Hello friends on the intarwebs! Thanks for checking out this blog.
This last week has been a mixture of sentimentality, spirituality, and sweat.
Recap: Saturday we went to Stirling and saw the historic throne of Scotland and the multi-storied, spiral staircased Wallace Monument. Sunday, I went to two church services and met Stuart Weir and his wife Esther. Mosaic church was a meal and talking about the intersection of film and spirituality. Their focus is to reach modern people through the media that they connect with. Next we went to Re:Hope. I was slightly judgemental at first, then the truthful message about unity in Ephesians 4 completely blew my initial thoughts away. I loved hearing about the pastor's faithful and inspiring journey of starting a church in Glasgow.
This week we started working at Glasgow's Child and Family Center doing manual labor. It was a nice change of pace and fond memories flooded my mind of working in Brazil three years ago. Yesterday we had a strenuous day of digging through six unexpected layers of brick under a layer of concrete and rubber in order to dig a trench for a sewage pipe. Little did we know that directly under our noses was a pipe that was covered for over 20 years that was nowhere to be found in the buildings original plans. This pipe was exactly the pipe that we were trying to build already laid in the ground. The chances that the solution we were working so hard to accomplish ourselves was already accomplished in the exact spot that we needed. The work was done for us. It seems too good to be true, but amazingly it is. I can only accept this as a gift from God. Although we spent most of the day digging five feet deep of brick and clay, without first finding what was below the earth, we would never have known about the blessing. Jerred saw how this relates to the Christian experience. We prepare for the worst, bleed and sweat digging in one place when the answer is just under our nose. God's blessing and wisdom is right there waiting for us though we strenuously search in the wrong place. When we find it, it is exciting and makes so much sense but we never would have found it without the hard work.
This is a gift because our time can be used for more things and the CEO of the Glasgow City Mission gets to spend time with his family this weekend. Our team can focus on the things that we need to before leaving.The most powerful person at the mission is covered in mud, sweating in the rain with us, a perfect example of the first being last. Robert, who singlehandedly makes up the maintenence department at the mission, was directing us as well. He has an amazing story of how he came to Christ, overcame an earthly life, redeemed his status as a father, and came to work at the Mission. He is a joy to work with and keeps us laughing.
Its funny how in the last week before we leave I finally feel more confident and comfortable with Glasgow as a city, the mission and its staff, volunteers, and clients. I feel ten times more effective than when I started. I found people to invest in and feel the Spirit leading me to pray for specific people. Leaving reminds me that all good things must come to an end, it's dangerous to become comfortable, and it's time to apply what we have learned at home in Denver.
Thanks for reading about how God has been blessing us even in our last days in Scotland! I'll leave you with this verse from Deuteronomy 6: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on yhour children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
We are praying for rain and safety for families in Colorado!
In Christ,
Ethan Sares
29 June 2012
28 June 2012
Govan!
Hey friends!
Today we began our work project at the Child & Family Center of Glasgow City Mission in the Govan neighbourhood of Glasgow1: We are switching an office for a bathroom and vice-versa! To this end, we broke into 3 teams with a few of us helping dismantle the bathroom, another cleaning out the office and drilling, chiseling, and pickaxing a hole through a double layer brick wall, and the final team digging a trench for the drainage pipe. Andrew & Robert were the Mission staff overseeing us and it was glorious!
I came to love Robert last year when we worked in Govan, Randell and I hearing his story and his infectious laugh and humor and this year is no different! It is so good to get time to work with him and Andrew as well. I've known Andrew since I met him at Lodging House Mission back in 2007 but I believe this year is the most I've been able to work with him and He is wonderful!
Doing physical work projects is much different than most of what we've done so far this trip bit it is nice to see a task completed. Feeling the pickaxe break through the brick and looking up at the wall that's just been taken out per request is a good feeling. And, as a leader, seeing my team working together to accomplish these projects whole singing, chatting, and laughing together is such an amazing gift.
Tonight, Stuart Gilmour, Graeme Watt, and Jason Crispin came into town to hang out which was a blast! The night covered serious conversations and times you couldn't stop laughing and everything in between. This trip has been amazing as we've had the chance to build so many dear friendships! God has been so good to us :)
Ben Mercer
Today we began our work project at the Child & Family Center of Glasgow City Mission in the Govan neighbourhood of Glasgow1: We are switching an office for a bathroom and vice-versa! To this end, we broke into 3 teams with a few of us helping dismantle the bathroom, another cleaning out the office and drilling, chiseling, and pickaxing a hole through a double layer brick wall, and the final team digging a trench for the drainage pipe. Andrew & Robert were the Mission staff overseeing us and it was glorious!
I came to love Robert last year when we worked in Govan, Randell and I hearing his story and his infectious laugh and humor and this year is no different! It is so good to get time to work with him and Andrew as well. I've known Andrew since I met him at Lodging House Mission back in 2007 but I believe this year is the most I've been able to work with him and He is wonderful!
Doing physical work projects is much different than most of what we've done so far this trip bit it is nice to see a task completed. Feeling the pickaxe break through the brick and looking up at the wall that's just been taken out per request is a good feeling. And, as a leader, seeing my team working together to accomplish these projects whole singing, chatting, and laughing together is such an amazing gift.
Tonight, Stuart Gilmour, Graeme Watt, and Jason Crispin came into town to hang out which was a blast! The night covered serious conversations and times you couldn't stop laughing and everything in between. This trip has been amazing as we've had the chance to build so many dear friendships! God has been so good to us :)
Ben Mercer
27 June 2012
Bitter-Sweet
Hello everyone!
This is Jerred.
I hope that all is well.
I'm just going to give you a little bit of a recap of my day...
After devotions this morning, we headed over to the City Mission. As soon as we arrived at the mission, I began helping get things ready for URBAN. This is one of the duties that we've all come to be fairly familiar with. I headed downstairs when URBAN began to take part in the over 40 men's club. How well you know me will determine how surprised you may be to know that this club has possibly been my favorite club to be in. (Just to give you a little insight, I have been tagged the "old man" of the group.) After the little piece of heaven that the over 40 men's club is, I, along with Katie and Chad, attended Life Group. Life Group is a church service that happens at the City Mission. This time was truly amazing. Between the worship, prayer, openness, encouragement, teaching, and discussion that took place, I can honestly say that the Spirit of God was present. After church, we headed to a local pub to meet with the rest of the group and Stephen, an American friend of ours who volunteers at the mission on Wednesday evenings. It was good to get this time to sit, eat, and be able to talk with him about his ministry here as well as tell him more about Scum. We pretty much left the pub and went straight to the mission to begin preparing for the evening drop-in. The evening drop-in has consistently been one of the high points of all of my days that we work it. It is simply something that I thoroughly enjoy no matter what role I have on any specific night. After the drop-in, we met as a team to talk about our days with each other. Now, I'm blogging. It's currently 12:15 am on Thursday morning.
As awesome as today was, it had a little bit of a bitter-sweet feel. Today was the last day that we were scheduled to work at the mission during the clubs that take place in the afternoons. Pretty much all day long, the thought of this was in the back and sometimes the front of my mind. It makes me sad that our time here is coming close to its end. Regardless of these feeling of sadness, I feel overwhelmingly blessed to have been a part of the clubs at the mission over the past few weeks.
Please pray for us as we have to say our goodbyes.
I love you all.
In Jesus,
Jerred Olen Powell
This is Jerred.
I hope that all is well.
I'm just going to give you a little bit of a recap of my day...
After devotions this morning, we headed over to the City Mission. As soon as we arrived at the mission, I began helping get things ready for URBAN. This is one of the duties that we've all come to be fairly familiar with. I headed downstairs when URBAN began to take part in the over 40 men's club. How well you know me will determine how surprised you may be to know that this club has possibly been my favorite club to be in. (Just to give you a little insight, I have been tagged the "old man" of the group.) After the little piece of heaven that the over 40 men's club is, I, along with Katie and Chad, attended Life Group. Life Group is a church service that happens at the City Mission. This time was truly amazing. Between the worship, prayer, openness, encouragement, teaching, and discussion that took place, I can honestly say that the Spirit of God was present. After church, we headed to a local pub to meet with the rest of the group and Stephen, an American friend of ours who volunteers at the mission on Wednesday evenings. It was good to get this time to sit, eat, and be able to talk with him about his ministry here as well as tell him more about Scum. We pretty much left the pub and went straight to the mission to begin preparing for the evening drop-in. The evening drop-in has consistently been one of the high points of all of my days that we work it. It is simply something that I thoroughly enjoy no matter what role I have on any specific night. After the drop-in, we met as a team to talk about our days with each other. Now, I'm blogging. It's currently 12:15 am on Thursday morning.
As awesome as today was, it had a little bit of a bitter-sweet feel. Today was the last day that we were scheduled to work at the mission during the clubs that take place in the afternoons. Pretty much all day long, the thought of this was in the back and sometimes the front of my mind. It makes me sad that our time here is coming close to its end. Regardless of these feeling of sadness, I feel overwhelmingly blessed to have been a part of the clubs at the mission over the past few weeks.
Please pray for us as we have to say our goodbyes.
I love you all.
In Jesus,
Jerred Olen Powell
26 June 2012
Some photos from our journey...
Hi all! Katie here, again. I wanted to share some photos I have taken so far from our time here in Glasgow and maybe just say a few words about each one. Hope you enjoy!!
A typical day in Glasgow. Most of us actually love the weather here!
Watching a Christian video during the ladies' bible study with some of clients. This has been one of my favorite activities at the mission.
Me and Julie, a volunteer at the mission. She's awesome!!
Some of the ladies (volunteers and clients) during the dinner service, which is separated from the men who eat downstairs. I have really enjoyed serving and connecting here as well.
Me and one of the clients. Such a sweet person!
Building gazebos for a local festival that Glasgow Mosaic Church participates in and helps out with.
Chad chatting up some of the ladies after church at Carbrain Baptist Church in Cumbernauld, where some of our friends (Stuart and Graeme) have attended and lead worship and preach sometimes.
Clients watching a video during the Christianity Explored class after the young men's club at the mission.
During a church service held mid-week at the mission. It's one of our favorite activities to attend! The clients and volunteers share a time of praise & worship and hearing a message and getting to ask questions about the Bible and Christianity.
During church at Glasgow Mosaic where we attend each
weekend and have gottten to know a wonderfully diverse congregation of people.
It is such a blessing to be welcomed there.
Cooking class at the mission, peeling potatoes. Not my forte, but we tried our best :)
Jerred connecting with some of the clients during the Urban activity at the mission. It's a time where clients can come in and chat, use the computers, the gym, have some coffee/tea and a snack.
Cooking class at the mission, peeling potatoes. Not my forte, but we tried our best :)
Jerred connecting with some of the clients during the Urban activity at the mission. It's a time where clients can come in and chat, use the computers, the gym, have some coffee/tea and a snack.
Hope this helps give you all a bit more perspective on the daily and weekly activities that we get to participate in. Really eveything we are commited to has been a huge blessing and God is so present both at the mission and the churches we attend. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers and for keeping up with our adventures. We love you all!
with much love, Katie aka Eagleslayer :)
25 June 2012
Well what to say
Hello in blog land... What to say? Life and God have been amazing here, but there is a feeling of it coming to an end. This is a little tough to deal with. We are entering our last full week here, and all ready we are starting the goodbyes. It is tough starting to build relationships with everyone over here, to only have to leave. But we must return home and use what God has shown us in our everyday lives, and at our church.
Well but a quick recap for you, Sat we went to Stirling Castle. It was great seeing some of the history of this nation. We happen to be at the castle on the 698th aniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn. A key vitory during for the Scots in thier war for independance. It also took place within view of the Castle. We also made it to the Wallace Monument. Then we headed back to Glasgow. Some took the rest of the day and watched Brave Heart, but Ethan and I went to see Angles Share with Graeme. This is a movie that was shot in Glasgow, and is about several Glaswegians. In the adds for the film they hail it as the Scotish Full Monty. It is a good film but be prepared for heavy accents. Well its getting late and I need to get to bed, thanks for reading
Well but a quick recap for you, Sat we went to Stirling Castle. It was great seeing some of the history of this nation. We happen to be at the castle on the 698th aniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn. A key vitory during for the Scots in thier war for independance. It also took place within view of the Castle. We also made it to the Wallace Monument. Then we headed back to Glasgow. Some took the rest of the day and watched Brave Heart, but Ethan and I went to see Angles Share with Graeme. This is a movie that was shot in Glasgow, and is about several Glaswegians. In the adds for the film they hail it as the Scotish Full Monty. It is a good film but be prepared for heavy accents. Well its getting late and I need to get to bed, thanks for reading
22 June 2012
There and Back Again - A Scum Tale
There were so many high points from last week. The first was Lindsey's baptism. I have only know her for about a week and a half but I already know part of her story and how passionately she pursues Jesus. Seeing a baptism is always beautiful when it is a genuine promise to the Lord before the body of Christ to forever love and serve him because of His sacrifice.
The next morning, Monday, a long term volunteer, Robin, took us to the south side. Chad wrote about it a little in his last post. I just want to reiterate how loved and served Chad, Jerred, and I felt. It was true foot washing that Robin did for us showing us around the city, feeding us, and introducing us to friends. He truly intended for us to have a heavenly day. We also saw Highland cows! If all the cows had a fashion contest, this cow would win. They're so fuzzy!
We left for Iona the next day. We traveled for 8 hours but it was totally worth it. Iona is a paradise. There isn't a lot going on and completely remote from any concept of the city. Sometimes we desire an escape in a world outside our own, to a fantasy world. I think we forget how truly beautiful, wonderful, and intriguing God made the world that we live in. There is really no place like Iona. It's green with plenty of rocks, sea all around, and wee sheepies! That night I ate the best meal of my life. I tasted and saw that the Lord is good! We ate like kings, celebrated, and laughed - a perfect symbol of how much God cares for us. The next day, I spent 6 hours wandering the island alone in silence, searching for Jesus Christ. Being honest with myself and God about my doubts was freeing and humbling. I tirelessly searched for him, walking and running the perimeter of the island. It has been a long time since I felt that rested and spiritually sound though I still have many questions for my Lord.
We traveled back and met two strangers on the bus and ferry. We talked extensively and played games. I hope we exemplified Christ in our interactions.
Today was long. Between devotions, Art in the morning, Internationals in the afternoon, organizing tins in the store room, the evening meal, and debrief, we worked for 15 hours. I am sufficiently exhausted but it was so worth it. I shared a message along with part of my story with the women for the evening meal. God truly feeds us when we share our story and the great mercy of Jesus Christ.
Cheers!
-Ethan Sares-
P.S. if you ever decide to grow out your hair and beard, be prepared to be compared by strangers to all iconic people that possess these features including Solid Snake, Jesus, Che, Georgios Samaras, David Grohl, etc.
The next morning, Monday, a long term volunteer, Robin, took us to the south side. Chad wrote about it a little in his last post. I just want to reiterate how loved and served Chad, Jerred, and I felt. It was true foot washing that Robin did for us showing us around the city, feeding us, and introducing us to friends. He truly intended for us to have a heavenly day. We also saw Highland cows! If all the cows had a fashion contest, this cow would win. They're so fuzzy!
We left for Iona the next day. We traveled for 8 hours but it was totally worth it. Iona is a paradise. There isn't a lot going on and completely remote from any concept of the city. Sometimes we desire an escape in a world outside our own, to a fantasy world. I think we forget how truly beautiful, wonderful, and intriguing God made the world that we live in. There is really no place like Iona. It's green with plenty of rocks, sea all around, and wee sheepies! That night I ate the best meal of my life. I tasted and saw that the Lord is good! We ate like kings, celebrated, and laughed - a perfect symbol of how much God cares for us. The next day, I spent 6 hours wandering the island alone in silence, searching for Jesus Christ. Being honest with myself and God about my doubts was freeing and humbling. I tirelessly searched for him, walking and running the perimeter of the island. It has been a long time since I felt that rested and spiritually sound though I still have many questions for my Lord.
We traveled back and met two strangers on the bus and ferry. We talked extensively and played games. I hope we exemplified Christ in our interactions.
Today was long. Between devotions, Art in the morning, Internationals in the afternoon, organizing tins in the store room, the evening meal, and debrief, we worked for 15 hours. I am sufficiently exhausted but it was so worth it. I shared a message along with part of my story with the women for the evening meal. God truly feeds us when we share our story and the great mercy of Jesus Christ.
Cheers!
-Ethan Sares-
P.S. if you ever decide to grow out your hair and beard, be prepared to be compared by strangers to all iconic people that possess these features including Solid Snake, Jesus, Che, Georgios Samaras, David Grohl, etc.
Thin Places
The following is something that I wrote down Wednesday morning while on the Isle of Iona:
"The views of God's creation are stunning from the top of Dun I, or rather anywhere on Iona. The hike up was more strenuous than I had expected, but it was worth every breath. It's easy from here to see God's creation because it is so obvious. I can see the sea, the islands, the mountains, the rocks, the beaches, the sky. This could not have been an accident or have happened merely by chance. Yet sitting here, I catch myself looking at the small insects crawling on the ground, the grass blowing in the strong wind gusts, the small flowers from moss on the rocks. This too is God's creation! Why do I need to be in a place like Iona to be reminded of the beauty to be found in all of God's creation? Every place in my life should be a thin place."
I want to challenge you to see beauty in things that you may often overlook.
I love you all.
In Jesus,
Jerred Olen Powell
"The views of God's creation are stunning from the top of Dun I, or rather anywhere on Iona. The hike up was more strenuous than I had expected, but it was worth every breath. It's easy from here to see God's creation because it is so obvious. I can see the sea, the islands, the mountains, the rocks, the beaches, the sky. This could not have been an accident or have happened merely by chance. Yet sitting here, I catch myself looking at the small insects crawling on the ground, the grass blowing in the strong wind gusts, the small flowers from moss on the rocks. This too is God's creation! Why do I need to be in a place like Iona to be reminded of the beauty to be found in all of God's creation? Every place in my life should be a thin place."
I want to challenge you to see beauty in things that you may often overlook.
I love you all.
In Jesus,
Jerred Olen Powell
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