 |
| School of Transformation in Bangalore |
Hello everyone! The sun is shining, and it's a beautiful day. I've learned in my three English summers to greatly appreciate when the sun shows its face. The first summer here, I gawked at the Brits who bared a lot of skin usually to the point of sunburn on the first 'hot' and sunny day of the year. Now I understand, and while I'm not out there baring as much skin as the Brits, I don't sit inside all day if the sun is shining. June has been rainy in Sheffield, almost as if the English weather didn't get the memo that it is supposed to shower in April according to the childhood rhyme. However, the power of blue skies, warm breezes, and sun-kissed skin on a day like today never ceases to amaze me.
 |
| World Mandate Europe Theme |
How are all you fine folks? I hope you're well. I've seen that the weather in Texas has been blessedly stormy, while my dad reported that it has been quite dry in Colorado when I chatted with him on Father's Day. Happy Father's Day to all of you dads out there, old and new! My brother-in-law will be a dad again in October, and I'm always thrilled to be an auntie again. But enough of me, you're probably itching for news of what's been happening in Sheffield over the past few months. They've been a bit crazy!
 |
| World Mandate |
At the end of March we hosted our very first World Mandate Europe! Jimmy Seibert and Kevin Johnson from the AMI headquarters in Waco, TX were our main speakers, and it was powerful. Over 100 people came with some coming from Scotland, Poland, Ireland, Germany, and Portugal. It was a great time to share more vision for the nations with our local church members and to worship with people from many tongues, tribes, and nations. And our School of Transformation students had the privilege of prayer from all those people before our international outreach to India. Blessed.
 |
| They take their Taco Bell seriously in India |
The Monday after World Mandate concluded, Dustin, Julie, John, Ira, and I together with two children and 11 students boarded a plane for Bangalore, India. The trip is the last requirement for the ATS students and an opportunity for them to apply some of the teachings in a practical manner. Each student rose to the occasion and took to sharing the gospel, treasure hunting, praying for the sick, ministering to the poor, and asking God for direction during the course of each day. We saw multiple people healed from skin diseases, back pain, knee pain, full body pain, corns, headaches, and heel pain, and at least 10 people responded to the gospel. One man was a cricketer who was saved and baptised in a local bar. The students also found favour in a local restaurant and a small neighbourhood nearby, and we even got to finish off the adventure at a vacation Bible school! It was truly a life-changing experience for everyone there!
 |
| I'm not sure you can read it, but the brand of toilet is "Hindware" |
 |
| Playing with Kids in the village |
 |
| Baptism Night |
April was a month for travel, and the weekend after we returned from India, I travelled with our sozo team to Glasgow, Scotland for Advanced Sozo Training. It was my first time to Scotland, and I loved it! We made some great connections with other sozo teams and got to hear testimonies directly from people who have been changed by specific advanced sozo tools.
In May, we celebrated our volunteers at church with an Oscars' themed event. And June was filled with Diamond Jubilee (a celebration of the Queen's 60 year reign) events as well as a Nigerian wedding (two people in my lifegroup got married), and two lots of baptisms. Five kids from the children's ministry were baptised! Now we're preparing for our summer Holiday Club, 'On Your Marks,' an Olympic-themed event. Please be praying for our upcoming assembly in a local school.
 |
| Oscar's Night Hosts |
I'll be Stateside at our bi-annual church planting conference this July. If you're in Colorado, send me a message. I'd love to see your face! I pray all is well. Gia-normous thanks for all of your prayers, support, and friendship. God is on the move :).
