Building repair work- phase one

The Youth Room- there is no access at all to this room just now, for obvious reasons. We may be able to repair the creche ceiling but not if anyone falls though it!!




The floor boards were lifted and all the deafening. What you are seeing is the creche ceiling.

 


Any guesses?  The creche cupboard!




The creche cupboard is at the moment open to the stairs.




Creche ceiling




Stairwell

 The areas of the building damaged by the flood have been completely stripped back.  The guys that have worked in the building have been a real blessing.  They have worked hard to reduce the inevitable mess, hoovered like pro's,  arranged to have skips at the building for twenty minute periods, ( the permit to have it stay on the road would not be granted until next week and they were not prepared to leave us in a mess), offered to make me a cup of tea and carried all the boxes up and down for toddlers today. A huge thanks to them!   Here's praying the rest of the squads are so easy to work with and around.

Even with all the work to minimize the mess and the cleaning afterwards there will be a bit of stoor (might be a big bit!) that will settle over the coming days.  If you want to lend a hand with the cleaning at any point just let us know. The youth room is a no go zone.  These pictures let you see all you need to. Safety is paramount.  The creche room remains closed. The stairs from the creche room down to the kids room are usable but we will have our kids use the ones at the kitchen end just now as the banister has been removed.

It struck me today how important it is to get things cleared out and stripped back to allow complete restoration. Sometimes we look for quick fixes in our lives.  God isn't into patching us up. He is into wholeness. We just need to be willing to let go of the bits that are damaged and not fit for purpose so he can do his work to make us whole.

Maureen

Update 2 from Zimbabwe

(As this is being typed there is the joyful noise of hammering in the building at Priory Lane. The work has begun!)

The conference at Muzarabani went really well. Iain described it as a very "rich" time.  All four of the team were involved in preaching and sharing. They have seen God move in healing.  Jim had to battle through a reaction to his malaria tablets leaving him feeling unwell. Not easy to preach after an hour long journey down a bumpy road from their accommodation when you are not feeling at your best.  After the conference they then had a long journey down to Karoi where they again have been preaching and sharing in, with many hungry to hear and receive from God.  They finish at 3pm this afternoon and are immediately into a 3-4 hour journey before starting the Leader's conference in Harare at 9am tomorrow morning!

They ask that we continue to pray for  God's anointing, for stamina, health and travelling mercies in this intense and busy  schedule.

They have been working hard on the orphanage sponsorship programme and 30 children have been identified. There are many stories of children really suffering with the loss of parents and relatives.  Children denied basic education as there is no-one able to pay the small fees required.  They have made a really good local contact who will be travelling to Harare for the leaders conference when they will be able to work on prioritising this list.

News from Zimbabwe

The crew all arrived safely with their luggage on Wednesday lunch time, a long but OK trip.  The good news is that all four are able to communicate by text and phone call when they can get a signal. Helps the families back home!  Mercy has also been busy sending a few texts and kids big and small can catch up with her on her blog. http://www.mercyadventures.blogspot.com/

The Easter Conference in Muzarabani has been going well with 5 or 6 hundred attending. It has been interesting to see a good percentage of young women there. All four have had a chance to share and God has really been moving with many filled with the Spirit and healings. A woman who had been silent for two years after a stroke began to sing praises to God.

The team have been blessed by a lady called Barbara who has provided food and lodging for them.

Please continue to pray that the right conversation can be had about the sponsorship programme for orphans that we are so keen as a church to become a reality. This is a key element of this trip.  For the on-going itinerary the Link website has the details.

The team have asked that we continue to pray as they travel and minister.

A quick turnaround

Iain is back from his visit to the Athens Link. 

"I am glad to say Athens Link is progressing well. There was a very real sense of the Lord’s touch and presence on the gatherings and real evidence of growth in many lives. At the heart of the church is the desire to be available to God for His life flow and to be a spiritual and practical resource for God in Athens.

There is a real excitement about the coming trip to be with us in June, and a desire to share life and grow in the Lord together as well as establishing ‘links’ and friendships that will further the life flow between us for many years.

Thanks for all your prayers."

Now he has time to unpack, get the washing done, catch up with people and get packing. Tuesday he heads off to Zimbabwe with Norma, Jim S and Angela.  Here is the itinerary. 

19/20th – Travel and arrival via Amsterdam/ Nairobi with Kenya Airlines

21st – Rest and communication with Simon and Silent

22nd -Travel to Muzarabani

22nd/24th- Easter Convention at Muzarabani

25th- Muzarabani with Pastors and their wives.  Jim and the team will be seeking to establish grounds for support of the orphan programme

26/27- Leadership Conference at Karoi

28/30- Return to Harare and Leadership Conference

1st May- Church at Hatcliffe Township

2nd May – Travel to Scotland via Jo’burg and Amsterdam

3rd May – Back to Scotland

The programme is a full one but offers many opportunities to share in with the rapidly growing church of Fellowship in Christ. The Easter Convention at Muzarabani last year had around 400/500 people and more are expected this year. It will be extremely  warm during the day, being in the lower Zambezi valley, but night times will be a little cooler.

The Leader’s Conferences will be a great platform to pass on biblical truths  and practical advice. As a church we are really looking to moving forward on the orphan sponsorship. It give us a great chance as a church in the very near future to share into a very needy area. 

Please pray for this trip, for anointing on the ministry, travelling mercies and strength to do the task!

This is another chance  for our church to ‘make a difference in the world around the world’.