Catching up

It is hard to believe we have been back in Northern Ireland for three weeks already – where does the time go? We are thoroughly enjoying spending precious time with friends and family, catching up in person rather than via Skype or email.  It has been lovely just to be able to do the things we have missed most, simple things like having a coffee with my sister, collecting our niece and nephew from school, visiting our parents and fellowshipping with our church family in Bangor Elim.

But we are also thinking of our friends and family in Cambodia – the Khmer and International people who have come into our lives in the last nine months.  God has been  amazing bringing people alongside us, some who have been on the mission field for years and years who can advise and encourage and others who are also ‘newbies’ so we can compare experiences and support each other.  We are cherishing every moment with our loved ones in Northern Ireland but we know that God has put Cambodia in our hearts and that is where He wants us to follow the path He is leading us on.

Bangor Elim Eagles

Of course the change in climate we are now experiencing has been a shock to the system so when we leave the house we are well and truly wrapped up. Several people have asked us why on earth we would come home at this time of year but for us there is no better time to be with your loved ones than at Christmas. As well as catching up with friends and family we have been kept busy sharing what God is doing through us in Cambodia with some of the organisations within our church.  We have mentioned in earlier blogs how both of us were involved in Campaigners, a uniformed organisation which David attended until his teens and then both of us were leaders in for many years.  We visited the Eagle clan which I volunteered with until last Christmas and it was really special to spend time with the children and tell them about the boys and girls we have come to know and love and make a difference for good in their lives.  We also visited the older section Inters & Crafts, showing them a DVD of a glimpse of life in Cambodia and David then spoke to the young people about the importance of being missionaries where they are and taking every opportunity to share Jesus with their friends and family.  On Wednesday we were priviledged to attend RAF – Retired and Free – and personally bring an update on the work we are involved in.  RAF meets every month and Emily; their Mission’s Secretary, emails me a few days before they meet and I then reply with a letter giving the recent news from Cambodia. It was precious to spend a few hours with these dear men and women who we know faithfully pray for us every day; we joined them for lunch and enjoyed chatting to them more about some of the experiences we have encountered.

There will be no blog for the next two weeks but we will resume it again in January. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who takes the time to read our blog each week.  We have been so encouraged and touched since we have been home by people telling us how much this is part of their routine reading it at a particular time over the weekend.  Although it is David and I living in the mission field of Cambodia, everyone who supports the work there either prayerfully or financially is a link in the chain of bringing hope to the hopeless, light to the darkness with the goal of winning Cambodia for Christ.

At this point we would like to take this opportunity to personally wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and God’s richest blessings for 2012.

 

 

Shine Your Light

Since we arrived home 2 weeks ago we have heard in church and even youth on Friday night about shining our light and  showing Jesus to the world in which we live in.

The first question I have for you is who lives in your world? Who do you spend your working life with, who in your family do you see the most, in your daily life who are your real true friends? Now pause for a moment, no seriously I want you to stop reading while you think about who of the above is going to a lost eternity if Jesus came back tomorrow.  What about you – would you be going to heaven or hell?

If anyone in these groups of people is not saved then you have no choice but to act immediately. I was able to say to the young people in our church youth group last Friday night that if they choose the easy route by not shining their light to friends and family, then they could be effectively closing the door on the people that they claim to love and care about. If you are saved then you should take every word of this seriously, Jesus is coming back and we as Christians need to start believing this by showing urgency for the lost people in our own worlds.

You might ask how I can do that. I believe we all need to become bold in Christ, we can do nothing for God without his hand of protection around us.  Do you get what that means; God Almighty is protecting us so we should go forth like giants on that thought alone.

I don’t know what church you attend or what country you live in but its Christmas time and most churches will have some sort of carol service in the lead up to Christmas Day.  I dare you to ask a work colleague or family member or that friend that always goads you about your faith to come to your Carol service and trust God to really move in their lives.  Look what he has done in your life, where would you be if someone hadn’t cared for you, yes someone stepped out of their comfort zone for you.

Now fellow Bangor Elim friends on Saturday 17^th December at 7.30pm and Sunday 18^th at 6.30pm we are having our Christmas Special “Mission Impossible – God Broke In”.  This is an event not to be missed, we can’t wait but it’s not just a night out for Esther and myself; we will be inviting those we care about that are not yet Christians. Friends this is your chance to bring those you would love to hear about Jesus, don’t miss this opportunity as this is what being a Christian is all about bringing others to Jesus.

In closing I want to let you know that everyone is welcome to come to Mission Impossible, we have been told that it will be two nights to remember.  You don’t need to attend Bangor Elim or go to any church, in fact, if you don’t yet know Jesus you are the VIP’S!  Please come along, we hope to see you there!

for more details check out http://www.bangorelim.com

Reunions

The photographer was a bit shaky with emotion

For those of you who don’t already know we are home in Northern Ireland for Christmas!  Our plane landed in Belfast International Airport on Friday 25th November and as we looked out the window we saw weather we were not used to.  But the rain and wind did not dampen our spirits as we waited with anticipation to make our way into the arrival lounge.  On the other side were my sister Ruth and our niece Jessica, who thought she was there to meet her other auntie flying in from Brighton for the weekend (thank you Rhoda for going along with the surprise).  Butterflies were in our stomach as we had counted down to this moment for quite a while and when we saw Ruth and Jessica we were overjoyed.  The surprise reunion was perfect, Jessica’s face was a picture when she realised it was us she was there to pick up; a mixture of shock and delight.  There were tears all round when we embraced and it was just amazing to be back with those we miss so much.  Andrew came home from school in the afternoon and we were sitting in the kitchen waiting for him.  He burst in, excited to tell his mum about there being no school on Wednesday, and found us sitting there.  He thought Auntie Rhoda was coming for dinner and when he saw us, he said ‘what, what, I’m confused!’ We got up and hugged him and it was only later that we found out he thought I was Auntie Rhoda and couldn’t understand why Uncle David was in his kitchen!

Surprise, surprise Andrew!

The reunions and surprises have continued all week and we know that we are so blessed with wonderful family and friends.  We were thrilled to be able to join our church family on Sunday morning and honoured to be able to share what God is doing through us in Cambodia.  We have been so encouraged and supported during our first missionary term and are eternally grateful for everyone who is part of this great adventure.  We will keep you updated with any mission events where we will have the opportunity to share more about the work in Cambodia.

It has been amazing in this past week to knock at the doors of our friends and family and be welcomed home, to be embraced, share tears of joy and squeals of delight.  David shared with the congregation in Bangor Elim on Sunday the parable of the lost son, who after he had squandered his inheritance, came to his senses and made his way home to his father.  The son was willing to become a servant but his father saw him coming home and welcomed him with open arms and kissed him.  He was the guest of honour at the party and given the best of clothes to wear.  His father rejoiced because his son who was lost had come home.  The story is below, if you have never read or heard it before, please take a few moments and read it now.

Friend, if you are reading this today and you can relate in any way to this story, please make your way home.  If you have been doing your own thing, come to your senses and come home to your Father who loves you and wants to throw a party in heaven for you.  There will be rejoicing not only by your loved ones here but also rejoicing in heaven!

The Parable of the Lost Son

 ¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.  ¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.   ¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.  “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  ²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  ²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.