A new season

Hello All
Lizi here. The sun is coming out and flowers are beginning to blossom (despite snow last week!). It's a good time of year to be nesting, and we're praying for a house and/or how to make this one work when our new arrival comes. The baby is due the middle of May and I can't believe how fast 2008 is going by. It's a big focus for me right now, and we're really excited by the imminent arrival. I've even enrolled in pre-natal classes just to learn more about what it's like to give birth here in Scotland, and meet other families in the neighbourhood. We are very much seeking to be a part of this town. Please pray for us to integrate into this community and portray the gospel message we try and live by, in a gentle and effective way.

We are desiring that God give us wisdom in which areas to focus our energy as we build friendships and demonstrate our loyalty to Alva. Just because a cause seems like a good investment of time, doesn't mean it's what God wants specifically from us... trying to be sensible.......After all, I could easily go to all events and gatherings, from church to school meetings, playgroup to bible study, but I would burn out quick. Still want to be available and movable in God's plan. It is great to be part of such a close knit community.

Off to make some supper for boys and be ready for my midwifery class. Thank you so much for your updates, support, prayers and messages. We need to stay connected. Hoping that you are moved to visit and perhaps help out with the work here... you never know!

Elizabeth

Easter

We had the most glorious Easter!

Due to our need for a worship leader, David called around for some help. God provided immeasurably more than we could have ever asked or imagined! A local non-denominational church Ochil Hills Community Church agreed that the entire church would come over for a joint service. We had a full band AND a full church.

It felt like God was graciously offering a picture of what the church can be with diligent, loving care.

The best part: There were so many people that we ran out of little communion cups! (we have about 40 little glass cups) So we served people from the back to front and when we ran out, David invited the rest of us up to the table at the front and we stood around the Lord's table and drank from the same cup. It was a perfect picture of communion and unity! Praise God!!! He commands a blessing where brothers dwell together in unity and we saw it at the alter of God.

One of the visiting ladies hugged me! (British strangers HUGGING!) There were many tails wagging in both fellowships. Alva church folk are inspired by it.

How good and how pleasant it is!

Springtime!

Well folks, today is one year since David's last day on staff at Metro.
(a tear falls)

We have been serving in Alva for 9 months since July 1.

So much has happened, so much to seek and hope for still.

Please pray for God to break up hard ground in the hearts of folks here in Alva.

Latest Ultrasound

Just for fun

Please be sure to read the other post today

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.