJ9TxfVIKMXAYrfD_UPndHnjA0iZz2WtiWCln0_pAlJMT9BmhZ_t9ICX-8mvnL-aC05EHIE2a2gH3e8kn1XAodLC4Vqu_gxZjGfLg9oSSYHGduYslZZIqSCD80SAFh5OCW9fT=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNv89reDZMDmjcdi9tcSBhBzIRmvGSsOEbGLyOy70frvCT2kcfS-3gJ9TxfVIKMXAYrfD_UPndHnjA0iZz2WtiWCln0_pAlJMT9BmhZ_t9ICX-8mvnL-aC05EHIE2a2gH3e8kn1XAodLC4Vqu_gxZjGfLg9oSSYHGduYslZZIqSCD80SAFh5OCW9fT=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE9QjjpgSWw1vTM5dyOB_NJ4kpewbch2bfFSfM_eMJFTo9HwxGTXPzuyR0a_Pn_A2Jf8-lKND5xWFlTPoyf7FJX2RnqTHL1ACEep9_OmYmu_fG8-r9svpt7yw2YkldiowuOsd6j2MmYVKVEWnh4sHm5Rk23JcAG9VpHuEw-jScH9GnT6nHQAF42cod=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE9QjjpgSWw1vTM5dyOB_NJ4kpewbch2bfFSfM_eMJFTo9HwxGTXPzuyR0a_Pn_A2Jf8-lKND5xWFlTPoyf7FJX2RnqTHL1ACEep9_OmYmu_fG8-r9svpt7yw2YkldiowuOsd6j2MmYVKVEWnh4sHm5Rk23JcAG9VpHuEw-jScH9GnT6nHQAF42cod=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbYQF0hBjT5N9czadVQSG_-kpSALouMdx8sjnoqJdvtg29nzRyQV9aJxOagnQsyOgsZF9rWPtuIiOUM9H3LG6i_D1UHXrVvgtEsr3UKRtYp97b-FFfNcFEmmWkLhu_eh8yYgnIdjGV1dXmFzAWy9-_oG773jV0BPYlPxOVqdd1Q1Z0TsT-Mmh4gbm5=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbYQF0hBjT5N9czadVQSG_-kpSALouMdx8sjnoqJdvtg29nzRyQV9aJxOagnQsyOgsZF9rWPtuIiOUM9H3LG6i_D1UHXrVvgtEsr3UKRtYp97b-FFfNcFEmmWkLhu_eh8yYgnIdjGV1dXmFzAWy9-_oG773jV0BPYlPxOVqdd1Q1Z0TsT-Mmh4gbm5=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip_2TLYUhxj3j4k3Pm8UvO_iGQ9Xmi1rRuUFTikZtc4J2q4LpoZdyKO6znO8-C3EMaUjzoy87SMyzroAhubeBYnhJVIV84MZQuHhUlDEPBLpyK9xxyv_vQg15oTGTG9GrvRyQE_4HVC9_5QLkCCVDswh6NpzwPksd8Q4v7S-fJL6Y9WoRzU52n2mgn=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip_2TLYUhxj3j4k3Pm8UvO_iGQ9Xmi1rRuUFTikZtc4J2q4LpoZdyKO6znO8-C3EMaUjzoy87SMyzroAhubeBYnhJVIV84MZQuHhUlDEPBLpyK9xxyv_vQg15oTGTG9GrvRyQE_4HVC9_5QLkCCVDswh6NpzwPksd8Q4v7S-fJL6Y9WoRzU52n2mgn=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span><p></p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-4145324148506904512021-12-17T00:27:00.002-08:002021-12-17T00:27:13.910-08:00Christmas Outreach<p> It is early in the morning here in York, and we are in the throes of a double pronged Christmas outreach (meaning that every day, we are reaching both the city at large through evangelism and our local community through specific community events), but I wanted to take a moment to share what we are doing!</p><p><br /></p><p>Every week, we as a team have committed to do evangelism outside of the Minster (the Cathedral in York) and the Belfrey (the smaller Anglican church that is next to the Minster). Local churches know that we are there, and they occasionally come along to join us as we reach our city. For our Christmas outreach this year, we decided to do evangelism in front of the Belfrey every day and to invite all of the churches that we know along. On Wednesday, at One Voice, the pastors' unity meeting that we attend weekly, they commissioned us to go and reach our city this week. Several of the pastors and ministry leaders have also signed up to come along and join us over these days. </p><p><br /></p><p>Yesterday was our first afternoon out. The sun sets around 3:30 pm these days (that's how far north we are!), so we finish as the sun is setting. We have live music, carols, dance, testimonies and of course bubbles on hand to engage the throngs of tourists that have descended on York to visit the famous Christmas market. Whilst Laura, a local university student that I've had the pleasure of getting to know, played Christmas carols on the bazouki (an Irish folk instrument), I got to speak to several people, including a Chinese student who is studying in Leeds, the biggest city near us. She had gone into the Minster and encountered the Apocalypse Window, which recounts the stories of Revelation. </p><p><br /></p><p>Whilst talking to her, I had the privilege of being the first person to explain Jesus to her. I got to explain why Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter and what that means. Then we walked into the Belfrey, where I gave her a Gospel of Luke and told her a bit more about Jesus. I returned outside to continue the evangelism, and when she came out 45 minutes later, she told me that she'd already read about a quarter of Luke and that she would finish it at home. She has since messaged me on Instagram, indicating that she'd like to meet again.</p><p><br /></p><p>It is amazing to me that God orchestrated it so that she went into the Minster, encountered stories of Jesus, and that I got to meet her afterwards to explain who He is. It can be difficult to explain Jesus to people who have no concept of Him, but it is also so good to remember why I love Him and how extraordinary faith is! It was even better to be able to give her a Bible, something that she doesn't have access to in her nation. We have been praying for weeks for the conversations that we will have over these next few days, that God would send us people who are ready to find out who He is!</p><p><br /></p><p>Tonight we are hosting our community Christmas party in the Barnabas Centre. We have Covid precautions in place, but as the government is warning people off of meeting, we are praying that God still sends the right people to our party, and that they encounter love, community and God in our building. We are also praying for no Covid to be in that place, as the girls are meant to travel to their families next week and my parents are travelling here. </p><p><br /></p><p>Would you join us in praying for the people that we meet during this Christmas outreach? We want to see people meet Jesus and come to faith. We want to see the lonely caught up in family and the joy of Jesus fill our streets. And most of all, we want God to be glorified in York this Christmas season!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8Ob98Q2mSdhO8poxJZe2SmIk3QbFsr-j2rHfqTmFyYHWJRgNtWY1hbpTBXqTrLXqj_SIRussJ8AQIE70R_MAmHuknBFopClea0xtNo3bOFW-Xqzj8QOGOpefFEuVfdC_7_I4UJbA48IiIzfweuJzcf3TTopx-KNsQHZcIiD8Ksk6g83vc3hJ0MlPE=s1800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8Ob98Q2mSdhO8poxJZe2SmIk3QbFsr-j2rHfqTmFyYHWJRgNtWY1hbpTBXqTrLXqj_SIRussJ8AQIE70R_MAmHuknBFopClea0xtNo3bOFW-Xqzj8QOGOpefFEuVfdC_7_I4UJbA48IiIzfweuJzcf3TTopx-KNsQHZcIiD8Ksk6g83vc3hJ0MlPE=w320-h400" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWw6JgQv8OdYFi00HoimGWi_ZdhmE8I4NdyscbZp1rg10RDnQxHMjFsa8fk9YniKVacHT3_oEZRJw6eOZxEqFQyygHgvsD9_wj34nA2IUxuXV-rqjKHLQHIyqIl8UdvGBe2M53oiomcD1sxoeMBcF-hwsFlENlE1IJ3oi1b8_rlzRl9XKG7Tt1Y3ze=s1800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWw6JgQv8OdYFi00HoimGWi_ZdhmE8I4NdyscbZp1rg10RDnQxHMjFsa8fk9YniKVacHT3_oEZRJw6eOZxEqFQyygHgvsD9_wj34nA2IUxuXV-rqjKHLQHIyqIl8UdvGBe2M53oiomcD1sxoeMBcF-hwsFlENlE1IJ3oi1b8_rlzRl9XKG7Tt1Y3ze=w320-h400" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ247b35xpC5FmGWw3M-3dwI0Xq6w3uKui-KgAIzaK3QVH4TfZ5gfGxvHpCXJtI5Yz6qybRmzObiZSUPGLz8uPYPsd0bhZHt0TSveqS6v6w1fwbg7NvEVoavnpTmNbUnGg3IELa2sauaegp8KQZGB0PEPEhd9vz-ZQkXmIpTCug_GuunhtFSPq-WKZ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ247b35xpC5FmGWw3M-3dwI0Xq6w3uKui-KgAIzaK3QVH4TfZ5gfGxvHpCXJtI5Yz6qybRmzObiZSUPGLz8uPYPsd0bhZHt0TSveqS6v6w1fwbg7NvEVoavnpTmNbUnGg3IELa2sauaegp8KQZGB0PEPEhd9vz-ZQkXmIpTCug_GuunhtFSPq-WKZ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimlMvO3jXWnGXn4aVzpuQmzuj-gH6tbwdvX4LIFwUpVVgG-DGVEWQj-hRQh3uyj5Uk5LVL8ATUHatOss5p3XfRiSXsOk1FR4Dnt6sqgOEKST9b1iP4G0iCY9KDW06L9AbQRgZPCo3Rjz4i0eI5C8hQ8FP7XcZx9J5utQ-3Oe2vll2tJhgc_v-gtXW_=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimlMvO3jXWnGXn4aVzpuQmzuj-gH6tbwdvX4LIFwUpVVgG-DGVEWQj-hRQh3uyj5Uk5LVL8ATUHatOss5p3XfRiSXsOk1FR4Dnt6sqgOEKST9b1iP4G0iCY9KDW06L9AbQRgZPCo3Rjz4i0eI5C8hQ8FP7XcZx9J5utQ-3Oe2vll2tJhgc_v-gtXW_=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-29204738068557629442021-09-10T05:40:00.004-07:002021-09-10T05:40:59.132-07:00national hunger and thirst<p> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I know that it has been a long time since I have updated, and while I would love to fill you in on everything, there isn’t enough space on this page! Luckily, we’ve done a team update all together about our summer, which you can check out here: </span><a href="https://spark.adobe.com/page/vIc7qgBNpiajP/?fbclid=IwAR1PwdBnWnrZ6f2c0FrQcJ7R5qUl8ug4HrD40c0nKPNxG_cnBGJ3Ki-Lhpc" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">https://spark.adobe.com/page/vIc7qgBNpiajP/?fbclid=IwAR1PwdBnWnrZ6f2c0FrQcJ7R5qUl8ug4HrD40c0nKPNxG_cnBGJ3Ki-Lhpc</span></a></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">On to other news: I am a British citizen! I had my ceremony on Tuesday, which means that now I am a dual British and American citizen, so I can live and vote and have a job and raise British children here. This has been over nine years in the making, with a few bumps in the road along the way (you can read back through this blog to see those!), but it is amazing to see God’s faithfulness through all of it.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And now for what I really wanted to share with you:</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">On Wednesday evening, Raya and I went to a talk at a local church, the Belfrey, by Eleanor Mumford (she and her husband founded Vineyard Churches in the UK), and she said, “The church is not declining in the UK. God is calling people to Himself, and they are meeting Him.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">At first I was skeptical, because I live in the reality of church here. But then, I realised that she is right. Something that I deeply admire about the church here is the way that Christians have to fight and be dedicated to God. There are so few Christians in workplaces, in schools, that they have to be willing to stand up and look different. It isn’t normal or expected to be Christian. The youth that we worked with at camp this summer talked about being the only Christians in their year groups at school, or having only one other Christian friend in the whole of their class. Everybody knows that they’re different!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I’ve also seen hunger for God and to be a part of the church that it so beautiful (and convicting)! Last week, I met with a young woman who is a Christian in a sleepy village outside of York. She has to get two buses into town every Sunday morning, and because of the bus timetable, she can’t attend her church’s youth and young people’s service; she goes to the family service with the young children. But she still makes it a point to go to every activity that she can, even though it means travelling longer distance and a lot of planning and effort. But she so hungers to be a part of a church family that she’s willing to do it! She can’t wait for the day that she lives in York, just so that she can be even more intentionally involved in the church than she already is.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We also have a young lad in our neighbourhood who is hungry for God. He’s a part of the “bad boys” group; he rides his bike round with them and gets up to all sorts of mischief. But he also hangs around whenever we have a worship night outside, sitting on the edge and listening to all of the worship and preaching. The other week, we were outside of the local church, meeting with our local councillor, and he and his friends came rolling out of the church in a flurry. It turns out that he had been trying to pray in the church, and he’d taken the other boys with him, but they’d started to be disruptive. He was so upset that they’d distracted him. So I took him aside, and together, we talked about how he could pray to God and what he wanted to say. In earshot of his friends, we prayed together. He wasn’t ashamed in any way; in fact, he wanted to take his friends on his spiritual journey with him.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This kind of hunger and boldness for God is the reality of the church in England. Yes, numbers don’t look great. But God is doing an amazing work in people’s hearts post-pandemic. When we speak to people in evangelism every week, we are amazed by their openness. And we are trying to remember that as we speak to people so that we are more bold in how we invite them to be a part of God’s family. But I think Eleanor Mumford is right: God - and the church - are on the move.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4DAfdNv79N0PRsY4L_mFJjbCHacTL24d3J3VPsUhPorDxgRRW5BamC6DmQlRijljHncvaTrjw95rSp6sEd_t9_APzlk4dV2IQytCePRQpgBs-Q3Lp9jwyStawr-oiMtiOXcH6iKu-lU/s1600/7d8eee70-0d8b-447b-9294-ffc02b9d565d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4DAfdNv79N0PRsY4L_mFJjbCHacTL24d3J3VPsUhPorDxgRRW5BamC6DmQlRijljHncvaTrjw95rSp6sEd_t9_APzlk4dV2IQytCePRQpgBs-Q3Lp9jwyStawr-oiMtiOXcH6iKu-lU/w300-h400/7d8eee70-0d8b-447b-9294-ffc02b9d565d.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Receiving my citizenship from the head registrar of North Yorkshire</div><br /><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span><p></p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-78392402776111071262021-05-24T09:03:00.006-07:002021-05-24T09:03:27.663-07:00Reaching an Unreached Generation<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"> Hello friends, and thank you for your patience with me in waiting for an update! Pioneering means there’s loads of establishing to be done in the worlds of admin, finances, emails, certifications and sussing out legal requirements, so when we’re not actually out with people, there’s a lot to do!</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />But I do have a praise report! We received our charity number just two days after finalising and submitting our application for it - and that’s a process that could have taken up to 6 months! That means that YWAM York is officially a UK charity with a board of trustees and the ability to get a bank account, have property, etc. It also opens us up to apply for grants, donations and other things like that. We know that God is the one who has gone before us in this, because the application was a steep learning curve (thank you to Carrie at Radiant for all of her help!).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span>On another note entirely, I’ve just gotten out of a meeting with various YWAM Europe leaders in which we heard some appalling statistics that really shed light on what is going on in the UK right now. Fasten your seatbelts, because it’s grim:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span>The church is increasing massively in Brazil, China and Iran (that’s good news!).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span>But in the UK, 70% of young adults were polled as saying that they have no religion. Of the 30% of the total number polled that do, 10% are Catholic, 11% are Protestant and 9% are other religions (6% are Muslim). Of that 11% of Protestants, only 2-3% go to church.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span>These young adults, Generation Z and the tail end of Millennials (my generation!) are heavy on my heart. When going into evangelism recently, all four of us have realised that we need a heart change. We can’t go in and expect everyone to hear about and receive Jesus in one day. So when we talk to different people, we need to be willing and ready to invest time in getting to know them and in welcoming them into our lives. Getting to know Jesus can be a process!</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />This is actually amazing, because God has been speaking to us about being a base of hospitality and generosity. We want to welcome people in to be a part of family and life with us, whether that’s for an evening or as a student for five months, or if they become staff members and join our family! COVID-19 has shown everyone the need that we all have for community, and God has placed us so well to provide that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span>We are still getting to know the youth in our community - next week is our first official youth activity as we host a holiday club during half term school holidays. We’ll do arts, sports and Bible classes with the children who come. But I’ve also gotten to know several artists recently, and through photo shoots, bespoke fashion workshops in our community centre and just doing photography round town, I’ve got to start building relationships with these women who have common interests with me.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />I also joined my first ever running club this past week, and the girls are starting to attend dance classes in town from next week. It’s amazing to get to bring Jesus to people in these relational ways. All of this is in addition to the classic street-style evangelism that we do. This past Saturday, we played worship and did dance in front of the Minster, and we got to talk to and pray for the people who stopped to watch and listen.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />Thank you for all of your prayers. It really is exciting to work alongside God as He gives us new ways of reaching the people of York. One of the great parts of pioneering is trying many different ways of doing things. If one doesn’t work, we just try again! And so often, as we pray and listen to God, He shows us where doors are open, where people are willing to hear about Him, and we get to follow Him into new activities and ministries. So if you are praying for us, please pray that we will hear God clearly and follow Him to the next thing, and the next!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span>There are many other ways that we need prayer, from the finances to pay off the rest of the base building (£11,000 now - down from the £30,000 that it was when we moved here in November! God is so good!) to getting a bank account to receiving male staff when God’s timing is right - there are so many little boys in our community who would benefit from knowing Godly men! But for now, I wanted to share how we see God moving and our hearts for reaching the people of our beautiful city. It is such a privilege to get to serve God here.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGgWOIAzcGwAI11O0Rlj-4t2wRmHQ2G3tfg3G3IR2lW8C08r4K0BfZDEe0CBBMFDXaK4j0LapUkiW4TdDnGAzdZ55JIW9UykjEqVWNe2QW6Wvuffa1jlIjCVAxZ0X8qvPGEwPZYg8fOk/s2048/IMG_8630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGgWOIAzcGwAI11O0Rlj-4t2wRmHQ2G3tfg3G3IR2lW8C08r4K0BfZDEe0CBBMFDXaK4j0LapUkiW4TdDnGAzdZ55JIW9UykjEqVWNe2QW6Wvuffa1jlIjCVAxZ0X8qvPGEwPZYg8fOk/w400-h300/IMG_8630.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Flyers we put through all the mailboxes in the neighbourhood at Easter with John 3:16 on the back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfzN1m9xHXq6-ACGHWaDxljBLH52diORFUGGozJ3vTYrIe43nOPfyhafV0L1KzgxQuneh4TA6YoLQU6hNOUkSrLN0SXtRUhhq-U9y_uQ664v19ucDh_AFvaeZO8rf7vo5RmUdXCbMT6M/s2048/IMG_0911.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfzN1m9xHXq6-ACGHWaDxljBLH52diORFUGGozJ3vTYrIe43nOPfyhafV0L1KzgxQuneh4TA6YoLQU6hNOUkSrLN0SXtRUhhq-U9y_uQ664v19ucDh_AFvaeZO8rf7vo5RmUdXCbMT6M/w300-h400/IMG_0911.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vanessa, our friend who joins us for evangelism, praying for (and playing guitar at the same time!) a man who came all the way from Leeds and spent time singing along and talking to us!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAgVArpXBqefr9_X2nMFuWB8Q1p0g3gJMdxFtby6qA4MFk3ZPpdrTT-RNUbf0r15t0-zcEHDYcbUxutCps3kdFx-7eLevq3S6g1awdvP9oGgPRJ9OzjUrvYvCpjWdnVAFSuw0acH3obs/s1620/IMG_9959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAgVArpXBqefr9_X2nMFuWB8Q1p0g3gJMdxFtby6qA4MFk3ZPpdrTT-RNUbf0r15t0-zcEHDYcbUxutCps3kdFx-7eLevq3S6g1awdvP9oGgPRJ9OzjUrvYvCpjWdnVAFSuw0acH3obs/w400-h266/IMG_9959.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ruth and I met Tori during evangelism and have been doing fashion evenings with her in the Barnabas Centre.</div><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-64562655841187396352021-04-23T02:07:00.008-07:002021-04-23T08:51:53.004-07:00Video Update<p> I am so sorry that I've not updated this blog in so long; we are quite busy doing missions, as you may have guessed! Life in Lockdown 3 in England was not slow in the way it was in other lockdowns; now that we've cracked how to do much of life virtually or one-on-one in outdoor settings, our days were filled end-to-end. We started online workshops in February which filled our evenings with doing different arts (photography, writing and dance) with people both locally and internationally through Instagram and Zoom. We also started Zoom intercession prayer times with Christians from around Yorkshire, which became in-person last week. We finished the leadership course that we were doing virtually two days a week with YWAM Radiant in London (leaders from YWAM around the globe came online to teach us about different aspects of leadership), and best of all, we have spent afternoons in the park behind the base getting to know the local youth. </p><p>But I will get into all of that in another post. I wanted to show a video that we filmed last week whilst a team of guys from YWAM Radiant was here to help in the base and with our local youth. None of the people we minister to appear in this video (since that is not allowed legally), but you can see some of what we've been up to!</p><p>And I am working on a longer update that will share more details of everything we've been up to!</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0prTYMA87s8" target="_blank">Video Here</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="319" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0prTYMA87s8" width="507" youtube-src-id="0prTYMA87s8"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-89983084408492763432021-02-02T10:24:00.010-08:002021-02-04T00:39:39.109-08:00Missions (that isn't) Locked Down<p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">So, you may have heard that England is in another lockdown: our third lockdown. At first, we were all a bit despondent, especially when it came to light that we may be in a lockdown until the end of March. But now, we are involved in so many different activities that our days are filled end-to-end, and in some ways I am thankful that we have time to do everything!</span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span>Obviously, reaching out to people in the traditional sense isn’t possible in a lockdown which has the aim of keeping people from meeting together. However, as a charity, we have leave to continue our charitable work outside of our homes (the nation is under a stay-at-home order, which means you should only leave home for exercise or essential shopping). We have been helping our local food bank to collect food donations and to distribute food to our neighbours who are self-isolating. This has resulted in some amazing conversations with our neighbours. One neighbour overheard us worshiping in our garden, which opened the way for conversations, sharing a Gospel of John, and prayer. Please pray for him as we walk through this lockdown alongside him - there has been a lot of tragedy in his life recently, but his heart is opening to Jesus!</p><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />Radiant is also using this lockdown as an opportunity to do a staff leadership school, which we are all taking part in via Zoom. Not only do we get to see our London family twice a week, but we also get to take part in teachings with YWAM leaders from around the globe. As much as we complain about Zoom, there are so many conferences and meetings that have a global aspect now that wasn’t possible in person.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span>We are also using this time to improve the Barnabas Centre, the community centre that belongs to the base. It is an old building that needs repairs, and while we are a small team, we are doing what we can! We hope that different outreach teams from YWAM England will come to York, both to take part in what God is doing in our city, and also to give us a hand in the building. Luckily, somebody (it was me…and Lucas from Radiant. Okay, it was mostly Lucas. Thank you, Lucas.) built a shower, so the building is perfectly suited to hosting teams.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span>The challenge of the Barnabas Centre is that, during this year of COVID, it hasn’t been able to be rented out to dance classes, churches, and other activities, so we don’t have the income we need to pay the bills and to pay back the debt on the building. While there isn’t a rush to finish paying off the debt, it is something that we are consciously trying to be faithful in and to pay off. There are also different improvements needed - if we are going to continue cafe work, the espresso machine needs to be updated or replaced, the dance floor needs to be sanded, etc. If you could pray for us and send us any ideas you have for how we can raise funds for this, we would appreciate it. We have definitely thought of bake sales, but it would take a lot of bake sales, and COVID has made them quite impossible! But we so want this building to be a blessing to our community, to be a place in which people are welcomed and safe and can meet each other and, most importantly, Jesus. It is the only building of its kind in our neighbourhood. We are so blessed to have it! And we are looking forward to seeing how our God is going to move in this area - since we can't comprehend it in our logical minds, I think we're well poised to see Him come through in one of His amazing ways!</p><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />Another thing that we are starting in this lockdown is online workshops. We are all artists, so we are beginning workshops in our different art areas - Yvonne and Renee are doing dance workshops for children, Raya is doing story and character development, and I’ll be teaching photography workshops. The idea is to start them online and to create a little virtual community, and then to move them to real life when restrictions are lifted. People are desperate for community, so we want to reach them however we can. In order to do this, we do need a professional Zoom account, which is £120 a year. We have also begun hosting weekly Zoom prayer times with people in our community and across Yorkshire, and so far we’ve been using a basic plan, which is fine, but it does limit us to just 40 minutes. Having a professional Zoom account would definitely give us more freedom in our various online community activities!</p><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />A way that you can be praying for us is that we are currently in the process of becoming our own charity. Right now, YWAM York is a daughter charity of YWAM Radiant in London, which is amazing for getting us started. But in order for us to have a bank account, property, or anything of that nature, we need to be our own charity. I have begun the paperwork, and it is complicated to say the least. Luckily, Carrie from Radiant has been guiding us (thank you, Carrie!). Raya has also been tackling some budgeting stuff for the base property, which means sorting through vast quantities of paperwork from the past decade, and it is not easy! We are trying to put on our professional brains for all of this, but let’s face it. We thrive when we are with people, telling them about Jesus and walking through life with them. Paperwork is not our strength. So please pray for us as we do this, that our brains would be alert and that small details wouldn’t trip us up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span>A final way that you can be praying and fighting on our side is for finances. God is a God of provision - we have seen this in every way. Just this past week, a piano was given to us. I have been praying for a piano since before we moved, since it is my main instrument and having worship times with a guitar has not been going well. We looked at different options online, but nothing was really working. We were finally about to settle for a partial keyboard for beginners, since it was in our budget, when we were told that a lady from church was clearing out her mum’s house and had an electric keyboard that we could use. It has 88 weighted keys and a built-in stand, and it fits perfectly in our office. God has provided for us again and again, and this is only the most recent way! </p><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">That being said, some of our team are still waiting to see full support each month. I’m just going to drop everyone’s Paypal info here, and if God puts it on your hearts to support them, they will definitely be blessed by it! I will also put mine there so that you can donate towards the Zoom account if you’d like. And if you can’t give financially (COVID has touched us all), prayer is not a second option. It is a first option, and one that we have seen change circumstances in our lives incredibly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> We are blessed by the way that you fight for us in prayer!</span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span>Paypal Emails:<br /><span class="s1" style="color: #454545;">Yvonne: <a href="mailto:Yvonsip@gmail.com"><span class="s2" style="color: #e4af0a;">Yvonsip@gmail.com<br /></span></a></span><span class="s1" style="color: #454545;">Raya: <a href="mailto:Madsenray@protonmail.com"><span class="s2" style="color: #e4af0a;">Madsenray@protonmail.com<br /></span></a></span><span class="s1" style="color: #454545;">Renee: <a href="mailto:Reneeosborne410@gmail.com"><span class="s2" style="color: #e4af0a;">Reneeosborne410@gmail.com<br /></span></a></span><span class="s1" style="color: #454545;">Deborah: <a href="mailto:deborahestevenson@gmail.com"><span class="s2" style="color: #e4af0a;">deborahestevenson@gmail.com</span></a></span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="color: #454545;"><a href="mailto:deborahestevenson@gmail.com"><span class="s2" style="color: #e4af0a;"><br /></span></a></span>I would just like to finish this off by sharing that it is snowing in York today. That isn’t abnormal (we are in the North now), but it does remind me that God is doing a new thing in this time. He won’t let this season be wasted. There are some things that won’t come out of this pandemic. There are old ways, old mindsets, dead traditions that we will leave behind. And there are new things that He is teaching us that we will take out of it. It is so exciting to be able to follow God through this: our first year as a base here in York and in a global pandemic. I am constantly reminded of Isaiah 43:19: “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” He is the God who guides us, who provides for us, and who will bring us through this season more covered in His glory, if we will continue to listen and follow Him. What a privilege it is to see His new way and to work with Him to make it our reality!</p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-IQJzevlaAXbByzbfaV9xOdfllYFW7UBiOCUHtJbYpxLdOvu_HQZH8fWTPBDyxOnTDX7QfKQfXxSrw5BcQGehAtF0ypFcuqsGBeqjrBx4Bfychq-9p4Gv6WKm8yNzooifX7Gt05SP3c/s2048/IMG_6073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-IQJzevlaAXbByzbfaV9xOdfllYFW7UBiOCUHtJbYpxLdOvu_HQZH8fWTPBDyxOnTDX7QfKQfXxSrw5BcQGehAtF0ypFcuqsGBeqjrBx4Bfychq-9p4Gv6WKm8yNzooifX7Gt05SP3c/w300-h400/IMG_6073.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A room in the base that we re-painted!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSUqa2iTmIX7RXB2M1PVhurfmxEZD25pXdJGNyXEnxwfkRVb5XFOzQB21gtTuj9hyphenhyphenjIELvxZ9AlmdTYnb7WZRygvn4wphVDBzimG_Qvd1-V7NzmmlODDv2TjItL5EVmmOkJJ2OIGg9ho/s2048/IMG_6059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSUqa2iTmIX7RXB2M1PVhurfmxEZD25pXdJGNyXEnxwfkRVb5XFOzQB21gtTuj9hyphenhyphenjIELvxZ9AlmdTYnb7WZRygvn4wphVDBzimG_Qvd1-V7NzmmlODDv2TjItL5EVmmOkJJ2OIGg9ho/w300-h400/IMG_6059.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What team meetings look like via Zoom + toddlers</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAj1RhaXnXC8x4IGIYrZItfHbJM9u-iVnQP1a9kqWVedLRI5YBjno807GjMXB-K5LULuOJWiA6-w4fIGMkIvgt4EKHmJIRW_AfzS7OdOQcZMRVZ03YZszy8ow2KvHXSnRZ-Zy46EmWjg/s2048/IMG_5957.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAj1RhaXnXC8x4IGIYrZItfHbJM9u-iVnQP1a9kqWVedLRI5YBjno807GjMXB-K5LULuOJWiA6-w4fIGMkIvgt4EKHmJIRW_AfzS7OdOQcZMRVZ03YZszy8ow2KvHXSnRZ-Zy46EmWjg/w300-h400/IMG_5957.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We baked cookies for the local bus drivers</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtBeLFId4JK6ZtumNZntRtrLSNT_jdjdWsmCOIOHuSjLTsGEooAfF-_fonLjFk-Az0J5N4mGjmgd21H8WPR1XcKD6vhZxJiNlGsUgz67Or-OlMQ1Hv0aO8oJF7bH7fdfLAnIxQIRNKtE/s2048/IMG_5933.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="2048" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtBeLFId4JK6ZtumNZntRtrLSNT_jdjdWsmCOIOHuSjLTsGEooAfF-_fonLjFk-Az0J5N4mGjmgd21H8WPR1XcKD6vhZxJiNlGsUgz67Or-OlMQ1Hv0aO8oJF7bH7fdfLAnIxQIRNKtE/w400-h245/IMG_5933.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also wrote cards to NHS (National Health Service) workers</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvYS-QJIXIdx4tpBis65TRNkEZMKFWXvvx1UpmT6pvOARuqJjG1f6glF0QbLX17JbhtUsQftw6YORwq5TQyvY8-48rCk8ndoKadiF9oNBz7YjQp_xXEcAfwZA7oFi4dKjd4syBS7Yifo/s2048/IMG_5533.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvYS-QJIXIdx4tpBis65TRNkEZMKFWXvvx1UpmT6pvOARuqJjG1f6glF0QbLX17JbhtUsQftw6YORwq5TQyvY8-48rCk8ndoKadiF9oNBz7YjQp_xXEcAfwZA7oFi4dKjd4syBS7Yifo/w400-h300/IMG_5533.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our Thursday Zoom prayer meetings with people from across the country</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIchkmaB7rEVIsviEYXTv8iLj8EQJbX8sXAIc46eY4gBahez6Tx-UDV7Agz45CJPR3sylvCF4984M2Gu60xzp8QYgfyxsA6yZC0Sj5SGURJURFasTpJ5vOXNd-dwlnK92al9GLuVlHidE/s2048/IMG_5386.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIchkmaB7rEVIsviEYXTv8iLj8EQJbX8sXAIc46eY4gBahez6Tx-UDV7Agz45CJPR3sylvCF4984M2Gu60xzp8QYgfyxsA6yZC0Sj5SGURJURFasTpJ5vOXNd-dwlnK92al9GLuVlHidE/w300-h400/IMG_5386.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cookies for the neighbours </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2oWY77MoZDDDyA_pwr_OkzY6n07PO_1tu9vv5Jzx5LlzjwCiC7FRtsxVr1vQJJ96_Y8S84OnLP4MX7IVI5QsRuz_arzwwmY6CUBkoDxegNzoM4HYNzuU3XpHkXNomocBsVGF_9pgPcA/s2048/IMG_5246.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2oWY77MoZDDDyA_pwr_OkzY6n07PO_1tu9vv5Jzx5LlzjwCiC7FRtsxVr1vQJJ96_Y8S84OnLP4MX7IVI5QsRuz_arzwwmY6CUBkoDxegNzoM4HYNzuU3XpHkXNomocBsVGF_9pgPcA/w300-h400/IMG_5246.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Delivering food to a homeless hostel in town</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJMG6MIAw54All8f13rXi17pUplp0wO2xhIdD4Mazd619KEEbhQ75EHJkvV3LQxpE8fFUvnWyQF-A-HlhBSCAezmvSKJPCpEiKfRpUVLpSWR9MnwMsE2DR5D4cCeFA0KaitgkWfFED8o/s2048/IMG_5191.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJMG6MIAw54All8f13rXi17pUplp0wO2xhIdD4Mazd619KEEbhQ75EHJkvV3LQxpE8fFUvnWyQF-A-HlhBSCAezmvSKJPCpEiKfRpUVLpSWR9MnwMsE2DR5D4cCeFA0KaitgkWfFED8o/w300-h400/IMG_5191.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Delivering food to our wonderful neighbour</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BgDtmAWLXK1PcVR6Rc1Nn2YddeBTBxBPzrKZ3Otw3RgEHvHCk42JylAmrmgUg3EsnuCVmur45lqzUOy6TmfxwKkDQXaahDtDMl_ffRj49rt3xnP9h20KhrgqD3RAQqk3f-T0FiX8EV8/s2048/IMG_5032.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BgDtmAWLXK1PcVR6Rc1Nn2YddeBTBxBPzrKZ3Otw3RgEHvHCk42JylAmrmgUg3EsnuCVmur45lqzUOy6TmfxwKkDQXaahDtDMl_ffRj49rt3xnP9h20KhrgqD3RAQqk3f-T0FiX8EV8/w300-h400/IMG_5032.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Doorstep chats with our neighbours</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Lp4Ap4njb4K5qnnvZe_zaiL2PtbcxBtz0tNxB0kxY19I3pZwhX6xmGUFci-NDqWjkqlQsb_Wk3NOIuewOP2qDb-OyP68HBlvB7-BTUiXWVQSbycGuer9rIFYlmcg5QzgqkB6UuuQNfA/s2048/IMG_4771.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Lp4Ap4njb4K5qnnvZe_zaiL2PtbcxBtz0tNxB0kxY19I3pZwhX6xmGUFci-NDqWjkqlQsb_Wk3NOIuewOP2qDb-OyP68HBlvB7-BTUiXWVQSbycGuer9rIFYlmcg5QzgqkB6UuuQNfA/w400-h300/IMG_4771.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Prayer time with our neighbours on 31 December</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ12vjUstDA7s0hhJOQobnQiWtnLpoTxNx65HV5kfwxFhj7dV-Z31wq_6lAK8NaIajAEVMNNwv3amn9tMPgfxiWll4lbD5Cbxk9_bU9m9ZCxtymF56xUf7sbvwCe-BU-tsy6u7lFgCcOg/s2048/IMG_4310.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1391" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ12vjUstDA7s0hhJOQobnQiWtnLpoTxNx65HV5kfwxFhj7dV-Z31wq_6lAK8NaIajAEVMNNwv3amn9tMPgfxiWll4lbD5Cbxk9_bU9m9ZCxtymF56xUf7sbvwCe-BU-tsy6u7lFgCcOg/w271-h400/IMG_4310.JPG" width="271" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We all four went to Scarborough, a seaside town, right before we went into lockdown</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2aG235HJSVgfHKSZznmIHGkkB9u-fxHYxIhh4wAUWeNp3QhlOLvdD_uCuGb7JBlPRpPqKGEb2350vYzDPOsmlx1ghy4vHaJKBSN_OlLe4GKdceIMkAviaoVeKzaqioVd6zKdReHBzNE/s2048/IMG_4173.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2aG235HJSVgfHKSZznmIHGkkB9u-fxHYxIhh4wAUWeNp3QhlOLvdD_uCuGb7JBlPRpPqKGEb2350vYzDPOsmlx1ghy4vHaJKBSN_OlLe4GKdceIMkAviaoVeKzaqioVd6zKdReHBzNE/w300-h400/IMG_4173.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On Christmas Day, we got to celebrate (gasp: inside houses) with our whole team together</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMniq6_g9RCfBxRvmHTFgW0jW1MKXagtQF7RFb0C3_a0Iqphis3c4QCYceC7QtKC8TBegM3O0IAfg2jsZGpnHpODQ6TzP1Cay5EAOXifryU36HDXtrzAyHBa6ua-4K_8eO5CnKQ6XEeg/s2048/2021-01-15+18%253A03%253A49.902.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMniq6_g9RCfBxRvmHTFgW0jW1MKXagtQF7RFb0C3_a0Iqphis3c4QCYceC7QtKC8TBegM3O0IAfg2jsZGpnHpODQ6TzP1Cay5EAOXifryU36HDXtrzAyHBa6ua-4K_8eO5CnKQ6XEeg/w400-h300/2021-01-15+18%253A03%253A49.902.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Naomi, my running buddy</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0xtIwYwp0lf5qXK7faPvuoGgtdFEt4ynRNHLQ7CKjZXTdaSfyyCuKECNGiGqpS2nkHh2gcZkukDzO412CODbmc9EH0g9-7CuNpLytO-s4xfFMFElHfLUXEu0poGwWRwqOa07j1cVvaM/s2048/2021-01-03+13%253A57%253A38.867.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0xtIwYwp0lf5qXK7faPvuoGgtdFEt4ynRNHLQ7CKjZXTdaSfyyCuKECNGiGqpS2nkHh2gcZkukDzO412CODbmc9EH0g9-7CuNpLytO-s4xfFMFElHfLUXEu0poGwWRwqOa07j1cVvaM/w400-h300/2021-01-03+13%253A57%253A38.867.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Walks with friends (okay, this was back when we were allowed to be more than one-on-one)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IRY178tcYTY82rzOhZgfINNIwLVHxxy-lkZVkJC_TAfXtu1r5K2b3yLKP5kS-LN947B9IN7sbxkopzVP-XfLuKIM-7UmW92vnEXyNslHZ3Vw_gH8afdm7lL-urspczRF7-1YVQbZZRM/s1600/730ebf10-a54a-4f0b-8420-9d8b7c66816a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IRY178tcYTY82rzOhZgfINNIwLVHxxy-lkZVkJC_TAfXtu1r5K2b3yLKP5kS-LN947B9IN7sbxkopzVP-XfLuKIM-7UmW92vnEXyNslHZ3Vw_gH8afdm7lL-urspczRF7-1YVQbZZRM/w400-h300/730ebf10-a54a-4f0b-8420-9d8b7c66816a.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our Christmas bubble - YWAM York all together in one house!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGDxcC8jjlxw_zlLBOSwrJDnoKEbvicbWNaBIPgDpFkzBkByz15496wvFb4npwwGGPqrHepYmXbegDfdZ9dUNcxWI8ya1IpdqWJfiq-qcOY5FEGR04O1NFtmbZxtEf7LypBg5bf42Mn8/s2048/6EE6A6B5-A026-488E-81CA-05AEF096DB71.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGDxcC8jjlxw_zlLBOSwrJDnoKEbvicbWNaBIPgDpFkzBkByz15496wvFb4npwwGGPqrHepYmXbegDfdZ9dUNcxWI8ya1IpdqWJfiq-qcOY5FEGR04O1NFtmbZxtEf7LypBg5bf42Mn8/w225-h400/6EE6A6B5-A026-488E-81CA-05AEF096DB71.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Savannah is our childcare bubble, so we get to hang out with her, even in lockdown!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P1TG9Ruj2IU" width="320" youtube-src-id="P1TG9Ruj2IU"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The video of our Christmas outreach to the city centre.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-81425159781761587262020-12-17T10:00:00.007-08:002020-12-17T10:00:42.247-08:00Christ With Us<p> <span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">As you can probably tell from the long time between updates, we are living life at full steam in York!</span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The lockdown turned out to not be so locked down for us, after all. We took part in prayer meetings for pastors and ministry leaders across the city, and through that, we were able to connect with many different Christians. We had Zooms or took walks with them and got to know our new city. The people of York are so welcoming! They took the time to share the spiritual landscape (and social and historical landscapes; it was amazing!) with us so that we would know more about the place where we are investing our hearts.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">One of the most amazing things about York is the way that the church is expecting revival. It’s not just a far off dream; the pastors and leaders pray together about it regularly, and they are preparing for it. I took a walk with one pastor who prayed that we wouldn’t see it in fifty years, but that we would see revival in the next few years. I’ve never seen expectancy quite like this; it is teaching me how to be expectant for God to move in this city, as well. I read a quote from the revivalist Gypsy Smith about starting revival. He said to go into your prayer room and draw a circle around yourself, then to pray for God to start revival in that circle. How convicting! So I am praying now that God starts revival in my heart, and from me, outward to our city!</p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There are around 210,000 people in York. Of those, around 20,000 are Christians. While the churches here are active, there are still so many people to be reached! For Christmas, as a team, we have devised two different outreaches. The first one focuses on our neighbourhood, the Leeman Road area. This is an area that is deprived by York standards. Many of the homes are broken homes, and there are a lot of immigrants who live with a low income. We have amazing neighbours, Ruth and David, who go to a local church, and we have been doing evangelism with them through the weeks. One day, Ruth and I were talking about Christmas, and I mentioned cookie swaps and how I wished it was a normal year so that we could do one. She said that it probably wouldn’t work in Leeman Road, anyway, because you have to have quite a stable home to do things like bake cookies. Out of that comment was born the idea to make cookie decorating kits for the children of our neighbourhood.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yvonne baked all of the cookies and prepared icing, and we put everything together into COVID-friendly kits for the children. We then recorded a video of Yvonne demonstrating how to use the kits to decorate cookies. In between the steps, she tells the story of Jesus. Each kit has a sticker with a link to the video, so that when the children have the kit and their conversation with us is finished, the real conversation is only beginning. We began handing out the cookie kits this week as the local primary school let out, and we got to meet several children and their parents!</p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our other outreach is focussed on the city centre and on meeting people as they are out and about doing their Christmas shopping. We are expanding on Renee’s Leadership and Urban Ministry Development project and setting up a Christmas Craft Corner for children in front of York Minster (the big cathedral for which York is famous). We had our first afternoon out today, and we met many children, and whilst they played with bubbles, we got to know their parents. One of the best bits of COVID has been that some people are more keen on being real, and they’re more willing to be honest in conversations than they were at this time last year, when they thought that they needed to have it all together. It’s as if being locked apart from each other has made us realise that we are all human and all allowed to have struggles. I love having those deep, sometimes raw conversations with people on the streets.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We will be in York for Christmas - of course we will, we’ve only just gotten here! We are planning on attending church at the Minster on Christmas morning (we’re so excited). It’s also such a good opportunity to spend time with the people that we’ve met these past weeks who are also staying here for the holidays. Most people aren’t flooded with a thousand Christmas plans they are obligated to keep this year, which means that they are happy to spend time around a fire pit in the garden (we are only allowed to gather in groups outside at the moment) with neighbours. We spent a rainy Sunday afternoon (after we got to go to church in-person!) huddled round a fire pit with some of our new friends just this week. The fact that they stayed out in the downpour with us was incredible. What hearts for community!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So anyway, I am going to go prepare for outreach tomorrow now, so thank you for reading this update! You can always follow along with what we are doing on Instagram or Facebook (@ywamyork), or pop me an email over at <a href="mailto:deborahestevenson@gmail.com"><span class="s1" style="color: #e4af0a;">deborahestevenson@gmail.com</span></a>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And now, here are some photos of our first weeks in York!</p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">These first photos are just to set the scene of York for you:</p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbFzR4_Tde0hS2YlZvIAgudRJVWxM-bOjkVWzCe8puYJgjPrsSfBT_LScRIXJF9XFgXZcOMCgWZO8LI7EUVM-JX3l1jajMvWsgSq0AP4JdYQdWN-2HFF-ZaPIx9DOMmhNmvQIm6JLRZw/s2048/IMG_1813+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbFzR4_Tde0hS2YlZvIAgudRJVWxM-bOjkVWzCe8puYJgjPrsSfBT_LScRIXJF9XFgXZcOMCgWZO8LI7EUVM-JX3l1jajMvWsgSq0AP4JdYQdWN-2HFF-ZaPIx9DOMmhNmvQIm6JLRZw/w400-h300/IMG_1813+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYw0oVwHbEwDYd1_gZhiBsQCiQcytrf0wK56_lnNhAWGFs62YkW7Ru_YosCwxaEgJFtrgltFteyuqWYbfjt4kDFT_Ql-eNqw4m-0qIjckKaxxS0Lsh8ChmeGiHHNhbpM1GNo0NiYLRDVk/s2048/IMG_1814+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYw0oVwHbEwDYd1_gZhiBsQCiQcytrf0wK56_lnNhAWGFs62YkW7Ru_YosCwxaEgJFtrgltFteyuqWYbfjt4kDFT_Ql-eNqw4m-0qIjckKaxxS0Lsh8ChmeGiHHNhbpM1GNo0NiYLRDVk/w300-h400/IMG_1814+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLscxCkSzu-ehuf0_bYQlyyPfn-vKZgKfnov4Jvx49vSeRK3CDMBZQmMn5HzvfynvRjk-8lKLvnwObb7RcIHPenPsKn6sDDoXV1KwL8Z2wqqUGVdRh1LQpoVRuQN-YLf9Miios97K_D_g/s2048/IMG_3169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLscxCkSzu-ehuf0_bYQlyyPfn-vKZgKfnov4Jvx49vSeRK3CDMBZQmMn5HzvfynvRjk-8lKLvnwObb7RcIHPenPsKn6sDDoXV1KwL8Z2wqqUGVdRh1LQpoVRuQN-YLf9Miios97K_D_g/w400-h300/IMG_3169.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhJijM6NPULaql_NE7FUoWbJryxThZ2qh6y2WE9C_HlN5SX0fv_QIjwWIVQ4BWKBiPxXBB9wR8MX5L8jjdxIUOla2nne7GpQ3nIGDmFf_z15Fe35q1_uICrTLvct9W_ACNeHjVy13NdQ/s2048/IMG_3734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhJijM6NPULaql_NE7FUoWbJryxThZ2qh6y2WE9C_HlN5SX0fv_QIjwWIVQ4BWKBiPxXBB9wR8MX5L8jjdxIUOla2nne7GpQ3nIGDmFf_z15Fe35q1_uICrTLvct9W_ACNeHjVy13NdQ/w300-h400/IMG_3734.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Local outreach at our community centre and handing out cookies to the local school children/giving a flyer to every house in the neighbourhood!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h_IfBnDZ8jtiFAdeqGYxkVV15tg1yf77oyFL3Xa-efSI7haW0bopDUR6KOcncp6uOSR7yLN0gwuO38byKOGVJ0zEvQw0cJVyu3NpkZ-x5AYgMqxZJ3iesxSTqbo0syzaP9ftj5KKwj0/s2048/IMG_3668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1488" data-original-width="2048" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h_IfBnDZ8jtiFAdeqGYxkVV15tg1yf77oyFL3Xa-efSI7haW0bopDUR6KOcncp6uOSR7yLN0gwuO38byKOGVJ0zEvQw0cJVyu3NpkZ-x5AYgMqxZJ3iesxSTqbo0syzaP9ftj5KKwj0/w400-h290/IMG_3668.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeEhzD0-mK-cdOTZDZqdJWeGQZhzx3SVSR-yTeSot4uth_AAWASiPEHzIxaUpkm2m3pXw27nfNVEgwrwCLWXShHb8DG6__N_oH_-GOgtt_vFXnhrJC1OA1i55FV82pHkYwLXs5QfMiYs/s2048/IMG_3669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeEhzD0-mK-cdOTZDZqdJWeGQZhzx3SVSR-yTeSot4uth_AAWASiPEHzIxaUpkm2m3pXw27nfNVEgwrwCLWXShHb8DG6__N_oH_-GOgtt_vFXnhrJC1OA1i55FV82pHkYwLXs5QfMiYs/w400-h300/IMG_3669.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLoeMiOAAcdtOkI3mySESPjTXjtbeiw0LIuH8y1rPMwiFC98EoIO-zEv3au9hQYfTipBaiTTTq-_qll4oNCqSsgQ-dWrh9P-aLEB1I7AFw_EtVpxoQYz1XHD7W04hNh0Ed8r_dKqcOgI/s2048/IMG_3553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1434" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLoeMiOAAcdtOkI3mySESPjTXjtbeiw0LIuH8y1rPMwiFC98EoIO-zEv3au9hQYfTipBaiTTTq-_qll4oNCqSsgQ-dWrh9P-aLEB1I7AFw_EtVpxoQYz1XHD7W04hNh0Ed8r_dKqcOgI/w280-h400/IMG_3553.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBUNV0qDugcwdFhje9U-Tuy6R4gz9Vy_tzxp7xAgfoISSVVH0AzmkDCv1m3uFvqnna2sBmJKRTmrU5iOp5NgpQDsC5Hp9UykzpTm2JvhPSQ2L3XtMJeMmwQR5iFOpxEeHyAD5L6ayxgw/s2048/IMG_3677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBUNV0qDugcwdFhje9U-Tuy6R4gz9Vy_tzxp7xAgfoISSVVH0AzmkDCv1m3uFvqnna2sBmJKRTmrU5iOp5NgpQDsC5Hp9UykzpTm2JvhPSQ2L3XtMJeMmwQR5iFOpxEeHyAD5L6ayxgw/w300-h400/IMG_3677.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">City Centre outreach by the Minster - Kid's Corner!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_khtE45hSPob4wA6cdA32p9AEXROLihmLvg5aGLxTOcqFk2TUeg3OdiKC0r4_BoS5VCQJpFu2V_lzWJyWi_BBCBJIOPDQgivS-a2kMF0y0-5P10oDAp3fFPEgvKk6WvIwoYMWSC_wKg/s2048/IMG_3767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_khtE45hSPob4wA6cdA32p9AEXROLihmLvg5aGLxTOcqFk2TUeg3OdiKC0r4_BoS5VCQJpFu2V_lzWJyWi_BBCBJIOPDQgivS-a2kMF0y0-5P10oDAp3fFPEgvKk6WvIwoYMWSC_wKg/w300-h400/IMG_3767.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwQCIjPgM5V0vptUYemAbl6x26P4498OkBBEWmZ4WwTXvGWglMjxgykF13c4arGB544-d3K2KET3RTUdrvZomW6wqwYsQQQFLpTfSXgO96_04GxLPvvXFQP5wo6G_gnAOU1VBLl0Aq9g/s2048/IMG_3790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1548" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwQCIjPgM5V0vptUYemAbl6x26P4498OkBBEWmZ4WwTXvGWglMjxgykF13c4arGB544-d3K2KET3RTUdrvZomW6wqwYsQQQFLpTfSXgO96_04GxLPvvXFQP5wo6G_gnAOU1VBLl0Aq9g/w303-h400/IMG_3790.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURAPTOJOLk7TU6mqTeAY-V7ArlAnqaUaG2QM2cKuGbYGTnvxSey4xZI3tX-v-P9wIZ7ZEqonAD7RSCED5Jkyy0WY8ztWlj5Qj4Ugh1zl45seVaGxPagE_umfm84NmMkBynvW8NEyCQoE/s2048/IMG_3779_jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURAPTOJOLk7TU6mqTeAY-V7ArlAnqaUaG2QM2cKuGbYGTnvxSey4xZI3tX-v-P9wIZ7ZEqonAD7RSCED5Jkyy0WY8ztWlj5Qj4Ugh1zl45seVaGxPagE_umfm84NmMkBynvW8NEyCQoE/w300-h400/IMG_3779_jpg.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZF8W8dhCsotbzoe4XcF3Np8Qx9H5ZpBUhQvCFEnTKbYV7ByOFszBLaZ5_qOS2PzuAJwplm6p8V8bkZtgMp6DWv04k4ignUWyd0hnjoR6q2ynyqJYMiHwRZs1z1vOieWEXVrLAC6XVZw/s2048/IMG_3784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1590" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZF8W8dhCsotbzoe4XcF3Np8Qx9H5ZpBUhQvCFEnTKbYV7ByOFszBLaZ5_qOS2PzuAJwplm6p8V8bkZtgMp6DWv04k4ignUWyd0hnjoR6q2ynyqJYMiHwRZs1z1vOieWEXVrLAC6XVZw/w310-h400/IMG_3784.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Friends that we've made in York!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8RI1gxWn8KvWKOPxw0RFNbtcJLLDE02nSOxQdrlSPwXxdfi106BdMn9oXAC5D1t6upbA_vnzMtzjFFWPTbvr3RuW-Pl_8nLj8m89V-IylJSGVccSi3sYCZomPezkQ4fi2oA7_5h0Xic/s2048/IMG_1948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1462" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8RI1gxWn8KvWKOPxw0RFNbtcJLLDE02nSOxQdrlSPwXxdfi106BdMn9oXAC5D1t6upbA_vnzMtzjFFWPTbvr3RuW-Pl_8nLj8m89V-IylJSGVccSi3sYCZomPezkQ4fi2oA7_5h0Xic/w285-h400/IMG_1948.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> the Nevards, the other four that complete YWAM York</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBbSLjTgYdD_ojUiwMZL6FqnBO5UZ2B__rR-OP9a2EoLYJG_4W7v7EhJpGp8P0a_16mv-RNEMnLfifqYcN35zTlBVV3rGoVn_6MnUVxOratTzR8df6ssNFJ7cxCkRNObS0aURKM36lEo/s2048/IMG_3022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBbSLjTgYdD_ojUiwMZL6FqnBO5UZ2B__rR-OP9a2EoLYJG_4W7v7EhJpGp8P0a_16mv-RNEMnLfifqYcN35zTlBVV3rGoVn_6MnUVxOratTzR8df6ssNFJ7cxCkRNObS0aURKM36lEo/w300-h400/IMG_3022.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7FzhVUxD0nzo7yUXsuwyqBYdzuacH5_ISYX0GmHPam5a_a9JWKEJQ4HBxMNwhf2mYa7skpjLhqZeoWvl-UhIATHRe_Xxb9xK9tMA9ozEU3CsQDz7IZhJYnW92axH-bKFmftPKU9dtAQ/s2048/IMG_3018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7FzhVUxD0nzo7yUXsuwyqBYdzuacH5_ISYX0GmHPam5a_a9JWKEJQ4HBxMNwhf2mYa7skpjLhqZeoWvl-UhIATHRe_Xxb9xK9tMA9ozEU3CsQDz7IZhJYnW92axH-bKFmftPKU9dtAQ/w300-h400/IMG_3018.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got to play at the park with Kiara, the youngest Nevard, and her sister, Savannah.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjepPVs9JYDOWt1xKAamupc3kwa_rLa4jasD7d_RcidPM41Zi91MYA2H08EfDIBEtbiDbKglB-WQYY8zRW_gS3OYaVJqTYhY4OM07bgM10pkY937yAU8ksTEap3XhrxD3p_G2Lx8Pb-Q/s2048/IMG_3747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjepPVs9JYDOWt1xKAamupc3kwa_rLa4jasD7d_RcidPM41Zi91MYA2H08EfDIBEtbiDbKglB-WQYY8zRW_gS3OYaVJqTYhY4OM07bgM10pkY937yAU8ksTEap3XhrxD3p_G2Lx8Pb-Q/w400-h300/IMG_3747.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vanessa, an amazing Christian woman who works at a church and with youth in York.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIpyCp0ALf1Cm1HoQ0ZgfrzLvSc8-shyphenhyphenXXObzy5e6tRLNiuaMnZJrM01263uKQkYka1E_W4Eahq3kXSCXeBMEXyEBQWL6CxW3q5UFnaFGPZE2Z1f-897rrweAdXMVRNF32TBP4awY7EE/s2048/IMG_2686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1364" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIpyCp0ALf1Cm1HoQ0ZgfrzLvSc8-shyphenhyphenXXObzy5e6tRLNiuaMnZJrM01263uKQkYka1E_W4Eahq3kXSCXeBMEXyEBQWL6CxW3q5UFnaFGPZE2Z1f-897rrweAdXMVRNF32TBP4awY7EE/w266-h400/IMG_2686.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ruth and David, our neighbours who have beautiful hearts for our community</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIERn4q3xS3CsA-qQp-KV_Wab-i9klze6VM5gPVBsx7gx56R4gEu8XqLkyD5pNQlwqImJNeULjGCdI-UKyd03vcCC97uEUoP3njGIPQsJ981KjIz1Wmr355OTaXOACgjKt2UATrccgcc/s4032/IMG_3413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIERn4q3xS3CsA-qQp-KV_Wab-i9klze6VM5gPVBsx7gx56R4gEu8XqLkyD5pNQlwqImJNeULjGCdI-UKyd03vcCC97uEUoP3njGIPQsJ981KjIz1Wmr355OTaXOACgjKt2UATrccgcc/w300-h400/IMG_3413.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Debbie, a homeless woman we've gotten to know</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82cuQKeOxO2Fan1PZowgkyzYSR2_GHDuKrBih_QGZGbI276qFexl-qr_150M6_VGW7igvyR5dvSzWRtiS0FTDF66xQXOOifCMUtJm5zS0eDKbsGo_ym7potLyi8oRw1QOm0Nf5haJoPQ/s1560/IMG_2426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1040" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82cuQKeOxO2Fan1PZowgkyzYSR2_GHDuKrBih_QGZGbI276qFexl-qr_150M6_VGW7igvyR5dvSzWRtiS0FTDF66xQXOOifCMUtJm5zS0eDKbsGo_ym7potLyi8oRw1QOm0Nf5haJoPQ/w266-h400/IMG_2426.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Laura and Gracie (the dog), friends from home group</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daily Life for the Team</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsjPHfJ2T7bc0IZs18R2xkhHW3JKGGu7svMS_Ls9PqGyoVu071zZGgYAhxOffhsbYvOmOj92yeJn70I1yYHVQSKxyOs6zSSh90kY-T0XWmWZdXbp9WVGcrTTOkXNrGluYwROw9-3Sipg/s2048/IMG_3406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsjPHfJ2T7bc0IZs18R2xkhHW3JKGGu7svMS_Ls9PqGyoVu071zZGgYAhxOffhsbYvOmOj92yeJn70I1yYHVQSKxyOs6zSSh90kY-T0XWmWZdXbp9WVGcrTTOkXNrGluYwROw9-3Sipg/w400-h300/IMG_3406.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Evangelism in the market </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnth86KsnIrtDW98WEBVAm6g3_QJXI-PJTwWaN0b7CxcmWJsCh2Z29x289LM3CFA0z0yXrpBG5ZV1yJ4_zRi5DkjY5e5fMBhuljqO6ICuYWOg8pnVpxuNyYSjqX2NFnJy9UUneqwN32Uc/s2048/IMG_3490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnth86KsnIrtDW98WEBVAm6g3_QJXI-PJTwWaN0b7CxcmWJsCh2Z29x289LM3CFA0z0yXrpBG5ZV1yJ4_zRi5DkjY5e5fMBhuljqO6ICuYWOg8pnVpxuNyYSjqX2NFnJy9UUneqwN32Uc/w400-h266/IMG_3490.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Preparing the cookie decorating video</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGNCjzShU90hxYL8F6fFhjvza1ORSzcbR2XPXBksB9oZ99OyI8qdaenObaS8l8eb-8vmq9XWzXsnn59kUo1r__Klok0LIVqibUEnJZDr2zZ-cU6Flz1kx827h2WvRAOjEmraijugfvRk/s2048/IMG_3570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1579" data-original-width="2048" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGNCjzShU90hxYL8F6fFhjvza1ORSzcbR2XPXBksB9oZ99OyI8qdaenObaS8l8eb-8vmq9XWzXsnn59kUo1r__Klok0LIVqibUEnJZDr2zZ-cU6Flz1kx827h2WvRAOjEmraijugfvRk/w400-h309/IMG_3570.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Worshiping in person!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvojiCQTNCwAa_lheCs7L8f0WAdBh42K36hvFcq5djMOxKmcyRPmhAyRQ406ZeuSX1sCvWDSTKnUdepjjKWoebu0oiqHOxjFm-nkJ7ii_DaQRGan7cJuUVdBkfll8YHz-BKwz4E6t2U8/s2048/IMG_3664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvojiCQTNCwAa_lheCs7L8f0WAdBh42K36hvFcq5djMOxKmcyRPmhAyRQ406ZeuSX1sCvWDSTKnUdepjjKWoebu0oiqHOxjFm-nkJ7ii_DaQRGan7cJuUVdBkfll8YHz-BKwz4E6t2U8/w400-h300/IMG_3664.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Preparing the crafts for Kids Corner</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">And finally, happy Christmas from all of us here at YWAM York!</p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEhWRceYj38maiwD77nmheU2yWYtXjGW7kC6Qpu7fAkPEl_kv1sNcHasOrL5q_4I3_f4RxqqtO4_M0JnPyZpFV1U_oDXbOsJaVeIEjNh0MGzjXEiSXflt2nzct_eDQVdiDJxdMqbqtPI/s1620/IMG_6474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEhWRceYj38maiwD77nmheU2yWYtXjGW7kC6Qpu7fAkPEl_kv1sNcHasOrL5q_4I3_f4RxqqtO4_M0JnPyZpFV1U_oDXbOsJaVeIEjNh0MGzjXEiSXflt2nzct_eDQVdiDJxdMqbqtPI/w400-h266/IMG_6474.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-48844548716839116442020-11-07T02:52:00.009-08:002020-11-07T02:55:17.076-08:00A Flooded Promise Land<p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span>We are in York!</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>I know, we are in as much shock as you are.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>Let me catch you up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>England is in our second lockdown. That means that we can’t leave our houses unless we need to shop for essentials, go to school or work that can’t be done from home, or exercise. To be honest, this is already more lax than our first lockdown, which is amazing. We are even allowed to meet with one other person from our household as long as we are outside and stay two metres apart.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>We entered our second lockdown on Thursday. It is still possible to move house during lockdown, but it is not advised to use public transport, and it is unclear as to whether or not you can go between cities. On Monday, we found out that we had gotten a house in York. That is a miracle in itself, because the referencing company had rejected us due to insufficient income. But the landlady decided to go against that and to choose us anyway, and the letting agency let us know on Monday. That meant that we had two days to get to York before the lockdown.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>Raya, Yvonne and I were already packed, so with 18 hours notice, we left London for York. Our houses in London were already under quarantine due to illness in the team and the sheer number of COVID cases in London, so we didn’t get to say goodbye to anybody except for our housemates. While that is sad, we are also looking forward to a housewarming party when the lockdown is over on 2 December and they can travel up here!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>(A side note: we had been tested and were negative for COVID, which was a miracle in itself. God is so good to us.)</span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>So now we are in York, and we have the essentials to get us through lockdown, but we have the new challenge of preparing a house in a time when shops are shut and it is much more difficult to buy things second hand. We are also raising all of the funds for furniture ourselves, because our house is unfurnished. There were also some hidden agency fees that amounted to £616 more than we expected. So if you would like to contribute to any of that, you can via my Paypal (<a href="mailto:deborahestevenson@gmail.com"><span class="s1" style="color: #e4af0a;">deborahestevenson@gmail.com</span></a>) or in the usual method through the base in Tyler, Texas. I can even give you my British bank account info, if you want to use Xoom or another, similar app to send money internationally directly to my bank account.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>Now that you’re caught up, let me gush about York.</span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>First off, it is only by God that we are here, and right on time. We arrived 36 hours before the lockdown went into effect, which was the perfect amount of time to buy the essentials and to have some final meetings before we were all separated again. And now we have a month to prepare our house, to deep clean and organise the base building (which is a three-minute walk from the house), to research churches, charities and the like in York, and to prayer walk the city so that we get to know it before we dive into ministry. Also, everyone is old hat at Zoom and virtual church right now, so we will get to visit churches online and still take part in city-wide prayer meetings.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>All of that being said, there are a few prayer requests that we have. First off, Raya, Yvonne and I went from living with many friends to being just the three of us. We are all stepping into new roles that we don’t know how to fill, so would you pray for us in this way? Raya and I have no idea how to lead a base! We are very blessed to have Chris and Johanna, our Radiant leaders, walking with us through the season of transition, and YWAM York is being covered by YWAM London Radiant as we become our own charity here in York. Like I said before, we are also trying to raise funds for the furniture, etc that we need for our house here. It is not just a house for us, but it is also a home where we hope to host many who come to visit. We also have three team members who are not physically with us at the moment: Dave and Nicole Nevard are here in York, but locked down in their own home. We’ve waited so long to finally be with them, and now we are waiting some more! And Renee is in the process of getting her visa and coming from the States, but we are unsure of how lockdown will affect that process.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>Isn’t God amazing? He taught us to trust in His timing, and we got here one day later than we’d been planning, but right on time. He provided a house when it seemed humanly impossible - and thank you for praying for that with us. We have seen God provide, and your faithful prayers were definitely a part of that! We can only praise Him. And now we are trusting Him to use this month to begin setting roots and foundations for us here in the city to which He has brought us. We want to have dreams born in this time and to have our hearts set for what He wants in York. But more than that, we are just so, so thankful to be here in our flooded (rain upriver means that York is prone to flooding) Promise Land.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5G46vhzkrty9rXHiEd-G5YoFJDLcqT8Q6yusura3_Vn18_Jpx4GmGh65_AqbKf-ahC46SrhKbDNwdMzV6rViZ45hyphenhyphenBzrqTxos7U7ql2kXyVEshp9qi6m-ycxTvauOP3w8JccGNWRHi0/s2048/2020-11-03+13%253A27%253A49.188.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5G46vhzkrty9rXHiEd-G5YoFJDLcqT8Q6yusura3_Vn18_Jpx4GmGh65_AqbKf-ahC46SrhKbDNwdMzV6rViZ45hyphenhyphenBzrqTxos7U7ql2kXyVEshp9qi6m-ycxTvauOP3w8JccGNWRHi0/w300-h400/2020-11-03+13%253A27%253A49.188.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>From L-R: Me, Yvonne and Raya in front of our new house</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwC-JPCpnsB6y85DsBl6nJjx0fXi55pulhJDjhcvQ1LrnVzZhVvlMBibJte3fp3YntlyeXPg2c20G3aqT1_TyLbcBrLGIi2f17k1rA-PX7kllJ-McHAeEPyuW7rrY_y97HyPHFNANZyr4/s2048/IMG_1605.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwC-JPCpnsB6y85DsBl6nJjx0fXi55pulhJDjhcvQ1LrnVzZhVvlMBibJte3fp3YntlyeXPg2c20G3aqT1_TyLbcBrLGIi2f17k1rA-PX7kllJ-McHAeEPyuW7rrY_y97HyPHFNANZyr4/w400-h300/IMG_1605.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>The flooded city</span></div><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-BgEQKogoxSnItmezg5Q5Qfq7BzQmOiUJm2oGgGC7MFePYTvPAoJezfyu8qOe3etGcOzQ4uNO8x8g-03VSv0oK4EVcopd8-lmQbdL5VaDuXCuAsYAcJEYkt9R0rZZVvyXiKKf0yA2JA/s2048/IMG_1634.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-BgEQKogoxSnItmezg5Q5Qfq7BzQmOiUJm2oGgGC7MFePYTvPAoJezfyu8qOe3etGcOzQ4uNO8x8g-03VSv0oK4EVcopd8-lmQbdL5VaDuXCuAsYAcJEYkt9R0rZZVvyXiKKf0yA2JA/w300-h400/IMG_1634.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>This is normally a park by the base.</span></div><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydyHFgH4zNnk-8j1egdd_FLUiWWkikuH5LjWD-VA98wHeEP-cHjTeFEFB81v85RJZuyEnYWDF-LsQ03pWm2fvSrIrjxOtOYREatjXY1TjsAxU6J6gNmeF2du6Tl3VpcV_CXpoKKZNq4k/s2048/IMG_1655.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydyHFgH4zNnk-8j1egdd_FLUiWWkikuH5LjWD-VA98wHeEP-cHjTeFEFB81v85RJZuyEnYWDF-LsQ03pWm2fvSrIrjxOtOYREatjXY1TjsAxU6J6gNmeF2du6Tl3VpcV_CXpoKKZNq4k/w300-h400/IMG_1655.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>York Minster</span></div><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcxWerNVLMPHSZ93QeuxGYytta5F4GpQfZCIAedRW-sOapY2on2kOOibPqDKVYy8mxHvMM27YhO4YY1pIa_7kTp75yn-H4fplp_sqLdKvUqtQ7XUpfiTOjjqiw_pjll0_-TotzG3BNpE/s1532/IMG_1686.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="958" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcxWerNVLMPHSZ93QeuxGYytta5F4GpQfZCIAedRW-sOapY2on2kOOibPqDKVYy8mxHvMM27YhO4YY1pIa_7kTp75yn-H4fplp_sqLdKvUqtQ7XUpfiTOjjqiw_pjll0_-TotzG3BNpE/w250-h400/IMG_1686.JPG" width="250" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>A new headshot of me for our social media</span></div><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7SGHFArVpBmE981AEWqv4_kWfLM0xreVkPzAk2NmHFgbHLY341WivHCSCK0FdQKmrn4j_Fi2vAn_-9Z9ECuvVqSmNdqLzIs9mjwxElc1XvSYiVsmgnHbvJQ34OUx8NJKyv2_RN_Kiio/s2048/IMG_1775.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7SGHFArVpBmE981AEWqv4_kWfLM0xreVkPzAk2NmHFgbHLY341WivHCSCK0FdQKmrn4j_Fi2vAn_-9Z9ECuvVqSmNdqLzIs9mjwxElc1XvSYiVsmgnHbvJQ34OUx8NJKyv2_RN_Kiio/w300-h400/IMG_1775.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>Yvonne cleaning the windows in the base</span></div><span><br /></span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><p></p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-4860807275077538542020-10-29T08:59:00.002-07:002020-10-29T09:04:17.189-07:00we keep rolling<p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">So do you want the good news first, or the more challenging news?</span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The good news is that Raya and Yvonne have arrived from the States! Actually, they arrived two weeks ago and have just completed their two-week quarantine. We have spent that two weeks learning different skills that we need for running a base (personnel, health-and-safety, visas, finances, and other exciting things) and praying and spending time together. It’s so different to actually have them here in the UK with me, and it’s really nice to finally be able to form a team in one place. And the best bit is that, when all systems are go for us to move to York, we are ready to head up there together!</p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That being said, we are still currently in London. While the details for moving to York are being hammered out, we keep hitting one roadblock: we need a house. We have currently unsuccessfully applied for two houses and viewed several others, and the problem lies in the amount of money that we make (or rather don’t) a year. On paper, we don’t seem like the most reliable tenants! Little do they know that actually, God faithfully provides for us, and we are amazing tenants who leave houses much better than we find them. Anyway, we need a house to live in, and right now, we are having to travel up to York and back to see each one. Not only is that not cost-convenient, but as our COVID restrictions ramp up again in the UK, it is harder and harder to do that.</p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So would you pray with us? It is difficult to be rejected for houses that we inevitably get our hopes up for getting. We know that God has a house for us, and we are asking Him to shut doors to houses that aren’t for us, but it is still a difficult process to live out. We are also currently self-isolating with our London housemates, since some of them are a bit under the weather, so that also makes it hard to look for houses in a different city.</p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We really need your prayers. We aren’t a usual case for tenants, and we need God’s favour as we apply for different houses. We need people to be willing to take a chance on us. Would you mind praying with us for this to happen?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Hopefully, when next we meet, we will have good news to report. But even until then, we’ve seen God move all along in this process of us going to pioneer a team in York. We know He is faithful, and we know that He will provide us a house. And we thank Him already for how He has moved and how He is moving.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGzEsR0YeRR-PNHu8s446N_kcbUMjeKhKS8hGTsQUJLSJhOGDGXCtDocCIwmCxDnXrYYaFWvrFrRn1TvG6WNraLB-9qaTmCGXX-IKGjnfSGDWODeMCYBeZlu-ch3jllUWOJPxWPozXuA/s2048/IMG_6093.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGzEsR0YeRR-PNHu8s446N_kcbUMjeKhKS8hGTsQUJLSJhOGDGXCtDocCIwmCxDnXrYYaFWvrFrRn1TvG6WNraLB-9qaTmCGXX-IKGjnfSGDWODeMCYBeZlu-ch3jllUWOJPxWPozXuA/s320/IMG_6093.JPG" /></a></div><br /><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span><p></p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-31652982937346794372020-09-25T05:08:00.000-07:002020-09-25T05:08:01.125-07:00Setting Dates<p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">Autumn is raining down around me in London, and we have finally set a (semi-solid) date for moving to York: 11 October.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">Now that it is only two and a half weeks away, everything seems very real, and I have begun packing and trying to stop myself from getting rid of all of my clothing (a bad tendency that I have whilst packing, only to find myself without anything to wear come next spring).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Everything is in progress right now, and if everything goes according to plan, the girls will receive their visas back (they have sent everything in and are just awaiting the passports with the visas to be returned to them) and join me in York in October.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I went up to York earlier this week to look at houses, and we are in the process of putting an offer on one - it is quite complicated to do, since I do not make enough money (as you all know) to be accepted as a renter, and agencies are often nervous about accepting charities as guarantors.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There are also the different elements of a cross-country move during a pandemic: our restrictions seem to change daily as infections “spike” here (I put spike in quotations because they are testing much more widely, so it is suspected that we aren’t having a spike so much as uncovering more of the infections that already existed), so we are all praying not to have to go into another national lockdown. Local areas have been put back into lockdown, as well, so we are also praying that York and London don’t go into lockdown in the intervening time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Not to mention that we have been restricted to only meeting up in groups of six, all hospitality businesses shut at 10 pm, and we have to wear masks, but we are still encouraged to go to work and school. And we have been warned that more strict restrictions could be introduced at any time!</span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As you may have guessed, it certainly isn’t comfortable to live in all of these “what-if”s. Nothing seems solid, and even putting a date to moving makes me nervous, because everything is changing so quickly. And through it all, God is asking me if I trust Him. He is telling me that I don’t need to have solid answers or even definite plans, because He knows how this is all going to go and He is preparing the way. This goes against all of my logic, but I want to do this God’s way, so. Here we go.</p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Raya, my co-leader, and I are also raising money for the furniture that we will need for our new house. Houses in York don’t seem to come with fridges, washer/dryers, or anything like that, not to mention furniture. We are starting from scratch, and that’s both exciting and expensive. If you’d like to contribute to our furniture search, you can do so through the usual channels, or you can Paypal me personally using <a href="mailto:deborahestevenson@gmail.com"><span class="s1" style="color: #e4af0a;">deborahestevenson@gmail.com</span></a>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I also wanted to introduce you to the girls that I will be living with in York, so that you can put faces to the names.</p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">First up is Raya. She is the co-leader of YWAM York, and she is from Oregon. She loves to write, and she creates crazy games for us to play all together. She tells stories and has an infectious laugh.</p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Next is Yvonne. Yvonne is from Alabama, and she is a dancer. She is one of the best bakers that I know, and she is super intentional in her relationships with people.</p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then we have Renee. Renee is from Massachusetts, and she is also a dancer. She asks deep questions and always seems to remember to look out for others.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And finally, we have Dave and Nicole. They have been a part of YWAM York for ages (they did their DTSs there before I was in YWAM), and they will be staying on to be a part of our team! They live in a beautiful little house across the city with their two small daughters, Savannah and Kiara.</p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Q50E1ErevOb_W9F8G47JW99_p-9R38JkPQ3vsuLTAE3SMS_MVLEicDdM1soi0KTjTlchqAm6TfTgXwXneWE_1aRU5295o4N62rd1ZlvYqtqhowijDFFXB5pbvbE1iqGQPi73KWddK7k/s1000/york+team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Q50E1ErevOb_W9F8G47JW99_p-9R38JkPQ3vsuLTAE3SMS_MVLEicDdM1soi0KTjTlchqAm6TfTgXwXneWE_1aRU5295o4N62rd1ZlvYqtqhowijDFFXB5pbvbE1iqGQPi73KWddK7k/s320/york+team.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-55077344819360061692020-08-21T10:16:00.004-07:002020-08-21T10:17:04.087-07:00come to life<h4 style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">So, I guess it’s time for an update!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-weight: normal;">When I last left you, I was preparing to lead a team up to York for outreach.</span></h4><h4 style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />I can now confirm that the outreach has been completed (and quite successfully, if I do say so myself!). I spent ten days in York, eight of which the team joined me for, and let me tell you, the base there does not look the same as it did before!</span></h4><h4 style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />I have some before and after pictures of the time there, but let me take a second to sing the praises of the team. There were seven DTS students and five staff that came along (one staff, Lucas, came to teach me many of the practicalities of electricity and plumbing, God bless him), and they worked their bums off. And at night, after working all day, they were still keen to head into the city centre to prayer walk (and stop for ice creams).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></h4><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY13nEx5TlpGlvp9BxF2LDXiHYOfs433R-YCigBdITrPsejf3Y_0t0IffTyoa59xaURHQRTxCSKJhhuJDf5V_xTeKjz-27sGxMda3lLw3r0toonm8GIK0FmWVg6kMHYifEKBRNzc89euE/s1920/beforeafter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY13nEx5TlpGlvp9BxF2LDXiHYOfs433R-YCigBdITrPsejf3Y_0t0IffTyoa59xaURHQRTxCSKJhhuJDf5V_xTeKjz-27sGxMda3lLw3r0toonm8GIK0FmWVg6kMHYifEKBRNzc89euE/s640/beforeafter1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4En1azZ-fGGSvY6CQxI1W18Jl9lAaI9op3SRP37esrxq6aO75EkUlpTU8YymDmEBshZyR0UzBat8QQambH0hj9Hsc37kTdPVfFRa_lUeNmPCPxVnJHdjSAJpMaZA9AcJcrETjVnUAtU/s1920/beforeafter10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4En1azZ-fGGSvY6CQxI1W18Jl9lAaI9op3SRP37esrxq6aO75EkUlpTU8YymDmEBshZyR0UzBat8QQambH0hj9Hsc37kTdPVfFRa_lUeNmPCPxVnJHdjSAJpMaZA9AcJcrETjVnUAtU/s640/beforeafter10.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></div><h4 style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Most of what we did involved cleaning out the various rooms and cupboards on base that have stored the remnants of several different YWAM teams that have used the space. We also plastered, re-painted, fixed some electricity and lighting, oh, and built a shower in a cupboard. Yes. We built a whole shower. I have never been to B&Q (The British Home Depot) so many times in my life. I swear, the workers all knew me on sight by the final day. And, thanks to Lucas, I knew how to connect pipes and do grout and all the other fun details involved in plumbing in a shower.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></h4><h4 style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />I don’t think God has called me to a life of plumbing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></h4><h4 style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Anyway, the time in York gave me a taste for what is coming, and I really enjoyed getting to spend longer than a few hours in the city to which I will be moving soon. The people there are so friendly (the north of England is a bit like the American South in this) that just walking out the front door led to conversations with postal workers and neighbours and babies and dogs. It is a small city that is full of families and artists, and I am really excited to move there and to start meeting people and getting invested in ministry.</span></h4><h4 style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />There are just a few obstacles in the way, which aren’t unexpected when one is re-pioneering.</span></h4><h4 style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />The first is that we need to find a house to live in. I am currently sitting in my house in London, which is a two-hour train ride from York, which makes viewing a bit difficult.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></h4><h4 style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />There are also several details to be ironed out within YWAM England which require prayer for wisdom and easy communication on everyone’s behalf. We’re all walking in untrodden territory, and boy am I learning a lot.</span></h4><h4 style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Lastly, the girls who are re-pioneering with me are still trying to start applying for visas. There’s the small issue of an on-going global pandemic and the need to quarantine when they arrive, as well, of course, as raising financial support for living here. Raya, my co-leader, is particularly struggling in this area. You guys have all been so faithful to support me in prayer and giving over the years, but I remember the fear of the early days when I didn’t know how I would pay staff fees every month. But God came through, and I know that He can do the same for her! Could you be praying for this along with me?</span></h4><h4 style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />And finally, as much as I am planning for York, I am also still in London, and it is time for Arise. There is no Notting Hill Carnival this year, and we aren’t staying in churches and building crazy floats for the parade, but we are still hitting a different area of the city every day for evangelism. We kick it off tomorrow with a Notting Hill extravaganza, where we are planning on drumming and dancing with pois and walking on stilts. Who said that we couldn’t have fun in the time of COVID? But if you have a chance, would you mind praying for our safety and also for the hearts of people to be open to hear about Jesus over these next ten days? This is the most full-on thing that we do all year, and especially after six months of pandemic, it is shaping up to be both exciting and the tiniest bit exhausting. But it also feels good to be a little bit back to normal. We see people saved and lives healed during Arise, and I expect the same this year. Maybe even more-so, since people have had lots of time to listen to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to their hearts.</span></h4><h4 style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />As always, thank you, thank you for the emails you’ve sent to me (<a href="mailto:deborahestevenson@gmail.com"><span class="s1" style="color: #e4af0a;">deborahestevenson@gmail.com</span></a>, if you’d like to send one my way!), for the messages sent on through my mum and grandparents, for the prayer, for the support. God is definitely on the move, both here and wherever you are. I can’t wait to see what comes out of this year!</span></h4>Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-11378979426448012782020-07-16T04:36:00.000-07:002020-07-16T04:36:02.750-07:00on the road again<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
I’m going to cut to the chase, then go back to the details, if that’s all right with you.</div>
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In September, I am moving to York (north England) with three other women in order to re-pioneer the YWAM base there. We will be joined by a family that has been a part of YWAM York since their own DTSs.</div>
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As many of you will know, I moved to London eight years ago to join an arts team that eventually became YWAM London Radiant. I never put a time limit on how long I would be here. Instead, I said, “I’m here until God tells me to go elsewhere.”</div>
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Well, guess what. God’s called me to go elsewhere!</div>
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Late last year, my leaders here at Radiant asked me to pray about leading a team to re-pioneer the base in York. God gave me a strong “yes,” and my leaders and I prayed together and travelled to York a few times (my mother even visited it with me whilst she was here!), and we asked a few other people to consider coming along. They heard God’s “yes,” and also agreed to be a part of this new adventure!</div>
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So long story short, the three other ladies are in the States renewing visas and raising finances right now, and I am in London preparing to lead an outreach team up for a week at the end of July.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The York base has a building, a community centre that holds a small cafe and a dance studio/meeting room space, and we are going to spend a week cleaning and organising it to prepare for September.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Over the next two months, I am also going to be going through a process (which has already begun) of learning the different things I need to know in order to lead a base - finances, data protection, communication, health and safety, etc, etc, etc. I’ve never done this before, and there are certainly a lot of things to learn! Luckily, my leaders at Radiant, Chris and Johanna, are walking with me through the process. They will continue to be my spiritual leaders when I move to York, and the York base is being re-pioneered by Radiant, so we will not be abandoned in any way.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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There are a lot of aspects of moving to York and re-pioneering the base that are large and could be a bit intimidating: we need to do some work in the base to prepare it for the activities that we will run for the community and for future training schools. We (by we, I mean the four of us ladies who are moving) also need to raise money for a deposit on a house for us to live in, which will probably be around £2,000. And of course, we need to come together as a team, to discern God’s vision and heart for both the city and for the base.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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This is a big transition for me, and you lot have been with me faithfully for the past eight years, so I am glad to finally be able to share it with you. A lot of the details are still up in the air (global pandemic, etc), but here are a few prayer points:</div>
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<li class="li1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The visa offices are currently shut, and all three other ladies need to renew their visas to be in the UK. Please pray for the offices to open up and the girls to get their visas by September.</li>
<li class="li1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For the outreach that will go to York next week to prepare the base/get to know the area.</li>
<li class="li1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That I will meet the people, have the appointments, and receive the paperwork that I need as I prepare to move to York and the base.</li>
<li class="li1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For us to raise the finances that we need to put a deposit on a house to live in.</li>
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If you have any questions about the move, you can email me at <a href="mailto:deborahestevenson@gmail.com"><span class="s1" style="color: #e4af0a;">deborahestevenson@gmail.com</span></a>. I am happy to share more with you about what is happening, or just to hear how you are doing or clarify anything I can.</div>
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Thank you all for your support, your prayers, your emails, and the way that you constantly surprise me. And thank you for being here as we transition from London to York!</div>
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a map of England including York and London (so you have an idea of the journey)</div>
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L-R - Renee, Nicole (who already lives in York with her husband and daughters), me, Raya. Yvonne, our fourth American lady, is not pictured.</div>
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York Minster at the end of a typical shopping street. It makes you want to come and visit, right?</div>
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A photo of York Minster grabbed from atop the medieval city walls (which you can walk round any time)</div>
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The tea shop where my mother and I had tea and scones</div>
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Inside the tea shop where we had tea and scones</div>
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Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-69962697517783371302020-07-06T08:36:00.000-07:002020-07-06T08:36:01.694-07:00together, we cannot be silentThroughout June, I watched as the Black Lives Matter movement grew and swelled across the US and into England. Our protests were not as violent or as quick as the ones in the States, but age-old wounds were brought to light by our neighbours, and as a church, we listened and sought God's heart. And we weren't the only ones. Through conversations between pastors, the idea for a demonstration by Christians was born.<br />
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On Friday, we met with dozens of other churches and Christians from around the UK to have a time of peaceful protest and prayer in front of Parliament. There were no other protests happening; in fact, it was eerily quiet in Westminster. We all wore masks and tried to stay socially distant, but we weren't actually distant. Our churches have still not been able to meet together, and as we met across the street from Parliament and began to pray together, I realised that it was the first time that we've gathered together physically since March. It was such a privilege to get to be together to fight for God's heart in the midst of all of the unrest that is pouring across our planet.<br />
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We stood together for racial equality. In the past decade, several bills have been passed in Parliament that fight for racial equality, but they are not being upheld. We exhorted Parliament to uphold them, and we prayed that God would convict their hearts and ours as we learn what it means to fight racism, both systemic and in our own hearts.<br />
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Eventually, we made our way to Trafalgar Square, where we prayed together again and spoke to the few people who were out and about. I got to pray with some girls from Reading (a city near London) and to talk with men from around the nation. There was a little push-back from some men who felt that slavery should still be legal, but for the most part, COVID19 has made people much more willing to talk to strangers and to be more real about what is happening in their hearts. I was also walking on stilts, so I got to meet a few different children.<br />
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A year ago, a protest like this would have been an activity that was exciting, but as soon as it was over, I would have forgotten it. But everything is different now. I remembered an impression I felt last winter as our whole base prayed together in Trafalgar Square. We had been planning OneFest, an event for the churches to host together this month (which we had to cancel in April due to the pandemic). The impression was that what the noise that we made together would reverberate off of the embassies and offices that surround the Square and bounce across the UK and Europe. On Friday, our drums made just such a noise as we stood with other churches and Christians and asked God for His heart and to see Him move. I believe that God is doing something incredible in London this year. We have all felt that it is a year of revival, and God can do that as easily in our houses as He can in our church buildings and arenas.<br />
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So I have to tell you, four days after our demonstration at Parliament, I am still thinking about it and praying over it. And I feel expectant. 2020 has been full of so many surprises so far, but the one I am waiting for is to see how many people have met Jesus and had their hearts transformed in this time. Covid isn't all bad. I serve a God who can work all things together for good.<br />
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<br />Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703012510875327254.post-32570616629646250642020-06-17T03:21:00.000-07:002020-06-17T03:21:20.499-07:00Like Riding a Bicycle<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
I want to share a story with you that isn’t big, maybe, but I think it captures what we are living right now.</div>
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Back in October, somebody sent a donation for me to purchase a bicycle. Cycling is probably the fastest way around London (although it is far from free. It has been eight years since I sold my car on the way to my DTS, and let me tell you, I had forgotten how much upkeep on vehicles costs! But at the same time, they are wonderfully grounding.), and I began cycling to work when weather permitted.</div>
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Now, in the times of corona, cycling or walking are the only two ways that I can get around. I cycle the four miles to Think (our cafe) twice a week, but more importantly, Meli and I cycle three miles to the City of London two nights a week to pick up donations from M&S, a posh supermarket chain that donates out-of-date or damaged food to charities.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Every time we arrive at M&S, the staff smile and welcome us. The manager brings us out crates of food and helps us pack bags, and more often than not, some of the staff help us load it onto our bikes. We are slowly building relationships with the workers, all of whom act as if they enjoy having us in their shop, even as they are trying to do the intense sanitation regime required when they shut now.</div>
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On the way home, Meli and I keep a lookout for homeless people to whom we can pass out some of the food. It’s always fun to hear their genuine delight when they’re given such nice treats (seriously, the food we receive is amazing). Once, I stopped and gave fresh pastries to some girls who were hanging out on their front steps. They didn’t really know what to do (I guess receiving pastries from a stranger is a bit odd), but we still stopped and talked for a bit.</div>
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I know this is only a little anecdote, but to me, it shows how community-oriented we’ve become in London. We are still on lockdown. We can’t go into shops yet, because they’re not open. We can only get food delivered or take it away from the shops that are open. But people have learnt how to enjoy each other again. We can meet our friends for walks, and I have seen so many people do just that. We can meet in parks, and now, when we sit two metres apart on blankets with our friends, we aren’t constantly checking our phones or wishing we were at home watching Netflix. We are genuinely delighted to be together.</div>
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Who knows what is really coming out of this whole situation, but I am seeing community built again in a city that is often called the loneliest city in the world. When I stand in the window of Think to receive the takeaway orders, customers want to have deep talks. A quarter of people in the UK attended a religious service online in the first six weeks of lockdown (up from 6% normally). My neighbours stop and talk when they see me in my front garden. We are building relationships. We are becoming part of one another’s lives, and we are letting people go deep with us. And the real miracle of all is that it’s been sunny and warm now for several weeks, but when you ask people how they are, nobody seems to want to talk about the weather. They’re finally ready to start talking about what matters.</div>
Rorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704863747625967984noreply@blogger.com0