au revoir

If I had to sum up this entire experience in 3 words I would have to say..

Intense, Awesome, and...

Obviously I like cliff-hangers. 

Thankfully I'm not subject to just three words and I can go on to say that It was more than I thought it would be. 

God never disappoints and never lets down. 

Needless to say, there is no god like the God that we serve.

And I count it such a privilege to be His servant.

During these past 6 weeks a beautiful transformation has come about and it was better than I thought. I anticipated leaving the country and not coming back the same, and I praise the Lord because I feel like I can honestly say that that is a reality that I have touched. 

All three members of the trio left knowing that this mission was a time to learn and to grow and I am thankful that that is exactly what took place. From the first week, to the last week and prayerfully beyond we have been learning and that in itself  it has been an entirely different adventure. 

But the grace of God is always sufficient and with that in hand, I look forward to all the lessons that are to come. 

Even with goodbyes that are normal and not cyber, I am awful. So the fact that it is a technological goodbye makes things even worse. This blog has meant so much to me, and I can't wait to come back from time to time to reminisce on the wonderful things that our Savior has done. 

To Him be the glory and the honor and the praise. forever. 

-Alyssa.

This is Christine signing off...

I've been known a time or two to say "there is no greater adventure than following Jesus around the world."  And He is always faithful to keep me truthful in that statement.  I'm so grateful to God, my Father, for this adventure.  I believe that we went with open hearts and minds to do what the Lord would want, and I believe we remained faithful throughout to be in sync with the precious Holy Spirit. 

This mission was not without it's battles.  But like we've mentioned in other blog entries- we learned how to fight through.  Before leaving, someone told me that England was tougher ground than the USA.  I didn't really believe them- I thought "have you been to Cleveland?"  But, I stand corrected.  It actually took me returning to the USA to see the depths of what I was experiencing.  I'm honestly still trying to identify and understand some of it, but I just want to keep praying for my brother's and sister's in the United Kingdom to stand firm, remain steadfast, and breakthrough- our God can rescue the UK and bring the nation back into it's ordained purpose as a sending nation.  I have a new perspective and a lot of new friends.

But the most valuable thing that happened during my time in England was very personal and ran very deep.  And although it exposes me to the world, I would like to share it here, because I believe it's a message for the church too.  May God get the glory, may I have grace to convey my heart, and may His people hear the message.

In early 2009, my mom moved into my home with end stage COPD.  Ultimately, my mother moved in to my home dying.  The Lord did much in that time, and though I was not perfect in my caretaking, it was a privilege to serve her in her most vulnerable time in life.  My life was radically changed by bringing my mother into my home.  Every decision I made had to be processed through how it would effect her.  When it came to meetings and social gatherings, I either had to stay home, take my mom along with me, or feel absurdly guilty for not being home with her.  This just became normal living.

But in August 2010, I came under something called "caretaker fatigue."  I also became bitter towards my circumstances.  When someone gave our household a gift of money to go out to eat, I decided that we would take a night away from my mom.  We decided that we would go to a nice Thai restaurant before an all night prayer meeting.  When my mother asked to come, I swiftly and sternly told her "No, you don't even like Thai food and I need some space."  When she begged, I stood firm in my rejection.  I wanted my life.  This was the last interaction I had with my mother alive.  She died the next day while I was at work.

The pain of this memory is deeper than anything I have ever experienced.  I was operating in straight up flesh! The sin is under the Blood of Jesus, but the reality of how I finished this journey remains.   Had I known that this would be my last night with my beautiful mother, of course I would have brought her out!  We would have feasted!  I loved my mother more than anyone else in this world.  It was just one day!  But I did know!  My mother was in her last days, she had a terminal illness, I was very aware of that, but because she had held on for so long, I didn't act as if she was going to die!

Church, we are in the last days!  Many of those reading this will be very aware of that fact.  But the Lord exposed, I am not living as if Jesus is really coming back.  There are days that I walk in the flesh.  I get knocked down and I linger down there before getting back up.  But the truth is, the last days means that the Day of the Lord is approaching.  And we know that no one has knowledge of that day.  Just as the Lord alone holds the keys to death in His hands, so only He knows when He will return.

Friends, let me tell you, the Lord has said that the pain I feel for being found out of position on the day that it counted most in my mother's life is nothing but a shadow of the pain I would feel if found out of position on the Day of the Lord.  How absolutely horrific that would be.  I can't even express what I'm feeling right now, it ruptures language.  I pray that you are understanding this call to urgency.  We need to stay steadfast, there is no time for anything else.  We know the season, we must be ready.

Please continue to pray for me.  I desire so much to live a life that brings honor and glory to the Lord EVERYDAY!  He is worthy.  Practically, I will be in Orlando for Advanced Missionary Training through May, and then back to Cleveland on June 2nd.  And like Clare, I too have a personal blog if you are interested in keeping up with where this adventure takes me- www.nogreateradventure.blogspot.com

Words cannot express my gratitude for your fasting and prayers for us.  Thank you, thank you, thank you. And I pray that the Lord will reward you greatly for this sacrifice.  You are blessing.  And your feet are beautiful.

Because He's worthy, and we can trust Him.
Christine

A last note from Clare...

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:17)

All glory, all praise and all honour belongs to the King above all kings.  He alone is worthy!  The One who took us to the UK has brought us back again and has done a work that only He could do.  He is ever faithful.

At this moment I don’t feel like I have many words to bring to an end this blog… it is a wonderful, humbling, un-doing and privileged position to be a servant of the Most High God.  I have loved being on mission in my homeland – it has been the beginning of a new life, a new focus, a new ‘mission’, and the Lord has birthed a deeper burden to carry the land of my birth in prayer.  When we met with Nicodemus last week, he encouraged us to ask the Lord how we were to ‘marry the land’ and to take responsibility for the work in the nation going forward through prayer, even if we are not physically in the land.  There is a sense of momentum and a seeing of the Lord at work in the UK.  We have simply had the joy and privilege of joining Him where He is at work, seeking to allow Him to work through us for His purposes.

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." (Philippians 3:12)

The last six weeks have also been a huge and humbling learning curve.  It is the first time I have 'led' a mission and I have much to learn and much to grow in.  I have loved the way the Lord knit our little trio together - and am thankful for both the joys and the struggles we have walked through together.  In some ways the trip was not what we expected, but all the way through, the Lord was teaching us to have expectation in Him, but to lay down our expectations of what anything would look like - a narrow path to walk!!  Over and again, throughout the mission, the Lord impressed the scripture from John 11:40 'Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God."'  We daily fight the fight of faith, and will continue to do so as this mission ends and the next one begins.  Our life is a life of mission, of living for the purposes of God alone.

I am grateful and thankful for each of you - for your love, your prayers, your fasting, your comments, your being with us on this mission, your carrying us in your hearts - without you I don't know what would have been - I just know that you were needed and though we have been out in the field, your part in the mission has been no less vital.  THANK YOU.  I pray that one day, when you stand before the Lord (if not before!), you see the fruit of your labours and are rewarded for them.

Though this blog is ending - and what a sweet thing it has been to blog (I highly encourage it to be an integral part of all missions!) - the experience of blogging has encouraged me to revive my blog.  So if anyone wants to stay in touch (though I doubt I will be posting daily!) the link to my blog is: http://loveredeemedme.wordpress.com/

Much love and thanks to you, and above all to my Father, my King, my God and Saviour who has done, is doing and will do immeasurably and abundantly more than I can even ask or imagine.  I love Him and live for Him alone.

Yours, 

Clare

Back o'er the pond

The ducks who flew away all those weeks ago have today safely returned to the shores they left.  We give praise and glory to the Lord for that!  It has been a looooong day, with a few tales to tell of our travels - which included a lost passport, an almost lost person, and reduction of my visa from one year to six months - but in all things we praise the Lord!

Once we had finally connected with each other again in Orlando, and were on our way to call in on Brianna at work in the Mall, we heard more of the details of how the day had been.  My favourite (not because it is pretty, and neither was it fun, but because of the work the Lord is doing to train us to praise Him & trust Him in all things) is the picture of Alyssa, separated from Christine who had gone to find the missing passport, being told to run after her (carrying all the luggage) but not knowing where she was or where she was meant to be, crying and praying 'God, I don't know where I am, but you know where I am; I don't know where I am meant to be, but you know where I am meant to be!'  He is worthy to be trusted and He worked all things out - including finding the passport, each other, and getting on the correct flights.

Now we are back with our family/ extended family in the Sorensen home, and I can hardly keep my eyes open, so I will finish for tonight - we are all very ready for bed and some refreshing sleep.

Thank you for your prayers.  We will write again tomorrow when we are a little more awake!
Bless you!
Clare

Last few photos...

The UK team meeting with Nicodemus

Nicodemus & Pr Jonathan outside the Houses of Parliament

Christine & Alyssa leading worship in Heathfield

Sharing a meal with Pr Guy at the Heathfield Weekend Awakening

6 hours

In 6 hours it will be 3:30am in England/10:30pm EST, and the Trio England Team will be loaded up in the car heading to the airport.  Once there we will seperate and Alyssa and I will fly off, and Clare will follow after on another flight.  We'll all arrive back in the States around 5pm EST.  And this adventure will be over.

Last night we sat around in the warm kitchen, with hot milk and honey, and discussed the mission.  It was nice to recap, and see that in both great and subtle ways, we are different than when we started.  We've been thrown out of our comfort zones, trained in battle, taken deeper, and have a greater sense of the time that we're living in.  This time has been invaluable.

As we travel and adjust home, please pray for humility, rest, alertness, protection, and that the work done here would be sealed by the Blood of Jesus.  We know that coming off mission is often as much a battle as when on mission, and sometimes even greater.  We want to stand in victory for both ourselves and the UK!  Thanks for standing with us!

And I know you've been wondering, so what about the blog?!?  Expect a note from us to let you know about our safe journies home, and also a personal sign off from each Trio Team Member in the days to come.  And then it shall stand as a memorial stone for the glory of God!

What a MIGHTY GOD we serve!
Teens

Heathfield to Cambridgeshire

Regardless of the fact that it is 8pm I was just about to crawl into bed, and then I remembered that today is my blog day. 

We woke up today, got ready and left for church a little earlier so that we could walk, talk amongst the ourselves and pray a bit before we joined with the prayer group that prays before the church service.  It was a blessing to be at Pastor Guy's church again and to get to see the rest of the congregation and those who we met at the conference. 

After we said our good-byes we walked to the car, and embarked on a 3 hours drive back to Paul and Kath's house. The car rides are always fun. Most times we'll just talk about how we're doing, or we'll pray. My favorite part is when one of us just breaks out in a worship song, and then the remaining two join in.  It's just always encouraging and uplifting! Ever discouraged? Sing a song to the Lord. 

Tomorrow is our last full day, and knowing that is a weird feeling. Because it doesn't even feel like it.   We each have a bit of work to do and some final preperations before going to America, and we may even get some cream tea!

And although I'm not discouraged, I personally just enjoy singing to the Father. 

So that is what I'm going to do. 

Have a great night,

Alyssa.