Off and Running

Hi friends!!

Thanks for checking in on us. We're still trying to work out the kinks with our Internet access, and while we are hopeful, I can guarantee loads of posts. But we're trying!!

As in the past, we've hit the ground running this week!! We started with dinner on Saturday evening at one of the local restaurants, the Havelock. We've really come to love this restaurant over the years and Andy, the owner is quite gracious to us as he will keep the kitchen open a little later in order to accommodate us as we arrive in the late evening after traveling for a 19 hours.

Following dinner, we headed back to the Granary at Kilravock Castle, where we are staying this year. As much fun as it was to stay in the community of Nairn last year as we stayed with families and in the old church manse, it's really quite nice to have the whole team in one place where we can meet and review the day and take the opportunity to fellowship and pray with one another.

Sunday started with worship at the Nairn Free Church. It was a great time of worship and fellowship with dear friends. Mud brought the sermon from the book of Numbers and spoke about being faithful to the work and mission that the Lord has called you to, even when the world looks at you and laughs and calls you stupid. It was really an encouraging and uplifting sermon as we were embarking on a week of service that the world sees as foolish. Sunday service was followed by fellowship and lunch with the congregation. The food and fellowship was absolutely delightful. Sunday evening was spent in worship again with the free church congregation and it was great seeing all of our friends so much on Sunday and having the opportunity to catch up on the things that are happening in Nairn and Smithton.

While 10 of us were worshiping at the Free Church, Sir James McDonald was extended an invitation and asked to speak briefly to the congregation of the United Reformed Church about the holiday club and the mission team that comes over. The holiday club is such an event in this town each summer and it truly is a community effort. What occurs here each summer is such a beautiful picture of the entire community and separate bodies of believers coming together as one body of Christ to share the Gospel with the children of the town. The URC congregation has agreed to send over two of their members, Susan and Katie Henderson (mother and daughter), to Memphis so that they can see how VBS works at our church and how other aspects of our Children's ministries run. It's really an exciting side road that has come about as a result of IPC's faithfulness to the community of Nairn and the mission here. We are so looking forward to having them next summer and returning the hospitality to them.

Today was the first day for holiday club and it was absolutely brilliant. We had about 50 kids. It was a great time of talking with kids about how Jesus is different from all other humans. We played games, sang songs, and had a great time of teaching and fellowship. Mud scripted the drama and it went flawlessly as our team members and the teen helpers jumped into playing their roles. We're just wrapping up an afternoon of crafts and sports where we've had about 30 kids hanging out making crafts and playing ultimate frisbee.

I cannot say enough how much we covet your prayers. Please be pray for this town, for these kids, and for this club this week. Please, please pray that the hearts of these kids would be softened and receptive to the Gospel. Pray that they would come to know Jesus as their savior and that a generation of Christians would be raised up in this place. Pray also for the volunteers here. Pray that they would have the energy to continue the ministry to these kids throughout the year. Pray that the Spirit would fill this place and that hearts would be touched and lives changed. Pray for our mission team, that we would be well rested and just so open to loving these kids and their families right where they are.

We are so grateful for your prayers and support.

Until next time, Cheers!