The Blue family has made it into the New Year! I would be lying if I told you it has been an easy transition, however, Jay and I are starting to get a better grasp on the culture in Wales and Sydney and Marley have adjusted to the differences in school here in Monmouth.
During the Christmas holidays Sydney and Marley had two weeks off from school and we were able to enjoy some of the Christmas traditions in Wales. Jay and I and the others on the OM team organized an International Christmas Celebration to show the different traditions around the world. This cafe style night was held at the Monmouth Baptist Church and was opened to the public.We had different Christmas snacks from Moldova, Germany, Austria, and Canada. One of the activities we had been to build a gingerbread house which ended up being a big mess, but lots of fun! Can you believe that they don’t have Christmas cookies, gingerbread houses, candy canes, and that hot chocolate isn’t a popular drink in Wales. Some of the traditions here in Wales are Christmas pudding, mulled wine, mince pies and Christmas crackers. The one thing that all the countries did have in common was the celebration of Christ’s birth, which ended up being the focus at the end of the night. The OM team also went into several schools leading up to the holidays sharing the true meaning of Christmas.
Jay and I have started up separate ministries in the local coffee shop which are just getting off the ground. The local Costa Coffee has allowed us to use the building after hours to run a mens and womans group once a month for free which is a real blessing. We are hoping that over time these ministries will grow and possibly become more frequent. So far we have had a good turn out and have some activities in mind for future events. Jay has made some really great contacts and is really anticipating what God has in store for the mens ministry which is much-needed here.
The rest of our time is spent supporting the church and the already existing ministries, building relationships, making connections and supporting the community. One of the ways we got involved was to run in a Marathon to raise money for charities in Monmouth. I thought it would be a great way to get involved in the community. It is called The Santa Fun Run most everyone who participates dresses up like a Santa Clause. What we did is we registered our team from Monmouth Baptist Church and dress up like a bunch of shepherds. It was great! We ended up winning an award for the best dressed and making it into the local paper. Churches around here wouldn’t generally do something like this. The churches are very traditional in Monmouth. Jay and I felt it was a good opportunity for people to not only be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas but also support the local charities.In the end it ended up being a great way for the church to be involved and support the community.
So far although very difficult at times, we do really feel the peace that passes all understanding and know that God wants us here in Monmouth. Through this experience we have no choice but to experience God in a new fresh way. God has stripped everything away from our lives that was distracting us from being totally consumed by him. The comfort of our own home, our own culture, friends, jobs, the lifestyle we were used to, space, and even the comfort of being busy. Which I do very well at home!
Does this experience look anything like I thought it would?…no.
Is it what God wants for us? Yes.
Through this experience God has been speaking to us daily, although not always fully understanding and not always comfortable. God has been trying to get our attention and drawing us closer to himself. Two passages that have come up frequently while we have been here are.
Romans 12.
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday and ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going – to work, and walking – around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.
John 15:4-8
“Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined in me.
I am the vine and you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relationship intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my father shows who he is – when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.
Jay and I are praying with expectation as we continue into the year 2011! John 3:8 You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it is headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.” Being led by the spirit may take you places you never planned; but the will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you. I think we need to “pull in the oars and put up the sail.” Please continue to pray for us as we continue to embrace what God has planned for Monmouth this year!
