44 weeks!

Looking back like this is how we AGE, I think!
44 Weeks is how long we have been in Scotland.
32 weeks is how long we have been shopping for a home in Alva.
27 weeks is how Pregnant Elizabeth is...

On nesting in our new homeland...
We went to look at a house on Saturday.
(It was nicer than we could expect for LA)
But it is tight for a family of 5 in a land where kids are inside due to rain alot.
Anything larger has so far been out of our reach in this inflated market.

The seller said they had received an offer already but it was too early to decide.
She explained that they were out of town next week and would decide when they get back.
We explained that they would hear from us in the next week.

We prayed with friends on Monday at lunchtime and decided that we were willing to squeeze into it and trusted God to direct us.
We called to note our interest when we got home, only to learn that they had accepted another offer minutes before! I couldn't bear to ask for what price.
So I groaned "Thank you God" (still groaning!)

We have been actively searching since August.
Please pray for us, these niggling disappointments wear us down.
But we know the end result will be glorifying to the God in whom we trust.

Watch this space...

Busy New Year So Far

This week will mark 8 months that we have been in Alva!

Part of this walk of faith has involved making way for God to bring another Fraser into the world. It looked like a boy in the ultrasound, though they don't tell you in Stirling Royal Hospital. (Long story)

Children are a blessing from the Lord but the mere prospect of another Fraser boy has tired both of us. But then again, someone pointed out that we were doing a good job with the two we have been trusted with. Ki-Ya!

You will have read that Liz has been deeply woosey a bit lately. The doctor has ruled out any pregnancy induced diabetes and suggests that the diet needs to be adjusted to more grazing and less of a 3-squares-at-scheduled-times kind of a regimen.

David has been a busy servant of God lately.
In addition to the ministry building here at our home church, David has written an article for a local paper, taught four sessions and served as a group leader for a weekend youth camp; and led the devoted time for the most recent Baptist Ministers' Fraternal in Stirling.

David wrote this article in the Alloa Advertiser
on the Truth of the Bible

On the Scripture Union Forth Valley Weekend, David spoke to Youth from ages 12-17 on the subjects of Worship, Mission, Feelings and Heroes. David also roomed with three young men and watched over that group over the weekend. Not to mention the golf, risk and dodge ball and life-sized game of 'Clue' where he played 'the butler in the study'. (Someone had the sense to make sure the youth speaker was NOT the murderer)

The minister's fraternal is a group very much like the Westside Pastors Luncheon in LA. You shouyld know that the Pastors of many churches on the westside meet to pray for one another monthly. The same happens here in Central Scotland, with the exception that they also press each other on to consider how they minister by sharing devotions for an hour.

David Elected to share a flash video of the The Revival Hymn with the Stirling area Baptist Ministers’. Some loved it, some squirmed. It was great!

Note: the first voice in the video is alive and still making history! Ian Paisley is the 81 year-old First Minister of Northern Ireland and is a VERY political individual. He is the oldest member of the British Parliament. Of three Irish pastors, one smiled, one thrust his fist in the air, and one held his face in his hands shaking his head. Literally!

There was a real, open and passionate conversation about authentic Christianity in contrast with the old-school delivery styles. They talked about the cross, and humanism, and the goals and methods of Preaching.

One fellow minister noted that the DVD; “stimulated one of the best discussions I've heard at the Fraternal”. Another retired minister (who attends Alva Baptist) came up and thanked David saying: “most months I am not sure if it was worth it coming; this was great, thank you.”
What a great time! David's tail was wagging!

We are seeing more and more people who know about what is going on at Alva Baptist Church. Folks identify David’s accent and ask “Are you the new Baptist Minister?”

Prayer requests:

Relationship with God. Time made to engage our Father for relationship and not as a source of power for ministry. This is such an easy sin to commit.

Frasers are still waiting on a home to purchase and dig-in to Alva.

Health and well-being of the Fraser family. Mommy and infant child in-utero, Daniel, Josiah and their dad. Also for our extended family that can be a tax or blessing on a missionary.

We are overwhelmed with Youth Ministry! (great problem to have right?)
Around 20+ kids are coming every Friday night and there is David, another father and four people in their 60s coming out to help.

We need young energy. We can offer school credit through Calvary Chapel Bible College in York England, if anyone wants to come over.

David believes that God may be calling the Alva Church to minister to addicts along the hillfoots. Apparently, there is no ministry to the addict community in the Stirling area. We are praying about what this ministry may look like and need BUCKETS-FULL of wisdom and discernment!

David is not inspired by classic recovery ministry based on 12 steps or counseling models. We believe that God wants to open His house "To bring good news to the afflicted; ... to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives, And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

We believe that God wants the church to use their unique gifts and skills to reach people that are marginalized in society because of their sin. As we reach out to the family members who have been cast-off, we hope that the love of God at work in their lives will impact their brothers and sisters and parents who will be watching on.

Please pray for our marriage as we juggle so many elements of life in-flux. We get worn down by day and arrive to the couch after the bedtime story very sensitive and sometimes vulnerable. Sometimes communication is difficult when we are struggling just to behave like Christians period. We are not in crisis, but are definitely under attack! The need to interpret every instance of challenge in light of LOVE requires diligence that tiredness can erode. We sometimes get a bit carnal in our perspectives as we consider finances and schooling and schedules and transportation and the impact of ministry on our day.

Not easy to say, but necessary to share.

Thank you for supporting us.

Follow-up on Liz

The doctor thinks that the baby is pirating mommy's blood sugar!
A nibble here, a nibble there and Liz is just dipping low at certain points of the day. He recommended eating more often and not just three square meals a day, which is just good healthy eating anyway.

The good thing is that it doesn't look to be diabetes that some women develop during pregnancy.

Tomorrow, (Tuesday 5th Feb) we will go for some blood tests to check electrolytes and sodium levels just in case.

Thank you for praying.
Dave & Liz

Keep Liz in Prayer

Liz is fine but feels ill.

If this is how you found out anything was up, don't worry.

The doctor is fairly sure that she is fighting a cold
and the virus presented itself with a fainting spell.
Just a desperate need to be horizontal and a dizziness.
Nothing seems to point to anything wrong with the baby.
They checked her blood pressure and took a blood sample just to be sure.

AND children prayed for her during the end of the service!

Jesus is on the throne,

David

PS NO co-payment for urgent care on a Sunday!

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A Note from Elizabeth

Hi. It's Elizabeth here. A very happy New Year to all.
Certainly a roller-coaster of 8 and a half months that we've had on British soil! So grateful to be living near family, yet definitely experiencing the strangeness of a different place, and finding it hard that we don't know anyone well- yet - lots of culture shock to be had all round. The boys are adjusting keenly, finding friends and getting into life. We're praying for a house, preferably before the new baby arrives, but we trust in God's timing.... as much as we can! When we're not trusting, we're worrying! But I know to keep fast to the mission ahead, even if that's just taking it a day at a time and learning about what God wants for this town - or even for this nation.

The calendar is filling up - I have this incredible sense of the speed of life. Little chance to pause for breath. I am trying to clear and tidy after a busy (and fun-filled) Christmas, but this year is not giving me much of a run up, it is flooding in from all sides. Please pray that I can prioritize and not do meaningless tasks that God would rather I left by ......the .........wayside.....

Goodness, I'm having difficulty writing this.....Are you bored of reading this?

I really feel that I've been writing for the sake of an entry, rather than for the sake of those I know and love and for the sake of staying in touch with people I care deeply about. I've been so busy with house and children and family and a weary, sick pregnancy and numerous ministry opportunities, that I'm glad to have left the blog updates up to David. But I had wanted my first entry to be dynamic and encouraging about all that God is doing with the Fraser family's mission to Scotland.

The truth is, I need your prayers as we enter 2008. I am low in this cold wet town. The people we know are warm and welcoming but I am tired of not having a proper place to call home - a nest to feather, as it were.

I'm also tired of leaning on my family for support and advice because, let's face it, it's all new to me too and friends do not abound - solid, trusting relationships take time.

Mostly, I'm tired of misunderstanding my role in this life, and wanting to do it all, but only having the energy (at 5months pregnant) to manage the basics. One minute I am elated and joyful and throwing myself into a new season with the enthusiasm that only God gives. The next I am exhausted, fearful and withdrawing into a tight ball of self preservation, wishing for an easier way, and forcefully making time to call my own.

Please, please pray for balance and peace for me. In ministry, I have heard that one needs boundaries while still being available to people who may show up on your doorstep. Well, when the town is literally on our doorstep, I find it difficult to aptly judge what to say Yes and No to, and it's wearing me out!!! We have some kind of meeting or ministry event going on every night this week. Crazy.

So now I've written that, I'm not in denial any more!! :) Thanks for listening. Please bring it before the Lord if you think of us and have the time.

We miss everyone a lot. We miss California. We still know that we took the path God had for us. Please remember us, and please keep us posted on what is happening with you. We're blessed to have you as friends - thank you for your support.
Lots of love, In Christ. xxxx

(DF) PS we would love comments on these blogs and check all the time.

New Year

Sorry for getting distracted and failing to give you more information about our work here.

As the earth rounds the sun, and we tilt back toward the sun
the days are getting longer! It was even warmer on Sunday!

This is not the main focus of my day, but it has been the biggest distraction.
Norway's got it real hard and I am finished moaning about it.

People serve in Afganistan, Iraq, Sudan, Alaska for crying out loud!

~~~

The ministry:
Acts 2:42
And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

• The Gospel is taught weekly
• More and more people are staying around for tea and biscuits and making plans together
  
• Folks are gathering in each other's homes;
  others are planning a meal together at the church to just mix and chat on an off night
• We are praying corporately, weekly.

A 21st Century expression of the Body of Christ!

~~~

We recently had the first Deacons meeting in two and a half years.
There will be a new selection of deacons/elders for the first time in a decade!

Churches in the Scottish Baptist Union are very 'flat' organizations.
When there is direction and focus, the people do the work of the ministry.
There is a suspicion of a hierarchical eldership/presbytery born of history's past abuses.

In this church there is the concept of congregational leadership. In practice however, there are only votes for electing deacons, spending large sums of money, and 2/3 vote for hiring/firing the pastor :|

So far the first church meeting has been difficult as about five people talked the issue of funding a newspaper add to DEATH! So many things to discuss, preempted by a petty accounting line-item. At least they are committed to being good stewards of God's funds. And we are poor right now so every penny counts.

The good news is that church meetings only happen quarterly and the ministers get lots of work done in between without asking permission for every decision. The church meeting is a good accountability measure and we trust that Jesus is the head of this church, guiding us, however we organize the government of it.

~~~

David was invited to write an article for a local paper at the end of January
He has been asked to speak at a regional Youth camp on the subject of 'Friends and Heroes' at the beginning of February.
He will also be preaching at a community Easter service the day after Palm Sunday.

~~~

This Sunday we will meet in out home for tea with several church leaders in Alva to discuss how we can reach out to our community.

~~~

PLEASE PRAY FOR US OFTEN
ANYWHERE PRAYER HAPPENS IN YOUR LIFE

for time devoted to the personal relationship with God
For family needs met (Spiritual, emotional, physical, financial)
for priorities in ministry and not just busy-ness
for focus on Prayer and Preaching of the word
for a vision of the ministry to the community


This is our life being lived out on behalf of the Lord.
I pray we can hear from Him and serve the true calling of God.

It is hard.
It costs.
Time. Energy. Other opportunities.

We go through this constant revision of priorities
resolving conflicts between family time and ministry concerns
Praying, Preaching and Doing
Wanting to make the most of every moment.
Trying to communicate with you our missionary support

Your role in this work is crucial.
Please don't forget us.
You participate as you PRAY and encourage us.

In His service,
The Frasers