Scotland Update 5

Hi everyone!

Here are some fun things going on recently. The main points are in bold, if you're pressed for time. =)

Thank you so much for each response, encouragement and prayer! They are more comforting and bring so much more joy than you will ever know!

SoLove Ministry Update
This week, the churches here in Motherwell are teaming up to do ministry under the name of SoLove. Their heart is to unify the body of Christ to reach out in the community and serve, share the love of Christ, and enjoy community with each other.

I can't tell you how exciting this is for me. It's pretty much taking everything I have a passion for, putting it under the banner of Jesus' love and salvation through His sacrifice and and resurrection on the cross, topping it with a bright red ribbon, and saying "here you go, Erika!"

So, some things to pray for as the week goes on: each day, different churches are opening up their doors as serving coffee, tea, and baked goods. Our church will be having our "Open Doors" coffee morning on Friday (we generally have a coffee morning on Friday, but this week we expect more people...and hope to keep them coming back!). Please pray for meaningful conversations and for the gospel to be shared during the different Open Doors venues throughout the week. Pray for boldness and for an openness.

Summer Fun Day
On Saturday (the 15th), we (the SoLove Churches) will be having a Summer Fun Day at a local park in Motherwell. I've volunteered to do one of the stalls (not sure which one yet!). Right now, the forecast calls for rain...eek! We've been having such amazing weather here (yes, Scotland does get sunny days! I know, shocker.), will you pray with us that the forecast changes and we get another beautiful day on Saturday?

We have also been handing out leaflets to all these events. In talking with the staff here at church, they are pretty confident of the Open Doors and Summer Fun Day being attended by church goers but, as this is supposed to also be an outreach, our prayer is that the leaflets (and word of mouth) would spread around and we would see more of the un-churched community come to the events as well. It is so important to have a church that you can call "home" but, from experience, I know how hard it is to take that first step and walk into a church building...especially alone! My prayer is that these events would, at the very least, be a stepping stone to getting people to come to church. Pray for those who may not have a home church to be able to come to one of these events and find a solid church to go to regularly. (ps: If you don't have a home church, I would love to be praying for you to find one and might be able to help point you in a direction of one...just let me know!).

Mexican Food? What's that?
I have been asked a lot if there is anything I'm missing here that I want/wish I could have from the states (as in, physically). My first answer is always: YOU GUYS!! I do miss my friends and family back at home so much, but I am even more grateful that the Lord is letting me live out this experience here (plus, I love Skype and Facetime...if you want to schedule a time to chat, just let me or Amy Maskal know!). Really, though, He is doing some mighty things and I see so much of His heart for the church here in Scotland (I'm in the beginning stages of writing a blog...stay tuned!).

But honestly, I could probably list a lot of things that are "different" here (let's not talk about Mexican food, ok?), or simply unattainable (like natural toothpaste and cornmeal...who knew?), but the bottom line is that I can handle not having these things. The Lord didn't send me here just so I can wish life was back to how I remember it, right? He is letting me experience new places, new traditions, new foods, and an entirely new way of life. For that, I am grateful.

What about YOU?
So, imagine you're on a desert island...just kidding. But, I would love to hear...if you moved away from home--to a new culture and community, what is one commodity that you think you might miss the most?

--
Joyfully,
Erika Bennett

Support: Shepherds Staff, Account 1061
Email: erikamarie82@gmail.com
Blog: erikamarie82.blogspot.com