Hey everyone here’s the next installment. Sorry I haven’t blogged in a while, I have been lazy with it. But hopefully the couple of emails that were sent out to a couple of people have circulated and you have a little idea of where I am and what I have been doing.
So on the 30th of March we went from Herbert Saskatchewan in Canada and road tripped out to Calgary where Me, Dan, Dan, Tim, Paul and JJ caught our flight to London. Josh, Joel, Cody had woken up at 5 or 6 to get to Regina in time for their flight to Calgary where we met up with them. It was the wonderful Polly Erb who drove them to Regina where they found out that they could actually catch the flight in Calgary without copping a $200 fine. Dave was on the same flight as these guys – that is an air Canada flight. He was going to cop the fine but then it was discovered that he was not going to. Originally it was that Josh Joel and Cody were going to come to Calgary with all of us as decided when the flight was originally booked as they were told by an air Canada representative that they could miss the first leg of the journey from Regina to Calgary without any hassle. Fortunately she also told them to ring up and check the night before to confirm everything. It was at this point that Josh called them and was told that they could not in fact catch the flight in Calgary and miss the Regina leg. This was due to fact that when they miss the flight they would then be deleted from the booking. Then another phone call later they were told that they would cop the $200 fine. Then they arrived there and told that Dave could get on without the fine. Was an intense situation at one point, and frustrating the entire time. As the whole reason Dave is on the team is because he was going to come to Kenya. For him to miss the trip would have been unthinkable for we have all become really close with Dave and his presence is always a positive and an encouraging one.
I was on my own for this flight as I was flying BA where as the others were Zoom, and as I mentioned before Dave, Cody, Josh and Joel were Air Canada.
So there I arrive in London Heathrow collect bags and head out to the (what would you call it?) the waiting area. Then stood for about 20 minutes and then am finally greeted by Dave – one of the pastors of Soul Survivor church Watford. Greeted me with a wonderful smile and a warm greeting – not common among the English (such a grumpy bunch) – and then we headed over to terminal 2 to get Dave, Josh, Cody and Joel. Then into the car and off to Soul Survivor church Watford! Never thought I would be there that’s for sure. The rest of the guys arrived about an hour later. Their flight went to Gatwick so they didn’t get picked up but took the tube and then Dan and Dan got picked up by Adam the Youth Pastor (legend by the way) and the others walked as they went straight past Adam before he got the call to pick up a bunch of 18 year olds with backpacks and suitcases.
That night we went to the little youth event for just the Watford group which is there to create community among the local youth. That was a great night. It was a nice change from a community that doesn’t believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit to one that is so well practiced in them. We prayed for them that night as Josh challenged them not to be comfortable. They responded so well to the challenge.
When all said and done we settled in and cooked dinner and such and had a good night’s rest.
The coming days were eventful.
There was a Soul Sista event on Saturday which meant the exit of the Soul Edge group to make way for the ladies. But we were back to put everything away. Which led to my conversation with the amazing Beth. She ended up telling me that Lucinda was coming the London and would in fact be here tonight. Lucinda didn’t end up coming that night. But I did get to catch up and talk on Sunday. That was great for i’ twas very encouraging and exciting to see someone from home.
Sunday evening was spent with what are known in England as Chavs. They have short hair and wear tracksuits. They are generally nice guys and girls but when they get bored they begin to start getting themselves into trouble. They are all about 13 to 18 years old, and are not unique to England for there are a lot of people like this in Australia but we just don’t label them as such. That night was challenging for it required talking to people who I had no idea how to sustain a conversation with. Fortunately God was graceful and allowed situations to arise where I could hang out with these guys for the night while the evening service was running. I actually managed to duck in and visit during the sermon which Si was giving. Sounded great from what I heard. Stuff on fear of God and obedience.
On Monday a lot of the guys went home while me Dan, Josh and Joel remained in Watford to do some painting. So if you ever visit Soul Survivor church in Watford go and check out the café area for it is the handiwork of these four Soul Edge boys. Oh and I must not forget Dave the one who picked me and the leaders up from the airport for he did the marvelous wallpaper and chose the colors that we painted with.
Monday night was prophetic worship night which was fantastic. Just like the ones that we did in Herbert this was a great time for God to do what he wanted how he wanted without any preconceived ideas or routines from people. Hence at points the Spirit led worship was banging around with full volume, up beat worship music and then at points there was silence for extended periods. God really moved me in this time. I went from almost burning out and God really working on my heart to relieved and filled up and refreshed through the work of His Spirit through my heart mind and soul. I would discover throughout the coming week what it was God was doing in me – developing a soft and kind heart with compassion for those in bondage.
Tuesday morning the staff of Soul Survivor church came and cooked us breakfast. And if they didn’t they sat down and joined us for this wonderful meal. Hence, myself, JJ, Dan D, Josh and Joel were all very blessed by their service. So during breakfast I sat back and chatted with Josh, Joel, Ali, Dan, JJ and a couple other amazing members of staff whom I shamefully cannot remember the names of. Great chat, great company and wonderful home cooked meal. That morning they also prayed for us further blessing us through prophetic words of encouragement and prayers of blessing.
Then it was back to work on the cafeteria. Finishing off the paint job and it pulling off some of the masking tape. I finally got to meet the infamous Fidelic. Lived in Herbert for a while with the Erb’s and is now located in England. Left many a story in Herbert. Great guy and really on fire for God, very glad I got to meet him.
That night we went over to Adam’s house to meet some of the guys from his cell group to encourage and pray for them. This was a really cool night where everyone shared their testimonies as to how they came to Christ and their story up till now. This was an opportunity to impart wisdom and encouragementto these guys and to also get an understanding of who they are and where they are at. We then prayed for them and here came to an understanding of what God is calling these guys to. He really does have his hand on their lives calling them into working for the furthering of his kingdom. Was a really good night.
Wednesday. This day we headed off to the ministries office to say hi to the people there. Quite simple really. But naturally it turned into a little adventure. We met up with Si there and eventually headed off to help a friend of a friend move his stuff from his old apartment to a place of temporary accommodation. He was unfortunately not able to be present so we didn’t get to meet him but it was cool to bless someone in this way. When this was all said and done it was back to work on the cafeteria. Again I got the opportunity to hang out with Jesse for he was kind enough to help us out with the paint job. That night was also cell group night. So me Dan and JJ stayed in the warehouse and waited for Jonny and Craig’s cell group to rock up. They did and we sat back and watched a film. T’was a good night to chill and hang out with some of the youth at SS. This was also the night of Dave and Paul’s return.
Thursday saw us going to the ministries office again but this time to clean out the dungeon. This is the store room of Soul Survivor ministries that becomes a bit chaotic after each Soul Survivor for people are so tired, exhausted that (and understandably) they cannot be bothered to put everything back into a neat nice organized way. So every year someone has to organize it again. This year it was us. Wasn’t that bad, mind you we did get bored at one point so they put me in a cage on wheels and threw me into a big pylon that was part of holding the building up. After the dungeon saga we headed down to the wishing well and had some wonderful Thai food. T’was a good lunch. that was virtually the day.
Friday. What a day. Had the Good Friday service in the morning and that was good to have another SS church service to go to before we left for Kenya. Mike was finally back, so it was good to see him – he’s always a lot of fun. So after the music and before the sermon he gets us up and introduces us to the congregation. We tell stories – 2 – of snow camping in -18 and our trip to Pelican Narrows which I believe I am yet to properly inform you of. I hope to get around to doing that. Then he gets the congregation to pray for us which is always an encouraging thing for people to do for you. After the service we headed over to the Southern Cross Pub for lunch with a lot of people from church. I was continually informed by the English guys that I must have some English Fish and Chips. I did and they were lousy. The ones you get at the football are amazing – a hundred times better than the ones I got. But it’s ok, it’s not like it ruined my day. After this it was going to be onto the city of London with Josh and Joel but I just was not in a fantastic mood where I wanted to go walking miles to see something that I just would not be enjoying all that much. Another time I shall be able to give it the credit it is due. So instead it was onto the park to hang out and play some ultimate Frisbee. This was a lot of fun especially since it was one of the few days in the English year that you get sunshine. So this was an enjoyable day.
Saturday!!! Wooo! Spent the day hanging out with Mike. This was fun. Here’s something you may not know about Mike. He does a mean barbeque. Absolutely amazing cook. So from 12 noon we were just hanging out and chatting about the course, Soul Survivor, what was to come and the worldwide church amongst other things of course. We then prayed together of course and prayed for Mike. When we headed back to SS Josh and Joel stayed back to hang out and catch up with Mike. So the rest of us hung out at SS and then that night Me, Dave, Paul, Dan D, JJ headed over to the ministries office to collect JJ’s jacket and Bible. When me Paul, and JJ were initially headed over we saw Dan and Dave outside and invited them to come with us, and when the question arose as to where we were going and why Paul answered to the ministries office because they were having a party to send us off and to wish us well thus totally fooling Dan and Dave. But it turned out to eb much more than a trip to pick up JJ’s stuff. Dan ended up using the opportunity to print off a scanned email of his proof of the yellow fever inoculation. I then used it to check emails and such while chatting to Ben Cantelon as he was staying back late to work on some stuff for Soul Survivor Sydney. It was actually his worship seminar that he was going to do at Sydney and Melbourne. I helped him out a little and gave him some tips; you know he’s a bit inexperienced, he hasn’t done this before so I thought I could extend some grace and help him out…. (lets make this clear – that was a joke. But it was cool to hang out with Ben for a bit. Really cool guy.) We headed back but the night was not over yet! No not by a long shot… We had a bit of a midnight feast. Roasted pork and potatoes that we ate at midnight. Bit of a laugh and a bit of fun.
Sunday was the trip off to Kenya. Really sad to be leaving Watford, by the end I was becoming attached to the place and really enjoying my time there at this wonderful church and country. But it was time to go.
So we arrive in Kenya on Easter Sunday and are still here in Nairobi but about to leave for Mt Kenya soon – Tuesday that is – then come back for a night and will then make the 7 hour drive onto Kitale a city north of Nairobi the next day. There we will finally get to see Daniel and Marlies. Daniel for the second time, Marlies the first.
The time here in Kenya has been amazing. We have been staying in a flat at Trinity College on the grounds of St. Stephens Cathedral is. From Tuesday to Friday we were running a kids holiday program. This was a really good time to do all that we could to impart the love of Jesus Christ into their lives. I believe we did that. I believe we really changed some lives during that time. Some kids were truly impacted by what they were taught and shown through those 4 days. The agenda was songs to start off. Then split up into groups with two leaders each where we played games with them for the next while and then brought them back for tea time and then tea time while the leaders all got to chill out for a little bit. We then got ready for the little skit that we then performed for the kids. We did the story of Jonah the first day, then Gideon, then Shaderak, Meeshak and Abedneego, then Jesus. After each of the skits we sat down and took the attention of 10 to 20 kids each and then discussed the skit with them trying to really give them something to go away with and learn from the story. Then games and then we sent them home. This went from 8 to 12 each morning for 4 days and by the end we were all a little pooped.
Then from Monday to Friday it was painting two buildings and the classrooms located in those buildings. This was a test of patience and perseverance. We had to push on through things going wrong such as wrong colors, changing colors in rooms, and mess galore. People falling off chairs while having paintbrush and full paint bucket in hand. Paint in the eyes as you paint the ceiling, people almost falling off ladders (big ladder), and having to go over and touch up everything after it has been painted as painting has spilled onto them. But it got done – it’s completed and the building and classrooms now look spectacular.
Oh and mozzie bites everywhere. No one has escaped their wrath.
So things are looking good at the moment. Currently it is just me, JJ and Dan G here at the moment. The others are out in the city which we have all visited a couple of times including on the 16th of April which was nice for JJ as it was his birthday. He finally both turned 18. A couple more b’days are coming up actually. Both Dans. Davison is turning 19, and Grant is turning 20. Very exciting.
Well I think that’s about it to date.
Signing off,
Tim.
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