Oh, it's a long one

Lately I feel as if I am the queen of good intentions with lack of follow through, so it does not surprise me that the blog which I had desired to post almost two weeks after my Wales Retreat is just now being posted. But I guess it happens...

Two weeks ago I was able to attend to the Wales Retreat in Rock Hill, SC. I joined the other intern, the teams coming to Wales for a week in July, and the short-term missions coordinator and his family for a weekend of training, fellowship, and worship.

I have decided I truly need to quit having imagining what things will be like...because they never turn out the way I imagine. I don't say that as a complaint, but rather as a revelation. I think I would enjoy life a lot more if I would simply allow God to surprise me. Things never turn out the way I imagine them. And God's surprises are always so much better.

Needless to say the weekend was not what I expected, but it turned out to be such a blessing and an encouragement. It focused a lot important aspects for going on a short-term mission trip such as being courteous, being encouraging, and being gracious. But in reality they were things I needed to be reminded of about living life in general. I really love going on mission trips. God always teaches me so much on them, but I often neglect living with the mindset that I am on a mission field regardless of where I am. My prayer is that in light of what I took away from the weekend I will continually strive to live my daily life as if I am on a mission trip. To live the next three weeks in Lake Placid with this mindset.

One of the most encouraging aspects of the weekend, besides meeting so many great people, was when several people who had been to Wales before each gave what they felt were the five most important things to remember when going to Wales. Here is they said:

1. Encourage the youth and show them how knowing Christ is an encouragement.
2. Being an American will cause me to stand out.
3. Establish friendships through Christ.
4. I may not always like what I am served to eat, but be grateful for it.
5. Pray constantly!
6. Pray - it is essential because it is all up to Him. Pray for patience and humility. Pray God is with my attitude.
7. Be filled with the word of God.
8. Be aware of my wits.
9. Embrace the culture...just enjoy being there.
10. Be ready to listen...just be there.
11. Be real! Be myself! Tell how God has worked in my life!
12. Pray for their heats and mine to be open to God.
13. Be patient.
14. Don't make false promises.
    

This list may seem daunting but I know God is with me and through Him I am able :)

Leaving the training I was excited about going, but I left with a big prayer request (however, I belong to an even BIGGER God), which I will get to later in this blog.

As of Sunday night when I returned, however, I still did not have a lot of the specifics of what I would be doing in Wales. I knew I would be living a missionary and working with a church in Pentrebach. Pentrebach is a village in the county Merthyr Tydfil. But that was it.

On Monday (April 27th) I did receive an e-mail from the missionary, Dottie, whom I and the other intern will be living and working with for the summer. Within this e-mail contained a lot of helpful information. She provided us with a schedule of what our weeks will look like while in Wales.
Sunday -
morning - children's church (ages 4-12) before the sermon for about 3-5 children
night - Coffee Shop where both myself and the other intern will likely share our testimony
Tuesday - Mother and Toddler's Group
Wednesday - Morning Prayer Time; Kidzone for ages 4-7
Thursday - Explorers for ages 7-10; Rocksolid for ages 11-16
Friday - Coffee Morning; Youth Group for ages 11-18

On June 27th there will also be a Pentrebach Fun Day which myself and the other intern will be helping with. We will might also be helping out at another church in Merthyr Tydfil and doing other activities with the youth in the church. I am pretty excited about it all :)

Now to the prayer request. I learned at the retreat that myself and the other intern would now be required to obtain a visa to enter Wales to due mission work. Apparently there have been some changes in immigration policies in the U.K. making it hard for people to come without it. The church we will be working with has to apply for to be an approved sponsor and then they had to submit both mine and the other intern's name to get a number. Once they have the number, they'll give it to us and we will then be able to apply for a visa. As of right now we are still awaiting to hear about the churches approval.

Please be praying that God will open the doors and that this situation will be resolved quickly. But more importantly pray that God's would have His name be made great whereever He places me and regardless of what happens that I would trust in Him.

It doesn't surprise me that there is uncertainity surrounding this trip. It seems to be playing a recurring theme in my life lately. I will get more into that in another blog because this one has ended up being quite lengthly. Thanks so sticking with it :)

Remember as you go through your day that you are on a mission field whereever God has placed you and that He is so faithful and full of a great love :)

Grace and peace,
Caitlin