So sorry for not keeping you up to date the past few days. I'm sure you'd prefer me to be doing God's work than spending time writing blogs ;0) please forgive me.
I am writing this from the village internet cafe, drinking luxury hot chocolate and eating rather iffy pastry. Please pray my stomach remains well. I suppose my first prayer point is that parts of Perranporth are flooded!! Please pray for the businesses effected, as well as the impact this could have on the town financially. Perran relies heavily on holiday-maker trade, so a day without this during peak season can make all the difference at this time of year. The good news is that the fire engines are here in force, so I'd imagine all will be well again soon.
The reason I write from the internet cafe is that since we've been back from Katy and Tim's wedding (more later) none of us have had internet access or phone signal. I think God's has planned this so we can focus on Him and not get distracted by things techie. I know I myself am easily distracted and without the lure of the web, I've certainly felt closer to God.
So Katy and Tim's wedding - it was amazing. It was such a privilege to share in their day. Katy and Tim have been coming on beach mission for as many years as we have and are a huge asset to the team. As well as leading groups and keeping us all in hysterics, our children Eleanor and Isaac love them and prefer them as parents for the two weeks we're here. This gives Chris and I time to serve God in other areas, which we've always been grateful for. The wedding was a total blessing. I will never forget Katy hitching up her wedding dress so she could dance more easily during the barn dance (or the slight mishap when Isaac accidentally turned the sound on my phone right in the middle of the vows). It was a great day and the long journey was more than worth it. Please pray for Katy and Tim as they start their married life together. May they be able to mirror God's love for them to each other. Pictures to follow (when I've downloaded them from my camera).
So what has God been doing the past week. There are far too many things to post on here, but it seems God is breaking in to the lives of the children and young people in Perranporth. On Sunday a young person who had never been to church before went along. Please pray this may be the first Sunday of many for this young man..The team were greatly blessed at the church services around the local area. Many were prayed for and used the opportunity to invite folk to the events of this week. May there be a huge a turn out and may the children continue to enjoy reading God's Word on a daily basis and chatting through what it means to love God and have a relationship with Him.
This week also sees the start of a three day course for the young women of Perranporth. The course is called Shine and it invites young women to really find their true value and worth in God the Father. Please pray for those leading the course as well as those coming. May God bless this act of faith and may the young women feel true freedom as they find their identity in Christ.
Also this week the gazebo team are also taking a leap of trust in their Lord and Father. A number of people have been coming along on a regular basis and they've decided to go a bit deeper with a select few. Really getting down to the basics and freeing truths of what it means to be a Christian. Please pray for this new venture, that the people invited will want to journey further with God and that what they hear next week will not be the end. As you can imagine we are really excited about what God's going to do through both adventures. May we give all the glory to God and not let it be about us or what we say, but all about how God speaks to these children of His.
I just want to end by sharing a scripture with you that we have found really helpful:
Isaiah 44:5
Some will say, 'I belong to the LORD'; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand, 'The LORD's,' and will take the name Israel.
This verse was shared during devotions last night. There was a real sense of unity between the team and it felt correct to claim that we are 'The Lord's'.
I will try and be more proactive in blogging this week as we a intentional about asking you to pray for what God is doing in Perranporth this week and into the future. Thank you for your prayers. If you would like to receive texts for pray requests given by team as they talk to people about Jesus or feel they particularly need God for a situation they are in, please email me at admin@perranporth.org.uk and I'll add you to the text alert list. Sometimes the team have been posting on the facebook 360 Team News Group. If you would like to be added to the group, please send a request through facebook. Bless you.
