We have moved into a nice little house in Alva. Our stuff arrived the day after we accepted the invitation to pastor. Liz is quite busy nesting. Still no phone or internet, we are working on it and living with a pay-as-you-go mobile.
We are both busy training up boys (who, until quite recently, have been getting away with 'murder' since we began to get moving in March). They seem to be truly surprised by discipline making its way back into the routine.
Our kids absolutely love Scotland! Daniel insists on hiking the hills daily. Josiah is a "big boy now" too. There are miles of trails along the Ochils. Our home is right at the hill foots.
Both boys are registered in school (1st grade for Daniel; 1/2 day pre-school for Siah). Classes start in late August.
Our town is three blocks long! (Yet there are three pubs two hotel bars and several liquor stores. K ) The City Hall also serves as the library and the recycling center.
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We enjoyed the Calvary Chapel UK Pastors Conference June 25-28th in York. We were able to stay in the Bible College Student flats for £8/night, very cool compared to £65/night for the family at a B&B.
I was able to talk to Calvary Pastors about how the Lord is choosing to use us. Some of them get it; some are waiting for us to suffer for choosing to pastor an existing church instead of starting a 'Calvary' from scratch. Some of the older guys were very encouraging though. God always speaks and He's been stokin' a fire in our hearts. We are encouraged.
You NEED to hear Bob Coldwell speak if you can ever get a hold of atape or MP3. He is an acid head/dealer from somewhere like Venice, CA - turned - cowboy/missionary from Boise, Idaho. Straight-up witness for real people in-league with Christ! Solid guy! (In Christ)
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The work in the UK is a lot like LA. Hard ground. Busy people; many who once went or have grandmothers who used to go to church. 'Too busy' to know God. (LIE) Lots of people like to come to sing or send their kids to Sunday school. But there does not seem to be much worship going on in churches.
The church is growing. We are spending time sitting with people and pointing to the Lord. There are signs of life at Alva Baptist! His Word is getting out!
I preached the first sermon since agreeing to pastor this church on Sunday, 1 July. I didn't know this until after, but it turns out that the sermon title: "It is I" is inscribed over the entry of the church! (John 6:20) God has His ways of encouraging us. This seems just right.
This week (2-7) July is Holiday Club (Americans call it VBS {Vacation Bible Study}) So far the number of kids is double that of the adult congregation! Really cool, there is a team of youth visiting who are like missionaries to rural churches for Holiday club outreaches. They are growing and the kids are enjoying "Roadside Rescue" God's roadmap, highway code, maintenance instructions, repair service, etc.
Mark Hamer, the current pastor of Alva Baptist, collected hub caps, a radiator and a muffler and littered the church with 'auto kitsch'. If all these kids (49) come to Church on Sunday, we'll need to move the adults into the back room!
Ladies are already asking Liz what she thinks her role will be at the church. Pray for the wisdom to only take up what the Lord has called for.
We officially start on July 15th. I say "we", because there is no dividing how this will impact the Fraser family (and the Alva family, as we are becoming a part of it). There will be an official induction service on Saturday, August 18th.
We are grateful for your support; in prayer and financially.
Though we try our best to report on the praiseworthy and noteworthy, this has been a trying time. It has cost us dearly, both emotionally and financially. We need you to remember us and keep praying.
Out of sight out, of mind can mean dire circumstances for Frasers. The Lord knows.
If you are being led to join with us in this work to reach a nation at it heartland please click below:
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Chose donation type: “missionary’s name” and type in Frasers # 1015
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