The blossoms on the trees, the flowers in our garden and the hay fever medicine have all come out! Spring has arrived in London and I am loving it! The sun is shining and people are happy on the streets and on the buses and tubes – what a difference the weather can make!
This past month has been quite busy. One of the things that I have been a part of is our annual Mums & Daughters Tea Party. We put on this Tea Party for the Mums & Daughters that attend our church but also as an outreach event for the Mums and Daughters in the nearby community. We spoil them with amazing treats as well a short talk on instilling Godly values in their relationships. This talk was focused on how to communicate with your teenager.
We’ve taken our teens twice now to a Saturday night youth event called Soul Survivor Saturday Celebrations. These evening are a time where hundreds of young people get together to spend time worshiping God, hearing from His Word, and waiting on His Holy Spirit. The first Saturday that we took some of them we weren’t sure if they would enjoy it or want to come back but by the end of the evening one of the teens approached us and said “for my birthday next month, I want us to come back for the next Celebration evening!” We did exactly that and the teens loved it again and are looking forward to more in the future. We are seeing a real hunger for a relationship with God growing in our youth and we are so excited about it!
This past weekend was also filled with excitement. Many of you have followed Elijah’s life in my newsletters the past 4 years. He was born with Myotublar Myopathy and every day is a miracle. He turned 4 last week! He might not be able to talk and move around a lot but you can definitely see life inside of him as he smiles at his surroundings!
Also, this weekend I had the privilege of preaching on one of my passions – Discipleship. We are doing a series at the moment on re-DIGGing your wells based on the scripture in Genesis 26:17. One of those wells is the Well of Discipleship. I had a wonderful time preaching this message and was blessed to see God move and touch peoplethrough the service. If you would like to listen please click HERE. Also, please have a look at the PowerPoint that goes along with the sermon to see pictures that I show during my message so you have the full impact ;o).
Thank you for loving me and your prayers and support! God is doing amazing things in and through you!
Lots of Love
Traci
Wow, what a whirlwind this past month has been! I arrived back in London from Florida on the 18th of February and 2 ½ days later I was on my way to take help lead a Worship Workshop in Gent, Belgium. A day and a half later I was catching the Eurostar back to London. And one week later, helping to lead a Victory Weekend. Whew! It’s been a crazy but exciting time.
My time in Florida was wonderful and extremely busy. It was so good to spend time with so many of you and to build some new friendships. Thank you so much to all of you who spoiled me during the 3 weeks that I was there! Thank you so much to Grace Family Church for the opportunities to speak at Beautiful and your Second Saturday Missions moment. Thank you also to Edgewater United Methodist Church for inviting me to speak at your Missions Conference! I had such a wonderful time all of these events and loved meeting everyone.
After arriving back in London, 5 of us headed to our Church plant in Gent Belgium. This amazing congregation already has 2 services on a Sunday and we had the privilege of teaching them on Worship a full day on Saturday as well as leading worship for them.
This past weekend we had our annual Victory Weekend. Thirty Two peopleexperienced Freedom on this weekend! It was a powerful time of teaching on areas where people generally struggle to get victory. I love seeing thetransformation of people’s faces from when they arrive on the weekend and when they leave!
Thank you to everyone for your supportand prayers. Also, welcome and a huge thank you to everyone who joinedmy prayer and support team this past month!
Love
Traci
Hello from cold and wet Florida! I never thought I would say that!..To have to dress exactly how I dress in London in winter is not my idea of fun in Florida.
I am praying that the thermometer will rise over the next few days so I can top up my Vitamin D levels and break out my shorts and flip flops!
I am here in Florida until the 17th of February to see my family as well as building relationships with new people and visiting and thanking all of the people who have faithfully prayed for and supported me financially in 2013. Without all of you, I wouldn’t be able to reach the nations in the heart of London. I hope and pray that you know that you have had a part in every life that has been touched and changed by God as you continue to support me to do ministry in London.
Leading up to my time here in Florida, I knew that I would be facing some faith challenges. Back in August of last year I preached a message called Markers of Faith, where we sometimes need to look back at the moments (Markers) in our lives where we have experienced the wonderful things God has done in and through us to encourage and stir us up as we face new faith challenges. As I prepared to come to Florida I did that very thing – I stirred myself up. I recalled an emailed that I had received shortly after preaching that sermon that encouraged me so much! I’d like to also share the email with you to show you how your support is making a difference:
“Dear Traci, I didn't get a chance to see you for the last two Sundays. I wanted to thank you first of all, for being one of the most - if not - THE MOST instrumental people that God has worked through in leading Melissa to Jesus. God knows it wasn't my efforts or influence which led Mel to her salvation. I believe if it was my influence and effort, it would have put Mel in an uncomfortable position to experience who God is. She would have undoubtedly felt pushed. The few times that Mel and I read the Bible together when we were dating, is testament to that!!! So I believe it had to be someone else to journey with her and that's where you came in. The amazing thing is, I didn't even know who you were!!! And now, I'm married to Mel, I thank you for journeying with Mel, because I decided I wouldn't get married to a non-believer. So what I'm trying to say is: "Thank you for playing the MASSIVE role you have, in Mel being a new creation in Jesus Christ and therefore leading Mel into being the amazing wife she is to me because Jesus Christ is her God and King now." You are more than a heart surgeon, you're an eternal life saver. I know Jesus is the only way to eternal life but you know what I mean! Secondly I wanted to thank you for your sermon on 4th August. It has really stuck in mine and Mel's minds! Love Dan” (Attached is a picture of Dan and Mel)
I love what I do!! If you need to stir up your faith to face new challenges – remember what He has done already. Also feel free to listen to my sermon to hear more about what God has done in and through my life and more of Melissa’s story.
Thank you and God Bless.
Traci