2008, Here We Come!

:: THANK YOU
Before I share our personal update, I wanted to share a huge thank you for the prayers and kind words that were sent in response to my prayer request over the Colorado shooting. We did not know any of the individuals personally, but it still hit our team very hard as we mourned with our fellow YWAM workers. And the love sent out by all of you in response to this tragedy was a reminder that compassion and empathy is so much more powerful than the darkness it combats. Again, thank you.

:: SETTLING IN
As for us, it’s hard to believe that we’ve been here for just over a month. As we continue to build into the relationships of those we live with here at Holmsted, it feels like we’ve been here for years. But as we continue to get settled and figure out life in the UK, it feels like we just got here! In a month, Sean has managed to brave the roads to nearby villages (which is necessary for any sort of shopping to be done), we have opened a UK bank account, and we now have cell phones! But as we drive around these tiny little roads and as we shop for groceries, the reality is that it doesn’t feel routine yet. I still feel like I’m on vacation. And it still catches me off guard when I hear people say, “I hear you have an accent. Where are you from?” Oh yeah..I’M the one who sounds funny now! And it’s not just the way we talk that makes me feel like we stand out sometimes, it’s even the way we dress! Since we aren’t used to the cold, we tend to wear lots of layers. There are days when I have so many layers on that I feel like I can barely move my arms; sort of like the kid from A Christmas Story. But the locals are walking around in light jackets that may or may not be zipped up. It will just take awhile for this thin desert blood to thicken up a bit.

Another part of settling in is finding a church. This is a bit of a new concept for us because we had been at Canyon Ridge for so long. We have visited a few and have felt a great connection at The Point – the church that worship leader Matt Redman attends. It is so different from Canyon Ridge as far as structure, but it seems to be similar in passion and mission. And I have to admit it is pretty exciting to be able to attend the church where one of my favorite worship leaders goes. In fact, he led worship the first weekend we attended and he is a great example of a servant leader. Not only did worship time consist of kids songs because they do a family service, but he was also around helping to stack chairs at the end of service. Sean and I are going to meet with the church’s senior pastor to learn more about the church and to see how we might get plugged in.

:: EVENTS
One of the first events we were able to be a part of was a Thanksgiving dinner. It was a beautiful blend of two cultures. Some American friends that run a YWAM base in Brighton invited us as well as all of their English friends – both Christian and non-Christian. There was about 30 of us all together. We had a TON of food and we even went around the table and shared what we were thankful for. Turkey, sweet potato pie, mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and a spirit of unity - what more could you ask for?

One of the first projects we worked on was a youth event for a few different local youth groups. We helped program a weekend retreat for both middle school and high school. We themed the weekend “Connecting to God and Connecting to Others.” At first, we didn’t feel well received but as the weekend went on the kids seemed to really warm up to us. After the weekend was done, we received a lot of positive feedback from the leaders. We hope to do more of this type of work with local youth groups.

Every year around Christmas, Holmsted Manor hosts an event called “Carols at the Manor.” They invite the community for drinks, snacks, and then we host a carols program. It is a way to serve the community during the holidays and also lets the community know what we are about. We had around 60 people show up. It was a lovely evening and many shared how they enjoyed the event.

We also hosted a Christmas lunch for the elderly. We served them a full course meal and had a bit of entertainment. It is a way to connect to the community and serve the older generations. I was in charge of coordinating this event. We transformed our dining hall into an elegant banquet for around 100 guests. By the end of the event, we heard nothing but praises. This generation that can often be forgotten left feeling honored.

Last but not least, Sean was in charge of what we like to call Cleaning Day. The September DTS that has been living at the manor is responsible for a full day of cleaning to get ready for the next school to come in January. Each school has this same responsibility before they leave for outreach. The students did a great job and if you know Sean, then you know they had a leader fit for the task.

:: BASE TRANSITION
Surprisingly, when Sean and I first arrived to Holmsted Manor, we learned of a major transition taking place. The current base leader – responsible for overseeing the entirety of the base – was stepping down from leadership. As we’ve been processing together as a staff, everyone agrees that this is a healthy transition. As this chapter closes for Charlie (the current base leader) a new chapter is opening for the remaining staff as we look at restructuring leadership. We are in the process of praying through who our next base leader should be. Sean and I are also looking at how our gifts and experiences in leadership can benefit this transition. Unexpected, but exciting times!

:: JANUARY DTS
The school Sean and I will be leading begins January 19. So far, we have 6 leaders and 23 students. Our school director is named Paul (whom we worked with when we were in Poland) and he has asked Sean to co-lead with him. The rest of the leaders (including myself) will help facilitate. We prayed together and came up with a theme for our school based on 1 Peter 2:9 which says “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” We want the students to understand that they were Chosen for Royalty – to be led by their King Jesus Christ. As the students understand their identity through the lens that Christ sees them through, then it should empower and encourage them to act out their faith with confidence. We are so excited to have our students arrive. So far we have students coming from England, America, Holland, Canada, Norway, and Denmark. We look forward to sharing how God begins to mold and refine both us and the students through this next 6 months.

:: SPECIAL VISITORS
A few weeks ago, we were excited to see Sean’s dad and stepmom in our new homeland. They spent the night with us at Holmsted Manor and then we spent the day in Brighton before they headed to London for the remainder of their stay. Our adventures in Brighton started off a bit damp (typical English weather), but fortunately the skies cleared and we were able to show them around a bit.

We also have some friends from Canyon Ridge that will be visiting in January. As England and Holmsted become our new home, we look forward to all the future visits from both family and friends.

Such a short time and yet so much has already happened. As time continues to pass and we become more settled here, we are getting more and more excited to see what God has planned for us; what our roles will begin to look like over this next year. We will continue to move forward in anticipation, believing that we are following a life calling that God has placed on our hearts. We hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas and an exciting year to come. A chance to reflect on your blessings and look for ways to use your life to bless others and make a difference in this world. So we say with confidence, "2008, here we come!"

Cheers!
Sarah and Sean