30 Points - This has little to do with the contents of this post

So I've come to the conclusion that I am not a super amazing blogger in the sense that if you were expecting daily updates I have failed tremendously. I guess life here has just interfered with that a bit...so I really can't apologize.

But I must share with you that I have just had a life altering experience a few hours ago...apparently according the official Rummikub rules you only need 30 points to lay down and not 50. I'm still a bit in shock over this and if you have no idea what I'm talking about then you should go to the Munro household at pretty much anytime and you'll discover the reason...I just cannot believe it!!

Anyways I have been battling a cold for the past few days and can thankfully say that I almost 100% better just still slightly stuffy but hopefully that will pass soon. I blame one of the youth for my sickness...it's all his fault...just kidding.

I'm not quite sure where I left off last time so here's the run down of my activities since Friday.

Friday - Okay, I'm not sure if I mentioned this before and if I did I apologize, but about 2 weeks ago during a Wednesday morning prayer meeting and two women walked in for a meeting with a member of our church. The pastor of the church prayed in our meeting that these women would start to attend church there. Immediately after the meeting the church member lead them and said one of the women was looking for a church for her and her family to attend. There are a lot of things I've been praying about for awhile and God's given me the answer of wait. It was encouraging to see a prayer answered so quickly and know that God's timing is perfect. To be reminded He does hear my prayers and answer them. This woman has brought her children to church and came to the prayer meeting herself this past Wednesday. After prayer on Wednesday we were talking and it came up in conversation how she had to take an English test in order to be able to work in Wales (she's originally from Nigeria) and I mentioned how I was studying ESL. We met on Friday morning during the coffee morning outreach. It was neat to be able to see God use something that I didn't think I would be able to use here in Wales to help someone else. Friday afternoon I went to a school with Dottie to do a Bible Explorers program, which is a really fast paced lesson which covers a lot of Bible stories in an hour. It was fun to see the kids, many of whom don't attend church, get so into the telling of the Bible stories. In the evening we had game night with the youth. Cools kids (okay, they're not kids but I refer my friends at school as kids), fun games, and beautiful cookies (chocolate chip and m&m) as they were referred always means good times.

Saturday - Pentrebach Fun Day!! It's like a little caraval, or image a church harvest festival in the summer time with out pumpkins and hay rides. The weather was beautiful and warm - just way this Florida girl likes it. There were so many people and it was just a great time to fellowship and eat some really good food - which reminds me I still have the world's greatest cupcake in the frig to eat. My job at the fun day was to man the knocking of tin cans booth. I never got prizes to give the kids, but the kids just kept paying me money to knock down cans for no prize. They loved it. I would have preferred glueing the cans together myself. But it was fun to see the kids really enjoying themselves. I was exhausted by the time I got back, partly from being sick as well, and I went to bed before 8.

Sunday - I felt horrible in the morning, so I passed up an invitation to go swimming with some of the youth, which made me sad, to go back to the house and rest. I really needed some quality "Caitlin and Jesus Time," too. Let's just say the afternoon was refreshing. God allowed me some needed restoration both spiritually and physically, so that when I did go back to church the evening service I was feeling much better. We went to Coffee Shop, which has nothing to do with coffee or shopping, for a great Bible study and fellowship time with some people from other churches. Again another much needed blessing from God. I love being exposed to the new songs at the church, it was nice to sing a lot familiar ones there. God filled up yesterday when I was beginning to feel I was going dry.

And finally today I ventured with Dottie to Swansea, a city on the coast of Wales, where she had to go for a meeting. Rachel came down sick last night, so unfortunately she was not able to go with us. Please pray she gets better quickly. Following the meeting Dottie took me down to the coast and we walked along the shore for a bit. It was such a beautiful day. I just enjoyed getting to talk to her some and being at the water. I even got some cookies and cream ice cream...but not like I would normally eat it - it had vanilla cookies. It was good, but I do love oreos in it.

So there are the run down of my activities from the last few days. God is teaching me a lot, especially about trusting Him. I was reading in Luke this morning and my mind started to wander to the future. This had nothing to do with what I was reading, but if you know me you know how random and sporadic my mind is. I started thinking as I often do about where I'll be headed after May. I told my mom last night on the phone I'm afraid at the moment to say for certain that I want to do anything or go anywhere in particular because I feel I get so gung-ho about something and will consider no other possiblity and then something changes and I move onto some other idea and the cycle repeats. Right now I just don't where God wants me to go after graduation or even what He wants me to go. For so long I was convinced God was going to bring me back to Lake Placid, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe it is or maybe it isn't. I feel God is bringing me to a place where I will be willing to say yes to wherever He asks me. Am I convinced that I would yes to anywhere? No. But in my learning to trust God I know He will give me the strength. So who knows but Him where life will lead me in a few months.

As for now I'm in Wales in for another month. I pray I make the most of all He gives me here to do.

Grace and Peace!

Ramblings

I'm not really sure what to say...I know a first haha. So I don't really know how this will end up, but I just feel a bit like rambling. So be forewarned I have no idea where this might end up.

On Friday night I had the privilege of playing capture the flag on the hillsides of Wales. Not all of Wales, but I don't remember where - maybe Caerphilly (spelling?). Now I have only ever played capture the flag in a field or a gym...always on flat terrain. However, this was steep and I was in more bushes than I think I ever have been before. I had a blast. I got to hang out with some of the coolest teenagers - except for my brother - who kept me laughing a good deal of the time. My team won, without any help from me.

Saturday I just didn't feel like myself. I can't really explain it, but I felt like I had to force myself to smile and laugh. I wear my emotions on my sleaves, so I definitely am not the best faker. Nothing was wrong. Nothing bad had happened. Even when I got an answer to pray, I just didn't feel the happiness I wish I would have. I have been on such a "high" or as we always called them in youth group a mountaintop experience since coming to Wales, that it was a bit strange for me to feel this way. I haven't felt this way since I was home, so it came as kind of a shock. But I guess it was a reminder of the reality that the enemy will always come to steal, kill and destroy. I have to rely on Jesus alone to bring life and life to the fullest. Life isn't easy. Following Jesus isn't easy. But He never fails, even when I don't understand what He's doing, which tends to be the norm lately.

Sunday, however, lived true to Psalms 30:5 where it says "weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." I felt like a totally different person on Sunday. I taught children's church on Jesus walking on water. And they really like the sheep song...so I just want to be a sheep babababa :) We had a barbeque with the pastor and his family in the afternoon and I ate so much food!! But it was amazing! After the evening service we went with the youth to coffee shop at anther church. I got to speak...and to be honest I didn't have any idea what I was going to say until I got to the church. I didn't want to give my testimony because I had just given it the week before. So I opted to talk about what God has been teaching me about prayer lately, primarily how He is faithful in how He answers and when He answers. I talked about how God gave me excitement for Guatemala and for Wales when I had none. I also talked about He's made me wait on Him for answers on other pray requests. Waiting is my least favorite answer I've decided, but it's definitely helping me to trust Him as I am seeing Him answer in ways I never could have expected.

Today, I got to ring the bells in a church in the town square. I'm sure they sounded horrible but it was a lot of fun. And then I played games this evening with some girls from Ponty, a nearby town, and again I laughed so hard.

I have no idea what tomorrow will bring. Like the rest of my life lately I'm just learning to trust the One who is certain with that which is uncertain.

And I have no idea if any of this made sense...but continued to pray God will fill me with Himself and that I will only be an instrument for Him to use. Pray for the hearts of the kids and youth that they would grow more and more to know the love of Jesus.

Grace and Peace :)

No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets

Well, I am definitely a bit behind on updating this blog. But fear not I am alive and am loving being in Wales more and more each day. So here is a brief (well brief for me) update on the occurrances of the last week...I saw Cyfartha Castle (it was neat but it's more of a mansion like Vizcaya in Miami but build to look like a castle)...rode a train intended for kids but powered by coal...gave my testimony in church on Sunday...visited St. David's cathedral in West Wales - it's about 1500 years old and it beautiful...along with that I visited the Bishop's Palace there and may have extended my tour with Rachel to some blocked off places to get better views haha...went to the beach and it was breathtaking...gathered shells there and Rachel's managed to get 2 with crabs inside of them...ate fish and chips...ate Indian food for the first time and it was marvelous...made friends with a 3-year-old who was stinkin adorable...told the Bible story at Explorers and Kids Zone this week - Joshua fought the battle for Jericho...ate lunch with some of the youth and had dizziest ride of my life on a merry-go-round and ate barbeque from a Chinese resteraunt...had KFC in Wales and went to T.K. Maxx (same as T.J. Maxx)...have been blessed by the musical talents of some of the guys at the church...learned that capo and agape are pronounced different in Wales...and apparently I say good/did/kids weird...I'm sure I've forgotten some stuff but this has been the happenings of my week and tonight I am going to play what I believe is going to be like capture the flag...



Okay, now for what God has really laid upon my heart within the last night. I was asked yesterday by two of the girls if in America we get made fun of or excluded claiming to be a Christian. My answer was no. Maybe it is just me, but to be honest I have always been in a place where it was almost stranger to claim that you weren't a Christian. For the majority of my life I have been around people who said they were Christians regardless of how they lived there lives. For a good portion of my life I claimed to be a Christian despite how I was living. If start to sound like a critic, then I'm sorry...but maybe I'm not. Because I really beginning to believe that to claim Christ means to leave all behind that makes us part of the world. I preach to myself when I say to claim Christ means to be different because I am so often not different in the things that I do, the words that I say, or the thoughts that I think than those who openly say that do not follow Christ.



Last night I was reading in Luke 9:23 where Jesus tells His disciples that "if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." I remember my freshman year of college when I first grasped what Jesus really told His disciples when He told them the cost of following Him. He told them to pick up their cross. For someone to tell you to pick up your cross meant to pick up your death sentence. Jesus told His disciples to follow Him to death. Coming from the environment I come from I sometimes wonder if there is even a cross to pick up anymore. If I continue to live the way I've always lived, continuing to play it safe, never risking anything for call of Christ, then am I truly following Christ. But what if I am willing to risk it all? To say God wherever You want me to go, there I will go. To be willing to be whoever God desires me to be. To live a life which brings glory to God alone.



Tracy Jessup, GWU's campus pastor, gave a message at the Verge not too long ago about William Borden, who despite being a heir to millions of dollars decided to obey the call of Christ on His life to be a missionary. He lived by three key phrases - No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets. My prayer is that I will live to reserve nothing back for God, that I will be willing to give all that I have and all that I am to serve my Savior. My prayer is that I will not retreat from the call of God to live a life that easy, that I would know that to live is Christ but to die is gain. My prayer is that I will live a life without any regrets, knowing I lived a life by God's grace alone worthy of hearing the words, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant."

Am I at a point where I can claim to be living a life of no reserves, no retreats, and no regrets? And this point I would say no...but I pray that by God's grace and power alone I will. I was reminded by a text message this morning that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. On my own I can do nothing. But broken and wretched I can come before the throne of the One who loves me and accepts me though I have nothing truly to offer Him. He wants me just as I am and desires to give me true life in place of what I've been living. And He plays no favorites. He desires us - no matter how wretched and broken and dirty we think we are - He wants us. He longs for us. May my eyes see all people as Christ sees us...as beauty within the broken...as hope within despair...as paid for with a high price...as accepted...

Know you are loved today by the One who gives life and love beyond compare.

Grace and Peace!

The Love of the Creator

I'll keep this one short because I desperately want to shower and go to bed.

The last two days I've been able to see some of God's beautiful creation. Last night the ocean and today on a wonderul - with a slight hint of scarcasm in my voice - 10 mile hike I was able to see gorgeous scenery. Parts of the high actually reminded me of doing the Creeper Trail in Virginia, except quite a bit steeper and rockier in parts. These two things just reminded me of how awesome it is to know that one who created the oceans and the mountains is in love with me. And everyone else. And the even crazier thing is He loves us each individually and no one is loved more or less than anyone else.

So continue to pray that the kids and youth I'm hanging out with this summer come to know the greatness of the love of Christ.

Grace and Peace :)

The Bigger Picture

So last night Rachel and I hosted the first meeting of Club 3:16, a club designed to share Christ with 16-21 years. God laid it on Rachel's heart that there needed to be something in the church for this age group and things fell into place for us to begin meeting last night. We had 5 guys come - two who are Christian and three who are not. In my mind I had envisioned the typical, semi-orderly youth meeting where everyone wants to play the games and quietly listen to what you have to say. No one was disrespectful. To be quite honest everyone was really friendly and nice. But it definitely wasn't what we had planned or desired to see come about. I think we both considered it unsuccessful. But when this was mentioned to Dottie, she said she felt it was very successful. She said the club allowed the boys both Christian and those who yet to become a chance to genuinely interact and fellowship, which they did. Hopefully, these relationships will continue and soon we'll see the other 3 come to know Christ.

But this situation reminded me of how so often I don't/can't/won't see the big picture of what God is doing because I am so caught up in how what I envisioned did not happen. I can think of a certain situation which I have been struggling with for several months now, especially within the last few weeks because what I had envisioned has definitely not occurred. The situation has discouraged me and confused to point where I feel the only thing I can think to say to God is why. However, this club meeting showed me that there is a bigger picture taking place within my life just as there was something bigger taking place last night at Club 3:16. Right now I don't know what that something bigger is, but I do know it's good because God is good. I'm going to be praying that God would help to see His bigger picture in this situation and of course to just trust Him with my life since it is His anyways. I also pray that just because something didn't happen as I planned I won't decide God wasn't at work within it. As Isaiah 55:8 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord."

Oh and here's a snapshot of my day -

• Actually managing to get out of bed and run...it was beautiful weather this morning :)
• Eating a great doughnut in downtown Merthyr.
• Hugs from great kids
• Tag in the field
• Spinning super fast on the round-a-bout
• Being reminded to continuing to pray for various kids and youth, so they'll come to know Christ
• Good walks with great Jesus time on them
• Laughing with precious children
• A near death experience on a swing
• Saying the Pledge of Allegiance way too many times!
• Encouragement (and being grossed out) from an amazing friend
• Being reminded that God is faithful in all things and He is at work in my life. Being reminded of how much He truly loves me is enough to take my breath away

Your prayers are much desired and needed. If you would like specific names to pray for, send me a message. I love you so much!!

Grace and Peace!

Missed Opportunities

My fingers still show the remments of toddlers' paint jobs. This morning I went to the Mother and Toddlers group at the church, where Rachel and I served as just assistants to the craft for the little ones. It was fun...but oh two year olds with paint is always a joy. We were able to have lunch with one the youth before heading to the nursing home where the church has begun doing weeklys services for residents of the home.

At both of these events I was not in charge of doing anything, but rather I was just there to be. I'm not a very good be-er. I would much rather do. But in the mist of being it allows for opportunities to build relationships. And twice today I could felt like I needed to talk with different people, once at the mother/toddler group and at the nursing home, and I didn't. My excuse was always I don't know what to say to them.

This seems to be my excuse a lot. I don't go up and speak to people because I'm afraid I'll say something wrong or my least favorite the awkward silent moments. So I let opportunities pass me by. They slip away and I am left wishing I would have trusted God's leading and stepped out and spoke to the person.

So my prayer request is that I will be faithful to God's leading when it comes to speaking to different people. That I will trust Him to give the words to encourage others when I don't think I know what to say. Pray God would shine through my words. There was one mom this morning who I really felt God wanting me to speak but I didn't out of fear. I don't know why God desired me to speak to her, but He did. So please pray for this young mother and pray for another opportunity to encourage her.

I love you all so much and I'm praying God's blessings upon you all. And thank you all who have been encouraging me via facebook. It means so much to know people are praying for me while I'm over here. You are simply wonderful.

Oh and tomorrow Rachel and I starting a new club for the older youth. Please pray for this club that God would use it to further His kingdom.

Grace and Peace!

Oh, how He loves us ALL

I've been thinking a lot since coming to Wales about the pit God rescued me from. I'm sure most of you who are reading this know I grew up in a Christian home. And I know I was really young, but I can remember the love of Christ in my life as a child. It was so pure and innocent. So sweet and refreshing. It was joy. But the enemy has the ability to rob that joy and soon that love begins to feel like a distant memory.

Third grade was the worst year of my life. If you're reading this and thinking, "Seriously, Caitlin; you were 8. How can that be the worst year of your life?" And it's not that there were not other times that were bad...like 9th grade. But third grade was the year I began to lose that joy. I won't bore you with the details of my tramatic third grade year, but it's enough to say that sometimes those who claim to love Jesus are the ones who can tear us down the most.

I spent the next 10 years playing the Christian game as I like to call it. I knew the right answers to the questions. I could convince different people that I was totally sold out for Christ. But it was a lie. I knew was to say and I knew what to do. I lived in sin. Sinful relationships, but my heart and attitude were where the problem truly lied. When it came down to the heart of the matter I had forgotten my first love and believed the lies that there was something/someone else better.

But there's not. I found myself broken, with the outward appearance of a smile and laughter. However, the great Lover doesn't stop pursuing. He always fights for us. Always brings us to places where He alone can rescue you us. All we have to do is call on Him and He hears us and He answers us. I've seen it in my own life. I've experienced His rescue and known the return of His love.

Okay, so I know the things stated above don't express what I've done in Wales for the last week. They express something I want to ask you all to join with me in praying for the children and youth who I am meeting and have really captured my heart in short time I've known them. I always knew the height of which I had fallen (Revelation 2 - sorry I don't remember the verse but it's in the letter to the church in Ephesus), but a lot of these kids don't. They are growing up in families, in schools, in a society where God and Jesus don't come into play. My heart breaks because at such young ages they are trying to fill the voids with so many worthless and damaging things. My heart breaks because they don't know the awesome love of Christ. They don't know the great joy and peace which come from knowing Christ. But they can. God loves these kids so much. He desires them to know Him. To spend their lifes in warmth of His embrace.

So I ask that you would pray for kids and youth whom I have met and whom I going to meet during my times in Wales. Pray that I would love like Christ loves and I would be an example. Pray the Holy Spirit would give me the words to say and make me aware of opportunities to tell the kids of God's love for them. Pray that their hearts would be opened. Pray for seeds to be planted and for a harvest. There is hope for these kids. There is hope for us all. Being here has reminded me that no one is beyond the saving grace of God. Look around at the people wherever you currently are and remember that God created them and died for their sins as well. Christ paid the price for us all because we were all worth it to God. God loves us and desires us all. So pray for me that I can convey this message, but pray that you too can convey to those around you.

Much love!

There is always HOPE

I don't know if I can remember the last time I laughed as hard as I have today...but it was great.

I am beginning to feel as if I am fitting into things here in Wales. I am starting to get comfortable, which has definitely helped me feel I can open up more. I'm sure some of you reading this might be thinking, "You need help to open up." But sometimes if I'm not fully comfortable in a situation or group I'll clam up. The first few days here I was trying to get acclamated, but now I'm beginning to feel part of things. Which is a definite answer to prayer, so know your prayers are being heard and please continue to lift them up.

This morning I had big intentions to go for a fun. Now the roads near Dottie's house are probably the steepest hills I've seen...that may be a bit a of an exageration. But yesterday while in Merthyr I found a flat path along the river which will be great to run. However, my attempt ended up only being an attempt. Since it is currently 12:40 am I doubt I will be running tomorrow. Hopefully I can get back in the habit, but I am walking a WHOLE LOT so that may be making up for it.

Rachel and I went to the church where some of the members have started a coffee morning outreach. A group from the nursing home down the road attends so it was nice to visit with them and the workers. They were all very sweet. It was also a great chance to fellowship with some the adults in the church, who are all so nice. We also got to spend some time with two boys from the youth group. They are hilarious and have definitely made me feel right at home as I continue to walk into being mocked both at home and now in Wales. I laughed so hard as we compared American and Welsh things and words...oh I had a big slip up. FYI if you visit Wales remove the word fanny from your vocab. Oh and one of the boys is an incredible piano player. He plays all by hear!! I was truly amazed at his gift.

This afternoon Rachel and I went with Dottie to an elementary school in another village where Dottie is teaching a Bible Explorers' course for the next 5 weeks. We went through the book of Genesis today, helping the kids learn signs, dress up in costumes, and read poems to help teach them different Bible stories. It was a lot of fun to see the kids get into it. I don't know how many of these kids go to church, but a lot of them knew a lot of the stories already. I loved how we were able to go into the schools and share this with them.

Afterwards Dottie dropped Rachel and I off in Pentrebach where we met up with kids who we have been spending our afternoons with. They have this merry-go-around thing which has definitely become the afternoon activity. I'm not normally one to get sick, but oh how I get dizzy off this thing. This afternoon I was reminded of the need to be praying for these kids, especially for chances to share Christ with them. Most of them don't know a lot of about Jesus and His amazing love for us. It broke my heart this afternoon as I was reminded that so many people think of Christianity as a set of rules. I truly want to convey how awesome a relationship with Christ is and how it far surpasses a list of dos/don'ts. So please be praying that my relationship with Christ will be evident in all that I say and do.

Several of the youth from Pentrebach and Dottie also attend another youth group called PCY in Pontypridd. Tonight the group was attending a special program in Cardiff Bay on a boat called Logos, which travels around doing mission work throughout the world. There was a special youth program tonight. When we met with the other group in Pontypridd, I rode the bus with kids from the other church. They were so much fun and I really enjoyed chatting with them on the way there. Some of them had gone to Rock Hill back in April and some others were about to go there in 19 days (they're counting). The girls going in 19 days are actually going to get to go to the Appalachia mission trip (the one I went on last summer to Kentucky) while they're over here, which I thought was really awesome. The service was really great. The speaker talked about the awesomeness of God's love for us and the need to share that message with those around us. Inlight of this afternoon it was an encouragement. I sat with a lot of youth of Wales and I was reminded in Christ there is always hope for both believers and non. As a believer I have my hope in Christ alone. And I know that through Christ there is hope of salvation and new life for all people. Nothing is impossible for God. No one is impossible for God.

The way back to Pontypridd I once again rode the bus and it was just a joy to be with the youth. They decided I needed to read Welsh. And well it may look like the same alphabet, but it so isn't! I'm pretty sure it was great source of entertainment for them. We then filled the bus ride with great songs that I've grown up with at church and many new ones. It was just like any youth bus I've ever been on.

Well, it is now 1:00 and I have been invited to an 8-year-olds birthday tomorrow, so I better go and rest up!! I pray that the love of God would cut at your heart as you look for ways to share His love with those around you.

Much love!!

This isn't even the half of it...

Okay so the things running through my mind currently are in a Welsh accent...it entertains me a lot! Who knows maybe I'll even return home with an accent...or maybe not...

After managing to sleep for 15 hours (that may be a record for me) on Wednesday I awoke and went to meet with Matt, the pastor of the church where I'm interning for the summer, along with Rachel and Dottie. Dottie and Matt went over with us a lot of different ministries we would be involved with this summer. A lot of them had been mentioned to me in an e-mail from Dottie a while back, but it was nice to hear some of the things in detail.

Wednesday afternoon was spend at the field and playground with a lot of kids whom Rachel has known for several years because her church comes and does a VBS in late July for the kids of Pentrebach, where we live. Wednesday evening I was able to participate in my first ministry activity, Kidszone, a Bible club for the lower elementary aged students. They were precious. One little girl, Nicole, who is super lively and sweet, dubbed me the "Giant Caitlin" since there is another Caitlin in the club. Coming from her I know she meant with sincerity.

Today, Rachel and I explored Merthyr Tydfil for a bit. It is a quaint town with a decent amount there. We just walked around a bit, but next time we venture there we'll have to go hungry because there are many bakeries with a lot of tasty items. The afternoon was spend fighting with a printer as we tried to print flyers telling the community about activities we have going on. And this evening there were two more clubs, Explorers for upper elementary and Rock Solid for middle schoolers and a little bit older. Both were a lot of fun!

So this blog does not do the justice needed to describe my first two days here, but it would take way too long. I don't quite have the energy for that. Rachel and I walked a good portion of our day - around Merthyr and to the church. I'm a bit worn and I don't feel guilty for any of the candy or cookies I have consumed. But I do want to tell about another answered prayer. Yesterday was I feeling like I was searching for my place among the kids that have already established relationships. And at the beginning of Rock Solid I was still feeling that way. I prayed that God would help me be able to connect with the kids and immediately He answered it. We were playing a game and one of the girls whom I'd been around all afternoon yesterday and today all of a sudden really wanted to be around me. And soon I noticed others were really making me feel apart of their groups. God is so faithful.

Again this blog doesn't do much to describe my last two days to the fullest. But I hope it helps a bit...maybe the next will be more detailed. Oh, but besides the amazing people I am meeting I love the fact that daisies grow on practically every road here. It makes me smile. I hope the simple things in life around you are making you smile as well.

Grace and Peace!

Oh It Wasn't Luck

Though it still feels a bit surreal I have actually arrived at my final destination in Wales. I honestly feel as if I have stepped out into a storybook with the Welsh countryside and little villages. Hopefully, I'll be able to get some pictures up here for you all to see.

The traveling yesterday was rather uneventful, which I am always reminded is typically what you want when traveling. I left LP yesterday morning around 9:30 and made my way to Orlando with my parents. After eating my final American meal (Chick-fil-a) I was taken to the airport, where the gracious airline attendent allowed my overweight bag admittance without any extra fees or rearranging. Upon arrival I met up with both the missionary whom I am living with, Dottie, and the other summer intern, Rachel. Our flight out of Charlotte ended up being delayed so it gave Dottie time to brief Rachel and I on the immigration process since the laws have changed and neither of us were able to obtain visas. We were reminded once again to say were students coming to see the sights and she gave us some ideas of what other questions might be asked of us while going through immigration to get into the U.K. The flight to London was long, but I was able to read some, watch a TV show, and get some much needed sleep.

But arrival into London reminded me once again about the power of prayer and God is faithful in things that He calls us to do for His glory. I had been praying on the plane that God would get us through and I knew many others both in the US and in Wales were praying the same thing. But I have to say that I was rather nervous as we were waiting to be called be the immigration officers. We were called up by a woman who had just opened her booth and the questions immediately began rolling. I still am not convinced we gave her the answered she was looking for, but with a stern warming that next time we needed visas she said it was our lucky day and stamped our passports and let go into the country.

When she said it was our lucky day my mind retuned to something which was said to me on Sunday by a woman at my church. After the service she came up to me and wished me luck on my trip, and then said, "No wait. You don't need luck; you need prayer!" I realized it was not luck which got us into the country, but rather prayer. God hears the prayers of His children. Seeing this prayer be answered excites me about what will take place over the course of the next two months, but it also encourages me to continue to place my hope in Christ because He is faithful in His answers.

Thank you all so much for your prayers. They are cherished more than words can express. And please continue to keep me in your prayers as well as Rachel as we start jumping into things tomorrow. And also please let me know if there are things that I can be praying for about either in LP or wherever you are this summer.

I am stoked about being here. The people who I met so far are simply amazing and I cannot wait to get to know the kids and the youth.

May the love of Christ increase in each of you as you serve Him wherever He has placed you this summer. To Him be all the glory.