CROSSING MISSIONS - WALES

DAY 2 - Sunday, July 12th - WE ARE HERE!  After many hours of travel (air, tube, train, foot), we finally made it to Wales at 6:45 p.m. on Sunday, July 12^th (10:45 a.m. Phoenix time).  After 2 airplanes, 2 tubes, 2 trains and a lot of walking, we made it.  We had to drag our suit cases up several flights of stairs to get to two different tubes in order to get to the train station.  God sent us some angels to help us drag our bags up two flights of stairs (several people from London who were also going on the tube but only with their backpacks).  The train was really nice with state-of-the-art bathrooms (or as they say in London, toilets).  Wales is cool, but no rain yet.  We met a man on the second train who corrected us on how to pronounce the name of the town that Kevin & Kim Davis live in and the longest name in Wales.  He actually knows the Davis’ and said they do good things with the kids. 

When we arrived at the train station, Kevin was there to pick us up.  We went to Pizza Hut and ate and then he brought us to the house that we will be staying in for the next 10 days.  It is seven levels with at least 1 bedroom on each level other than the first level which is the kitchen, family room, and dining room.  On the second level is a sitting area that we are using for our devotions and team meetings.  Pastor is on the 7th level!  We then went for a walk on the beach and came back to the house to get settled in.  Judy did a fantastic job in our team devotions having us take a portion in Psalms and making it into a song to the tune of "Row, row, row your boat."  It was fun and she actually got Paul and Tom singing a duet! :) 

We also got the internet and phones working so we could contact family and inform the church family what is happening.  It is now almost midnight here, and we are exhausted, so we will call it a night. 

Although we missed church today and the BBQ, I’m sure we will enjoy the rest of the trip.  We are going to sleep in tomorrow and start making up for the time we lost in travel.  We will keep you posted each day.  Keep us in your prayers, as well as Wales!

DAY 3 - Monday, July 13 - We had a great night of rest and are ready to get to work.  The sun is out (part of the time), and there has been no rain so far.  Hopefully the weather will work with us while we do some of the repairs at the church that requires us to be outside.  We will update you to let you know what we did today.

This  morning we walked to the church and met with Kevin & Kim Davis there to see what projects they want us to do.  They barbequed hamburgers since we missed the one on Sunday.  We ate, and then the ladies went to the store to get some supplies for the house such as paper towels, paper plates and a hair dryer (ours blew out the adapter, so we bought one that is made for Wales electrical outlets).  The men went to the hardware store and bought materials needed for our projects tomorrow. 

The men are going to do some patching of the stone walls of the church.  The women will be painting picnic tables, sanding of the bathroom door, and then painting the bathroom door and bathroom walls and floor.  If these projects are completed tomorrow, we will begin on an area that needs to be repaired to make into an office and repairing a Sunday school room wall.

Tonight for dinner (or as the British say, "Tea"), Tom & Kathy Hill went to the youth pastor's home and had a great time getting to know them and sharing their testimony.  Paul & Judy Clark went to a church member's home for dinner and came back rejoicing in getting to know the people.  Pastor, Debbie Mellberg & Barb Hannah went to Davis' home, and Kevin & Kim shared some of the needs of the church. 

Tonight Paul did a great job talking about working together as one in our team.  We have had great discussions, and one important fact that was discussed tonight is that it is not as important to complete the projects, as it is to be an encouragement to Kevin and Kim Davis and the people in their ministry.  Please keep us in prayer that we will accomplish this. 

Well, it's getting late.  I will update the website tomorrow.  Thank you for your prayers.

DAY 4 - Tuesday, July 14th - This morning we walked to the church and began our project.  Our projects had changed.  The men put plaster in the rock walls around the church and the ladies sanded the wrought iron fence/gates in the front of the church.   We got all of the preparation on the fencing done and tomorrow we will prime the fence and paint it (if the weather allows).  Actually the weather has been great.  Each day we have had sunshine, but usually have a little rain in the late afternoon.  We finished the prepping around 5:00 p.m. and while we were cleaning up, it began to rain.  We then came back to the house and cleaned up.  The men had a dinner and fellowship with the men of the church, while Debbie & Barb went to a couples' house (Garth & Sue) for dinner, and Judy & Kathy went to Kim Davis' house for dinner.  We all got back to the house around 9:00 p.m. and had our devotions and then sat around discussing the things that had happened during the day.  We are all extremely tired and ready for bed.  It is only 11:15 p.m., which is early for us to go to bed.

DAY 5 - Wednesday, July 15th - We got up this morning and walked to the church.  The men and Judy painted the bathroom at the church, stained the wooden gates and the picnic tables.  Debbie, Kathy & Barb painted the wrought iron fencing, first with primer then with green paint.  Paul & Judy left about 4 pm to go to the house to make spaghetti because people from the church were coming to the house for a spaghetti dinner.  We didn't get all of the painting done, but were able to get the fence and part of the main gate done.  Tomorrow morning we will finish the painting.  

We got back to the house and had a great dinner with several people from the church, as well as Kim & Kevin.  After dinner, we had a time of testimony, and it was great to get to know some of the people.  Mark (the youth pastor) gave his testimony, and he is a really neat guy with a real heart for God and youth.  He has to work a part time job in order to meet his bills, but would like to work full time at the church.  Please pray that God would allow the people to give through their offerings so that this would be possible.  Kevin & Kim Davis are not paid by the church.  They only receive support from churches in the states, so all offerings given at their church go to the expenses of the church and a part time salary for Mark.

After everyone left, we had our devotions and discussed the days events.  We have had a great time and can't wait to see what God has for us tomorrow.

DAY 6 - Thursday, July 16th - The men spent the morning with Kevin.  The women went to the church and finished the painting of the fence.  Everyone came back to the house to regroup.  The ladies prepared materials for the Holiday Bible Club that will be held on Monday and Tuesday of next week.  The men went to Kevin's house for a BBQ, while the ladies had a tea with the ladies of the church. 

The men had a great time with Kevin and helped to fix their mini bus so that the teens could take it to camp tomorrow night. 

The ladies enjoyed getting to know each other better during the tea (see picture).  Debbie spoke on friends, Kathy & Barb did a sketch (skit means diarrhea in Wales), and Judy sang a solo.   Sorry this update is a little weird, but we are tired and need to go to bed.  Check with us tomorrow! :)

DAY 7 - Friday, July 17th - Today we relaxed and did some sightseeing in Wales.  It rained all day, but it was still a nice day.  

We first toured the Penrhyn Castle, one of the many castles in Wales.  Then we drove to a village named Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch, which we were told was the longest name in the world.  But we found out that it actually the 2nd longest name in the world.  There is a city in New Zealand that is longer!  While there we did some shopping for souvenirs.  

Next, we headed back to the Davis' home, had lunch and visited.  Mark (the youth pastor of Libanus Baptist Church) left to take a group of youth to London to help with a camp for children, 80% of them Muslim children.  We visited with him and the other youth before they left, and prayed for their safety.  They have some really neat people here in Wales, especially in the Libanus Baptist Church.  We wish each of you could be here to meet these precious people.

We then came back to the house, went out to the Irish Sea and watched our first sunset.  Sunset here is between 9:30-10:00 p.m.  We are usually not home by that time, so this was the first opportunity we had to see it.

We then decorated for the Holiday Bible Club that will be on Monday and Tuesday.  We are presenting the Wordless Book, and have the room decorated in Gold, Black, Red, White & Green.  We are looking forward to being able to share God's Word to the children.  Keep us in your prayers.

DAY 8 - Saturday, July 18th - Today we went to the church to clean for Sunday morning.  We then came back to the house and prepared for the Holiday Bible Club that we will be conducting on Monday & Tuesday.  The pictures above show decorating and the finished wall with the memory verses on the wall.

Later we went to the Davis' home, and some went for a walk and some stayed around the house.  Pastor gave Ben & Joe five lures that Greg Dozer had sent to them.  They fish in the creek and were so excited to get the lures.  Thanks Greg.

We took Kevin & Kim out to dinner and had a fun time just talking about what has been happening in their church and their ministry.  They came back to the house with us, and we had devotions which really made it special.  They are a sweet missionary couple and need our prayers and support.  Remember them in prayer daily as well as us that we will be an encouragement to them and the church here in Wales.

DAY 9 - Sunday, July 19th - Today is Sunday and, of course, we went to church.  Debbie did the children's Sunday School at 10:00 and church began at 11:00.  There was good attendance and the people are very receptive to us.  Pastor preached and, as usual, did a great job encouraging the people.  

After church, everyone stays around visiting and drinking tea.  We were able to meet everyone and take time to talk to each of them.

We had planned a picnic at the beach, but since it was raining, everyone came to the house we are staying in and we ate our sandwiches and visited.  

After visiting we took a walk on the beach since it had quit raining and ran into several people that the Davis' knew on the path.  Kim & Kevin know a lot of people in the village, even those who do not attend their church.  They have a great love for these people.

We had dinner at the Davis' (Kim is a great hostess and cook).  The ladies met to go over what was going to be expected for the Holiday Bible Club tomorrow morning.  Please pray that the children who attend will realize that God loves them and died for their sins.  There will be some church kids there, so please pray that they will listen and learn how they can share their faith with their friends. 

DAY 10 - Monday, July 20th - Pastor & Tom went to the church and did some projects that not been completed yet.

The others stayed at the house and began the Holiday Bible Club.  Debbie summarized the Wordless Book.  She taught about the "gold" page of how God loves us and about heaven.  Barb shared the "black" page and how we are sinners.  Kathy taught the "red" page about how God sent Jesus to die for our sins.  Paul helped with leading the singing.  After each color, we worked on a craft.  Tomorrow, Judy will do the "white" page and Kim will do the "green" page.  We had a total of 18 kids today and hope that they will bring friends tomorrow.  

There was one little girl named Finley who, after club, asked questions about receiving Christ.   Please pray for her that we will have the opportunity to talk to her tomorrow. 

Tonight for dinner, we went to the Porter's home (the headmasters of the school that the Davis' children go to).  We had a great time with Jim & Sylvia and Sylvia's sister, Pam.  They had prepared so much food!  She is a great cook and loves to prepare meals for people.  After dinner, they took us on a tour of the school.  When we came into the multipurpose room where they have assemblies, her husband (Jim) played the piano, and we all sang hymns.  Sylvia and Pam sang a couple of duets, and they sounded like a choir of angels.  We had such a great time with them. 

It is really strange how you can meet someone half way around the world and feel as though you have known them all of your lives.  Boy, have you missed a blessing by not being a part of this Crossing Missions trip!

Tomorrow will be our last full day in Wales.  We will leave on Wednesday morning to head to London.  Please keep us and the people of Wales in your prayers.

DAY 11 - Tuesday, July 21st - Today we had our second and final day of Holiday Bible Club.  We had 18 kids again today.  There was one little girl, Blythe, who was here yesterday but not today and a little girl, Naomi, who was here today and not yesterday.

At the end of the club, the kids were given a chance to receive Christ as their Savior.  Praise God ... we had 7 girls and 1 boy accept Christ today!  We are so excited to see how God has worked here in Wales.  Please pray for these kids.  Kevin & Kim will follow up in the next week with their families.

The kids who accepted Christ today are:  Naomi, whose grandmother brought her today; Erika, a sweet little girl with the cutest little grin; Trai, a 12 year old boy; Hannah, Jessica and Sophie, who are all sisters; and Finley & Kes, two little girls who are sisters.   Their grandfather lives next door to Davis' and is very critical of the church and its ministry.  The kids made gloves that had each of the five colors on a finger and the "wordless" bracelet.  They were told they could tell their friends about how God loves them, but they are sinners, and how Jesus died for their sins.  Kes went home and showed a little friend of hers (Kelsey) the bracelet and told her the story.  She said that her mother told her that she also had prayed to ask Jesus to save her when she was a little girl.  This precious little girl is now a missionary in her family.  Please pray that the family, especially the grandfather (Terry), will be impacted by this little girl's decision.

This is our last full day in Wales.  We will really miss Kevin & Kim and the people here.  We will leave tomorrow morning around 8:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m. Phoenix time) for London.  We will be in London until Friday and will arrive back in Phoenix around 5:30 p.m.  Please pray for our safety.

DAY 12 - Wednesday, July 22nd - We rode the train with the Davis' and Kim's parents (Norm & Carole Raymond) to London.  When we arrived in London, the Davis' and the Raymond's went to the American Embassy to renew passports.  We then drug our suitcases up stairs and caught a tube.  We were picked up by Mark (youth pastor at Libanus) and went to see the day camp that they had been conducting all week.  Wednesday was their family night, when all the children & their families came for a fun carinval run by the young people who had come to help with the camp.  It was great to see the children, as well as watch the young people with the children.  Mark's father then took us to the hotel in London. 

DAY 13 - Thursday, July 23rd - Today was our touring day.  We went to Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace.  We walked miles and miles!

DAY 14 - Friday, July 24th - We got up this morning, ate breakfast and headed to the airport.  When we got there, they had us walk outside (in the rain) and then load onto a bus, which took us to the airplane.  An airplane that had mechanical problems  was sitting at our gate, and they were unable to move it from the gate.  So our trip ended, just as it began, with delays.  When we got on the airplane, the pilot announced that due to the rain, there was a delay, and over 30 airplanes were ahead of us to take off.  He told us it would be about 30 minutes.  At the end of the 30 minutes he announced that the delay had worsened, and there were over 50 airplanes ahead of us to take off.  He told us it would be ANOTHER 45 minutes!  

We finally took off, had a great smooth flight, but  we were almost 2 hours late getting into Phoenix.  But, we are home safe and sound.  Thank you for all of the prayers.  We will be reporting on Sunday, August 2nd at 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon, so be sure to come!